All grown up

Football Digest, Oct, 2005 by Barry Wilner

DREW BENNETT BARELY COULD take off his uniform, and when he spoke after the biggest night of his NFL career, his head almost drooped.

Bennett had just blitzed the Kansas City Chiefs for 233 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions, but all that did was entertain the audience, because the Titans lost 49-38. Still, the man who now must take over as the primary receiver in Tennessee showed something special in that Monday night game last year.

With Derrick Mason, the most prolific wide receiver in the NFL last season with 96 catches, now on the Baltimore Ravens, the Titans are counting on Bennett to lead their receiving corps in his fifth pro season.

"I'm so happy with where I'm at," Bennett says. "I'd like to win some games. It's a much bigger deal if you're the No. 1 receiver on a team that's winning and you're kind of the go-to guy like [Mason] has done the past few years."

Bennett had 80 receptions in 2004, the majority of them late in the season and from backup QB Billy Volek. New offensive coordinator Norm Chow and head coach Jeff Fisher are eager to see Bennett and Steve McNair connecting frequently in the scheme Chow is installing.

"Drew's been working hard," Fisher says of the 6'5" former quarterback. "He came to us as a wide receiver-quarterback from UCLA, an undrafted free agent. He understands the game, he can get open, he's very deceptive, really fun to watch play, and a very well-conditioned athlete."

Bennett also is being counted on to be a leader in the receiving corps.

"Ill work hard," he says, "show them what to do, tell them to learn the offense, and hope they follow suit."