For a team that just ended a nine-year playoff drought, the Titans have made a lot of changes for 2018, all the way down to their new uniforms.
A 9-7 record and a playoff victory were not enough to save head coach Mike Mularkey. Enter his replacement, Mike Vrabel, with Matt LaFleur succeeding Terry Robiskie as offensive coordinator and Dean Pees taking the reins of the 3-4 defense from Dick LeBeau.
But even with a winning record, Tennessee limped to an AFC wild-card berth. That prompted general manager Jon Robinson to upgrade the veteran talent at key spots and draft more for immediate impact.
From the fresh approach with their promising quarterback to their updated jerseys, here are the key adjustments for the 2018 Titans.
Quarterback
Going into his critical fourth season, Marcus Mariota is working with his third head coach and third offensive coordinator. The Titans needed to shatter the "exotic smashmouth" of Mularkey and let Mariota loose as a downfield passer under LaFleur, who did wonders with Jared Goff in Los Angeles.
LaFleur comes from West Coast principles, but his imprint on Goff, who averaged 8.0 yards per pass attempt, was tied to stretching the field. LaFleur also will devise the best ways to take advantage of Mariota's special athleticism. Thanks to the Titans' established running game, Mariota is in a favorable position to deliver on more deep balls off play-action.
Tennessee's coaching staff in recent years had lacked creativity with its play-calling for Mariota. At his best, he protected the ball in the red zone; at worst, he was hesitant in taking his shots. LaFleur will do a better job of turning Mariota into a confident-but-still-careful gunslinger. Mariota now has more playmakers around him, too.
NFL QB RANKINGS:
Mariota getting close to top 10
Running back
The Titans' previous coaching staff was slow to give Derrick Henry a significant workload even though the Heisman winner from Alabama appeared to be the better runner over a worn-down DeMarco Murray. Now, as Henry gets his shot to be the team's lead power back, the Titans have added true lightning to his thunder by signing Dion Lewis, who broke out as the Patriots' workhorse last season.
Lewis can handle running between the tackles without losing his burst. He was exceptional shooting through holes in New England, and he will benefit from a superior run-blocking line in Tennessee. Lewis did not need to do much as receiver for the Patriots, but the Titans will feature him often in passing situations.
LaFleur in LA benefited from Todd Gurley, who did it all for the Rams. In Henry and Lewis, the coordinator now has one of the best combinations in the league. While the Titans try to get more aggressive with Mariota, they know their backfield will be another source of explosive plays.
NFL GM RANKINGS:
Best, worst of NFL decision-makers
Wide receiver
The Titans hardly knew 2017 No. 5 overall pick Corey Davis as a rookie, at least during the regular season. Hamstrung from the get-go, he saw only 65 targets in 11 games and produced 34 catches for 375 yards. But in the two playoff games while looking close to fully healthy, Davis turned 15 targets into 9 catches, 98 yards and two TDs, both against the Patriots.
Davis' lingering injury hampered his progress and chemistry with Mariota, so it's not a surprise that he's living up to his draft status in his first full offseason. His size, speed and quickness combine to scream ideal No. 1 for LaFleur.
Davis' emergence puts smooth route-running and good-hands Rishard Matthews in a more appropriate role as a No. 2. Taywan Taylor, last year's third-round pick, should be much more effective in a dedicated slot role.
A big part of the reason Mariota was reined in and threw mostly short-to-intermediate passes last season was Tennessee's lack of wideout pop. That won't be an issue in 2018 with Davis, the Mike Evans-type for whom Mariota has been waiting to match draft classmate Jameis Winston's favorite target.
Defensive line
The Titans kept their three-man front for Pees; there was no reason to mess with the ends, all-around stud Jurrell Casey and rising run-stopper DaQuan Jones.
Re-signing Jones was a no-brainer. The Titans also upgraded at nose tackle by replacing a shaky, 29-year-old Sylvester Williams with former Eagles and Chiefs starter Bennie Logan, 29. Logan struggled in Kansas City last season, but he is a better plug against the run than Williams was, and that strength complements those of Casey and Jones.
Tennessee also moved on from Karl Klug, so beyond the starting trio, its rotation is thin on experience. Pees still should feel confident he won't see a drop-off for last year's No. 4 run defense.
NFL STADIUM RANKINGS:
How Nissan Stadium stacks up
Linebacker
The Titans did not waste time in replacing inside linebacker Avery Williamson, who cashed in with the Jets as a coveted free agent. Using a first-round pick on Rashaan Evans was a terrific move by Robinson, who knows how much teams like the Patriots and Steelers wanted him a few selections later.
Evans is a typical Alabama prospect; what you see is what you get in a disciplined, hustling linebacker. He can deliver the same kind of run pursuit Williamson showed with a little more pop as a pass-rusher. They expect him to be fully healthy and ready to contribute since being shelved early in training camp.
Wesley Woodyard is 31 and returns as the other starter, so coverage in the middle of the field remains a concern. With that second-level liability persisting, the Titans wisely made it a point to upgrade their secondary.
Following the Evans pick, the Titans surprisingly were able to land edge-rusher Harold Landry in the second round. Tennessee was tied for fifth in the NFL with 43 sacks last season, but after combining for 14.5 of those, starting outside linebackers Derrick Morgan (29) and Brian Orakpo (32) are aging.
While Evans boosts the Titans' ability to get to the QB inside, Landry and his fresh legs can rush from the outside in passing situations. If Landry can deliver close to half the impact of a rookie Jevon Kearse back in 1999, he will be a big success.
Cornerback
Malcolm Butler left the Patriots and joined the Titans a year after fellow cornerback Logan Ryan did the same thing. Butler's arrival means Ryan will now primarily cover the slot, an overall leap forward for Tennessee's secondary.
No longer will the likes of LeShaun Smith and Brice McCain (who wasn't re-signed) be exposed. Butler had a down 2017 season with the Patriots, but he is a durable, all-around corner who is capable of making big plays on the ball while remaining steady against the run.
Ryan was able to cash in with Tennessee because of what he did as a nickel corner in New England. The Titans should simply cater to those strengths, sliding Ryan back inside and keeping Butler outside.
Young, ball-hawking superstar Keith Byard is holding down free safety. Strong safety Johnathan Cyprien was a big injury blow, but the Titans rebounded well in free agency with former Saint Kenny Vaccaro. That leaves one key player who can turn the Titans' defensive backfield from good to elite: Adoree' Jackson.
The 2017 first-rounder took some lumps as a rookie while getting used to the speed and route-running savvy of NFL wide receivers. Jackson was concerned about not getting burned, which limited the playmaking upside he showed at USC. There's no way he will go without an interception again in 2018.
The Titans as a team had only 12 interceptions last season, with 8 coming from Byard. Butler's presence should allow Jackson to be more aggressive, and in turn, should Jackson show signs of shutdown coverage, Butler will benefit in not always facing the opponent's top receiver.
MORE: Ranking all 32 NFL coaches
The Titans ranked No. 28 in pass defense last season. With the upgraded pass rush helping this upgraded back end, their overall improvement will parallel their expected jump in passing offense.
Uniforms
The Titans are keeping their pleasing color scheme but taking their franchise to the future with a sleek, modern look.
The shiny new threads won't look as good if the players don't perform. But with its continued roster improvement, Tennessee is dressed for more success.
