David Thornton

Thornton will be entering his fourth season with the Titans. He has good speed to attack the gaps and is usually found "at the right place at the right time". He does not accumulate a lot of sacks and although he only registerd 78 total tackles last year, he has surpassed 100 three times in his career and could likely do it again. Thornton is durable and has only missed two games in his professional career.

Thornton racked up 122 tackles in 2007, his best total since 2003. Thornton also chipped in two interceptions and a sack, but the real story is his tackling ability, which has been impressive, especially for an outside linebacker. Thornton averaged 115 tackles over the last two seasons. He has a great nose for the ball and should continue to post strong tackling numbers and minimal stats in other categories.

Thornton is expected to be the starting left outside linebacker for the Titans. Thornton played in all 16 games last season with 13 starts. He was third on the team with 122 tackles. He also had four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, six passes defensed and a quarterback pressure.

Paired with Keith Bulluck, Thronton will have a chance to do some damage from the left linebacker position in 2006 as offenses go out of their way to slow down Bulluck.

Starting left outside linebacker.

Thornton filled in for the departed Mike Peterson in 2003 and turned in Peterson’s year for him, racing up 113 solo stops, two INTs and a sack as a second-year player and first-time starter. He had a soft few games midseason, but otherwise sustained very high tackle totals throughout the year. In Tony Dungy’s defenses, it’s often the system as much as the player that produces, but either way, Thornton was very productive. We expect a similar year from him on a defense that returns mostly unchanged.

Thornton is expected to start this year at middle linebacker, replacing Mike Peterson.