National Football League

How will Titans fare without Fisher?

Published Jun. 21, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Will the Tennessee Titans miss head coach Jeff Fisher?

Is Colin Kaepernick a good fit for the San Francisco 49ers offense?

Is the criticism of Terrelle Pryor fair?

Would Joe Montana be just as good if he played for another team? How about Phil Simms?

We’re tracking those issues and more in the sixth installment of the post-draft email bag. (You can send your questions on Twitter @caplannfl or to caplannfl@gmail.com).

KAEPERNICK'S FIT WITH 49ERS?

Question: Adam, I read recently that NFP’s Dan Pompei has spoken with two "high-ranking decision makers" from teams that run West coast offenses and neither believe that Kaepernick is a good fit for the system. Your thoughts? – Jason H.

Answer: Jason, I wrote about Kaepernick’s throwing release in my analysis from Senior Bowl week earlier this year. I think it’s legitimate to bring up that his long release could be an issue in a West Coast system, which is what the 49ers will transition to this season.

The WCO is a timing-based scheme, so the ball needs to come out of the quarterback’s hands quickly. I do believe, however, that he’s capable of shortening up his release a bit in order to get the ball out of his hands in three seconds, which is typically the amount of time coaches want.

The problem for this season is he likely won’t get a chance to practice for the first time in front of his coaches until August, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be ready to start any time soon. But with the likelihood the team re-signs veteran QB Alex Smith to be the starter this season, the coaches won’t have to rush Kaepernick. And if David Carr is released, it would be a smart move for the team to sign another veteran signal caller so Kaepernick could be brought along slowly.

While the possibility exists that Kaepernick could see time in third down or specialty packages this season, he’s going to be need time to develop, just like all young quarterbacks.

WILL THE TITANS MISS JEFF FISHER?

Question: I haven’t missed a Tennessee Titans game since they moved to Nashville, but I’m concerned with the loss of Jeff Fisher. How will things change with him gone? –Ted R.

Answer: Gary, as a fan of the Titans, you will see some things change as a result of Fisher’s departure. While Mike Munchak is widely respected, it’s the first time in his career that he’s a head coach. And the loss of defensive line coach Jim Washburn shouldn’t be underestimated, either.

While Fisher only made it to one Super Bowl — and didn’t win it — he still had very good success during his 17 years at the helm of the team. And he got the most out of his players.

Even with Fisher gone, the team should still keep his power-rushing philosophy on offense. Munchak was Fisher’s offensive line coach for 14 seasons, so I can’t see him changing the scheme too much. However, new offensive coordinator Chris Palmer has been called a passing-game proponent, so we’ll see how Munchak and Palmer’s philosophies mesh.

But with Jerry Gray running the defense, we certainly could see a departure from Washburn’s philosophy up front. Gray will go away from Washburn’s widening of the defensive ends. And he’ll also be lining up the strong-side linebacker closer to the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher.

So I think with all of the changes in coaches from both sides of the ball, you’re going to see some changes — some could be subtle, some could be much bigger.

IS THE CRITICISM OF TERRELLE PRYOR FAIR?

Question: On your Terrelle Pryor piece, it was another typical running down of a Black QB. Jimmy Clausen is a BRILLIANT example of white bias in sports reporting. Clausen was, is and always will be a below-average QB but the sports reporters all celebrated him. He did nothing at Notre Dame and yet he went high in his draft year. – Locthiese

Answer: First of all, what I did is get the opinion of two personnel evaluators from the NFL. I tend to use the opinions of those who know more than I do in order to get as much information as I can when I review a player.

In the Pryor piece which you’re referring to, I think I made it clear that he’s a project or a developmental quarterback. I also thought NFL Films’ Greg Cosell summed up Pryor well.

I couldn't care less what the color of his skin is. Did you read or see any of my comments about Jake Locker prior to this year’s NFL Draft? I simply evaluate quarterbacks based on what I’ve viewed by watching them play and from what sources who work in the NFL say after watching them play.

As for Clausen, I wrote prior to the 2010 draft that there were some teams that had a second-round grade on him — which is exactly where the Carolina Panthers selected him. He got overhyped mostly of where he played in college. He got thrown into the fire much too early last season.

Pryor needs major work — you’d be hard pressed to find anyone in the NFL who thinks differently, so there’s no bias from me. I’m simply telling you and readers what I know.

Pryor needs to go to a team willing to let him grow and learn over his first two seasons. I think it will take at least that long for him to develop his raw talent and skill set. But if he’s willing to work hard, I think he has an interesting upside to develop.

ARE THE TOP-100 PLAYER LISTS FAIR? WOULD MONTANA BE JUST AS GOOD IN ANOTHER UNIFORM?

Question: As lists of the top 100 NFL players are released, I was wondering where do you draw the line that separates the skills of the player from the schemes of the coaching staff and the talent level of the supporting cast?

For example, if in 1979 the Giants selected Joe Montana and the 49ers had Phil Simms fall to them, would Simms have the more impressive career stats and four Super Bowl rings playing for Bill Walsh and his system, or would Montana's perceived better skill set have made the Giants the team of the '80s and '90s? – David I.

Answer: David, I think you’ve made some very interesting and valid points.

Montana was selected in the third round, and so many teams had their doubts about him for the 1979 draft. Simms, who was selected in the first round, was more highly regarded by some teams.

But with Montana, he wasn’t big in size and didn’t possess a strong arm. However, he was the perfect type of quarterback for Walsh’s West Coast system. That scheme puts a premium on timing and accuracy.

So if Montana was selected by the San Diego Chargers to play in the “Air Coryell” offense under head coach Don Coryell, his results could have been much different. Coryell’s scheme called for deeper passing. Interestingly, Coryell’s offensive coordinator from 1979-1980 was Joe Gibbs. And Gibbs also liked to have his quarterbacks throw the deep ball.

I don’t think Montana would have been as good of a fit for the Giants offense under Bill Parcells. Simms, who had a stronger arm, was a better fit. Parcells was a run-orientated head coach back in the 80s. As for Simms playing in Walsh’s system, I don’t think he would have done as well. Montana was a career 63.2 percent passer while Simms threw for 55.4 percent.