After the first three days of camp, it is clear that a new vibe and mentality surrounds the Tennessee Titans. With the addition of new talent and youth, the Titans have the ability to compete in the AFC South and make some noise. For now, Tennessee looks to put together a couple weeks of solid practices in order to build chemistry and an identity.
The addition of Andre Johnson will give the Titans added depth at wideout and should knock either Justin Hunter or Harry Douglas out of the picture. The position most plagued by disappointment over the past couple of seasons has yet to have a number one guy step up. Tennessee must have somebody take that number one role if Marcus Mariota wants to reach his full potential this season.
It is clear that the strongest position group for the Titans remains up front and in the trenches. The defensive line has strung together a couple of nice practices putting pressure on Mariota and getting after the running backs. The front seven will become the identity for the Titans and if they are able to put pressure on quarterbacks late into the 4th Quarter they will have an opportunity to win games. Having the ability to rush the passer for four straight quarters is a key asset for the two tone blue and something that Dick Lebeau must get out of his defense.
Tennessee’s secondary is the perfect combination of youth and experience that could make them a surprising strength as the season goes on. In many cases, the Titans will be put in situations to get turnovers and make plays if the defensive line can get to the quarterback. Errant throws and a collapsing pocket go hand in hand with pressure up front, giving the Titans an opportunity to make game changing plays in the back end.
As camp moves along, the Titans will need continuous production out of their rookies and leadership from their veterans. It seems like a good balance of both has the Titans feeling good about themselves and where they stand in the AFC South. There is no doubt that the Titans can come out and win enough games to challenge for the division but only time will tell. Added competition has made this training camp interesting and it certainly will remain that way as we move closer to the first preseason game.
