Tennessee Titans 2004 schedule | 2003 results | 2003 stats More Teams 49ers Bears Bengals Bills Broncos Browns Buccaneers Cardinals Chargers Chiefs Colts Cowboys Dolphins Eagles Falcons Giants Jaguars Jets Lions Packers Panthers Patriots Raiders Rams Ravens Redskins Saints Seahawks Steelers Texans Titans Vikings

Steve McNair Elsa/Getty Projected starting lineup Offense No. Player Pos. 85 Derrick Mason WR 88 Erron Kinney TE 72 Brad Hopkins LT 69 Zach Piller LG 77 Justin Hartwig C 75 Benji Olson RG 71 Fred Miller RT 83 Drew Bennett WR 9 Steve McNair QB 29 Chris Brown RB 35 Robert Holcombe FB 6 Joe Nedney K Defense No. Player Pos. 91 Travis LaBoy DE 93 Kevin Carter DT 92 Albert Haynesworth DT 97 Carlos Hall DE 59 Peter Sirmon LB 54 Rocky Calmus LB 53 Keith Bulluck LB 22 Andre Dyson CB 21 Samari Rolle CB 25 Tank Williams SS 31 Lance Schulters FS 15 Craig Hentrich P 2004 Draft Rd. Player Pos. School 2 Ben Troupe TE Florida 2 Travis LaBoy DE Hawaii 2 Antwan Odom DE Alabama 3 Randy Starks DT Maryland 3 Rich Gardner CB Penn State 4 Bo Schobel DE TCU 4 Michael Waddell CB North Carolina 5 Jacob Bell G Miami (Ohio) 5 Robert Reynolds LB Ohio State 6 Troy Fleming RB Tennessee 7 Jared Clauss DT Iowa 7 Eugene Amano C SE Missouri St. 7 Sean McHugh TE Penn State Outside the Huddle Road warriors With a 42–30 mark, the Oilers/Titans have the NFL's best road record since the start of the 1995 season. Home dominance The Titans are 19–2 vs. teams making their first trip to the Coliseum. The Lions, Bears and Broncos all play in the Coliseum for the first time this fall. Defense The Titans enter the 2004 season having not allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 29 home games at the Coliseum, the longest such streak in the league. Overall, they've allowed only 13 100-yard rushers since 1996, also a league best. Winner Steve McNair's divisional record of 37–20 ranks second to Green Bay's Brett Favre for the best record among active quarterbacks since the start of the 1995 season. Nice company Receiver Derrick Mason has 3,239 receiving yards since Nov. 11, 2001. That trails only Marvin Harrison (3,941), Torry Holt (3,876) and Randy Moss (3,769.) Century mark Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, already the winningest coach in franchise history, is just seven wins away from 100 career wins. 2003 Revisited The Prophecy: "Outside linebacker Keith Bulluck is clearly emerging as a star." The Lie: "Fullback Greg Comella should play a bigger role in 2003 after a quiet first season with the team." --Athlon Sports Pro Football 2003

The résumé is impressive -- four playoffs appearances in five seasons, two trips to the AFC Championship Game, plus a close call in a Super Bowl. Since they've been Titans, they've been very successful.

But as many of the team's veterans walked off the frozen field in Foxboro, Mass., at the end of the 2003 season, this was the hard, cold fact they were all aware of -- no championships.

"We have a lot to be proud of from the standpoint of the franchise and what we've done in the last five years, and the number of games we've won, and how we've won them with the players that we've had," says head coach Jeff Fisher. "I think those kinds of things are well-documented. But I want to make myself clear -- nobody's satisfied here."

Yes, during the past five seasons, no NFL team has won more regular season games than Tennessee. But the loss to the Patriots in January was yet another heartbreaking postseason finish.

With key players returning in '04, the team's window of opportunity hasn't closed yet, but it's not as wide open as it used to be.

Steve McNair was overlooked during the early portion of his NFL career, but he was finally recognized in 2003. McNair enjoyed his best season as a pro and shared league MVP honors with Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. McNair's presence alone gives the Titans a chance to do more good things. "As long as we have No. 9, I don't worry too much," says Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck. "We'll always have enough to get back if we have him.''

But the Titans must find a way to keep McNair healthy, something they've had trouble doing in recent years. McNair missed two games last season with injuries, and he was hobbled down the stretch. During the offseason, the team went back and looked at all the hits McNair took. Maybe something in the tapes will show them a way to reduce that number in '04.

Should McNair miss time, the Titans have a guy who has proven he's more than capable in backup Billy Volek, who signed a new long-term deal in the offseason.

Questions about Eddie George's return surrounded the eight-year pro all offseason, and after rejected the Titans' final contract offer in mid July, the team finally released him.

The Titans have a newer sports car in second-year back Chris Brown, who showed flashes during last season. Brown, who struggled with injuries during his rookie season, enjoyed a solid offseason and should be ready to go this season.

The Titans also signed Antowain Smith, the Patriots' leading rusher the last three years. Brown will probably start, but don't be surprised if Smith plays a key role before the season is over.

Veteran Robert Holcombe has played both tailback and fullback during his career, though the Titans will count on him more as a beefed-up fullback this year.

A former fourth-round draft pick out of Michigan State, Derrick Mason is now considered one of the NFL's top receivers, and he's one of the reasons McNair has had so much success through the air in recent years. The challenge now is for Mason to keep it going, especially when he should draw even more attention following the departure of fellow receiver Justin McCareins, traded to the Jets for a draft pick. The Titans trust fourth-year receiver Drew Bennett, and they believe second-year pro Tyrone Calico can be a big-time playmaker. Calico showed promise, but he also dropped too many passes. He has to be more consistent.

The Titans will need someone in the group of Eddie Berlin, Darrell Hill and Jake Schifino to step up as well. Between them, they have four career receptions.

At tight end, Frank Wycheck has retired. Erron Kinney shouldered the load at the position in '03 and will do so again, though the Titans expect a big contribution from rookie Ben Troupe.

For the first time since the move to Tennessee, the Titans return all five starters on the offensive line. Tackles Brad Hopkins and Fred Miller are back, along with guards Zach Piller and Benji Olson. Center Justin Hartwig will anchor the line. It's a solid group, one that did a good job of protecting McNair in '03.

Behind those five, veteran Jason Mathews can back up at either tackle spot, and the Titans are hopeful Todd Williams, a 2003 seventh-round draft pick, is ready to contribute. He didn't play at all last season. Veteran linemen Tom Ackerman was released during the off-season.

A "Help Wanted" sign should have been placed on the door of the defensive line's meeting room this offseason. The Titans took two big hits when defensive end Jevon Kearse left for Philadelphia and defensive tackle Robaire Smith signed with Houston in free agency. Those two left a huge hole in the defense.

The Titans can't seem to say enough good things about veteran Kevin Carter, who will play considerably more at tackle than end in 2004. Carter easily played more snaps than any other defensive lineman in '03, but the team is hoping to reduce his workload in '04.

For that to happen, some young players must emerge. Carlos Hall will fill Kearse's spot, and he has been productive in spurts during his career. Tackle Albert Haynesworth figures to help more if he can stay healthy -- and out of the coaching staff's dog house.

Rien Long, James Atkins and third-round draft pick Randy Starks will compete for time at defensive tackle, while three rookies -- Travis LaBoy, Antwan Odom and Bo Schobel -- will be in the mix at end. If Carter starts at tackle, one of the rookies could be thrust into a starting role.

This unit is arguably the most solid on the football team. The Tennessee linebackers are talented and sometimes nasty. Bulluck, entering his fifth NFL season, is now a star. He earned his first Pro Bowl honors in '03, and he's hungry for more. The other outside linebacker, Peter Sirmon, didn't make as many big plays last season as he did the year before, but he was steady. He'll look to create more turnovers in '04. In the middle will be Rocky Calmus, who has convinced coaches he's the man for the job. The team looks at backup Rocky Boiman as a starter because he's on the field so much in situational packages, and he's expected to rush the passer more in his third season.

Brad Kassell also has experience, and Ray Wells and Jordan Kramer should help out on special teams.

Depending on what type of pass rush the Titans are able to generate, the cornerbacks might be forced to cover a little longer than they would like. Samari Rolle is the most experienced player on the defense, and some thought his play last season was deserving of Pro Bowl honors. On the opposite side, Andre Dyson has been consistent since being drafted by the club in '01.

The Titans got a taste of what they might have in Andre Woolfolk before he was injured during the year. If he's healthy, he'll play the nickel back position.

At free safety, veteran Lance Schulters failed to make as many big plays as he did during his first season with the team. Lamont Thompson, who the Titans picked up just before the 2003 opener, could challenge Schulters for the starting spot, while Tank Williams will hold down the strong safety spot.

Kicker Joe Nedney's '03 season ended before it really began. In the season opener against the Raiders he suffered a torn ACL while making a tackle and was lost for the season. But Nedney thinks after a grueling recovery process he'll be as good as new this fall. Punter Craig Hentrich was named to the Pro Bowl in '03 and seems to be getting better with age.

It seems like every offseason in Nashville begins with talk of doom and gloom, then things don't turn out so bad. Once again, the Titans lost some key players, but enough key players return for 2004. If the Titans can keep McNair healthy, they have a great chance to make another postseason run. But they'll also need some young players to step up on both sides of the football.

• Click here for a complete list of 2004 Team Previews from Athlon

To Purchase the 2004 NFL Preview from Athlon Sports, click here.