TENNESSEE TITANS 2009 PREVIEW
TENNESSEE TITANS 2009 PREVIEW
By Andy Benoit, www.NFLTouchdown.com
The Tennessee Titans seem to almost be taking a hands-off approach to the 2009 season. Perhaps that’s to be expected from a franchise that’s employed the same head coach for 16 years. Owner Bud Adams––who’s so hands-off that he still makes his home in Houston, some 785 miles from Nashville––believes Jeff Fisher and his Titans, who were an AFC-best 13-3 last season, have enough weapons to capture the Lombardi Trophy that has eluded this otherwise successful organization.
Only two new starters were brought in over the offseason, both to fill spots vacated by departed free agents: wide receiver Nate Washington steps in for Brandon Jones (now a 49er) and defensive tackle Jovan Haye replaces Albert Haynesworth (now a Redskin). The Washington acquisition is nothing new, really. The Titans have been infusing their mundane passing attack with middle-tier free agent receivers for years, each time investing a little more hope in the chance at striking gold. They did this with Yancey Thigpen in 1998. Then Carl Pickens in 2000. Then David Givens in 2006, and Eric Moulds in 2007. None worked out. Washington could buck this trend if he adjusts to this precision-passing offense. Or, he could represent a fruitless six-year, $27 million expenditure. In the end, the Titans will still be a run-first offense either way.
As scrutinized as it has been, the Haynesworth loss is also nothing new. After all, in 2007 Fisher and GM Mike Reinfeldt saw defensive linemen Antwan Odom, Travis LaBoy and Randy Starks break out and immediately leave for greener (as in money) pastures in free agency. None of the three did much in their respective new homes in ’08, while the Titans, on the other hand, actually got better.
Given that Tennessee never budged on its low-ball, incentives-laden offer to Haynesworth (the $20 million in guarantees they proposed were less than half of the guarantee money he received from the Redskins). It’s apparent the Titans believe they had maxed out their return on the star defensive tackle and can thrive with defensive line coach extraordinaire Jim Washburn developing a new wave of players. Smart thinking––Washburn’s defensive lines, while decent in talent but by no means mesmerizing, have been the biggest reason why this unassuming club has gone to the playoffs each of the past two years. With Washburn’s wisdom, the Titans ostensibly can carry on even with longtime defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz now serving as the head coach in Detroit. (Secondary coach Chuck Cecil assumes Schwartz’s old job.)
The franchise’s recent stability helps this cause. Tennessee’s roster management has been superb since Reinfeldt arrived in 2007. Under his guidance, the Titans have aced two first-round draft choices (safety Michael Griffin in ’07, running back Chris Johnson in ’08), plugged holes with solid, cost-effective veteran acquisitions (see guard Jake Scott, defensive end Jevon Kearse, safety Chris Hope) and reaped the rewards of a steadfast commitment to developing talent from within (see left tackle Michael Roos, tight end Bo Scaife, linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Cortland Finnegan).
The topic of developing talent from within versus signing mid-major veteran free agents brings us to the quarterback situation. In the most positive of signs, there is no quarterback situation. Thirty-six-year-old journeyman Kerry Collins (who re-signed for two years, $15 million) is the starter, and 26-year-old enigma Vince Young (whom Bud Adams ostensibly compelled his staff to draft No. 3 overall in 2006) is the backup. Those who need to be told why haven’t been watching pro football the past 12 months.
So Collins and 19 other starters are back. But are they forming the team that started 10-0 last season, or the one that finished 3-4? Depends how you look at it. Some see a reliable, ball-control offense. Others see a lack of firepower. Some see veteran leadership in players like Collins, center Kevin Mawae and linebacker Keith Bulluck. Others see declining old-timers who are likely gone after the season (Mawae and Bulluck are both in contract years). Optimists crow that this is a fairly deep club. Pessimists quip “not anymore”, as a slew of players that includes Mawae, defensive tackle Tony Brown, defensive lineman Dave Ball and cornerback Nick Harper spent the offseason recovering from various surgeries.
The Titans are not a pretty team, which leaves their image up to the eye of the beholder. So, let’s take a closer look.
Click here to continue reading, or visit: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/tennessee-titans-2009-preview/
Click here for Titans ’09 Quick Hits, or visit: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/tennessee-titans-09-quick-hits/
By Andy Benoit, www.NFLTouchdown.com
The Tennessee Titans seem to almost be taking a hands-off approach to the 2009 season. Perhaps that’s to be expected from a franchise that’s employed the same head coach for 16 years. Owner Bud Adams––who’s so hands-off that he still makes his home in Houston, some 785 miles from Nashville––believes Jeff Fisher and his Titans, who were an AFC-best 13-3 last season, have enough weapons to capture the Lombardi Trophy that has eluded this otherwise successful organization.
Only two new starters were brought in over the offseason, both to fill spots vacated by departed free agents: wide receiver Nate Washington steps in for Brandon Jones (now a 49er) and defensive tackle Jovan Haye replaces Albert Haynesworth (now a Redskin). The Washington acquisition is nothing new, really. The Titans have been infusing their mundane passing attack with middle-tier free agent receivers for years, each time investing a little more hope in the chance at striking gold. They did this with Yancey Thigpen in 1998. Then Carl Pickens in 2000. Then David Givens in 2006, and Eric Moulds in 2007. None worked out. Washington could buck this trend if he adjusts to this precision-passing offense. Or, he could represent a fruitless six-year, $27 million expenditure. In the end, the Titans will still be a run-first offense either way.
As scrutinized as it has been, the Haynesworth loss is also nothing new. After all, in 2007 Fisher and GM Mike Reinfeldt saw defensive linemen Antwan Odom, Travis LaBoy and Randy Starks break out and immediately leave for greener (as in money) pastures in free agency. None of the three did much in their respective new homes in ’08, while the Titans, on the other hand, actually got better.
Given that Tennessee never budged on its low-ball, incentives-laden offer to Haynesworth (the $20 million in guarantees they proposed were less than half of the guarantee money he received from the Redskins). It’s apparent the Titans believe they had maxed out their return on the star defensive tackle and can thrive with defensive line coach extraordinaire Jim Washburn developing a new wave of players. Smart thinking––Washburn’s defensive lines, while decent in talent but by no means mesmerizing, have been the biggest reason why this unassuming club has gone to the playoffs each of the past two years. With Washburn’s wisdom, the Titans ostensibly can carry on even with longtime defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz now serving as the head coach in Detroit. (Secondary coach Chuck Cecil assumes Schwartz’s old job.)
The franchise’s recent stability helps this cause. Tennessee’s roster management has been superb since Reinfeldt arrived in 2007. Under his guidance, the Titans have aced two first-round draft choices (safety Michael Griffin in ’07, running back Chris Johnson in ’08), plugged holes with solid, cost-effective veteran acquisitions (see guard Jake Scott, defensive end Jevon Kearse, safety Chris Hope) and reaped the rewards of a steadfast commitment to developing talent from within (see left tackle Michael Roos, tight end Bo Scaife, linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Cortland Finnegan).
The topic of developing talent from within versus signing mid-major veteran free agents brings us to the quarterback situation. In the most positive of signs, there is no quarterback situation. Thirty-six-year-old journeyman Kerry Collins (who re-signed for two years, $15 million) is the starter, and 26-year-old enigma Vince Young (whom Bud Adams ostensibly compelled his staff to draft No. 3 overall in 2006) is the backup. Those who need to be told why haven’t been watching pro football the past 12 months.
So Collins and 19 other starters are back. But are they forming the team that started 10-0 last season, or the one that finished 3-4? Depends how you look at it. Some see a reliable, ball-control offense. Others see a lack of firepower. Some see veteran leadership in players like Collins, center Kevin Mawae and linebacker Keith Bulluck. Others see declining old-timers who are likely gone after the season (Mawae and Bulluck are both in contract years). Optimists crow that this is a fairly deep club. Pessimists quip “not anymore”, as a slew of players that includes Mawae, defensive tackle Tony Brown, defensive lineman Dave Ball and cornerback Nick Harper spent the offseason recovering from various surgeries.
The Titans are not a pretty team, which leaves their image up to the eye of the beholder. So, let’s take a closer look.
Click here to continue reading, or visit: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/tennessee-titans-2009-preview/
Click here for Titans ’09 Quick Hits, or visit: http://www.nfltouchdown.com/tennessee-titans-09-quick-hits/
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