Mike Vrabel Considers Benching CB Kristian Fulton Moving Forward: 'That's Something That Can Happen'
One of the big training camp storylines this year was the performance of fourth-year cornerback Kristian Fulton. Fulton was getting rave reviews and talk about him being a top corner for the Tennessee Titans this year was plentiful.
Fulton is heading into free agency after the season, so it would be best for both Fulton and the team for those talks to carry into the regular season, but sadly, that has not happened. Fulton has played in four games this year and has struggled mightily.
Fulton has allowed 14 catches on 18 targets for 272 yards and a touchdown. Quarterbacks have a 137.3 passer rating when throwing at Fulton and he has been called for four penalties already.
In Week 4, Fulton's struggles came to a head, with the corner giving up four catches for 95 yards and being called for two ill-timed penalties. The tough start for Fulton has his head coach considering putting him on the bench and playing someone else.
"Sure," Vrabel said admitting he's comfortable if he has to go to his depth at corner. "Again, that's why everybody is here. That's something that can happen. We'll see where things go here the rest of today in our meetings and as we work towards Baltimore."
The Titans could go with second-year Tre Avery, recently-acquired Kindle Vildor or a rookie in Anthony Kendall, but the truth is Fulton is the best option for the Titans as he is clearly the most talented of the possibilities. Vrabel is hoping they can correct things in a hurry.
"They better be correctable quickly," Vrabel said in a stern tone. "Would hope that we wouldn't be having these conversations about putting our eyes in the backfield and grabbing guys down the field. Those are just things that we have to be able to understand you're in phase, there's no reason to grab a guy."
Vrabel sounds frustrated and rightfully so. As mentioned, Fulton is the best option the Titans have at corner, but too many mistakes still would require action. Something Vrabel acknowledges while going into detail on some of the issues Fulton is having.
"I think at some point and time, this is professional sports. We're going to coach, coach every single one of them, Kristian included. But we also have a job to do and we have to go out and do it. One week doesn't mean anything and one game doesn't mean — it's unfortunate, but then we to keep moving on."
"We have to improve and figure out is it that we're trying to make some plays. I mean, if you're in match coverage really the whole goal is that we don't let our man catch the ball, not that we trying to make interceptions in match coverage because then you start looking for the football, you start looking in the backfield and then they uncover or they make another move. There is opportunities where we can try to get an interception and in man coverage, that's not one of them."
Fulton is in a contract year and if he is not fulfilling his assignment because he is trying to go out of his way to make a great individual play, that would and should be an issue Vrabel could have a hard time reconciling.
Either way, Fulton should get one more opportunity to get things right before Vrabel makes any changes. At this point, that's the best option on the table.
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