LAST SEASON: 7-9, 3rd in AFC Central
PROJECTION: 2nd in AFC South

	A healthy Wycheck is just what the Titans need.

STRONG SIDE

WR: This is the franchise's best bunch since the run 'n shoot days. Kevin Dyson (54 catches, 7 TDs last year) is finally recovered from his knee injury two years ago. Derrick Mason made the Pro Bowl in 2000 and followed that up with 73 catches last season. Together they'll give Steve McNair, who is more comfortable looking downfield than he's ever been, more options than he's ever had. Drew Bennett (6'5") and Justin McCareins (6'2"), both second-year receivers, are big targets who will come in on passing downs to spread the defense. That will open up the middle for TE Frank Wycheck (60 catches).

WEAK SIDE

DB: QBs loved facing the Titans last season. They'll enjoy it more this year. Although CB Samari Rolle says he's healthy and ready to return to Pro Bowl form, SS Blaine Bishop, a big hitter, is gone. His replacement, former 49er Lance Schulters, is a big talker who has yet to prove he can cover. The Titans finished last in pass defense in 2001, and they don't have the goods to improve much this year.

AFC South

1. Colts

2. Titans

3. Jaguars

4. Texans

Scouting Report Index

OTHER UNITS

QB: Steve McNair had his best year (3,350 passing yards, 21 TDs, 61.3%). Only Kurt Warner and Peyton Manning had more passing yards the last seven weeks of the season. If McNair goes down, Neil O'Donnell owns the NFL's lowest career INT percentage (2.12).

RB: Eddie George, playing with turf toe and a bad ankle, played all 16 games but rushed for only 939 yards and averaged just 3 yards per carry. Now that he's healthy, he'll get 25 carries a game. There's no depth, however. McNair was the team's second-leading rusher.

OL: Neither Brad Hopkins nor Fred Miller had a great season at tackle, as the Titans gave up 43 sacks and didn't have a 1,000-yard rusher for the first time since 1995. The coaches are high on the new interior: C Gennaro DiNapoli, LG Zach Piller and RG Benji Olson.

DL: Kevin Carter (2 sacks) didn't have big numbers, but he led the Titans in TFLs. Jevon Kearse joined Reggie White and Derrick Thomas as the only players with 10-plus sacks in each of their first three years. Inside, rookie Albert Haynesworth will push the vets.

LB: There are holes with Eddie Robinson and Greg Favors gone. But promising OLB Keith Bulluck finally gets to play full-time. Randall Godfrey knows how to man the middle and Frank Chamberlin is a solid backup. The coaches love third-round pick Rocky Calmus.

ST: Derrick Mason is a dangerous KR (he took one 101 yards last season). Joe Nedney hit 20 of 28 FGs, including three game-winners, and Craig Hentrich averaged 42 yards on 85 punts.

This article appears in the September 16 issue of ESPN The Magazine.