The Titans could very well make the playoffs this year, according to two team legends in town Monday for the Titans Caravan.
Frank Wycheck and Blaine Bishop both predicted positive things for the Titans despite a difficult schedule that starts at home against New England and also includes games against Detroit, Chicago, the New York Jets, and Green Bay.
“It’s a brutal schedule,” said Wycheck. “But first and foremost, you have to win your division. That’s the way I’ve always looked at it. And when you look at the division, Houston got worse.”
The Texans won the division last year, but lost key players on defense and on the offensive line. Indianapolis appears to be in full-scale rebuilding mode, and Jacksonville is perpetually stuck around the six-win mark.
One key, according to Bishop, is how quickly the Titans can start with games against the Patriots, at San Diego, and back home against Detroit.
“It’s a quarterback-driven league and they play three really good quarterbacks right off the bat,” said Bishop. “They’re going to have to do it with offense because the defense is not what it used to be when we were No. 1 in the league.”
Wycheck, too, sees the offense as a strength with an abundance of playmakers.
“You have players with a really dynamic skill set with Kenny Britt coming back and drafting Kendall Wright in the first round,” said Wycheck of the Titans’ WR corps. “You also have a guy like tight end Jared Cook who really came on strong at the end of last year.”
Coming off a 2,000-yard season in 2010, RB Chris Johnson was a disappointment last year. Bishop says much of the blame has been placed on the offense in general, but C.J. should not be overlooked.
“There were many times when he would be in the open field and he was not able to break tackles one-on-one,” said Bishop. “To me, it all comes down to him and whether he comes into camp with an attitude. Last year, I don’t know if he was ever in running back shape. That’s not to say he wasn’t in shape, but it takes a different level of conditioning to be an NFL running back.”
Both former players said the team will benefit in the second year under head coach Mike Munchak, who finished 9-7 his first season.
As for the Titans Caravan, hundreds of fans lined up outside Kroger on Monday for a chance to get an autograph from Wycheck and Bishop. McMinnville was the 28th stop of the Titans Caravan, which started April 30.
Other stops have featured, or will feature, coach Munchak, QB Matt Hasselbeck, K Rob Bironas, QB Jake Locker, WR Britt, CB Alterraun Verner, and LB Colin McCarthy.
Titans mascot T-Rac was in attendance and he danced throughout the crowd. When he stopped long enough, fans were eager to get their picture made with him.
Also on hand was Mike Keith, the voice of the Titans.