Titans at Dolphins Connections

The Miami Dolphins host the Tennessee Titans later this afternoon. The Dolphins will be looking to climb back above .500 for the second time this year, while the Titans will be looking to get quarterback Jake Locker back onto the field and start getting some experience before next season.

Here's a look at the connections between the Titans and Dolphins:

Hometown Ties:

• Titans linebacker Akeem Ayers and Dolphins cornerback Richard Marshall are both from Los Angeles, California
• Dolphins linebacker Kevin Burnett and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel both attended the University of Tennessee
• Titans running back Jamie Harper and quarterback Rusty Smith, and Dolphins wide receiver Jabar Gaffney are all from Jacksonville, Florida
• Titans guard Steve Hutchinson is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Titans linebacker Colin McCarthy played college football at the University of Miami
• Dolphins running backs coach Jeff Nixon coached at the University of Tennessee - Chattanooga before joining the Dolphins
• Dolphins defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers served as the assistant head coach and defensive line coach at the University of Tennessee - Martin and Middle Tennessee State
  
• Dolphins defensive end Derrick Shelby and Titans cornerback Ryan Mouton and cenver Kevin Matthews are all from Houston, Texas
• Titans quarterback Rusty Smith played college football at Florida Atlantic University
• Titans wide receiver Nate Washington and Dolphins punter Brandon Fields are both from Toledo, Ohio

Former Teams:

• Titans secondary coach Brett Maxie served as the secondary coach for the Dolphins in 2007

Pro Teammates:

• Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby and Titans guard Deuce Lutui were teammates with the Arizona Cardinals from 2006-2009; Dolphins cornerback Richard Marshall and Lutui both played with the Cardinals in 2011
• Dolphins guard Richie Incognito and Titans linebacker Will Witherspoon were teammates with the St. Louis Rams from 2006-2009
• Dolphins assistant strength and conditioning coach Dave Puloka and Titans defensive assistant quality control coach Jonathan Gannon coached together with the Atlanta Falcons in 2007
• Titans linebacker Kamerion Wimbley and Dolphins linebacker Jason Trusnik were teammates with the Cleveland Browns in 2009

College Teammates:

• Dolphins wide receiver Davone Bess and Titans cornerback Ryan Mouton were teammates at the University of Hawaii in 2007
• Titans tight end Beau Brinkley and Dolphins tight end Michael Egnew were teammates at Missouri from 2008-2011
• Dolphins running back Reggie Bush and Titans guard Deuce Lutui were teammates at USC from 2004-2005
• Titans running back Jamie Harper and Dolphins safety Chris Clemons were teammates at Clemson in 2008
• Dolphins tackle Jonathan Martin and Titans defensive end Pannell Egboh were teammates at Stanford in 2008
• Dolphins defensive end Jared Odrick and Titans linebacker Tim Shaw were teammates at Penn State in 2006
• Titans offensive assistant/quality control coach Arthur Smith coached Dolphins offensive assistant Ben Johnson in 2006 while Johnson played quarterback for the University of North Carolina
• Dolphins cornerback Sean Smith and linebacker Koa Misi and Titans defensive back Robert Johnson were teammates at the University of Utah 2007-2009 (Smith left after the 2008 season)