We’re just about at the halfway point because now we start to preview a stretch of teams that finished 8-8 last season. Finishing .500 always creates debate for fans of that certain team. The optimist will tell you that the team is set to make the leap to become a playoff-calibre team. Meanwhile, the pessimist will tell you that the mediocrity can only lead to bad things down the road.
Well, lots to debate about when it comes to the Tennessee Titans. After starting the season 0-6, the Titans won 8 of their last 10 games to finish with a respectable record, but a record that fell just short of the playoffs. Easy question here: What team are we more likely to see in 2010? Will it be the fall 2009 team or the winter 2009 team?
Well, unlike some other teams that require tons of explanation as to how they’re going to win football games, it’s very simple with the Titans. They’re going to come at opponents with smash-mouth football led by Chris Johnson and hope to be in a position to win the game and be the fresher of the two teams in the later stages of the game.
Johnson has promised a 2500 yard season this year from the backfield and I’m thinking that he may just need it if the Titans want to be a playoff team. I just don’t think he gets there because it’s just such an unrealistic number, they don’t have a stacked offensive line to create consistent holes and with a lack of passing offence, teams can just stack up against the run.
Vince Young had a great finish last season, but the question still has to be answered: Does he have the maturity and the ability to be a great quarterback in this league? I still don’t see it myself and his passing options are a further hindrance. The Titans receivers are all competent NFL players, but none of them possess enough ability to take over a game. Bo Scaife is a nice option at tight end, but not nearly enough.
Despite a lot of negativity, the big problem with this team will be with their defence. There’s just not enough talent with this group, particularly on the defensive line. If you can’t get pressure on the quarterback, that creates all sorts of problems. The Titans have a pretty good secondary, but they’ll be tested every single time they face a team with any sort of pass attack.
Two players to look out for in camp are Eugene Amano and Nate Washington. Most have never heard of Amano, but he will be an important member of the team this year with the subtraction of All-Pro center Kevin Mawae. Can Amano fill the shoes of someone who was such a great leader for the offence and the team in general? Washington has to finally prove that he can be a number one receiver in this league. It would be such a big help to this team if they could add a semblance of a pass attack.
2010 Prediction: 7-9