NFL team previews — AFC Central
By Paul Kuharsky
As published in print Aug. 21, 2000
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Titans DE
Jevon Kearse
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Three unsettled years hardened the Titans. They went from perennial underachievers to a
team that met its potential with a 13-3 season, a stunning playoff run and a Super Bowl
berth that propelled them into the consciousness of fans across the country.
"It’s important we never, ever forget the great lessons we
learned,’’ general manager Floyd Reese told his team at its AFC championship
ring ceremony.
One of those lessons comes from other recent breakthrough teams who didn’t do
enough to improve after their big seasons and fell back to the pack.
The Titans are confident they are better now than they were when they fell three feet
short of forcing overtime in the Super Bowl.
Carl Pickens gives the Titans the long-absent big-play threat at wide receiver. Randall
Godfrey and Keith Bulluck make the team more athletic at linebacker. Fred Miller should be
an effective replacement for Jon Runyan at right tackle. Mike Heimerdinger is likely to be
more creative and less predictable in the role of offensive coordinator.
All in all, things are looking up for a team expecting to not only match its run from
last season but go one step further — and end up with even better rings.
Top of page
| Quarterbacks |
Grade B |
| Heimerdinger has revised the offense so that when Steve
McNair drops back, he’ll run through specific progressions. No matter where his
wideouts, tight ends or running backs line up, McNair will know exactly where to find
them. Previously, McNair’s progressions were more personnel-based. McNair still tends
to be late and short on the deep ball. But with Pickens now in the stable, things already
have begun to change. With Heimerdinger serving as coordinator and QB coach, the
communication problems McNair endured with two different coaches should be a thing of the
past. Neil O’Donnell adds a ton to the locker room and practice field as the backup. Top of page |
| Running backs |
Grade A- |
| The Titans wisely signed Eddie George to an extension, which
pretty much ensures he’ll play the rest of his career in Nashville. George’s
durability is unparalleled, as is his ability to play strong in the fourth quarter. With
Heimerdinger looking to create mismatches by lining up different people in different
places, George will be even more involved in the passing game. FB Lorenzo Neal had a big
chance in the preseason to earn a larger role. While Heimerdinger likes the Titans’
familiar two-TE set, he comes from Denver, where two-backs was the personnel set of
choice. Top of page |
| Receivers |
Grade B |
| Pickens is a serious upgrade at the WR position, where Yancey
Thigpen has been unable to stay healthy for an extended stretch and the rest of the pack
has not been able to gain McNair’s confidence on a regular basis. Now, Pickens will
start with Kevin Dyson until Thigpen is fully healthy. When Thigpen returns, head coach
Jeff Fisher will have to make a tough decision about his top three. With Heimerdinger
giving the wideouts more routes and action in the middle of the field, TE Frank Wycheck
will no longer roam there alone. Still, Wycheck will be a big key for McNair, who knows
his primary tight end will always be in the right place at the right time. Rookie Erron
Kinney looks good enough, so the Titans shouldn’t suffer too much from the departure
of Jackie Harris. Top of
page |
| Offensive linemen |
Grade B |
| Once things became settled last year, this group was very
solid. Fisher has decided to stay with the same lineup, save right tackle, where Miller
takes over for Runyan. Miller is better-suited for the Titans’ run-first offense than
he was for the Rams’ bombs-away style. Brad Hopkins is a quality left tackle, but he
needs to cut down on his penalties. Bruce Matthews solidifies everything from left guard.
Kevin Long has been quietly effective at center, and Benji Olson earned outstanding
reviews in 1999, his first year as the starting right guard. Depth-wise, the team is thin
at tackle. Top of page |
| Defensive linemen |
Grade B+ |
| Jevon Kearse established himself in just one season as a
dominant defensive end. In his second year, he will play five or six more snaps a game,
and five or six times a game he will shuffle to different spots on the line or be in
position to take on a back or a tight end. Offenses will always have to worry where Kearse
is, and that will help free up the Titans’ other linemen and linebackers. DRE Kenny
Holmes is in a contract year, and he looked very good in the preseason. If he finally
manages to stay healthy, he could be quite productive. DRT Jason Fisk was a great find in
free agency, and he could end up with a bunch of sacks with offensive lines worrying about
the edge rushers. Second-year DT John Thornton should play well enough to offset the loss
of Josh Evans (suspension). The biggest concern heading toward the end of the preseason
was depth at end. Top of
page |
| Linebackers |
Grade B+ |
| This position has been revamped, with RLB Eddie Robinson
joining two new starters: Godfrey in the middle and either Greg Favors or Bulluck, the
team’s first-round pick, on the left. As long as the newcomers can play without
overthinking in the team’s complicated defense, the group, now coached by Jim
Schwartz, should improve its production. The Titans had been looking for a player like
Godfrey for several years. He’ll be on the field virtually every down and, according
to defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, has the potential to be the best linebacker the
franchise has had in 10 years. Look for more plays from the unit against the pass. Top of page |
| Defensive backs |
Grade B- |
| CB Donald Mitchell tore up a knee in training camp and is
lost for the season, a big blow to Tennessee’s depth. Denard Walker had such a strong
training camp that he held on to the LCB job he has owned since the middle of ’97.
However, he will miss the season opener vs. Buffalo because of a league suspension. Samari
Rolle, on the brink of recognition as a top cover corner, will play on the right side, but
he may more frequently follow a team’s top threat all over the field. Dainon Sidney
is the third corner, and the Titans hope Ty Howard can be the fourth. SS Blaine Bishop and
FS Marcus Robertson remain key cogs who need to stay healthy. Bobby Myers, drafted to back
up Robertson, is coming along, but Aric Morris, a rookie strong safety, missed all of camp
after two operations to treat a blot clot in his shoulder. Top of page |
| Special teams |
Grade B+ |
| With a bumper crop of young players added to the mix, the
Titans’ coverage and return teams should be better. Frank Chamberlin, Myers, and
Peter Sirmon are among the newcomers expected to make big contributions. The Titans needed
Al Del Greco a lot less last season, and he missed a biggie in the Super Bowl, but he
remains in the upper echelon of NFL kickers. There is no better combination kickoff
man/punter than Craig Hentrich. Derrick Mason reached a new level as a returner during the
playoffs last season, and he needs to carry that into this season. "Home run throw
back," which resulted in "The Music City Miracle," showed the team has a
play for every occasion. Top
of page |
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