Tennessee Titans: Five Reasons To Worry

1.  Quarterback Isn't a Given

Kerry Collins has had a quarterback rating over 80 three times in his career.  None of them were back to back. 

The key to being the quarterback of the Titans this year will be the ability to not turn over the football.

Kerry Collins has thrown less than 10 interceptions only twice when throwing over 200 passes.  Each of those seasons he threw less than 15 touchdowns.  He will have to manage the game.

The problem is, Kerry Collins doesn't want to be labeled a game manager.  He wants to be a top quarterback.  If Collins tries too hard, the Titans will be hurt by it.

2.  Is the New D Boss, Same As the Old D Boss?

Fans better hope so.

At the end of the 2006 NFL season, the Jacksonville Jaguars ranked fourth in total defense.

In 2007 they ranked 10th.

Mike Smith left the team to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.  The team's defense drops to 17th.

After 10 season's with the Tennessee Titans, Jim Schwartz is now the head coach of the Detroit Lions. 

The Titans ranked seventh in defense last season, and they can little afford the same kind of drop off that the Jaguars saw last season.

3.  Can They Keep Up That Level?

The Titans have gone 13-3 and 10-6 the last two seasons.

The last time that the Titans had at least 10 wins for three consecutive seasons, they were the Houston Oilers.  To win at least 10 games this year, the team would have to do something that hasn't been done by the franchise since 1993. 

Jeff Fisher has never coached the Titans to three consecutive 10 plus win seasons.

4.  Defense and Special Team Free Agent Losses

Everyone know about Albert Haynesworth going to the Redskins, but that isn't all.

The Titans lost four corners in free agency over the offseason.

None of the corners were starters, but with Nick Harper at 34 years old and only one other corner on the team with more that four years of experience, they could use all the depth they can get. 

Chris Carr, the teams return specialist, had to start two games for the team because of injury last season.

Mentioning Chris Carr, the team also lost his 984 kick return and 323 punt return yards to the Baltimore Ravens.  Carr piled up 36 total 20+ yard returns for the Titans last season, more than two per game.

5.  Chris Johnson's Ego

Johnson looked great last season rushing for 1,228 yards in 15 games last season.

Along with teammate Lendale White, Johnson become part of one of the best rushing duos in the league.  With White's size and bruiser style running and Johnson's impressive speed, the duo was dubbed "Smash and Dash."

Johnson, however, seems to be more of a one man show.  Risking alienating his teammate by ditching the "Dash" for his own nickname, "Every Coach's Dream." 

Jeff Fisher has only looked comically upon the situation, but with comments like that one and Johnson's assurance that he could beat sprinter Usain Bolt in the 40-yard dash, it looks like the possible making of another Ocho Cinco.

The Titans do not have a favorable schedule this season as they will face the Chargers, Patriots, Bills, Dolphins, and Jets in the AFC. The NFC will give the team a break with the exception of the Cardinals and possibly the Seahawks in facing the NFC West.

They will need everything to go right this year.  It's very hard to expect more than an 8-8 season from Tennessee this coming season.