Tennessee Titans: 5 Ways to Fix the Titanic Problems in Tennessee

The Tennessee Titans went from being a 5-2 playoff contender to a 5-7 candidate for an early draft pick next year.

In their first seven games the Titans were dominant with a point differential of over 80. Now the Titans are the only sub-.500 team with a positive point differential at 28.

Titans fans really have nothing positive to say about the team at this point in the season. Teams are running over their defense, and the Titans' offense has gone 13 quarters without an offensive touchdown. 

Though the Titans' season is not technically over, the most likely scenario is to look forward to next year and use the rest of this year to improve upon the team.

Here are five ways the Titans can improve their team before the 2011 season.

5. Get a Good Quarterback and Stick with Him

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 21: Lorenzo Alexander #97 of the Washington Redskins forces a fumble by quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field on November 21, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverso

Let the debate begin about whether or not Vince Young is a good quarterback and whether or not he will be with the team next year.

The fact is whoever the Titans' quarterback is, there is someone in the franchise who isn't behind that quarterback.

When Young is in, Jeff Fisher doesn't like it; when Kerry Collins is in, Bud Adams doesn't like it.

The Titans need to find a franchise quarterback who everyone in the franchise can get behind. Then the Titans need to trust him to make plays.

4. Out with the Old, in with the New

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NASHVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 24: Kerry Collins #5 of the Tennessee Titans throws a touchdown pass during the NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles at LP Field on October 24, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans won 37-19. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Im

The Titans started getting younger last year, but they need to continue that trend going into 2011.

Kerry Collins, Bo Scaife, Chris Hope, Justin Gage, Randy Moss and David Thornton are all Titans that may not be wearing two-tone blue next year.

It is time for players like Craig Stevens, Jared Cook, Damian Williams, Kenny Britt and Gerald McRath to take over.

3. Improvement at the Center and Guard Positions

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 1: Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans passes as Eugene Amano #54 looks on during the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at LP Field on November 1, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

One of the Titans' biggest problems on offense this year is the offensive line.

The biggest holes are the center and left guard positions. Eugene Amano makes a good guard but is not a top 20 center in the NFL. LeRoy Harris has not played at the level the Titans expected him to after stepping in for Kevin Mawae next year.

Either a big free agent claim or a draft pick needs to be used to improve the Titans' offensive line for the 2011 season.

2. Someone Needs to Step Up as Defensive Leader

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 02: Stephen Tulloch #55 and Will Witherspoon #92 of the Tennessee Titans amp up the crowd during an exhibition game against the New Orleans Saints at LP Field on September 2, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halver

Stephen Tulloch and Will Witherspoon looked like defensive leaders in the first seven games of the season.

However, since the Titans' losing streak started, it has not looked like anyone has any control on defense. Someone needs to step up and be the one to fire the team up.

It is one of the key features the Titans lost when they got rid of Keith Bulluck, and their defense will not be great until someone steps up.

1. Get a Power Running Back

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 05: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans runs against Courtney Greene #36 of the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half at LP Field on December 5, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

The two-back system seems to work best in the NFL. Chris Johnson has done a great job with what he's had, but the Titans need a power back to get the tough yards.

There is nothing as frustrating to a team as your running back getting stuffed on 3rd-and-1. 

Too bad the Titans didn't keep LeGarrette Blount to fill that role, so they will probably look to a second or third-round draft pick to pick up a power runner. 

Extra Point

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HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 28: Cornerback Cortland Finnegan #31 of the Tennessee Titans is held back by an official after getting into a fight with Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Leve

Here are a few other things that may help:

Increase depth at cornerback: Cortland Finnegan, Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner have done a pretty good job this year, but when one of them goes down, there isn't anyone to pick up the slack behind them.

Take more shots deep: Maybe Kerry cannot throw the deep ball anymore, but in the Jacksonville game there was maybe one deep shot taken, and it wasn't complete.

Stay healthy: Injuries have plagued the Titans' roster all year, and the effects are starting to show now.

Stop playing so conservatively: The Titans look more like they are trying not to lose by a lot rather then trying to win. If there is less than a minute left in the first half, they will run the clock out instead of trying to get a last second field goal. This needs to stop if they want to win the close games.

Other Works by Blaize

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