Check out all of our 2009 NFL team previews.
Offseason Additions: Jovan Haye (DT); Nate Washington (WR); Patrick Ramsey (QB).
Offseason Losses: Albert Haynesworth (DT); Justin McCareins (WR); Brandon Jones (WR).
Player to Watch: Tony Brown, DT.
The Titans lost their biggest and best defender this offseason when Albert Haynesworth signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Redskins. So meet Tony Brown, the man responsible for filling Haynesworth’s massive shoes. At 6’3” and 285 pounds, Brown isn’t the gargantuan that the 6’7”, 320-pound Haynesworth is, but that’s not to say that Brown isn’t capable of manning his former teammate’s old position. He nearly made the Pro Bowl last season and while he definitely benefited from offensive lines doubling Haynesworth, Brown is great at getting off the ball and causing havoc in the opponent’s backfields. While replacing Haynesworth won’t be easy, if Brown learns how to handle double-teams then the Titans’ defensive line should be fine.
Team Strength: The Titans’ strength is that they carry out the Cover 2 scheme to perfection. Losing Haynesworth and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz (who took over as head coach of the Lions) hurts, but Chuck Cecil is up to the task of taking over a unit that is technically sound as a group. Tennessee does an excellent job of keeping its linemen fresh by rotating them throughout the game. Their depth is outstanding and all of their linemen know how to disrupt their opponents’ game plans. But for as good as the Titans are up front, the secondary is what separates them from the pack. Cortland Finnegan has developed into a solid cover corner and while he needs to cut back on the penalties, he’s emerged as a rising star in the league. Nick Harper is aging but a perfect fit in the Cover 2 scheme based on his skill set and safeties Chris Hope and Michael Griffin know their jobs and carry out their assignments to a T. Of course, linebacker Keith Bulluck continues to be the heartbeat of the Titans’ defense.
Potential Weakness: Tennessee compiled the NFL’s best record last season but was bounced in the Divisional Round of the playoffs by Baltimore, mostly due to their lack of overall playmakers on offense. Second year running back Chris Johnson is a fantastic weapon for quarterback Kerry Collins to use out of the backfield, but the Titans need free agent pick up Nate Washington to give them an added dimension in the passing game. Unfortunately, Washington has been battling a hamstring injury and he might not be ready for the Titans’ opener. Even when he is healthy, Washington isn’t a true No. 1 and Tennessee will still have to rely on Justin Gage and Bo Scaife to make plays in the passing game. The team is banking on first round pick Kenny Britt to eventually become their No. 1 receiver, but most wideouts don’t make an impact in their rookie seasons so the Titans could be devoid of offensive playmakers again this year.
Outlook: The Titans seem to be a forgotten team this year. Pundits immediately began writing Tennessee off when Haynesworth signed with the Redskins, but the Titans still have plenty of talent on the defensive side of the ball and are going to be tough to score on. Collins will also keep the offense moving and as long as he doesn’t suffer a sophomore slump, Johnson is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. In the end, the Titans won’t finish with the league’s best regular season record again, but a playoff berth for Jeff Fisher’s team isn’t out of the question. They just need someone to step forward on offense so that Johnson doesn’t have to provide all the scoring.
2009 Prediction: Second, AFC South.
