2001 TITANS
	Having Kevin Dyson back will provide more options.
	Head coach: Jeff Fisher (7th year). 2000 record: 13-3. AFC Central finish: 1st. 2001 preseason: 2-1. Season opener: Sept. 9 vs. Dolphins. Schedule | Depth chart

Despite a salary-cap purge that thinned out their roster in March, the Tennessee Titans head into the 2001 season with the same expectations they've had the last two seasons -- claiming victory in the Super Bowl.

Though they own the best record in football over the last two seasons, the Titans have yet to lift a Lombardi Trophy. The Titans believe what killed them in last season's playoff loss to Baltimore has been fixed. The strong-legged Joe Nedney replaced long-time placekicker Al Del Greco, whose struggles against the Ravens all but did the Titans in. The Titans tinkered with their red-zone schemes and expect to be more productive in that department. And they've been very pleased with their wide receiver corps, even though Kevin Dyson is coming off a serious knee injury and the depth is young and unproven.

Defensively, what was lost in the secondary -- veteran free safety Marcus Robertson was released and cornerback Denard Walker headed for Denver as a free agent -- could be compensated for with an improved pass rush. By trading their top draft pick to St. Louis for defensive end Kevin Carter, who will team with Jevon Kearse, the Titans set themselves up with arguably the best pair of defensive ends the league has seen since Reggie White and Clyde Simmons tracked quarterbacks for the Eagles together in the late 1980s and early '90s.

Offense
Quarterbacks: Steve McNair endured a tough offseason of rehabilitation after a shoulder infection shut him down for a good period of time. This season McNair will have reliable options that go beyond tight end Frank Wycheck and wide receiver Derrick Mason. In his second season, offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger said he'll more willingly test the limits in devising and calling pass plays. Last season McNair was much better at scrambling, then resetting and looking downfield again. Still, for the improved vertical game the Titans need, McNair must hit receivers in stride and on time more consistently. He ran by design much less last season than he did in '99. Provided he stays healthy, expect him to look to run more near the goal line this season, helping to alleviate the team's red-zone troubles. Veteran Neil O'Donnell remains a key locker-room presence and has shown he can lead the team to wins in the event McNair goes down.
Grade: B.

Running backs: Eddie George has never missed a game, but his offseason conditioning was different this year because he was recovering from toe surgery. Durability is his hallmark, but will the altered offseason mean he's fresher longer or more likely to break down? There are no indications of a drop-off, but an injury to George is the one thing that could throw the Titans well off track. NFL Europe Offensive MVP Mike Green, sixth-round pick Dan Alexander and former Bill Jonathan Linton were battling for the backup job in camp. William Floyd takes over at fullback. Provided his bad knee isn't a problem, Floyd could get himself on the field more than Lorenzo Neal did, since Floyd is much more of a threat as a receiver.
Grade: A-minus.

Receivers: Wycheck and the burgeoning Mason are firmly established in the passing game, while Dyson's comeback from a terrible knee injury has been stunning. Those three give McNair a reliable trio to work with, and the pass-catching positions should be deeper than in the past. The wide receiver corps now includes some youngsters who showed play-making ability during training camp. Fourth-round draft pick Justin McCareins has a presence and is not afraid to go up and get the ball, while fifth-rounder Eddie Berlin is shifty and slippery. The options also are improved at tight end, where Erron Kinney has beefed up for his second season, and another big target, raw rookie Shad Meier, has been added to the mix.
Grade: C-plus.

Offensive linemen: Tackle Brad Hopkins and guard Bruce Matthews give the Titans a very strong left side, and George can always feel comfortable running behind them. Hopkins finally broke through to the Pro Bowl last year, and Matthews was elected to his 13th straight. The three other starters have plenty to prove. Right tackle Fred Miller has not matched the work of his predecessor, Jon Runyan, and needs to play tougher. Right guard Benji Olson earned a new contract, but the Titans want to see him play like he did during the Super Bowl season of '99. The team has repeatedly talked of a scenario that would push Kevin Long out of the lineup, but he's withstood all the speculation to remain at center. Guards Zach Piller and Genarro DiNapoli offer decent inside depth, while reserve tackle Jason Mathews is a good security blanket should something go wrong for Hopkins or Miller.
Grade: B.

		Eddie George's health is absolutely critical to Tennessee. Without George, they have no quality backup and lose a player who touched the ball 453 times last year, combining rushing and receiving. Nobody can offset that kind of production. Losing him, the Titans aren't the same team. He has begun playing in the preseason, but we need to wait and see how his toe holds up. Without George, the offense would be placed on the shoulders of Steve McNair, who is capable but lacks the receivers around him. The receivers have been in and out of the lineup the last few years. That's not McNair's fault. The Titans can't compensate for George by throwing the football. That's how they would get into trouble.

Defense
Defensive linemen: There are still plenty of Carter doubters, but his demeanor since he arrived in Tennessee suggests the Titans are getting a talent who will be a terror working with Kearse and a deep crop of defensive tackles. The pass rush will be the central theme in every opponent's game-planning, and even in the preseason, the Titans got heavy doses of short drops and quick releases. The tackles are a good combination of run stoppers, such as Jason Fisk and John Thornton, and pass rushers, such as Joe Salave'a and Josh Evans. The one question mark is defensive end depth, but defensive tackles Henry Ford and Robaire Smith can jump outside when needed.
Grade: A-minus.

Linebackers: Lost in the Ray Lewis hype and the attention aimed at the Titans' Kearse and cornerback Samari Rolle is middle linebacker Randall Godfrey. The 2000 free-agent pickup from Dallas was the force that took the Titans from the league's 17th-ranked defense in '99 to No. 1 a year ago. Godfrey is a perfect fit for the system and is as much a threat as a run-stuffer as he is in coverage. Keith Bulluck, the team's top draft pick in 2000, was putting pressure on the two outside linebacker starters in training camp, but as of now, Eddie Robinson and Greg Favors were still flanking Godfrey. Gunther Cunningham is determined to make his mark as a position coach after a bitter ending to his term as head coach in Kansas City.
Grade: B-plus.

Defensive backs: The Titans situation has been clouded a little by Samari Rolle's decision to walk out of camp in a contract dispute. Rolle is one of the best corners in the game. At the left cornerback position, either DeRon Jenkins or Dainon Sidney will replace the departed Walker. The spot is probably the base defense's weak link. Strong safety Blaine Bishop is eager to show he can be just as good without his long-time friend, Marcus Robertson, at free safety. Leaper Bobby Myers is expected to replace Robertson, but Myers has yet to face a big test. Many offenses may decide the way to attack the Titans' defense is to spread themselves out and look for quick throws to targets covered by nickel and dime backs. Second-round draft pick Andre Dyson, a burner at cornerback who missed most of the preseason with a broken toe, could ultimately be a big help.
Grade: B-minus. (with Rolle)

Special teams
Nedney brings a booming left leg to Tennessee, and the team hopes he'll hit the big field goals in the clutch. Because of Nedney's range, the Titans may take some shots downfield after crossing midfield instead of worrying about positioning for a field goal attempt. Nedney also will handle kickoffs, and that should have a big bearing on field position for the defense. Punter Craig Hentrich remains one of the league's best. The Titans spent the preseason looking for a way to lighten the load of Mason, who earned a Pro Bowl spot last year as a return specialist. Ideally, he won't be returning kickoffs in 2001.
Grade: A.

Paul Kuharsky covers the Titans for The Tennessean.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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