Titans '07 preview
With a rookie quarterback leading the way, the Tennessee Titans climbed back to respectability a lot faster than most people thought they would.
They started last season 0-5 before Vince Young put on his Superman cape and guided the team to an 8-8 record, which included a stretch of six straight wins. Young was named NFL rookie of the year, and the Titans finished one win short of the playoffs. Now their challenge will be to take the next step and they'll have to do it with less firepower than they had last season.
The plan going into the offseason was to surround Young with more talent on offense – or at least that's what everyone thought. Then the Titans lost their top running back and their top two receivers, and they chose not to get into a bidding war for the top free agents on the market. Instead, the Titans went after younger, more affordable players. They hope the additions will allow the team to keep rolling on the momentum it built in the second half of last season, but it will be an uphill battle.
GAME PLAN
Offense: Last season, coordinator Norm Chow built game plans that took advantage of Young's strengths and a solid running game. As a result, there wasn't much pressure on Young to win games by himself. With running back Travis Henry gone, though, Young will have to do more. He demonstrated in the offseason that he has a much better grasp of the offense, and the Titans will certainly need more from him.
Defense: The Titans once had a reputation for being one of the league's best at defending the run. They've fallen off that perch in recent years, and the top priority this season is to shore up that area. Coordinator Jim Schwartz would like to attack more this season and put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, but he'll need another end to emerge before the Titans can do that. Schwartz has some experienced players, so the more aggressive plan seems reasonable. He also has to figure out how to overcome the one-year suspension of cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones.
SPOTLIGHT PLAYERS
QB Vince Young: Young won games – in dramatic fashion – with his arm and legs last season. But he is far from a finished product, especially as a passer: His .515 completion percentage was the NFL's worst. His decision making improved as the season went on, though, and the Titans believe he'll be even better this year. He worked on his footwork this offseason, which could help, but Chow also wants to see his accuracy improve.
Coaches think veteran backup Kerry Collins, who started the first three games of 2006, is capable of playing well if the team needs him, but his most important job for now will be continuing to mentor Young.
The running backs: Travis Henry was a workhorse, but the Titans released him because of salary cap concerns. The move was not well-received by the offensive linemen. Now, LenDale White is on the spot, and that's a concern because he played sparingly in his rookie season, partly because of nagging injuries. The Titans haven't been impressed with his work ethic, and when he showed up at the offseason program overweight, it raised even more red flags.
Still, the Titans are confident White – a sturdy back with quick feet and a burst in the hole – will be productive. Behind him will be Chris Henry, a second-round pick who will compete for playing time. Henry has good size and speed and has shown he can get the tough yards up the middle. But he is raw and has never produced for a full season. The wild card in the mix is Chris Brown.
DE Kyle Vanden Bosch: Vanden Bosch's sacks total dipped from 12½ in 2005 to 6½ in '06, though he was playing with his usual high level of intensity. The problem last season was that there wasn't a consistent pass rusher on the opposite side to take the pressure off Vanden Bosch, which led to more attention from opponents in the forms of double-teams and chips.
OLB Keith Bulluck: The Titans have speed on the outside with Bulluck and David Thornton. The Titans have used Bulluck to rush the passer and cover running backs and tight ends in the passing game – and they've relied on him to run down ballcarriers sideline to sideline. This season, the team needs him to create more turnovers and big plays.
Like Bulluck, Thornton is capable of doing many things. He was highly productive in his first year with the team, and the Titans want even more from him this season. Look for his blitzing opportunities to increase.
VINNIE IYER'S TAKE
Young's reward for playing so well as a rookie? A very disappointing offseason in which the team did little to get him some help. Pacman Jones' yearlong suspension was the only notable news.
Prediction: 7-9 (3rd in the AFC South).
FALL FORECAST
After a great finish to 2006, the Titans have plenty of optimism. They took some big hits in the offseason, though, which could make taking the next step difficult. Young did some great things as a rookie, but his athleticism and ability to pull things off in dramatic fashion disguised the fact he has plenty of learning to do. He will keep getting better, but he's going to need some help.
The situation with Pacman Jones is a distraction, and losing a player of his caliber will hurt. Couple that with the lack of playmakers on offense and it will be difficult for the team to get over the hump and into the playoffs.
Jim Wyatt covers the Titans for the Nashville Tennessean and Sporting News.
