Five things you need to know about the Titans:

1. They're turning the page: Jake Locker was the eighth overall pick in the 2011 draft, but he didn't start a game his rookie season. After a year of Matt Hasselbeck, the Titans have deemed Locker ready and are turning the keys to the offense over to him. Chris Palmer will be far more creative in his second year as offensive coordinator -- his first with a full offseason to install his offense. Look for run-and-shoot concepts put into play with more conventional personnel. Locker's running ability and speed give the Titans additional options on boots and rollouts and make him tougher to defend.

2. Life after Finnegan: Feisty cornerback Cortland Finnegan left for St. Louis as a free agent. Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner are plenty capable as starters, and Verner is an instinctive nickelback. The question is about No. 3 corner Tommie Campbell and the safeties, Michael Griffin and, presumably, Jordan Babineaux. Upgrading the pass rush has been a priority and can do a lot for the secondary, but did the Titans upgrade it enough?

3. Seeking sacks: In the first year with Jerry Gray as defensive coordinator, the emphasis was on getting bigger and getting back to stopping the run. The pass rush didn't stick to standards, and now it's the big theme. The biggest alterations were the addition of end Kamerion Wimbley and the hiring of Keith Millard, who's working as a pass-rushing coach who stretches across positions. The team also has plans to use second-year strongside linebacker Akeem Ayers as an end on some rush situations. Is all of that enough to spur more than the 28 sacks they managed last year?

4. Chris Johnson's form: He's admitted he underestimated the impact his holdout had on his season last year, when he had inconsistent blocking from the interior line but also didn't always put forth maximum effort or take his share of the blame. He spent the offseason with the team for the first time. Reviewing last season in great detail and being part of the install should help him rebound. He also should benefit from Locker being in place as the quarterback, because a second threat from the backfield takes away some of the focus.

5. The interior line: Center Eugene Amano was under fire after a poor 2011, but the Titans didn't bring in a replacement. He tore a triceps in an early camp practice and was lost for the year. That elevated Fernando Velasco into the starting lineup. The team's big veteran addition on offense was left guard Steve Hutchinson. He should help Velasco plenty, and although he's not the dominant presence of his younger days, Hutchinson is a crafty veteran who can help spread the messages and set the tone that Hall of Fame linemen Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews want.

-- Paul Kuharsky, ESPN.com

Chris Johnson posted career lows last season with 1,047 rushing yards and four touchdowns after holding out for most of training camp.

Johnson's 4.0 yards per rush ranked tied for 41st out of 56 qualified running backs, as he struggled to gain yards after first contact. Only Thomas Jones gained fewer yards after contact per rush than Johnson's 1.4 average among qualified running backs.

In 2011, Johnson averaged 4.4 yards outside of the tackles and failed to score a touchdown. Johnson averaged 6.0 yards per rush in his first three seasons outside the tackles, most of any running back with at least 150 rushes. Johnson scored more than twice as many touchdowns (16) as any other running back during that span.

Johnson did improve as the 2011 season progressed. He ranked in the top four in the NFL in yards (681) and 15-yard rushes (12) in the second half of the season.

• Kendall Wright should boost the Titans' deep passing game. Last season, Nate Washington and Kenny Britt combined to catch 12 of 30 targets, including three touchdowns, on passes thrown at least 21 air yards downfield. At Baylor in 2011, Wright caught 13 of 24 targets and scored seven touchdowns on those deep passes.

• The Titans registered just 23 sacks in 2011, second fewest in the league. Tennessee rushed four or fewer defenders on 75 percent of dropbacks last season, but could muster a sack only once every 26.6 times its opponents dropped back, 28th in the NFL.

-- ESPN Stats & Information