The Tennessee Titans haven't made the playoffs since 2008. The following two seasons -- Jeff Fisher's last two with the club -- the Titans were 8-8 and 6-10. Mike Munchak was hired in 2011 and won a respectable nine games his first season. By 2012, the team had slipped to 6-10 and it's reasonable to think that Munchak won't be back in Tennessee in 2014 if things don't improve.
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 Titans team page 2013 Schedule • Roster • Depth chart Latest Titans updates |
The organization still has questions about quarterback Jake Locker, the eighth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, but he will begin the season under center with a new cast of characters around him. The hope: Locker will become much more consistent. Last season, this offense averaged 20.6 points per game, which ranked 23rd in the league. It was equal-opportunity ineptitude. The passing game ranked 29th in efficiency, according to FootballOutsiders.com's metrics, while the running game was 26th.
Offense:
| Titans' Rivals: AFC South |
 2013 Preview • Schedule Texans @ Titans: 12/29 (1 p.m. ET) Titans @ Texans: 9/15 (1 p.m. ET) |
 2013 Preview • Schedule Colts @ Titans: 11/14 (8:25 p.m. ET) Titans @ Colts: 12/1 (1 p.m. ET) |
 2013 Preview • Schedule Jaguars @ Titans: 11/10 (1 p.m. ET) Titans @ Jaguars: 12/22 (1 p.m. ET) |
Like their counterparts in Jacksonville, the Titans want to find out what they have in Locker. While the organization might have more patience with Locker's development, don't forget that owner Bud Adams desperately wanted to shelf Locker last offseason and sign Peyton Manning. That's old history and now Locker has to prove he's more than just potential. The knock against him has always been inaccuracy, something new offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains will be charged with remedying. Loggains offered a glimpse of the Titans' offense this offseason when he said "We are going to be a run, play-action team first, but we're still going to drop back and throw the football."
Any conversation about the running game begins with Chris Johnson, who got off to a fast start in the preseason. Johnson had a bounce-back year of sorts in 2012, and while the NFL is an ever-evolving passing league, just ask the Vikings and Christian Ponder just how valuable a feature back can be to winning.
Ultimately, however, the Titans' success will rest with Locker. He has big-play wide receivers in Kenny Britt and Kendall Wright, and Delanie Walker is a versatile tight end. Now it's just a question if Locker can evolve into something more than a mobile quarterback who occasionally makes plays with his arm, too.
Defense:
To bolster a defense that allowed a league-worst 29.4 points per game last season, the Titans signed safeties Bernard Pollard (formerly of the Ravens) and George Wilson (formerly of the Bills). Up front, Sammie Lee Hill was signed away from the Lions to play defensive tackle. One of the best ways to improve the secondary? Generate a pass rush. Defensive end Derrick Morgan provides get-in-the-backfield abilities, and outside linebackers Zach Brown and Akeem Ayers combined for 11.5 sacks a season ago. In the middle, Colin McCarthy needs to stay healthy and become more consistent.
The Titans added CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, OLB Zaviar Gooden and DE Lavar Edwards in the draft and quality depth is welcome on a defense where actually stopping people didn't appear to be a priority a season ago. Also brought on board to help: Gregg Williams, suspended for the 2012 season for his involvement in the Saints bounty scandal. He's officially listed as the senior assistant/defense, although Williams, who was Fisher's defensive coordinator at one time, will be working closely with current defensive coordinator Jerry Gray.
| Tennessee Titans: 2013 schedule predictions | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | Pete Prisco's Pick | Ryan Wilson's Pick |
| Sep. 8 | at Pittsburgh | 1 p.m. |  |
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| Sep. 15 | at Houston | 1 p.m. |  |
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| Sep. 22 | San Diego | 1 p.m. |  |
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| Sep. 29 | N.Y. Jets | 4:05 p.m. | |
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| Oct. 6 | Kansas City | 1 p.m. | |
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| Oct. 13 | at Seattle | 4:05 p.m. |  |
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| Oct. 20 | San Francisco | 4:05 p.m. |  |
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| Nov. 3 | at St. Louis | 1 p.m. |  |
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| Nov. 10 | Jacksonville | 1 p.m. | |
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| Nov. 14 | Indianapolis | 8:25 p.m. | |
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| Nov. 24 | at Oakland | 4:05 p.m. | |
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| Dec. 1 | at Indianapolis | 1 p.m. |  |
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| Dec. 8 | at Denver | 4:05 p.m. |  |
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| Dec. 15 | Arizona | 1 p.m. |  |
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| Dec. 22 | at Jacksonville | 1 p.m. | |
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| Dec. 29 | Houston | 1 p.m. | |
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| Tennessee Titans' 2013 projected record: | 7-9 | 8-8 | ||
Final thoughts:
If Jake Locker can show some strides as an NFL passer, the Titans' offense suddenly becomes more dynamic, and less of the burden rests with Chris Johnson to rip off 70-yard runs every week. It will also allow Tennessee to take advantage of Kenny Britt and Kendall Wright, which puts more pressure on opposing defenses. If it all comes together, the Titans will have a chance to make a late run in the AFC South and possibly insert themselves in the playoff conversation.
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