Former Pirate waits for his turn

As soon as Jesse Mahelona began counting on the fact that he knew what to expect, he was hit with the unexpected.

The Tennessee Titans’ second-year defensive tackle, who starred at Orange Coast College before finishing his collegiate career as an All-American at Tennessee, was planning to open his second NFL campaign today as the No. 2 defensive right tackle on the Titans’ depth chart.

Instead, the 6-foot, 311-pound Hawaii native will be the No. 3 man at the position, after the Titans signed former first-round pick and Pro Bowl performer Corey Simon as a free agent on Aug. 28.

Sixth-year veteran Albert Haynesworth (6-6, 320), a returning starter at Mahelona’s position, is projected to open today’s road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Still, Mahelona, reached by phone at the Titans’ training camp at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., said he is much more prepared to contribute than he was last season. He said he still expects to get playing time as part of a rotating substitution plan used by defensive line coach Jim Washburn.

“I thought I did pretty well last season, though, numbers wise [11 tackles in 10 games], I wasn’t where I wanted to be,” said Mahelona, a fifth-round pick by the Titans (169th overall) in the 2006 draft. “But as far as getting comfortable, mentally and physically, it wasn’t what I expected.

“After a long [college season], a bowl game, an all-star game, the combine and training camp, your body is pretty beat up.”

Mahelona said he utilized his first NFL offseason to allow his body to recuperate and, having gone through an entire season, he entered training camp with an unprecedented comfort level.

“The biggest thing is being comfortable,” said Mahelona, who had five tackles in the Titans’ final preseason game, a 30-10 win over Green Bay. “There was so much to think about last year, with assignments and little things like hand placement. This year, I feel like I’m just going out and playing, and not worrying so much that I’m doing everything perfectly. My mind is clear.”

Mahelona, who amassed 77 tackles, seven sacks and 26 1/2 tackles for loss in two seasons at Tennessee, said he has learned some new moves to free himself from offensive linemen, particularly when rushing the passer.

“I have two or three moves that worked well all last year,” said Mahelona, who stays after practice daily to work with Washburn. “First is the bull rush, which sets everything else up. One move I learned when I got here was the chop move, where you grab the back of the lineman’s shoulder pads and chop [downward, getting him out of position and opening a path to the quarterback]. Linemen at this level are so smart, you have to set that one up. I wish I would have known that move in college.”

Mahelona, smaller and lighter than most personnel people want their defensive tackles, relies on quickness and power to hold his own. He said he is also smarter about weight training and nutrition and he is hoping he can enjoy a long and prosperous career.

“I’m signed for three years, and I want to at least make it to that second contract,” he said. “That’s where you make the money. I’m not saying I’m in this game for the money, but I want to establish myself, financially. I love what I’m doing and, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking about longevity. I want to have a good NFL career.”

Regardless of how long his career may last, Mahelona said he will always recall his time at OCC. He was an all-state performer as a freshman in 2002, then missed most of his sophomore season with the Pirates after breaking his right foot.

“A lot of times, the talent on the Big Island of Hawaii is overlooked,” Mahelona said. “I guess I didn’t even think I’d make it to Tennessee and I’m the first one from Kailua-Kona to make it to the NFL and start an NFL game [one start in 2006]. Being at Coast, with other guys from Hawaii, was a great experience for me. It was one of the best times of my life.”