Measuring Success: What the Titans Have to Accomplish in 2012

The Tennessee Titans could win the Super Bowl.

The miracle of 1999 could repeat in 2012. After all, the '99 Titans were coming off three straight 8-8 years before making the Super Bowl. It's not impossible to envision a spectacular run to glory this year.

Short of those lofty goals, however, it is possible for the Titans to have a successful season without hoisting Lombardi come February.

Here's what they must accomplish if they want to feel good about 2012.

The Titans Must Make the Playoffs

I don't know that they have to win the South feel good about themselves, but after going 9-7 in 2011, fans expect the team to make the next level. That means a Wild Card berth at least. Anything less is not going to feel like a success. My motto in football is, "Never spit on making the playoffs." Fans that complain about playoff spots don't deserve to cheer for miracle runs. Miracles only happen when you make the tournament.

The Titans need to make the playoffs, unless...

Jake Locker Must Have an Amazing Season

Hang with me for a moment. While I think the one path to success for the Titans is a playoff spot, I can see fans in Tennessee getting excited about a big year from Jake Locker, even if events conspire to keep the Titans out of January football.

Which would portend better for the Titans' future? Making the playoffs at 10-6 in 2012 behind Matt Hasselbeck or suffering through a lot of injuries, having a frustrating season of 7-9, but in the process witnessing Jake Locker grab the starting job and play good football? For the long-term health of the franchise, Locker is more important than the season.

One of those two things has to happen. But there are other developments that need to occur in order to see either one take place.

The Titans Must Have an Elite Passing Game

They have loaded up on receivers in Nashville and the team is stocked. Regardless of who plays quarterback, the Titans have to have a top-five passing game for the season to be and feel successful. This means Kenny Britt stays healthy, Kendall Wright comes on strong and Jared Cook repeats his 2011 success.

Mike Munchak Must Make the Titans His Team

It will take time for the ghost of Jeff Fisher to fully leave the Titans. He coached the team for more than a decade and a half, and Munchak was there for every down of it. Munchak is slowly imprinting his personality and philosophy on the franchise, but somehow it still feels like Fisher-ball is lurking in the DNA of the team.

If Munchak can fully establish his way of doing things and be the unquestioned leader of the franchise, the Titans will be better for it. Ghosts make for lousy coaches.

The Titans Must Find a 10-Sack Player

Actually, a 10-sack player might be asking too much from a team that could stand to find a pair of five-sack players. The Titans had a horrible pass rush in 2011, and it probably kept them out of the playoffs. They haven't done enough to address the issue this offseason, so they'll have to bank on players they have getting better. Yes, they signed Kamerion Wimbley, but he hasn't posted double-digit sacks since 2006.

Whether it's Wimbley, a trade for a player like Dwight Freeney, improvement from someone on the roster or just creative scheming, the Titans need to improve the pass rush in 2012 if they want fans to feel confident about the future.

Any time a team ignores what appears to be an obvious need in the offseason, they run the risk of alienating fans and players. If they want to prove they knew what they were doing all along, finding those sacks needs to happen.