Jason Wolf

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

INDIANAPOLIS — Two years after making Bishop Sankey the first running back taken in the 2014 NFL draft, the Titans could spend another high draft pick on the position.

In addition to the No. 1 overall pick, which will not be spent on a running back, the Titans own the second pick in the second round (33rd overall) and the first pick in the third (64th overall). And they’ll be looking for starters.

“That’s what you’re looking for when you’re picking, especially picking that early in the rounds,” Titans coach Mike Mularkey said this week at the NFL combine. “You’re looking for guys that can be impact players right off the bat.”

With Sankey, drafted 54th overall, falling well short of expectations and relegated to an afterthought last season, passed on the depth chart by both undrafted second-year pro Antonio Andrews and rookie fifth-round pick David Cobb, the backfield cries out as a position of need.

Ohio State’s Ezekiel Elliott is widely projected as the top running back available and might go in the first round.

But could the Titans end up drafting Heisman Trophy winners in consecutive seasons, after taking quarterback Marcus Mariota with the second overall pick last year?

Alabama running back Derrick Henry could slip into the second round despite punishing defenses for 2,219 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns — and being awarded college football’s most coveted individual accolade. He’s giant for his position, listed at 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, which some consider a drawback in the NFL.

“It’s how the game has evolved, and you’ve got to take it for what it’s worth,” Henry said. “You’ve got to make the teams want to draft you. So that’s all upon you and how you perform.”

Is Derrick Henry too big for Titans, NFL?

Titans general manager Jon Robinson said there are a number of intriguing running backs in this year’s draft.

After Elliott and Henry, other strong options could include Arkansas junior Alex Collins (5-10, 217), Utah senior Devontae Booker (5-11, 219), Louisiana Tech senior Kenneth Dixon (5-10, 215) and Indiana junior Jordan Howard (6-0, 230).

Robinson cited ball security as his initial concern. Beyond that?

“We want a strong, physical runner,” Robinson said. “And when I say strong, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s got to weigh 250 pounds. There’s backs in this league that are maybe smaller in stature, but they’re explosive and they’re powerful backs, so when you do hand them the ball, they can make yards. They’ve got to be able to run between the tackles and grind out plays that way. And then obviously, in passing situations, they’ve got to be able to know protection to be able to adjust because defenses aren’t just going to line up in one thing and stay in it.”

The Titans rushed for 1,485 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, ranking among the bottom quarter of teams with 92.8 yards per game.

Andrews led the pack with 520 yards and three scores on 143 carries, but he fell out of favor late in the season after struggling with pass protection and holding onto the football.

Mariota, who missed four games with knee injuries, including one suffered when Andrews missed a blocking assignment, finished second on the team with 252 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries.

No other Titan scored multiple rushing touchdowns.

At NFL combine, Titans try to knock players off their game

“Marcus will be a better quarterback if our run game gets going,” Mularkey said. “This offense is built about being around balance, and if the run game is not functioning like we want it to function, it’s going to affect everything. It’s going to affect our passing game, it’s going to affect our defense, it’s going to affect our team. So the running game, we’ve got to get it going.”

Mularkey, who previously served as head coach of the Bills and Jaguars, said this offseason has been the first time in his career he’s been able to select his full coaching staff.

The group is re-imagining the Titans’ playbook and already has worked through the running plays.

“We’ve done the run game, we’re in the protections right now,” Mularkey said. “We’re spending quite a bit of time with the protections, because they are changing. We’re trying to make it so there’s not a lot of communication at the line, there’s not a lot of IDing. We’re just trying to make it to where it’s very user friendly, not only for the quarterback, but for everybody. And then if somebody comes in due to an injury or something, they can pick it up much quicker. But the meetings have been outstanding because there’s so much communication going on.”

Titans coach: Marcus Mariota 'struggled' with calling plays

Mularkey and Robinson both say they’re working well together and through any differences in opinion. There’s no debate the running game needs work.

Their draft selections will be a collaborative effort.

“In the end, you have to identify the role of the player, how he’s going to fit into the football team,” Robinson said. “And if we think he can come in and start or play a role for our football team, we’ll take him.”

Reach Jason Wolf at jwolf@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter at @JasonWolf and on Instagram at TitansBeat.