2005 NFL Preview: Tennessee Titans

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Last Year

A 12-4 record, a co-MVP at quarterback, and an appearance in the second-round of the playoffs turned to dust in the 2004 season as the Tennessee Titans experienced one of the stiffest declines among NFL teams. First, the salary cap and then injuries ravaged the already-limited talent pool and the Titans only managed to win five games. Even though the Titans are one of the better-coached teams and are always wise in the draft, this looks like a rebuilding season.

What We Learned From Last Year

The season started okay for the Titans as they won their opener in Miami. Then they ran into a streak of difficult opponents.

First Indianapolis, then Jacksonville, followed by a trip to San Diego, all of which resulted in losses. They would only win two more times before their Week 9 bye and by that time injuries started to mount.

Guard Zach Piller, wide receiver Tyrone Calico, and linebacker Peter Sirmon were already lost for the year, quarterback Steve McNair and running back Chris Brown missed a few games early in the season and were not in the lineup after Week 12, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth only played 10 games, safety Lance Schulters played in only three games, and strong safety Tank Williams played in only nine.

Team chemistry was an obvious problem not because the players did not get along, but because each week, there were new faces in new places.

Although the season turned out to be a wash, one positive that did come from last year was the fact that so many young players stepped into the lineup and in essence, fast-tracked their development.

Quarterback Billy Volek and wide receiver Drew Bennett were Tennessee's brightest stars on the offense and both surfaced as viable starters. With the lack of a capable running game late in the season, combined with a deteriorated defense, the Titans were playing from behind frequently and depended on the Volek/Bennett connection to keep them in games.

Bennett went through one superhuman stretch of three games where he tallied 517 yards and eight touchdowns, all with Volek as his quarterback.

Chris Brown was the only other starter to be uncovered in the offense as he rushed for his first 1,000-yard season, but he wasn't around to be effective all season.

On defense, emerging starters included Randy Starks, Brad Kassell, and Lamont Thompson. Starks had 4.5 sacks which ranked fifth among rookies, but that is a pretty good number for any tackle — young or seasoned. Kassell stepped into the lineup after Rocky Calmus was hurt and finished second on the team in tackles (101) and Thompson was second on the team with four interceptions. Tank Williams was also on his way to his best season before his season was cut short due to an injury.

On the defensive line, the Titans were looking for some of their young defensive ends to progress, but no one really stood out. Antwan Odom wore down as the season progressed while Travis LaBoy showed flashes, but was inconsistent. The two combined for 5.5 sacks, which is respectable for rookies. Albert Haynesworth gave indications that he has a very bright future in front of him, but for a second consecutive season, he did not play more than 12 games.

Head coach Jeff Fisher has weaved his magic before, but even the most optimistic optimists can't see him taking this team to the playoffs.

This Year

When you don't have a lot of free money under the salary cap, the best idea is to start a youth movement.

The Titans have employed that exact strategy and will depend on numerous young bodies to mature quickly.

They have 10 draft picks coming in and many will be depended on right away. The top two selections, cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones and tackle Michael Roos, will start immediately.

The expectations are high for Jones, who will start with third-year back Andre Woolfolk. Both are unproven in prime-time roles and will have to replace last year's starters, Samari Rolle and Andre Dyson. Tony Beckham will be the primary backup and with his three years of experience in the NFL, he would be considered the veteran. Woolfolk and Jones are talented enough to be premier starters in the league, but they are not at that level yet.

Safeties Tank Williams and Lamont Thompson are more hardened as they are entering their fourth years. They are a reliable tandem and will need to pick up the slack while the corners get their feet wet.

The starting linebackers, Peter Sirmon, Brad Kassell, and Keith Bulluck are the heart of the defense. Bulluck is a sideline-to-sideline force and fires up the team with aggressive plays. Kassell is a sure-tackler and Sirmon's instincts were sorely missed last season.

On the line, Randy Starks and Albert Haynesworth have looked like a first-rate tandem, but the key is for Haynesworth to stay healthy. This combination has been dominant in the preseason. Backup Rien Long could start and is a solid pass-rusher. The end positions is where the questions lie.

There are a slew of young prospects, but someone needs to emerge. Antwan Odom is ready to burst and has had an excellent preseason with three sacks and a forced fumble. Bo Schobel and Travis LaBoy were also drafted last year and will compete for the other starting job, but have been up and down. Kyle Vanden Bosch is an adequate veteran with a non-stop motor and a strong work ethic. He will step in if the youth cannot handle the workload.

The offense feigns the same characteristics as the defense: very young and stocked with potential. The main difference is that some of that potential has fully grown.

Quarterback Steve McNair is the leader of the team and is rejuvenated mostly in part to a new offensive coordinator. Norm Chow was the brain behind the USC offense. Chow has sped up the offense with faster play-calling. He plans to use the hurry-up offense frequently to wear down opponents. McNair should be able to get to the line quickly to read the defense and has the power to audible much more than he did before.

On-lookers have wondered about the offensive line, but they have protected McNair very well in the preseason. Brad Hopkins, Zach Piller, Justin Hartwig, and Benji Olson have all impressed. McNair has released the ball very quickly which has also helped.

Chris Brown is one of the league's top running backs, but he can't seem to stay healthy. The acquisition of Travis Henry ensures the Titans a consistent running game even if Brown misses some time. Henry is much more durable and is a better running back in short-yardage situations.

McNair will get re-acquainted with Drew Bennett, who blossomed significantly with Volek as his passer. Bennett will see much more coverage now that he is the unquestioned number one. Tyrone Calico will start opposite of him and is a gifted athlete. He has the ability to be a game-breaker, but is not there yet. There is a lineup of young talent behind him with rookies Brandon Jones (third round), Courtney Roby (third round), and Roydell Williams (fourth round). All three have impressive in the exhibition games, but Williams may be the fastest to develop coming for a pro-style offense from Tulane.

The Titans are hoping that Ben Troupe can breakout since he has all the tools to be downfield threat. He has a lot of potential, while Erron Kinney is a blue-collar guy.

The Titans are depending on a large amount of young players to be successful this year, but stranger things have happened. They are more likely to be more dangerous in the second half of the season and especially next year.

Over/Under: 6.5

Tennessee has to deal with St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Oakland in the first eight weeks of the season, which does not bode well for their young secondary. Nonetheless, as this team grows, this is going to be a difficult team to defeat in the second half of the season. They play: @PIT, BAL, @STL, CIN, @ARZ, OAK, @CLE, SF, SEA, and @MIA.

Fantasy Sleeper

Steve McNair was the NFL's co-MVP in 2003 where he posted 24 touchdowns and 3,215 yards in 14 games. With Norm Chow as his offensive coordinator, McNair will emerge as a solid number two fantasy quarterback. Keep in mind that he is still a threat on the ground and accounts for roughly one rushing touchdown every three games.

Stay tuned as Dave Golokhov brings you previews for all 32 NFL teams! Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com, a great casino for horse racing and sportsbook action.

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