Starting free safety Lance Shulters had a bit of a down year in ‘03, and coaches are hoping third-year player Lamont Thompson will push him this year. Shulters may lack speed, but he has excellent recognition skills, takes good angles, and rarely misses a tackle. However, his shoulder injury continues to be a concern. Tank Williams is a punishing force at strong safety. He is big, strong, fast, and aggressive. And he could emerge this year as one of the top impact safeties in the league.
Overview
Head coach Jeff Fisher is probably one of the most underrated coaches in the league. Regardless of free agent losses and injuries, he always seems to field a competitive team. The offense will be fine without the presence of Eddie George. In fact, in my opinion, the running game will be more explosive with Brown in the backfield than the aging veteran whose skills have obviously slipped significantly.
The losses of Smith and Kearse on the defensive line creates a bit of a concern, but Carter’s versatility should help ease the transition. Their secondary looks outstanding, which could become a critical factor for years in a division with quarterbacks like Peyton Manning, Byron Leftwich, and David Carr.
So overall, the Titans appear ready to compete for the division crown and they have the talent to be a legitimate contender again. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see this team make another run deep into the playoffs... even without Eddie.
