LenDale White is the one of the biggest (no pun intended) lightning rods in the Titans organization.  The brash former University of Southern California standout is one of the best quotes in the locker room.  White rarely minces words (see his complaints about his utilization in the gameplan after the Jets game in 2008) and wears his emotions on his sleeve (see White’s stomping of the “Terrible Towel” after Tennessee’s convincing win over Pittsburgh in late December of last season). In three years in Nashville, White has racked up over 2,000 yards rushing and 22 Touchdowns, but nearly everyone has felt that he has only scratched the surface of his immense potential and left plenty of production on the board.

 

The biggest criticism of LenDale White, dating all the way back to his days playing for Pete Carroll at USC is his commitment, or lack thereof, of keeping his conditioning in check.  White’s weight fluctuations are part of the reason that he fell all the way to the second round in the 2006 NFL Draft and the issue has remained on the front burner in his first three seasons as a Titan.  According to Tennessean beat writer Jim Wyatt’s article on May 7, White was over 260 pounds at midseason last year. The weight issues have led to criticism from coaches, fans, and media and have cast doubts on White’s future as a Titan when he becomes a free agent after the 2009 season.

 

The “contract year” has become a motivating factor for many a professional athlete in these days of huge free agent contracts and White’s case is no different.  White has reported to minicamp in the best shape of his career.  Reports have his current weight in the 235 pound range.  But do not mistake the contract as his only motivation. LenDale White has been a winner at every step of his career, and his crucial red zone fumble right before halftime of the Titans excruciating 13-10 divisional playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens has stoked the fire even more.  White vowed immediately after that game to make some changes in his career, and so far, it looks like he is living up to his word in the conditioning aspect.

 

One area where LenDale White deserves a lot of credit is how he has dealt with sharing the load in a platoon system backfield, dating back to his days at USC.  In Los Angeles, he had to split carries with Heisman Trophy running back Reggie Bush.  With the Titans, he has humbled himself and been a great teammate to the electric Chris Johnson.  Although not an immediate threat, the Titans organization drafted all-Big Ten running back Javon Ringer in the fifth round, in a move that raised eyebrows, but White seems to welcome any competition that is thrown his way.  White stated that he “will never run from competition.  I never have and I never will.”

 

LenDale White’s renewed commitment to being in tip-top shape for the 2009 season is great news for both the Tennessee Titans and LenDale White’s bank account.  The Titans’ run first philosophy is still intact, and the possibility that the “Smash and Dash” running tandem could even be better this season has to be disheartening to opposing defenses and exciting for Titans’ fans across America.