Titans find themselves between a rock and a hard place following a previous trade

Two weeks ago the Tennessee Titans traded starting inside linebacker Ernest Jones IV to the Seattle Seahawks. The trade sent draft-pick compensation to Tennessee along with linebacker Jerome Baker.

Baker visited the Titans as a free agent this past offseason, but when the two sides couldn't agree on financial terms for a deal, he settled in to a starting role with Seattle.

After acquiring Baker in exchange for Jones, it seemed like a logical conclusion to draw that he would replace Jones as a starter in the Titans defense. But that hasn't been the case. Former undrafted free agent Jack Gibbens has been playing the best football of his career in Jones' place. 

Gibbens was originally given an opportunity to play while Baker adjusted to Dennard Wilson's defense and his new team...But he has taken it and ran with it. Now the Titans are stuck between a rock and a hard place at inside linebacker. 

"He's where he's supposed to be. He knows what to do. He knows how to do it, and he finds ways to continue to perform," said Callahan of Gibbens in Monday's press conference. He then threw Gibbens in the same bucket as standout wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. "They're the guys that you look at on paper and a lot of times you think that we can find bigger, faster, stronger, better, etc. But I mean, you don't take into account that they're just incredibly smart football players and they know what to do and they're consistent and they're reliable, and those things oftentimes are much more important than your height, your weight and your speed. They keep showing up."

Sunday was a career day for Gibbens against the New England Patriots. He racked up 14 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. He looked so good that the Titans coaching staff admits it would be tough to replace him, even if baker was acquired to be a starter. 

"[Gibbens and Baker] are playing the same spot, and Gibby's been given an opportunity and he's determined not to let it go," said Callahan. "Competition is good, and it's hard to replace a guy playing at the level he's playing right now."