Tennessee Titans: 8 Players Who Stepped Up Big in the Preseason

Whenever you're analyzing a preseason, you have to be careful not to read too much into the overall record.

With that said, the Tennessee Titans finished off the preseason with a 3-1 mark, and a solid performance overall.

If the Titans are going to make an unexpected appearance in the postseason, they're going to have to get contributions from a new cast of characters. The old cast wasn't getting it done, hence the 14-18 record over the last two seasons.

These eight players had stellar preseasons, and should help the Titans make a huge step in the right direction this season.

Jake Locker

We all know that Jake Locker was drafted to be the future of this franchise, and he showed why he was drafted eighth overall in the NFL draft with what he did this preseason.

Locker had his breakout game in the finale against the Saints, but he displayed great maturity as a rookie for almost every down he was a part of.

Matt Hasselbeck was brought in to take the reigns until Locker is ready, but by the looks of this preseason it shouldn't be that long until Locker is ready.

Locker finishes out the preseason going 32-of-39 passing, with 316 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.

He also added 50 rushing yards and a touchdown.

The stats aren't nearly as important as the intangibles Locker showed in the huddle. The Titans are in good hands in the future at quarterback.

Jamie Harper

Jamie Harper might be the biggest surprise the Titans get out of this preseason.

In result of Chris Johnson's holdout, Harper got the opportunity to start three preseason games and he didn't disappoint.

The Titans' primary backup to Johnson, Javon Ringer, also battled injuries all preseason.

Harper rarely got pushed back behind the line of scrimmage and displayed his great downhill running abilities. Almost like a LenDale White, but with more speed and minus the tequila.

There has to be a spot carved out on this roster for Harper when it's all said and done. He'll be a great goal-line back for the Titans this season.

Harper's final stat line ends with 38 carries, 168 yards and three touchdowns. The most important stat, however, is no fumbles.

This could end up being a steal in the draft when we look back on it in three or four years.

Karl Klug

This is the one guy hardly anyone is talking about, but everyone should be talking about.

Klug has been disruptive in the opposition's backfield this entire preseason, and it's led to four quarterback hits, two sacks and three tackles for loss.

One of the major questions heading into the 2011 season is how effective the young defensive line of the Titans can be.

Klug will play a major role in making the Titans a team that forces turnovers, which they'll need if they want to improve from last season.

Tommie Campbell

Tommie Campbell was one of those players who had to prove something to make a spot on the roster, and he did by grabbing two interceptions.

One of those went 90 yards for a touchdown.

Campbell gave the Titans a reason to reserve a roster spot for him, and he should be a valuable part of the special-teams unit this season if anything else.

If Campbell does make the final roster, he'll join Cortland Finnegan and Marc Mariani as the last three seventh-round picks the Titans have taken. That's pretty good company to be in.

Colin McCarthy

Colin McCarthy could end up being the best draft pick of the 2011 class when we look back at this in five years. He's got that much potential.

McCarthy showed great leadership among the backups this preseason, and capped off his preseason with a textbook strip against the Saints to force a fumble.

He also looked good dropping back into coverage, another area the Titans have struggled in lately.

He won't be a starter, but he'll be one or two injuries away from being a huge part of the defensive game plan.

Jordan Babineaux

Chris Hope shouldn't be getting too comfortable at his starting strong-safety spot, because Jordan Babineaux was electrifying this preseason and has eight years of experience to go along with it.

The Titans got burned by the pass all last season. Babineaux could end up being a breath of fresh air for a secondary that has struggled greatly the past two seasons.

Babineaux had two interceptions and six tackles this preseason. Don't rule out Babineaux seeing some serious action in 2011.

Jared Cook

There are high expectations for Jared Cook in 2011 with a veteran like Matt Hasselbeck throwing him the ball. Don't be surprised if Cook has his breakout year.

Cook was the top target for both Hasselbeck and Jake Locker during the preseason, and he came up with the catch almost every time.

In fact, Cook was targeted nine times this preseason, and eight of those Cook came up with the catch. If he can extend that reliability into the regular season, it will do wonders for Hasselbeck.

Damian Williams

Damian Williams was having an average preseason until he returned that punt for a touchdown, even though it did come against a great amount of Saints backups.

Williams will play a vital role in how the Titans offense performs in 2011, and he made some solid catches this preseason to show that he's ready to become a reliable receiver.

Once Hasselbeck builds some solid chemistry with Williams and the rest of the wide receivers, you'll start to see Williams make an impact on the offense.