This article is part of our Team Previews series.
STATE OF THE FRANCHISE
After finishing the 2014 season with a dismal 2-14 record, the Titans will look to turn over a new leaf this year with the addition of the second-overall selection in the NFL draft, quarterback Marcus Mariota. The three-year starter from the University of Oregon will give coach Ken Whisenhunt, now in his second season helming the team, a new franchise signal-caller to develop, on the heels of Jake Locker's oft-injured four-year run with the organization. With a combined record of 15-33 over the past three seasons, it remains to be seen how quickly the Titans can engineer a turnaround, but the team is believed to have spurned significant trade offers in order to build around Mariota, who's expected to be an immediate starter. Even before Mariota was drafted, GM Ruston Webster added veteran route-runners to bolster the team's pass-catching mix, namely wideouts Hakeem Nicks and Harry Douglas, as well as tight end Anthony Fasano. The trio will complement returning wide receivers Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter, along with top tight end Delanie Walker, all of whom worked with three different starting quarterbacks over the course of the 2014 season. Moreover, in the draft, the Titans added another weapon in the passing game when they selected Dorial Green-Beckham, a big playmaking wideout, with their second-round pick.
In addition to fortifying their passing attack, the Titans hope for improvements in the running game this year, after finishing 26th in the league
STATE OF THE FRANCHISE
After finishing the 2014 season with a dismal 2-14 record, the Titans will look to turn over a new leaf this year with the addition of the second-overall selection in the NFL draft, quarterback Marcus Mariota. The three-year starter from the University of Oregon will give coach Ken Whisenhunt, now in his second season helming the team, a new franchise signal-caller to develop, on the heels of Jake Locker's oft-injured four-year run with the organization. With a combined record of 15-33 over the past three seasons, it remains to be seen how quickly the Titans can engineer a turnaround, but the team is believed to have spurned significant trade offers in order to build around Mariota, who's expected to be an immediate starter. Even before Mariota was drafted, GM Ruston Webster added veteran route-runners to bolster the team's pass-catching mix, namely wideouts Hakeem Nicks and Harry Douglas, as well as tight end Anthony Fasano. The trio will complement returning wide receivers Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter, along with top tight end Delanie Walker, all of whom worked with three different starting quarterbacks over the course of the 2014 season. Moreover, in the draft, the Titans added another weapon in the passing game when they selected Dorial Green-Beckham, a big playmaking wideout, with their second-round pick.
In addition to fortifying their passing attack, the Titans hope for improvements in the running game this year, after finishing 26th in the league in 2014 with an average of 90.4 rushing yards per game. Bishop Sankey, the first running back selected in last year's draft, was held to 3.7 YPC as a rookie. He'll be counted on this season to improve on that mark. Veteran Shonn Greene, who scored two touchdowns on 94 carries in 2014, remains with the team for now, though he could be squeezed out by the team's selection of running back David Cobb with the 138th overall pick in the draft.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Titans finished the 2014 season with the 27th-ranked defense in the league, conceding 373.0 yards per game. In order to address the issue, the Titans hired well-respected Dick LeBeau as assistant head coach/defense. In his new role, he'll oversee the team's defense, which returns coordinator Ray Horton. Additionally, the free agent acquisitions of Perrish Cox and Brian Orakpo should help boost a defensive corps that ended up allowing its opponents to score 27.4 points per game in 2014. Only the Bears and Raiders were more generous in that statistical category.
OFFSEASON MOVES
Key Acquisitions
Marcus Mariota – QB, Oregon (ROUND 1, 2nd Overall)The Heisman winner will usher in a new era of Titans football assuming he earns the starting nod over Zach Mettenberger, as expected.
Hakeem Nicks – WR, Colts
After a disappointing stint with Indy, the veteran hopes to revitalize his career, providing a reliable target for Mariota.
Harry Douglas – WR, Falcons
No longer working behind Julio Jones and Roddy White, he'll look to carve out a key role in the Tennessee attack.
Dorial Green-Beckham – WR, Missouri (ROUND 2, 40th Overall)
The 6-foot-5 rookie combines with Justin Hunter to give Mariota a pair of big targets capable of running past the coverage.
Perrish Cox – CB, 49ers
Enjoyed his best season as a pro last year and is now expected to start opposite Jason McCourty.
Brian Orakpo – LB, Redskins
Hopefully past a series of pectoral injuries, he should make a big impact as a pass-rusher.
Key Losses
Jake Locker – QB, RETIREDThe oft-injured quarterback called it quits after four underwhelming seasons in the NFL.
Nate Washington – WR, Texans
Turned in some solid production over six years with the Titans, but turns 32 before the coming season starts.
TEAM NOTES
MARIOTA GRADUATES TO THE PROSMarcus Mariota had a spectacular collegiate career at Oregon and will bring a strong arm and elite athleticism to a Tennessee franchise in desperate need of some stability at the quarterback position. The team deployed Jake Locker, Zach Mettenberger and Charlie Whitehurst at various points last season. Of course, there are still plenty of question marks surrounding Mariota's ability to adapt to the NFL after almost exclusively taking snaps from the shotgun formation in college. Perhaps the biggest obstacle ahead of the No. 2 overall pick is that head coach Ken Whisenhunt traditionally runs a pocket-based offense. Moreover, second-year quarterback Mettenberger will be waiting in the wings if Mariota falters during his rookie campaign. That said, the Titans view the 21-year-old Mariota as the quarterback of not only their future but of the present as well, with the team evidently inclined to hand him the reins immediately.
BACKFIELD BEWILDERMENT
The Titans entered last season hoping that Bishop Sankey would energize their rushing attack, but his 152 rushing attempts amounted to a lackluster 569 yards and just two touchdowns. Meanwhile, power back Shonn Greene was unable to perform much better, notching 392 yards on 94 carries. Jack-of-all-trades option Dexter McCluster also failed to make a big splash, totaling just 131 yards on 40 carries. To help address the team's backfield deficiencies, the Titans selected Alabama fullback Jalston Fowler in round four and added tailback David Cobb with their next pick to provide Sankey with some healthy competition. Fowler could provide a much needed lead-blocker for the Titans, who finished with a discouraging total of six rushing touchdowns in 2014. While Sankey enters the coming season atop the team's running back pecking order, his grip on the spot isn't especially firm, and it's plausible that Cobb could ultimately win the job outright as the campaign progresses.
SORTING THROUGH MARCUS MARIOTA'S OPTIONS
Mariota will have a full cast of characters to target in his first year in the NFL, but the Titans' offseason moves to add pass-catching depth leave an uncertain fantasy pecking order out of the gate. A prime bounce-back candidate, however, is Kendall Wright, who saw his reception total drop from 94 to 57 last season. His starting job is secure, but fellow returnee Justin Hunter will jostle for targets with veterans Hakeem Nicks and Harry Douglas, along with raw-but talented rookie Dorial Green-Beckham. Incumbent tight end Delanie Walker is back, but the addition of journeyman Anthony Fasano could cut into his red zone value. In any case, the value of the aforementioned pass-catchers remains speculative, with growing pains seemingly inevitable for Mariota as he adjusts to the pro game.
VALUE METER
Rising: Though Delanie Walker could lose some red zone looks to Anthony Fasano, he led the Titans in catches in 2014 and should provide something of a safety valve for Marcus Mariota.Declining: The team's selection of David Cobb could hasten the departure of veteran Shonn Greene, who turns 30 in August.
Sleeper: A spleen injury cost Justin Hunter the final four games of 2014, but he could blossom as a red zone threat for Mariota, assuming he holds off Dorial Green-Beckham.
Supersleeper: Considered a draft steal in the fifth round, David Cobb could well supplant Bishop Sankey as the team's top option down the road, while threatening Greene's job immediately.
IDP WATCH
Michael Griffin – SCarved out IDP utility by recording a career-high 112 tackles to go along with three sacks and two picks in 2014.
Jason McCourty – CB
Restored his fantasy value last season by upping both his tackle (85) and pick (three) numbers.
Jurrell Casey – DT
After notching 10.5 sacks in 2013, the defensive stopper recorded just five sacks in 2014, but he still amassed 68 tackles.
