Last season the Titans went 12-3-0 winning the AFC South division. Tennessee had a bye into the Divisional Playoffs round where they lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 13-10.

Offense: Last season Tennessee’s offense was led by their seventh ranked rushing offense. Led by “Thunder and Lightning,” LenDale White and Chris Johnson, the Titans averaged 137.4 yards per game on the ground last season. Quarterback Kerry Collins is more of a game managing type quarterback than a game changing one, which is why the Titans ranked 27th in passing yards last year, and why no Titans receiver had over 700 yards receiving. The Titans added wide receiver Kenny Britt from Rutgers with their first pick in the NFL Draft and hope he will be able to help their passing attack, but injuries have slowed him so far this season.

Defense: The Titans defense last season ranked seventh overall in yards allowed, second in points allowed, and sixth in rushing yards allowed, but in the offseason the Titans lost a big piece of their defense, a really big piece. Albert Haynesworth, the 6’6” run stopper, left the Titans for a $100 million contract in Washington this offseason leaving the Titans scrambling to find his replacement. The Titans believe it will take a collection of players to help fill the void left by Haynesworth including newly signed Jovan Haye, Tony Brown, and Kevin Vickerson. Vickerson has been slimming down for this season, according to reports, and is down to around 305 pounds to help him move faster in clogging up the line.

Star Power: “Lightning” Chris Johnson rushed for over 1,200 yards last season with nine touchdowns in his rookie season. Johnson was the fastest running back coming out of East Carolina and has been running past, and through, defenders in his short time in the NFL. Splitting time with LenDale White has cost Johnson some touchdowns, but he should continue to breakout this upcoming season. Expect 1,500 yards and double digit touchdowns this year from Johnson even though he is splitting time with White.

Biggest Addition: Jovan Haye is one of the players the Titans hope can help fill the void on the defensive line left by Albert Haynesworth’s departure. In 2007, his second season in the league, Haye recorded 68 tackles and six sacks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but last season his production started to slip as he recorded only 33 tackles, with no sacks. Tennessee hopes that Haye can return to his 2007 form, because doing so can help the Titans to stabilize their defensive line.

Biggest Loss: When you lose a player of Albert Haynesworth’s abilities and size it is going to be an obvious loss for any team. Haynesworth’s contributions did not always show up on the stat sheet, as he recorded only 51 tackles last season, but his ability to plug holes so running backs can not go through gave him value to the Titans and their defense. The fact that two or three players will be counted on to help replace what Haynesworth did for the Titans is a testament to his skills and abilities.

Biggest Game: Sunday September 20th in Week 2 the much improved Houston Texans come to Tennessee. This game is important because it could be called the easiest game the Titans play early in the season. Week 1 the Titans go to Pittsburgh, then Houston comes to town, at the Jets, at the Jaguars, come against the Colts, then finally at the Patriots before heading in to the bye week. The Titans need to win this game because it is, potentially, the easiest game on the Titans first half schedule and will set the tone for the rest of the year.