Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are a team in rebuilding mode. They do have Chris Johnson, the best running back in the NFL, but they have a first time head coach calling the plays in Mike Munchak, and a rookie quarterback that will be taking over at some point in 2011. There is virtually no one remaining from Jeff Fisher’s staff besides Munchak, and Vince Young will be released as soon as the lockout is over.

Chris Palmer is the man that Munch brought in to oversee the development of 2011 NFL draft pick Jake Locker. Palmer has had mixed success as an offensive coordinator in the NFL, but he has a good reputation developing young quarterbacks. He was Eli Manning’s QB Coach when the Giants won Super Bowl XLII.

A lot of the success of the Tennessee Titans offense will depend on whether or not WR Kenny Britt can get his act together off the field. Britt has shown that when he is healthy he has the ability to be one of the best receivers in the league, but has had numerous brushes with the law and is probably facing a suspension from Roger Goodell when a new CBA is
in place.

Jerry Gray is the man that has been brought in to fix the defense. The Tennessee Titans’ defense looked overmatched the last two seasons with Chuck Cecil calling the plays. Gray has some talent to work with, including 2010 first round pick Derrick Morgan, who will be returning from ACL surgery last season. One of the things he has said that he wants to do is get bigger on defense, and he made some headway in the area in the 2011 draft when the Tennessee Titans drafted UCLA LB Akeem Ayers in the 2nd round and USC DT Jurrell Casey in the 3rd round.

In the end, the long-term success of Munchak as a coach will depend on Locker. If Locker ends up being the QB that the Titans think he will, Munch will quickly be mentioned among the better coaches in the league, but if he isn’t, the Muchak era in Tennessee will be short lived.