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 If the Titans hope to improve in 2010, their defense which ranked 28th in the league last year must improve. With many young, and unproven players on the roster this may be tough, as stalwarts of Titans defenses past such as defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, and linebacker Keith Bulluck are no longer with the team. If the Tennessee Titans truly hope to be a playoff team this season, the secondary, linebackers and defensive line must work as a unit, and develop under second year coordinator Chuck Cecil.
To this point the identity of the Titans defense seems unknown, as injuries have plagued the defensive line, as well as secondary. Currently, defensive line starters William Hayes and Jovan Haye are both suffering from knee injuries, which are expected to keep them from playing or practicing for at least 2-4 weeks. Rookie first round defensive end Derrick Morgan has only participated in one day of training camp, due to a nagging calf injury which will sideline him at least through the preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks this weekend. In the secondary, Cortland Finnegan has been out of practice for the better part of a week now due to what is being described as a hip injury.
Fortunately for the Titans, there are so far no major injuries for the Titans defense, but at the same time an injury is an injury, and many key components of the 2010 Titan’s defense are not getting valuable reps in camp. If this defense is going to truly improve, veterans such as Stephen Tulloch, Michael Griffin and Cortland Finnegan need to take charge of a defense in need of an identity. This team’s identity last season as proclaimed by Cecil was VIOLENT, this year it should be confident.
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Matt Field
Nashville.com Sports Editor
 In only his second NFL season, Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson blew past all his competition, gaining more than 2,000 rushing yards in 2009. His final total of 2006, was almost 600 yards greater than the runner-up, Steven Jackson of the St. Louis Rams.
Chris Johnson had already made his mark during his 2008 rookie season when he topped the 1,000 yard barrier, rushing for 1,228 yards. So, now that he has been identified as the top running back in the league, what exactly is Johnson worth? Also, what is Johnson worth compared to the other elite backs in the NFL and what they are earning in 2010?
So far, Johnson has decided to stay away from all Titans voluntary workouts. He continues to work out on his own and is trying to keep a positive mindset as he approaches the upcoming season. He firmly wants to have his contract re-worked and feels he should be paid more in line with what his production shows him to be—top dog. After all, he was named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year
Was Johnson upset when he signed his five year rookie contract worth $12 million when he was drafted in the first round by the Titans?
No, he signed on the dotted line in good faith and the Titans hoped that he would live up to the value they placed on him by selecting him with their top pick.
We all know that there are first round busts, and there is no guarantee that every player drafted in the first round will return the investment. But, Johnson’s situation is unique. He was, unfortunately, drafted lower in the first round (24th), and as a result he is stuck with the initial five-year deal and has no leverage other than to hold out.
The Titans were somewhat lucky they even drafted him, considering not only that he lasted until their pick at No. 24, but that the two teams directly in front of them selected different running backs—Dallas took Felix Jones at No. 22, and Pittsburgh took Rashard Mendenhall at No. 23.
So Where Did Johnson Finish in Compensation in 2009 Among All Running Backs?
Right or wrong, Johnson earned only $1.4 million in 2009, which ranked him at No. 51 out of all running backs in compensation for the season.
According to a chart from USA Today, Chris Johnson was not even in the top 50 running backs for salary cap value in the 2009, ending up at No. 51, with a value of $1.4 million. Slightly ahead of Johnson at No. 49, also at $1.4 million, was another most valuable member for his team, Freddy Jackson of the Buffalo Bills. Both bargains to be sure.
As John Clayton of ESPN laid out in an article, Johnson is basically screwed because he was a first round draft pick in the bottom half of the first round. His story explains how the Titans have Johnson over a barrel.
In comparing Johnson to other elite backs—and how unfair his situation is—let’s look at the Vikings Adrian Peterson as a prime example. Unlike Johnson, Peterson was drafted in the top 10, and his salary reflects the high pick. Peterson will see $3.64 million this year and then it gets bumped up to $10.72 million in 2011. If you added up all five years of Johnson’s contract, it will almost equal what Peterson makes in 2011 alone.
The irony of all of this is that we have seen examples of NFL running backs like Frank Gore, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Marion Barber get deals reworked for them. Why for these three and not for Johnson?
Because all three of them were drafted after the first round.
Maybe having your name called in day two is not such a bad thing after all.
What Kind of a Precedent Will This Situation Set?
Something has to give and somebody has to blink. The Titans think that Johnson should be a good soldier, play football, and honor his contract. We all know that the shelf life of NFL players is not very long, and running backs in particular can have their careers end after one major injury.
This can become a major distraction if Johnson does not report for mandatory practices, and the team will be left to wonder what will happen. Some wonder if this situation will cause head coach Jeff Fisher to lose his job if Johnson sits out the year.
That would be a shame, considering that Fisher has been running the team for 15 years, longest tenured coach in the NFL.
Should Johnson be paid a rate that places him in the top 10 of all running backs? If his deal does not get renegotiated, will he play this year with a chip on his shoulder, and prove that he is even better, and worth more?
Either way, there will be some type of precedent being set for now and for the future, not just for the Titans, but for running backs drafted in the mid to low 20s in future first rounds. This should continue to be an intriguing story until something gets done.
Matt Field
Nashville.com Sports Editor
 Chris Johnson has returned to Tennessee for football, just not with the Titans. The running back coming off a historic season still wants a pay raise and isn’t happy with his contract status.
He just wouldn’t comment about it Wednesday.
The Associated Press’ 2009 NFL Offensive Player of the Year held his second annual camp for children Wednesday and stuck to “no comment” when asked about a contract paying him US$550,000 for 2010.
Johnson lives in Orlando and the camp is his first visit to Tennessee since the Titans’ season ended with him becoming only the sixth player in NFL history to run for at least 2,000 yards.
Johnson is expressing his frustrations on Twitter. He tweeted Tuesday that he had talked to his agent and it wasn’t “good news.”
Matt Field
Nashville.com Sports Editor
Dallas police say Titans’ QB Vince Young cited for assault.
 Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young received a misdemeanour assault citation after getting into a fight at a Dallas strip club and leaving before authorities arrived early Sunday, police said.
Surveillance video footage released by police showed the former University of Texas star and several people talking in a small room before Young attacked someone in the room. Others tried to break up the fight.
Young wasn’t at Club Onyx when police responded to a call about the fight, said Dallas police Lt. Andy Harvey.
Harvey said an investigation led to Young receiving a Class C assault citation, punishable by a fine up to US$500.
Titans spokesman Robbie Bohren said the team was aware of the incident and had contacted Young. He said the team was still gathering information. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a tweet that the league “will look into it.”
Titans coach Jeff Fisher was holding his annual charity softball game Sunday night in Nashville. Young was not on the early list of players committed to appear in the game.
The Titans resume on-field sessions Monday.
Young, the No. 3 pick overall in 2006, got his starting job back last fall when Tennessee started 0-6 and owner Bud Adams put him back in the lineup. He helped the Titans win eight of their final 10 and heads into his fifth NFL season with a 26-13 record as a starter.
Matt Field
Nashville.com Sports Editor
Coach says Titans would like to talk RB Johnson
 Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher says the Titans would like to meet and talk with unhappy running back Chris Johnson before the team’s next minicamps in June.
Johnson has stayed away from the team’s off-season program and voluntary minicamps including Tuesday’s session. The Associated Press NFL 2009 Offensive Player of the Year wants a pay hike after becoming the sixth man in league history to rush for at least 2,000 yards.
The Titans have argued publicly that Johnson has three years left on the five-year, US$12-million deal signed in 2008 that guaranteed him just under $7 million.
Fisher said Johnson had asked him to take part in the running back’s football camp. Fisher said he wants the running back to take part in his camp.
Matt Field
Nashville.com Sports Editor
Titans’ Johnson looking for a new deal, sits out practice
 Chris Johnson has been very vocal about wanting to be paid more after making NFL history, and now he’s taking his next step in making sure the Tennessee Titans know how serious he really is.
The Titans wrapped up their second on-field session Thursday, and Johnson wasn’t there. The two-time Pro Bowl running back who is staying away from the voluntary team practices as part of his campaign for a very big pay hike since becoming only the sixth player in NFL history to run for at least 2,000 yards.
“CJ’s had a phenomenal year,” Titans fullback Ahmard Hall said Thursday. “He broke some records that no one would expect an eight-, 10-year guy to break. And he broke it in his second year. I mean, he’s the best back in the league right now. He wants to get paid as such.”
Johnson has three years left on the US$12 million contract he signed in 2008 that featured $7 million guaranteed. But his base salary for 2010 doesn’t even put him close to being one of the best paid players on the Titans, let alone the NFL. Johnson is due $550,000 for 2010.
The running back picked No. 24 overall in 2008 started talking of wanting more money as he wrapped up his second season as The Associated Press’ 2009 Offensive Press Offensive Player of the Year.
“That’s something my agent has got to take care of, my agent and upstairs,” Johnson said in January, the day after the season ended. “I’m not sure. I need to get Bud Adams number.”
Johnson ran 358 times for 2,006 yards as the NFL’s leading rusher by 590 yards more than Steven Jackson of St. Louis. He set the single-season record for yards from scrimmage with 2,509, topping Marshall Faulk’s mark of 2,429 set in 1999 with St. Louis. He became the first player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards and catch 500 yards in the same season.
He also became the first player in NFL history to rush for three touchdowns of 85 yards or longer in a career, which he did in one season. Through two seasons, Johnson ranks third in NFL history with 3,234 yards to start his career. Only Eric Dickerson (3,318) and Edgerrin James (3,262) ran for more in their first two seasons.
Johnson did not return a text message to his cell from the AP to discuss what he’d like to be paid.
Hall has helped block for Johnson the past two years and said he talks with Johnson three or four times a week. Hall said players understand Johnson staying away is simply business.
“You don’t have that long to play so you’ve got to get it while you can,” Hall said.
This is the first time Johnson has been absent from the Titans’ on-field sessions called organized team activities, though he has worked out on his own during the off-season. Coach Jeff Fisher has no mandatory minicamps, preferring that his Titans voluntarily choose to take part in approximately 14 sessions each off-season.
But the Titans see the final year of the collective bargaining agreement limiting what they can do because of a rule curbing pay hikes in base salaries to 30 per cent. The alternative is paying millions up front.
Jackson signed a six-year, $44 million deal in 2008. Johnson tweeted a link Thursday to a story on Philadelphia quarterback Kevin Kolb getting a contract extension Thursday and how that raises the stakes for himself with the Titans.
Coach Jeff Fisher said Johnson is under contract and refused to get into talk about negotiations.
“He eventually will come back,” Fisher said. “We are concerned about those that are here right now. He knows what it takes to get into shape and to do those things, but it is hard to get it done elsewhere because the group that is working now is in terrific shape.”
For now, Javon Ringer is the only healthy running back for the Titans. He’ll be on his own again in May before undrafted free agent rookies LeGarrette Blount and Stafon Johnson take the field with the veterans.
Hall doesn’t anticipate Johnson missing the entire off-season or holding out of training camp.
“CJ’s a professional. This organization loves CJ. I think something will get done one way or another. … They don’t have any animosity toward CJ. They understand what’s going on. It’s business. And like I said, it’ll get done,” Hall said.
Matt Field
Nashville.com Sports Editor
 LeGarrette Blount, the Oregon running back suspended for punching a player last season, agreed to terms Monday with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent.
Blount missed eight games in 2009 for punching Boise State defensive end Byron Hout in the season opener Sept. 3. Blount returned late in the season and played in the Rose Bowl loss to Ohio State.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement the team talked to a number of people, including Blount, before offering him a deal.
“He was a good college football player who, after talking to a number of people, merits a second chance,” Fisher said. “Certainly LeGarrette should understand consequences at this point and we have explained what our expectations are for him to be successful with this opportunity.”
Fisher traded one of his backs with off-field issues on Saturday, sending LenDale White to Seattle. White missed some team meetings with Tennessee, particularly after losing his starting job in 2008 to Chris Johnson.
The Titans also drafted troubled cornerback Adam (Pacman) Jones in 2005, but after a series of off-field incidents, he was traded away. Jones subsequently was suspended by the NFL for one season and currently is out of the league.
Blount went to the NFL combine in February and talked of how he made a mistake by overreacting at the end of the loss to Boise State. He had been projected as a middle-round pick with a resume that included being suspended from the team in February 2009 for not fulfilling team obligations, and also having weight problems.
Blount rushed for 1,002 yards in 2008.
Tennessee also agreed to terms with Southern California running back Stafon Johnson, whose larynx was crushed in a weightlifting accident last September. He returned to play in the Senior Bowl in late January.
Johnson ran for 1,552 yards and 19 touchdowns during his USC career.
The rookies report to Nashville on Thursday and hit the field for orientation Friday.
Matt Field
Nashville.com Sports Editor
 Nashville’s power play has been in a deep freeze and the Predators could use a breakout Saturday in Game 5 of their opening-round series against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago rookie goalie Antti Niemi, who has posted two shutouts in his four career playoff games, and shot-blocking defenseman Brent Sopel have played key roles in Nashville’s 0-for-17 performance on the power play. The series is tied 2-2.
“We’re hoping it’s ready to burst, 0 and 17, oh and forever is not going to cut it,” Nashville’s Steve Sullivan said Friday.
“You look at the difference in some games, it’s been the power play.”
Returning to their noisy home ice, the Blackhawks hope to keep the defensive pressure on the Predators, who won Games 1 and 3, but have been without leading goal scorer Patric Hornqvist the last three games.
Hornqvist, who had 30 goals in the regular season, has been skating in practice but not been able to play since the opener because of an upper body injury. His status for Saturday is not known.
Nashville right wing Jordin Tootoo, who was hit in the face by a deflected puck in Chicago’s 3-0 win Thursday night, needed about 45 stitches to close the wound. He couldn’t practice Friday and was meeting with a plastic surgeon, but hopes to play Saturday.
The Blackhawks were able to kill off a 5-on-3 Nashville power play for more than a minute in the opening period Thursday night with Sopel making two blocks to preserve what was a 1-0 Chicago lead at the time.
“The old saying goes … your best penalty killer is your goalie. I know it’s a cliche, but it’s the truth,” Chicago center John Madden said. “He (Niemi) made some huge saves for us. Brent Sopel on the 5-on-3 made some huge blocks. It just shows a lot of guts to get in front of those shots.”
Chicago’s Duncan Keith, a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defenseman, said the Blackhawks have never wavered in their feeling about Niemi, who took over the job from Cristobal Huet in the final stretch of the season. He had 33 saves Thursday night and had seven shutouts in the regular season.
“He’s played great for us, a lot of shutouts. We have a lot of confidence back there with him in the net. He’s been a rock back there for us,” Keith said.
Sopel has been sacrificing his body all season — he was fourth on the team with 120 blocks during the regular season. It can be a painful job.
“If the puck hits me, it’s obviously not going into the net,” Sopel said. “If we can knock those down, it gives us a chance to do what we want to do.”
The Predators’ power play has lacked punch, but they’ve outshot the Blackhawks two games in a row — Chicago’s plus-9 shot differential this season led the NHL — and lead the series in hits 128-86.
But now they must find a way to stoke up the offense, maintain their physical play and win a second game at the United Center, where Chicago had 29 victories this season. The Predators captured the opener at the Blackhawks’ home ice 4-1, scoring all of their goals in the final period, including a pair of empty-netters.
The Blackhawks concentrated on getting more traffic in front of the net Thursday night, enhancing their rebound chances and cutting down on goalie Pekka Rinne’s ability to see the puck.
They also got an inspirational lift from defenseman Brian Campbell, who played for first time since March 14 after suffering a broken collarbone. And they got two goals from Patrick Sharp — his first score coming on a power play when he was camped in front of the net.
“Their first goal it wasn’t a pretty one with all the talent they have. It was just a gritty goal,” Sullivan said.
“We have to simplify, keep getting shots on net and just being a bit more determined around the net.”
Sharp was able to get his game untracked and the Predators are hoping Jason Arnott and Sullivan can do the same. Arnott has taken a team-high 16 shots and has yet to score.
Sullivan, tied with Hornqvist for most points in regular season with 51, has five shots with no goals and two assists.
“It’s frustrating no question,” Arnott said. “Just to pick up an assist here or there would be really nice. In the playoffs it’s hard to get down on yourself. You’ve got to stay positive, just try to do the little things right and hopefully pucks will go in for me.”
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Matt Field
Nashville.com Sports Editor
 J.P. Dumont called it a lucky goal. He flipped the puck at the net and after it bounced past surprised Chicago goalie Antti Niemi, it hit the post and went in.
The unexpected score allowed the Nashville Predators to tie the game early in the third period Friday night and changed the momentum in their direction.
Dumont wasn’t through, however. He finished off his impressive final period with the go-ahead score and the Predators added two empty-netters to beat the Blackhawks 4-1 for their first-ever road playoff victory.
“It was a lucky bounce, but we’ll take it,” said Dumont, who played for the Blackhawks a decade ago. “That’s what happened; we had been working really hard down low. That was definitely a good bounce for us.”
It was Nashville’s first road playoff win in 11 tries. Now they’ll try for another in Game 2 on Sunday night at the United Center.
“It definitely was huge. We have a lot of guys who played their first playoff game tonight, and playing Chicago and the anthem was so loud in the building, we could have been intimidated,” Dumont said.
“But we were pretty much relaxed out there and just played our game.”
Pekka Rinne made 25 saves in his playoff debut for the Predators, allowing only Patrick Kane’s second-period goal. After Dumont gave Nashville a 2-1 lead, Jerred Smithson and Martin Erat added empty-net goals in the final 48 seconds.
Nashville’s David Legwand got the puck after a turnover by Chicago’s Troy Brouwer, raced in and took a shot that Niemi stopped, but Dumont was there to knock in the rebound to give the Predators a 2-1 lead at 10:37 of the final period.
But it was Dumont’s first goal that really seemed to sink the Blackhawks. He just put it on net from deep on the right side and somehow it went in.
“It definitely gave us a little jump. It was only 1-0 and we were playing our game, waiting for a chance,” Dumont said. “You see the time running and you always get a little bit nervous. But when I came back to the bench I could see the guys were relaxed and that definitely was a good sign.”
Niemi, a rookie who emerged as Chicago’s top goalie with his play late in the season, made 22 saves in his playoff debut. But the first goal he allowed was one he’ll long remember, especially because Dumont’s shot was trickier than it was hard.
“The second goal was a tough one. It was a turnover at a critical spot,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. “The first goal took a funny hop and a funny bounce, but you’re still in a good spot. That’s why I’m not happy about the second.”
When Patrick Sharp fired a shot from the left circle that went off Rinne, he couldn’t control the puck and Kane was there to follow it in from right in front of the net for his 10th career playoff goal. That gave the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead midway through the second period.
Sharp had a chance to score earlier on a nice pass from Marian Hossa but his shot hit the post.
“It was important for us to get this first win on the road. It gives us a lot of momentum,” Rinne said. “We played a solid game and created turnovers. We were especially strong in the third. We stayed with our plan and it worked. I got lucky on Sharp’s shot, which hit the post.”
Rinne made a good stop on a rebound attempt by Jonathan Toews after a shot by Hossa and later had a great poke check to thwart a breakaway attempt by Sharp in the scoreless first period.
Employing a neutral-zone trap defense to combat Chicago’s puck possession game, the Predators and Blackhawks finished with 26 shots apiece. Nashville had a 13-4 advantage in the pivotal third period. Chicago led the NHL this season with an average of 34 shots per game while allowing a league-low 25.
“They’re aren’t too many plays where you get odd-man rushes,” Kane said. “Their trap overall, we can play better against it. We’ve got to get the puck deep.
“Their goalie’s pretty good, too.”
The Blackhawks and Predators played six times in the regular season, with Chicago winning four times, but in a scheduling quirk, they hadn’t met since Dec. 27.
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Matt Field
Nashville.com Sports Editor
 Nashville, which scored and also gave up 225 goals this season, went 14-6-1 after the Olympic break. The Blackhawks initially struggled following the Vancouver Games, losing eight of 11 at one point. They regrouped for a late six-game winning streak before losing the season finale to Detroit and finishing second instead of first in the Western Conference.
Even though the Blackhawks and Predators are in the same division and played six times this season, they haven’t seen each other since Dec. 27.
The Predators were 2-4 against Chicago this season with one victory at the United Center. Their biggest challenge starting Friday, other than handling the din of the Blackhawks’ home crowd, will be their own playoff history — they are 0-10 in road playoff games.
“They’re going to be jacked up, their crowd and the noise factor’s going to be extremely high,” Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. “We’ve got to control our emotions and execute our system. When things are all noisy and people are flying around … your security blanket is your system.”
Rookie Antti Niemi has taken over as Chicago’s No. 1 goalie and like his counterpart and countryman Rinne will be making his playoff debut.
Niemi’s laid-back demeanor is one of the reasons he was able to take the top spot from Cristobal Huet.
“He’s zero or as no-maintenance as any guy out there, especially for goalies,” Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said.
Chicago, which lost to Detroit in the Western Conference finals last year, likes to play a puck possession game to take the heat off its goalie.
During the regular season, the Blackhawks led the league with an average of 34.1 shots per game and also gave up an NHL-low 25.1 shots.
“Defensively, they’ve given up the fewest shots of any team in the league,” Trotz said. “There’s a couple of factors. A, they’ve got a very skilled puck-possession team, and they have the puck a lot. B, they don’t take a lot of penalties, and C, they’ve got a mobile defense that can get them out of trouble.”
Nashville had a 30-goal scorer in Patric Hornqvist, who tied for the teams points lead (51) with ex-Blackhawk Steve Sullivan. Hornqvist is ready to go after taking a slap shot off the upper body April 7.
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Matt Field
Nashville.com Sports Editor
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If the Titans hope to improve in 2010, their defense which ranked 28th in the league last year must improve. With many young, and unproven players on the roster this may be tough, as stalwarts of Titans defenses past such as defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, and linebacker Keith Bulluck are no longer with the team. If the Tennessee Titans truly hope to be a playoff team this season, the secondary, linebackers and defensive line must work as a unit, and develop under second year coordinator Chuck Cecil.
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