The Tennessee Titans are fresh off a 13-3 campaign that puts them back on the map of the league’s elite. All is well in Nashville; and the hope is that it stays that way. With 20 of 22 starters returning and hungrier than ever, it should. 

In spite of the loss of Albert Haynesworth to the Redskins and coordinator Jim Schwartz to the Lions, the defense remains the team strength. Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch is one of the league’s best defensive ends. He’s a great pass rusher and brings versatility to the table. The Titans liked to shift Vanden Bosch inside and stick Haynesworth on the end on third downs in 2008. 

We’ll see how Vanden Bosch plays with Haynesworth’s replacement Tony Brown. The Titans found great value in the second round of the draft when they took defensive tackle SenDerrick Marks out of Auburn. Brown, Marks, and ex-Buc Jovan Haye should give the Titans a solid rotation inside.

The back-seven is as talented as they come. Keith Bulluck, entering his 10th season and a contact year, holds the fort down at right outside linebacker. Bulluck hasn’t missed a game since 2002. Ex-Colt David Thornton and Steven Tulloch are tough, sure tacklers and have become long-term fixtures at linebacker. 

Tennessee’s secondary is very physical. Cortland Finnegan may not have Denver cornerback Champ Bailey’s name or Raiders’ cornerback Nmandi Asomugha’s money, but the former seventh-round pick is one of the best cover men in the league. Finnegan is tough, feisty and has great ball skills. Ex-Colt Nick Harper’s career is winding down, but he’s still reliable on the other side. Safety Michael Griffin teams with ex-Steeler Chris Hope to give the Titans a great tandem at safety.

The Titans struck gold in the 2008 draft with first-round pick running back Chris Johnson. Johnson was projected as a late second round pick, but the Titans rolled the dice and it paid off. Johnson is very quick; he set the 40-time record at the NFL Combine at 4.2 seconds. He’s very patient as running lanes develop behind the Titans’ big offensive line. Lendale White, in spite of weight issues, is a bruiser and wears down defenses. He remains an integral part of the offense, notching a respectable 773-yard, 15-touchdown season in 2008.

Kerry Collins made a name for himself in 2008, and with Vince Young’s career becoming bleak, the Titans need an encore performance. Collins took over during the final minutes of opening day and sealed the win against Jacksonville. He proceeded to reel off nine straight wins. His midseason clash with the Colts wasn’t his best statistical game, but that game best symbolizes Collins’ year; he made clutch throws, avoided the rush and showed great pocket presence. 

The Titans need a playmaker at wide receiver and 2009 first-round pick Kenny Britt is a huge, 6-foot-3 inch, 218-pound physical specimen and could fulfill that need. Justin Gage and Nate Washington should get the starts in the early portion of the season as Britt learns. The Titans get great production out of tight end Bo Scaife. 

The Titans face a tough schedule, with three road games in the first month of the season.  We’ll find out soon as to whether or not 2008 was an anomaly, or a look into the future.