Nashville’s resident NFL team the Tennessee Titans, led by 3rd year head coach Mike Munchak, appear to be in another up-hill battle this season in the quest for post-season glory.
However, a new cast of supporting characters and continued support from the fans could lead this Titans team to a different ending than last year’s middling close.
Recently, fans got a sneak peek at this year’s group with four pre-season games. The final scores didn’t do much to inspire goodwill from the fans, but Katie Bunker, a Lipscomb Pharmacy student from Ohio, still thinks the team will have a better year than normal.
“I understand they didn’t win many games, but you have to look on the positive side. The losses came out to a total of 10 points combined,” Bunker said. “They were right there in every game. They just couldn’t finish.”
The team fell to Cincinnati, Minnesota and Washington during the exhibition phase but managed to get a preseason win over nearby Atlanta.
Dustin Wilder, a member of Lipscomb’s golf team, and his family are season ticket holders who anticipate for future success for the men in blue.
“We started getting tickets when they first came to LP Field in 1999,” Wilder said. “I’m really excited about this year because we picked up a lot of free agents in the off season.”
A few of those free agents include former Buffalo Bills guard Andy Levitre, former Baltimore Ravens safety Bernard Pollard, former San Francisco 49ers tight end Delaney Walker and former New York Jets running back Shonn Greene.
The Titans also spent early draft picks to help the offense, with former Alabama guard Chance Warmack and Tennessee wide receiver Justin Hunter joining an offense that hosts names such as Jake Locker, Chris “CJ2K” Johnson, Kenny Britt, Nate Washington and Kendall Wright.
Wilder, who was unable to attend any of the pre-season games, thinks the tide will turn for the Titans and looks forward to the opening of the regular season.
“Besides the free agents, hopefully Chris Johnson will have a better year as well,” Wilder said. “He didn’t perform as well last year, but he may be good for one more season.”
Johnson has struggled to put up strong numbers after having a record-setting season in 2009 and will look to get things going again this year. However, the defense may be able to pick up the slack as they look a lot better than recent years.
“The defense has been shaky the last couple of years, but if everyone stays healthy, I think it will be much improved,” Wilder said.
The regular season starts on Sept, 8 in a road game against Steelers, who will likely be looking for revenge after last year’s October loss at LP Field. Following their first two road games, the Titans will return to Nashville for three consecutive games against the Chargers, Jets and Chiefs.
Wilder said he feels that this Titans team can achieve what others have failed to do in past seasons: win games and possibly make an appearance in the playoffs.
“Making it to the playoffs is a lofty-yet-achievable goal,” Wilder continued. “I think if we can get to double-digit wins, it will be a successful year.”
Photo pulled from the Titan’s official website.