The 2009 Tennessee Titans are looking to capitalize now utilizing the momentum formed by an historic 2008 season.

One year after a franchise best 10-0 start paired with an 13-3 overall record, the Titans were very pleased with their direction, that all changed very quickly with just one postseason game.

Versus a Baltimore Ravens team armed with a rookie quarterback, regression took place in front of the home crowd. To end the season, quraterback Kerry Collins and the rest of the Titans offense sputtered their way to just 10 points. Ultimately the Titans loss 13-10, spoiling a strong defensive effort.

The momentum of the regular season greatly outweighs the inept offensive showing in the Divisional Playoffs, but the game versus the Ravens did point out some team deficiencies that needed to be addressed this past offseason.

As the longest tenured current coach in the NFL, Jeff Fisher enters his 14th season seeking his first and the franchises first Lombardi Trophy. As the Titans settle into training camp, optimism is as high as the uncertainties that loom for Fisher and his staff.

WIDE RECEIVER

Challenges await Collins not due to his own abilities but to those at the wide receiver position. First round selection Kenny Britt is a big frame with serious potential but is yet to strap it up in camp due to an hamstring injury and is listed on the physically unable to perform list.

Rookie receivers don’t always take form right away and the Titans need help now. Incumbent Justin Gage and newcomer Nate Washington are the veteran leaders who have combined for 10 years experience and 401.4 yards per season.

A third round selection in the ’09 draft may have produced a solution to their wide receiver concerns, but in a very unconventional way. Third round selection Jared Cook has been moved to the slot for the Titans as he was drafted out of South Carolina as a 6’5”, 246 lbs. tight end. Cook has been clocked at a 4.4-40 and timed in with a 4.5 flat at the combine. He also benched 225 lbs 23 times and recorded a 41” vertical leap. Certainly the man is a beast and will provide Collins a deep threat down the middle and perhaps even more as he has shined through OTAs and four days of training camp.

Lavelle Hawkins has a chance to make some plays this season as a number four receiver showing the capability to do so last season versus the Oakland Raiders.

Bo Scaife and Alge Crumpler will perform as safety valves for Collins this season, especially in short yardage and redzone situations. Combating the woes at wide receiver even further will be a bevy of options out of the backfield which will include screen and swing plays to the ever expolosive Chris Johnson.

CORNERBACK

Perhaps the greatest need comes at cornerback as both sides need to balance each other out. One side has a former seventh round draft pick turned Pro Bowler in Cortland Finnegan. The other side is trying not to knock the teeter board off of its axis.

Nick Harper sits opposite of Finnegan for now. Still very capable of a strong season, the 34-year-old has some game left, but the weakside corner will see the bulk of opponents passing attempts this season as teams will look to avoid ball hawk number 31.

Harper has started every game he has played in, for five straight years, so durability isn’t the question. The true question is whether or not Harper still has the speed and quickness to keep up with receivers ten years his junior.

Time will tell on Harper but there may be some insurances. Third round selection Ryan Mouton out of Hawaii has the speed, quickness and ball skills to certainly put pressure on Harper for playing time. Tanard Davis enters his second year in the league with more experience and a shot at earning some valuable playing time.

Many ifs loom at the second corner position and may be a contentious topic of conversation for Titans fans throughout the season.

FATHER TIME

The defense has suddenly turned very veteran, almost to the point of being labeled as old. Keith Bullock, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Chris Hope, Harper and Jevon Kearse have all definitely seen younger years, and perhaps better.

Definitely count on the defense playing with a sense of purpose this season as it may be a final shot with contracts and legs beginning to expire. The entire defensive unit will be ready to a make one more run as the offense will be determining if that run is a sprint or a marathon.

One thing for certain is that the 2009 Tennessee Titans are locked and loaded in many positions and are very much a legitimate Super Bowl contender, but first things first, the AFC South. The Houston Texans will have a shot at dethroning the division champs this season as Gary Kubiak continues to oil his explosive offense and will get improved defensive play this season. Indianapolis and Jacksonville should certainly pose a threat as both teams will look to rebound from inept seasons one year ago.

In the end, Tennessee will find itself proving once more that ball controlled offense and stout defense will win games in today’s NFL. The only question is, can it be enough to extend the season into February.

Information in this article was contributed by Galloway Allbright