It was only a matter of time before a decade of success under Head Coach Jeff Fisher caught up to the Tennessee franchise. That time was 2004, as the Titans could no longer stave off the massive free agent losses and typical injury problems that they’d been able to survive successfully in prior years. Injuries to Steve McNair and 10 other starters, as well as free agent losses of stars Eddie George, Robaire Smith, and Jevon Kearse were too much to overcome as the team slipped to a 10-year low 5-11 finish. The normally stout Tennessee defense was burned for 27.4 PPG in ’04, better than just two other teams. They also turned the ball over often wasted heroic offensive efforts by reserve QB Billy Volek and WR’s Derrick Mason and Drew Bennett. To make matters worse, the Titans played their worst football at the end of the season, going 1-5 SU & ATS while allowing 37.8 PPG.

McNair is expected to return to a Tennessee team that again endured catastrophic losses to its roster in the offseason. The list of departed free agents again reads like a laundry list of recent Titans lore. The biggest names there include DE Kevin Carter, DB’s Andre Dyson and Samari Rolle, as well as Mason. The only additions are DE Kyle VandenBosch and the 11 players acquired in the draft so this team figures to be a very young group. Top pick CB Adam “Pac-Manâ€Â