Fanhouse NFL Season Preview: Tennesee Titans--Can VY Step Up This Year

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: If you can say with certainty that you know whether Vince Young is going to take a big leap forward this year, or stumble into mediocrity, I want to hear your stock tips. The Titans say they're happy with the way Young has improved his drops and his accuracy during training camp--we just haven't seen much of it in games. Kerry Collins is a very solid backup, but with the group of receivers these two are going to have to throw to, it's hard to know how much blame they deserve if the passing game struggles. Heat Index: 5.


Running Backs: By drafting Chris Johnson, the Titans passed on adding a wide receiver in order to add a first-rate talent at a position of strength. It's early, but it's hard to argue with the choice now. Most of the receivers the Titans could have taken are buried on benches around the NFL while Johnson looks to be the big-play threat the Titans lacked last year. Lendale White will still likely get the majority of the carries, but Johnson will get 15-20 touches a game, with the hope that he can be everything the Saints have expected out of Reggie Bush. By sharing time, White's production may pick up some as well. With Chris Henry and Quinton Gather, the Titans have enough depth to survive an injury to White, although Johnson's big-play ability would be tougher to replace. Heat Index: 6.

Wide Receivers: This is where it gets ugly. The Titans have a very good pair of tight ends in Alge Crumpler and Bo Scaife, but over at wide receiver, there's really no one to rely on. Justin Gage is the team's best wideout, but that's largely by default. Justin McCareins hasn't shown much to prove his disappointing time with the Jets was a fluke, but he'll still be one of Vince Young's top targets--largely because there's no other options. If there's a worse group of wideouts in the NFL, I don't know where they're playing. The grade is bumped up thanks to the tight ends. Heat Index: 3.

Offensive Line: I'm not saying that Kevin Mawae has been around a while, but when he was a rookie, current rookie Chris Johnson was nine years old. Mawae is still one of the headiest centers in the league, but the strength of this line is the tackles--Michael Roos and David Stewart are capable run and pass blockers. Add in Jake Scott and Eugene Amano at guard (with a capable backup behind them in Leroy Harris) and you have one of the better offensive lines in the game. There's likely no Pro Bowler on this line, but there's also not really a weak link. Heat Index: 8.

Defensive Line: The Titans decided during the offseason that they weren't going to give Albert Haynesworth a long-term contract extension. That may be bad news for the chances of Haynesworth sticking around Tennessee for the rest of his career, but it's good news in ensuring that Haynesworth shows up for every game with the fire and intensity he showed last year. In 2007, Haynesworth was an entirely new player, proving to be unblockable until a hamstring injury sapped his explosiveness late in the year. If he stays healthy, he will destroy running games all year, as he has the speed and power to annihilate any team foolish enough to block him one-on-one, and he's even capable of creating havoc against double teams. Having Haynesworth inside ensures that Kyle Vanden Bosch gets some one-on-one opportunities on the outside, where his motor and wide array of pass rush moves are a nightmare for most tackles. Jason Jones, the team's second-round pick, has looked good this fall, and should ensure there's a solid rotation at defensive tackle that keeps everyone fresh. The biggest question mark is whether defensive end Jevon Kearse has anything left after injuries have ruined the tail end of his career. Heat Index: 9.

Linebackers: Keith Bulluck, Ryan Fowler and David Thornton are a very solid group of linebackers, although Bulluck is the one star of the group. Fowler and Thornton are more solid pluggers than stars, but with Haynesworth and Vanden Bosch swallowing up the blockers, they just have to run to the ball. The depth at the position is pretty good as well, as Stephen Tulloch is a decent fill-in if Fowler gets slapped with a steroids suspension, although Fowler may have dodged that bullet. Heat Index: 7.

Defensive Backs: Pacman Jones who? Yes, the Titans may miss Jones' punt return ability and his ability to blanket wide receivers, but as they showed last year, eliminating the headaches that come with having Jones on the roster. Cortland Finnegan has stepped into Jones' role as the team's shutdown corner. He's not Jones, but he is a rising star. Nick Harper is a solid, steady and unspectacular veteran at the other corner spot. Michael Griffin, the 2007 first-round pick, joins with Chris Hope to give the Titans a very solid pair of safeties. And there's plenty of depth as well, especially with some position flexibility from players like Griffin, who's not uncomfortable sliding into the slot in dime packages if needed. Heat Index: 7.

Special Teams: Rob Bironas is a very steady kicker, and he'll likely get a lot of chances with an offense that has struggled to score touchdowns. Craig Hentrich is just as solid at punter. Chris Carr isnt' really well known, but he is a very solid returner. Heat Index: 8.

Coaching: Jeff Fisher is the dean of NFL coaches, and he always seems to get as much or more out of the Titans than is expected. Mike Heimerdinger is the man on the spot, as the new offensive coordinator is expected to get the production out of Young that former coordinator Norm Chow was unable to do. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz isn't facing nearly as much pressure--he just has to match what he did last year. Heat Index: 9.

Intangibles: During Vince Young's rookie year, the Titans nearly made the playoffs. Last year, they slipped into the first round despite a struggling offense. If the passing game doesn't improve this year, Young is going to feel plenty of heat, even if it's not all his fault. Heat Index: 5.

Total Heat Index: 66. The Titans have an outstanding defense and a potentially explosive running game thanks to Chris Johnson. But unless a legitimate starting receiver falls from the sky, the passing game's struggles could keep Tennessee from getting back to the playoffs.