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Titans might take a peek at linebackers

Of the positions at which the Titans need some help from this NFL Draft, linebacker might be the least of their concerns.

Veterans Keith Bulluck and David Thornton played admirably on the outside last season, with Bulluck leading the Titans in tackles and Thornton ranking fourth. Middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch, a third-year pro and first-year starter, was the second-leading tackler.

Yet age on the outside — Bulluck is entering his 10th season, Thornton his eighth — and the presence of several intriguing prospects could persuade the Titans to bypass their strategy of taking the best player available regardless of need and select a linebacker with the 30th overall pick on Saturday.

While Wake Forest's Aaron Curry might flirt with the top pick, a slew of other linebackers should be drafted between the middle of the first round and the early part of the second round, multiple draft analysts said.

The group includes the USC trio of Rey Maualuga, Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing as well as Ohio State's James Laurinaitis.

Maualuga, Matthews and Cushing and the Trojans had the nation's second-ranked defense last season, allowing 221.7 yards per game and an NCAA low 13 touchdowns.

Laurinaitis, a three-time All-American, has been compared to Bears Pro Bowler Brian Urlacher because of his speed, size and open-field tackling abilities. He's the son of a famous 1980s professional tag-team wrestler known as Animal.

Maualuga is expected to be the first of the USC backers selected, followed by Cushing and Matthews, a former walk-on who is the nephew of former Titan Bruce Matthews, a Hall of Fame offensive lineman.

Todd McShay, a draft analyst for ESPN, said he believes Cushing will be first Trojan linebacker taken.

"He's a very physical, tough football player, and I think of those three linebackers, he's probably the best of the group," McShay said. "It won't surprise me if he's off the board with the first 15 to 18 picks."

Former NFL Coach Herm Edwards, now working for ESPN, said he did not believe the rumors of drug use by Cushing and Matthews would plunge their current draft status.

"Most teams know the blemishes on players, especially when you're drafting in the first two, three rounds," Edwards said. "You sit there on Monday, the week before the draft, and say, 'OK, what's going to come out about the players?'...

"I think you take it for what it's worth and understand you have to have conviction from your scouts and all the information you've been gathering on this kid for the past two or three years."

As for other positions of need for the Titans — wide receiver, defensive line and cornerback — they added free agents in wideout Nate Washington and defensive tackle Jovan Haye, and will likely have a shot at a solid cornerback in the second and third rounds.

That brings the Titans back to linebacker.

"There could be a need," Thornton said. " … But at the same time, we want to continue to build on where we left off. Wherever the most urgent position is, I'm sure the coaches will make that decision."

LINK >> Titans might take a peek at linebackers | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean

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