2011 NFL Preview: Tennessee Titans

2010 Record: 6-10



Offense:



If Chris Johnson would just end his holdout I would actually be a fan of this offense. They are still a "ground and pound team" (No homo), but the addition of Matt Hasselbeck gives them a stable QB that knows how to win football games. Plus, Hasselbeck is a great mentor for Jake Locker (my favorite QB out of the draft). Kenny Britt has been unstoppable at times, but several run-ins with the law make you wonder how much football he will actually be playing this year. Nate Washington, Justin Gage are decent but nothing special. Then again, this will be the first time they will have a QB that can throw down field with accuracy, so maybe they will be better then people think.



Defense:



Jason Jones is a beast, and the comeback of Derrick Morgan from an ACL injury will be key to this defensive unit. They picked up Barrett Ruud, who should eat up some tackles, and drafted Akeem Ayers who I am very high on. They have some good vets in the defensive backfield with Michael Griffin and Chris Hope and corner Cortland Finnegan, plus second-year Alterraun Verner. All and all they are an up and coming defense, but nothing that is going to be overly special. Unless these young guys turn really good really quick.



Overall:



This holdout with Johnson worries me. Even if he comes back, I feel like he will pull a hamstring or something. That seems to happen every time a guy holds out. I like where this team is going, but it won't be to the playoffs this year.



2011 Record: 7-9

McNabb To Titans?

We have been hearing for awhile now that Kolb is going to be traded to the Cardinals. The Cardinals I had as one of the top teams likely to get McNabb. I still think the best spot for McNabb is the Vikings, but the Titans make a lot of sense. They are a boarder playoff caliber team, they have a great running back, and could use a vet to give some time to develop Jake Locker. With Kerry Collins retiring the door seems to be open for McNabb to pick put that roll of being a bridge, and I think in the right offense he could be very good again (another option could be Hasselbeck).

There is a couple reasons why I think the Vikings should go harder after McNabb. For one Ponder sucks. That was a terrible pick and I can't wait to see how stupid they look in a year or two. Even if he is something I can't see him being ready to go this year, and that could be a serious problem as this team is ready to win now. McNabb could be a nice fit, and they have a lot of very good WRs that McNabb could spread the field with. That coupled with a great running game and you would think the Vikings could at least challenge in the NFC North again.

Kerry Collins Retires

After 16 NFL seasons, Titans quarterback Kerry Collins has announced his retirement, and I couldn't be happier. I just never liked the guy. Maybe it's because I always thought that Vince Young should be starter, or maybe it was his time with the Giants, but whatever it was I always hated him. Also, he was so overrated, and was part of the worst Super Bowl game ever (Giants/Ravens). So fuck him.

Anyways, this could open the door for the Titans to bring in another veteran (Matt Hasselbeck?) to act as a mentor for Locker and buy the Titans some time to get him prepared.