Tennessee Titans

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2007 TENNESSEE TITANS PREVIEW

(My Sportsbook) - Apparently, the Tennessee Titans think a heck of a lot about quarterback Vince Young.

So much so, in fact, that they got rid of pretty much everyone else on the team that touched the football in 2006.

Top pass-catchers Drew Bennett and Bobby Wade? See ya. Leading rusher Travis Henry? Come back and visit some time.

All of which wouldn't have been that big a deal had Tennessee gone out and secured some replacements for those figures, but instead, the Titans basically sent a message that the big second-year player wearing No. 10 could get it done on his own.

The top returning wide receiver is third-year man Brandon Jones, he of the 50 career catches. Tennessee waited until the third round to draft a wideout, selecting Fresno State's Paul Williams with the 80th overall pick, but Williams does not look ready to make an impact as a rookie. The best Jeff Fisher's squad could do via free agency was the severely declining Eric Moulds and Bears castoff Justin Gage, neither of whom will make anyone forget about guys like Derrick Mason.

In the backfield, where Henry resuscitated his career to the tune of 1,211 yards last season, Tennessee is also going second-tier all the way.

The Titans thought so much of former starter Chris Brown in 2006 that they made him a healthy "inactive" nine times and actually handed him the football in just two of Tennessee's final 12 games. In a strange twist of fate, Brown will be the starter in 2007 unless second-year-pro LenDale White, who reported to training camp massively out of shape, can unseat him.

Young, the 2006 NFL Rookie of the Year, looks like a remarkable talent, but the former Texas star is not going to be able to improve the team's 8-8 record of last season by himself.

Has Tennessee armed their best sharpshooter with a pop-gun? It sure looks that way.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Tennessee Titans, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2006 RECORD: 8-8 (t2nd, AFC South)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2003, lost to New England, 17-14, in AFC Divisional Playoff

COACH (RECORD): Jeff Fisher (105-93 in 13 seasons with Titans, 105-93 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Norm Chow

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jim Schwartz

OFFENSIVE STAR: Vince Young, QB (2199 passing yards, 12 TD, 13 INT, 552 rushing yards, 7 TD)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Keith Bulluck, LB (143 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 INT)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 5th rushing, 30th passing, 16th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 30th rushing, 27th passing, 31st scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: at Jacksonville (9/9), Indianapolis (9/16), at Houston (10/21), San Diego (12/9), N.Y. Jets (12/23)

KEY ADDITIONS: QB Tim Rattay (from Buccaneers), RB Chris Henry (2nd Round, Arizona), WR Paul Williams (3rd Round, Fresno State), WR Justin Gage (from Bears), DT Corey Simon (from Colts), LB Ryan Fowler (from Cowboys), LB Gilbert Gardner (from Colts), CB Nick Harper (from Colts), CB Michael Griffin (1st Round, Texas), CB Kelly Herndon (from Seahawks), S Bryan Scott (from Saints)

KEY DEPARTURES: RB Travis Henry (to Broncos), WR Drew Bennett (to Rams), WR Bobby Wade (to Vikings), TE Erron Kinney (released), G Zach Piller (to Giants), DE Jacob Ford (out for season/injured), DT Robaire Smith (to Browns), LB Peter Sirmon (not tendered), LB Robert Reynolds (released), LB Colby Bockwoldt (to 49ers), CB Pacman Jones (out for season/suspended), CB Andre Woolfolk (out for season/injured)

QB: Young was as good as advertised and perhaps better last year, when he rallied Tennessee from an 0-5 start and got them within one win of the postseason. The Texas product wasn't the world's most efficient passer (51.5 percent), but showed great instincts throughout the season and was extremely difficult to bring down in the open field. Obviously, with most defensive coordinators attempting to keep him in the pocket this year, Young will have to become a more productive passer. The second-year-pro will likely have two veteran backups, as Kerry Collins (549 passing yards, 1 TD, 6 INT) should stay on despite playing poorly in the early stages of last season and former Buccaneer and 49er Tim Rattay (748 passing yards, 4 TD, 2 INT with Tampa Bay) was picked up in the offseason. Rattay has 28 touchdown passes against 20 interceptions in a seven-year pro career that has included 18 starts.

RB: Very few people expected Chris Brown (156 rushing yards) to return to the Titans in the offseason, given how the ex-starter was effectively left dying on the vine last season. But Henry's departure, the team's inability to land a free agent, and Brown's own struggles in securing a deal with another team led to an unlikely reconciliation. Durability will always be an issue for Brown due to his upright running style, but the Titans believe he can be an effective rusher off the edge while the bulkier LenDale White (244 rushing yards) does the dirty work between the tackles. White has infuriated Tennessee with his lack of discipline and work ethic, but Fisher seems determined to get him on the field in some capacity this year. The Titans are also looking for a role for second-round draft choice Chris Henry, who averaged just 3.3 yards per carry and never approached 1,000 yards rushing in a season during his college career, but who impressed scouts with a 4.4 time in the 40-yard dash at the combine. Ahmard Hall (15 receptions) is back to fill the fullback role, and the team will have to make a decision on whether to keep fellow holdover Casey Cramer (2 receptions) around to back him.

WR/TE: The departed Bennett and Wade weren't exactly Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne in terms of production, but their veteran presence will nonetheless be missed. The absence of that duo means that four players with two years or fewer of NFL experience - Brandon Jones (27 receptions, 4 TD), Courtney Roby (2 receptions) and rookies Paul Williams and Chris Davis - are virtually assured of making the roster. Jones and Roby figure to be the starters, though the Florida State product Davis opened eyes with an impressive training camp. The one real veteran in this group is the 34-year- old Moulds (57 receptions, 1 TD with Texans), who failed to make much of an impact last season in Houston but was picked up when Keyshawn Johnson resisted the Titans' advances. Ex-Bears starter Justin Gage (4 receptions with Chicago) might be in a war with sixth-round draft pick Joel Filani (Texas Tech) for the final receiving job. Even after parting ways with ex-starter Erron Kinney in the offseason, Tennessee is set with tight ends Ben Troupe (13 receptions, 2 TD), Bo Scaife (29 receptions, 2 TD), and Ben Hartsock (6 receptions) still on the roster.

OL: Apart from Young, the strength of the Tennessee offense could be a line that meshed quickly to give the team a playoff chance in 2006. In only their second year on the roster, tackles Michael Roos (left side) and David Stewart (right side) both performed quite capably, with Young's instincts and athleticism covering up many of the mistakes they might have made. The interior, led by 13-year vet Kevin Mawae at center and nine-year starter Benji Olson at right guard, was instrumental in Henry's 1,200-yard rushing season. The fifth starter, left guard Jacob Bell, is probably the least talented member of the trench group but is reliable. There is not much depth behind the main group. Eugene Amano could play center or guard in a pinch, and Seth Wand is a former starter (albeit an ineffective one) at tackle for the Texans. Rookies Leroy Harris (4th Round, N.C. State) and Mike Otto (7th Round, Purdue) could both stick, especially if holdover Daniel Loper is unable to recover from a lacerated spleen that prematurely ended his 2006 campaign.

DL: The Titans did not rush the passer or stop the run very effectively last season, yet Tennessee did little to address its deficient defensive line in the offseason. One year removed from a Pro Bowl appearance, end Kyle Vanden Bosch (75 tackles, 6 sacks) crashed back to earth with half of his previous sack total, though the fact that opposite ends Antwan Odom (9 tackles) and Travis LaBoy (31 tackles, 4 sacks) did little to scare opponents didn't help Vanden Bosch. Odom is trying to bounce back after missing 12 games with a knee injury in '06, while LaBoy missed time due to a concussion and knee problems of his own. If the Titans keep a fourth end, which would seem a prudent move due to the discussed injury problems, holdover Sean Conover (9 tackles) should stick. Manning the interior will be Albert Haynesworth (30 tackles, 2 sacks) and Randy Starks (40 tackles, 3 sacks), who were decent but far from dominant a year ago. Haynesworth missed five games last year after his suspension for intentionally stomping on the face of Dallas center Andre Gurode. If one of those players falters, free agent pickup Corey Simon or holdovers Tony Brown (33 tackles, 2 sacks) and Jesse Mahelona (11 tackles, 1 sack) will be considered for a starting position. Fifth-round draft choice Antonio Johnson (Mississippi State) is a project and is on the roster bubble.

LB: After the injury-riddled Peter Sirmon was permitted to walk away in the offseason, the Titans prepared to turn the page with second-year-pro Stephen Tulloch (47 tackles, 1 INT) at middle linebacker. Tulloch started three games last year and performed well enough to earn a full-time role, though the more experienced ex-Cowboy Ryan Fowler (24 tackles with Dallas) will be lying in wait if Tulloch fails to get the job done. Returning to the lineup are David Thornton (107 tackles) on the strong side and Keith Bulluck the weak. Both players are versatile and their presence is vital to the success of the defense. The outside backups are not great, however. Gilbert Gardner (53 tackles with the Colts) played his way out of Indianapolis after being handed a starting job prior to last year, and LeVar Woods (6 tackles with the Lions) hasn't managed to stick with pretty poor defenses in Arizona and Detroit. If both of those players make the club, 2006 second-day draft picks Terna Nande and Spencer Toone are probably out.

DB: Just when he had finally arrived as the Tennessee defense's top playmaker, troubled cornerback Pacman Jones "made it rain" to the tune of a year-long NFL suspension. His absence prompted the team to make a couple of key moves, signing solid ex-Colts corner Nick Harper (75 tackles, 3 INT with Indianapolis) in free agency and using its first-round draft choice on Texas' Michael Griffin. Griffin will eventually be a safety, but will start his career as the primary backup to Harper and Reynaldo Hill (56 tackles, 2 INT) at corner. Strong safety Chris Hope (121 tackles, 5 INT) will reclaim his position after a productive first year in Tennessee, but incumbent Lamont Thompson (73 tackles, 3 INT) will have to work hard to beat out second-year man Calvin Lowry (11 tackles) on the strong side. Cortland Finnegan (70 tackles, 2 sacks) did a nice job in the nickel role as a rookie. The fight for backup duties in the secondary will be contentious, with Donnie Nickey (12 tackles), Vincent Fuller (18 tackles), and ex-Falcon and Saint Bryan Scott (9 tackles with New Orleans) looking to contribute at strong safety and journeymen Kelly Herndon (68 tackles, 1 INT with Seattle), Eric King (4 tackles), and sixth-round draft choice Ryan Smith (Florida) trying to crack the rotation at corner.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Tennessee is set in the kicking game, with punter Craig Hentrich (42.7 avg.) set to begin his 10th year with the Titans and kicker Rob Bironas (22-28 FG) having done nothing to lose his job on placements. Long snapper (and occasional linebacker) Ken Amato begins his fifth season in Tennessee. The loss of Pacman Jones hurts Tennessee in the return game, though Cortland Finnegan was a brilliant return man in college and wideout Courtney Roby has experience on kickoff returns.

PROGNOSIS: And you thought Vince Young was a one-man team last year? The losses on both sides of the football are going to make it very difficult for the Titans to improve upon last season's mark, especially in one of the best divisions in football. Lest we forget, Tennessee plays in the AFC South, where Indianapolis is basically a lock for the playoffs, the Jaguars are somewhere in the next high-quality tier of teams, and the Texans are getting closer to weekly competitiveness under Gary Kubiak. That leaves Jeff Fisher's squad searching for ways to stem the tide, and it doesn't look like Tennessee has invested in nearly enough sandbags for 2007. Look for the Titans to back-slide into a losing mark this season, and to battle Houston to stay out of the AFC South cellar.

August 30, 2007, at 04:04 PM ET

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