Tennessee Titans:        

2013 RECORD: 7-9  

2012 RECORD: 6-10   

2011 RECORD: 9-7   

2010 RECORD: 6-10   

TEAM OVERVIEW: Tennessee improved by one win in ’13 but it was not enough for Mike Munchak to save his job.  Ken Whisenhunt takes over a team that beat SD 20-17 in Week 3, the only win they had over a playoff team.  Considered a strong teacher of QB’s, his task is to hope a healthy Jake Locker can take the next step under his tutelage.  Just as critical is fixing a pass D that has been at or near the bottom of the NFL for the past few seasons.  How important is this upcoming draft?  Perhaps the difference between making and missing the playoffs!  The new DC is Ray Horton and that is a huge plus.  Give him some talent and perhaps these Titans move up in a Division which is soft enough to allow for a couple extra wins. 

KEY STATS: The Titans are on a terrible roll with regard to their pass D%.  That figure stayed high in ’13 at 63.1%, but somehow they tied for 1st by allowing just 15 passing TD’s.  They did reduce their points allowed by 90, but the average was still mediocre at just under 24 per game.  Another piece of good news was allowing opponents just 34+% for 3rd down conversions.  There’s not much else to report other than their punt return D coming in 3rd (6.0) and a bit high kick return D.  Perhaps Tennessee is just a dynamic QB away from moving up in the AFC?  Spread-wise, losing HC Fisher in ’11 meant that some great long term trends had to be thrown out.  All Titan spread situations remain in the monitor stage, maybe permanently?  

2013 DRAFT REVIEW: Tennessee’s chose the 5th of five top OL at #10.  The Titans needed an extra WR and traded up to get solid WR Hunter.  The price was steep, trading 40/216 and a 3rd in ’14 to move up six spots.  In the ’12 draft Tennessee’s sleeper round picks were not highly rated (by me).  The ‘13 sleeper picks looked better at the time and they all made the team.  Free agency was a plus, with TE Walker going 60-16.1-6, Safety Pollard with a team high 99 tackles, and in a surprise, LB Fokou adding 78 tackles.  RB Green and DT Sammie Lee Hill added some complementary value.  Finally, QB Fitzgerald played in 11 games subbing for the once again injured Jake Locker.  He hit 62%, but the 12 interceptions remain a problem for him.

2012 DRAFT REVISITED: For years I said Tennessee needed to get faster at LB.  Zack Brown made the Titans faster and has 185 tackles in two seasons.   WR Wright went from 68-4 with a low 9.8 per reception to 91-2 and 11.5 per reception.  DT Martin regressed to 15 tackles.  CB Sensabaugh added another 31 tackles.  NR TE Thompson had 3 tackles.  The remaining two picks are no longer with the team.

TOP STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS PRIOR TO THE DRAFT: It’s hard to find a true strength.  The left side of the OL looks good, and the entire OL may be back on the rise.  Once again the weakness is that pass D%, which needs a major overhaul.

FREE AGENCY ANALYSIS AND STAFF NOTES: Charlie Whitehurst replaces Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB.  Versatile Dexter McCluster and decent RT Oher were the other main offensive changes.  As expected, WR Britt has moved on.  DE/pass rushing LB Shaun Phillips should add some juice up front.  Overachieving LB Woodward adds depth.  An already suspect secondary will miss solid CB Verner.  While Whisenhaut and Ray Horton have solid coaching resumes, the new Offensive Coordinator is Jason Michael.  He’s generally been only a tight ends coach.  

2014 DRAFT NEEDS: 2 LB’s, cover CB, NT, safety depth, QB decision, extra RB if Chris Johnson leaves, extra WR if Britt leaves, late OL for depth.  Tennessee is likely moving to a 3-4 defensive alignment.  They don’t have enough quality LB’s right now to make that shift.  The pass D% won’t go down until a more active (fast, press style) CB is added.  The DL has some talent but lacks a NT for the new scheme.  An additional safety pick should be considered.  Is Jake Locker the guy?  Tennessee might wait and hope he can play all 16 games in ’14.  Oher helps, but another OL should be added.