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Back at the scouting combine in Indianapolis, Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt gave Jim Wyatt the first nugget about the sort of small personnel trait changes Mike Munchak and his staff may want to see.

They'd look to get sturdier at defensive end, where they wouldn't line their guys up so wide so often.

Munchak said this afternoon that the positional alteration at defensive end won’t be a constant. The team played its ends super wide to the point where “it was almost all we did,” he said. Now they won’t be in wide nine-technique so often, playing closer to, or head up on, the offensive tackle more.

“Back when we went to the Super Bowl when [defensive coordinator] Jerry Gray was here last time, Jevon Kearse played a lot of those seven-techniques and six-techniques and nine-techniques and was successful from all those positions," Munchak said. "We’ll still be in nine-techniques and taking advantage of that in certain down and distances, but I think there will be a little bit more variation than we’ve had.”

Also on the agenda: More size at both defensive tackle, where the focus had become more and more on pass rushing, and at linebacker.

On offense, Munchak turned the conversation to the same place the ball’s going to go: Chris Johnson.

“We have to keep looking at ways to get him the ball,” Munchak said.

Under Jeff Fisher and his offensive coordinator, Mike Heimerdinger, the Titans tended to shy away from screens. The number of moving parts involved, they said, didn’t make the trade off worth it for how much work has to go into being a good screen team.

And while they had screen packages in most game plans, we saw them less and less, to the point of frustration. The primary quarterback, Vince Young, also didn’t throw screens well.

Young’s successor will have the chance to do so.

“Any way we can get [Johnson] the ball, it doesn’t have to be handed to him,” Munchak said. “Hand it to him, pitch it to him, throw it to him -- I think we’ve done a good job of that. He’s made a big impact on the running and passing games. Defenses do a great job of trying to take those passes away.

“We work screens quite a bit; it’s just a matter of getting them called in games. Last year, we were one of the worst teams in time of possession. We have to find ways to stay out there, which allows us to run more plays. And I think you’ll see more plays to Chris where if you need a screen, all it is is a run. You can run those on first down, it doesn’t have to be third down. You can run those on any down. They are something that just gets him going around the edges.”

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: History in the spot.

Houston Texans

2010: OT Anthony Davis (49ers)

2009: LB Aaron Maybin (Bills)

2008: DB Leodis McKelvin (Bills)

2007: LB Patrick Willis (49ers)

2006: QB Jay Cutler (Broncos)

2005: LB DeMarcus Ware (Cowboys)

2004: QB Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)

Last year at No. 11, the 49ers got Rutgers offensive tackle Davis, who started every game on the right side. Maybin, taken in the spot in 2009, is on the hot seat in Buffalo, where he’s not come close to expectations. In 2007, the 49ers got the excellent middle linebacker Willis 11th, when the Texans took defensive tackle Amobi Okoye the spot before. The verdict on Cutler is still to be determined, while Ware is a superstar and Ben Roethlisberger has won two Super Bowls. Other hits since the NFL-AFL merger include Michael Irvin, Dwight Freeney and Leon Searcy. Other misses: Ron Dayne, Michael Booker.

Indianapolis Colts

2010: WR Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)

2009: WR Percy Harvin (Vikings)

2008: RB Felix Jones (Cowboys)

2007: QB Brady Quinn (Browns)

2006: LB Manny Lawson (49ers)

2005: WR Mark Clayton (Ravens)

2004: QB J.P. Losman (Bills)

Last year’s 22nd pick, Denver receiver Thomas, caught 22 passes and scored two touchdowns. Minnesota grabbed receiver Harvin in the spot in 2009 and he’s one of the game’s most dynamic players already. Quinn didn’t cut it in Cleveland and ranks third now in Denver, and Losman didn’t solve Buffalo’s quarterback issues. The last time the Colts were in this spot, they took receiver Andre Rison in 1989. He played only one season for the franchise, but in 12 years he amassed more than 10,000 receiving yards and caught 84 touchdowns.

Jacksonville Jaguars

2010: DE Derrick Morgan (Titans)

2009: LB Larry English (Chargers)

2008: CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Cardinals)

2007: DT Justin Harrell (Packers)

2006: CB Jason Allen (Dolphins)

2005: DT Travis Johnson (Texans)

2004: OT Shawn Andrews (Eagles)

Morgan went 16th to Tennessee last year, but suffered a season-ending knee injury early on. Rodgers-Cromartie had a big rookie season in 2008 as the Cardinals went to the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu was a huge find at the spot in 2003 and Jevon Kearse set a rookie record for sacks and led Tennessee to the Super Bowl in 1999. But others in the recent past like Allen, Houston's Johnson and Cleveland running back William Green hardly lived up to expectations. Dan McGwire, a big quarterback bust for Seattle, also went in the spot in 1991. But anyone thinking the Jaguars can’t hit a home run should know that a guy rated by many as the greatest player of all time, Jerry Rice, was selected 16th in 1985.

Tennessee Titans

2010: LB Rolando McClain (Raiders)

2009: OT Eugene Monroe (Jaguars)

2008: DE Derrick Harvey (Jaguars)

2007: DE Jamaal Anderson (Falcons)

2006: S Donte Whitner (Bills)

2005: S Antrel Rolle (Cardinals)

2004: CB DeAngelo Hall (Falcons)

McClain went to Oakland eighth last season and was second on the Raiders in tackles his rookie year. Jacksonville had the spot the two years before that. The Jaguars think they got a long-term left tackle in Monroe, but Harvey might be done already. Jordan Gross is a topflight tackle for Carolina and receiver Plaxico Burress was a Super Bowl hero for the Giants. But receiver David Terrell busted for the Bears, receiver David Boston didn’t fare much better in Arizona and running back Tim Biakabutuka was a dud for the Panthers. Sam Adams’ long career clogging up the middle as a defensive tackle started in Seattle. The last time the Titans had this pick, they landed Hall of Fame guard Mike Munchak, who’s now the team’s coach.

Jeff Fisher critics have called for staff shuffling.

They’d have been foolish to want defensive line coach Jim Washburn to go. But Washburn, a free agent like every coach on Fisher’s 2010 staff except for Mike Heimerdinger, may be on the verge of jumping to Philadelphia, reports Jim Wyatt.

Fisher acknowledging the possibility may be an early attempt to start softening the blow.

It would be a terrible development for the organization, which has consistently seen Washburn turn draft picks and free agents, problem children and reclamation projects into productive pass rushers.

The list of guys Washburn got the best out of includes Jevon Kearse, who joined the Titans in 1999, the same year as Washburn as well as Kenny Holmes, Josh Evans, Henry Ford, Carlos Hall, Robaire Smith, Antwan Odom, Travis LaBoy, Albert Haynesworth, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Tony Brown, Jason Jones, Dave Ball and Jason Babin.

In six seasons with four teams, Babin had 17. 5 career sacks before the Titans signed him for $1 million last offseason. Under Washburn’s tutelage, Babin posted 12.5 sacks -- the sixth-best total in the NFL. (Here’s a column on Babin and Ball from early in the 2010 season.)

A screamer, Washburn knows how to find and push buttons for his players, and he’s helped them make them a ton of money. By Wyatt’s count, 11 defensive linemen left the Titans over the past 12 years to sign big free-agent contracts elsewhere at a total value of more than $355 million.

I can think of only two guys who were better after they left. Juqua Thomas, who’s now Juqua Parker of the Eagles and could soon have Washburn as a position coach again, is not part of that big-money departure list. Randy Starks of the Dolphins is.

Virtually everyone who’s played for Washburn has good things to say about what he did for them.

Replacing him would be a huge undertaking for Fisher. A lame-duck coach, he won’t be able to offer his next defensive line coach any more than the one-year deal he was able to offer Washburn.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans have long searched for a dynamic downfield receiver. Sunday at LP Field, the Titans got the kind of game that says they finally have one.

Kenny Britt is big, physical and fast, but he’s also still growing up.

Early Friday morning, he was accused of throwing punches in a bar brawl at Karma Lounge on Broadway in downtown Nashville.

Late Sunday afternoon, his quarterback and coordinator were answering questions about how highly he ranks among the receivers they throw to and call plays for, respectively.

A seven-catch, 225-yard, three-touchdown game has a way of altering the focus of the conversation. Britt's performance keyed the Titans' 37-19 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

“There is not much better that I’ve played with,” said Kerry Collins, the 16th year quarterback who played for the injured Vince Young. “…[Britt is] going to do everything he can to get the ball, he’s aggressive going after it. The guy loves to play, love to make big plays. As a quarterback, it’s nice to know a guy like that is on your team because like you saw today, there were some throws that weren’t exactly perfect, but the guy did whatever he had to do to get the ball.

“You can have all the physical tools in the world but if you don’t have that, it doesn’t make you a special player. And I think Kenny has the ability to be a special player.”

I asked Mike Heimerdinger, who’s overseen the Titans' offense for eight seasons in two separate stints, where Britt ranks among the guys he’s coached in Nashville.

“Ability wise, he has the most of anybody,” Heimerdinger said. “Derrick Mason did more with less ability than Kenny has. I wouldn’t put him ahead of Mase yet.”

Britt had the Titans biggest receiving day since Drew Bennett had 233 yards and three touchdowns against Kansas City on Dec. 13, 2004. The Eagles had never given up so many receiving yards to one player.

For the Titans, now 5-2, it should amount to more than a big day.

It should delineate two shifts: One where the teams that choose to stack things up to stop running back Chris Johnson pay the price in deep passing production; another in how the Titans deploy their receivers.

Britt was used primarily as the team’s third receiver through the team’s first four games this season. He started the two games before this one with Justin Gage out with a hamstring injury.

With Gage still out, Britt would have started against the Eagles, but coach Jeff Fisher disciplined him for the Karma Lounge incident. Britt sat until the middle of the second quarter; Fisher is relying on the crutch of "gathering facts.”

Britt has now caught a touchdown pass in five consecutive games.

So now, when Gage is ready, he should remain in the background.

Nothing personal against a nice guy who’s been productive in spurts and is signed through 2011. But it’s time to move on, and to do so the Titans need to play Britt and Nate Washington as the starters, with rookie Damian Williams as the No. 3.

Gage can dress, but he shouldn’t be on the field unless something is wrong with one of those three guys. He could be used as the fourth receiver rotating in once in a while to offer a breather.

A year ago, after four starts, the Titans scratched a healthy defensive end Jevon Kearse. He got hurt in practice after that, but clearly the team decided amid a poor start to move forward without the veteran. The Titans turned things over to guys with more upside like William Hayes, Jacob Ford and Dave Ball. Kearse appeared in only two more games before his contract ran out and he disappeared.

It’s time now for them to “Jevon Kearse” Gage in order to create sufficient room for Britt and Williams, who’s played well in increased chances the last few weeks.

I asked general manager Mike Reinfeldt about Britt earning a starting role.

“I think as you go along, people do things that demand more play time and I’m not sure what more you can do than he’s done,” Reinfeldt said. “That’s how it should work. You earn play time.”

Defensive coordinators are going to have to spent additional time formulating better plans against Britt. They have to be able to make better, quicker adjustments to him than Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott did.

Britt worked mostly against cornerback Ellis Hobbs, though several of his big plays turned out to be against safety Nate Allen.

He got to the corner for his first touchdown. Britt circled a ball that was under thrown as Collins got his arm hit to take the second one 80 yards for a touchdown. Britt caught the third score among three defenders in the center of the end zone.

Did Collins expect the Eagles to make an adjustment away from that safety-centric coverage?

“I did,” he said. “And they didn’t.”

“A lot of that was just me,” Allen said.

Only near the very end was cornerback Asante Samuel on Britt’s side of the field.

“About six, seven minutes left I was going to go over and cover him,” Samuel said. “But we didn’t have enough time.”

Fullback Ahmard Hall said he still expects Britt to address the team this week, perhaps apologizing for causing a distraction. Many of the Titans won’t consider it necessary after he did so much to lift them in such a big win. Two of his touchdowns were part of the team’s 27-point fourth-quarter, the franchise's most productive final quarter ever.

I suspect Britt will be in before too late Sunday night. He said his fiancée gave him grief over being out late when trouble is more likely.

“Don’t go to places after 12,” he said when asked what he’d learned. “Stay in the house. My fiancée actually yelled at me and I was like, ‘OK, I’ll stay home for the rest of the season.’”

Britt’s friend Jason McCourty, a Titans cornerback who was part of the same draft class out of Rutgers, joked he might go the other way.

“I told Kenny now if he’s trying to back to Karma this Thursday night, I’m with him, if that’s the type of game you’re going to have,” McCourty said, laughing.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Longtime Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn answered the phone recently and heard Josh Evans on the line.

A productive but troubled defensive tackle for the Titans from 1995-99 and in 2001 after completing a suspension, Evans still feels a strong connection to the guys Washburn oversees because they play the same way his lines played.

“He said, ‘I watched you on TV and I was so proud because I knew I was a part of that,’ ” Washburn said. “ 'That group on the field 10 years after I left, I knew that was still my group and they still play hard.’ ”

Which led a sentimental Washburn to ask: “What’s better, that or winning the division?”

His best rush groups have featured a star -– Jevon Kearse, Albert Haynesworth and Kyle Vanden Bosch were top rushers, Kevin Carter was a big name -– surrounded by mostly mid- and late-round picks.

But the linemen leading the charge for the NFL’s No. 1 sack team heading into Jacksonville for "Monday Night Football" (8:30 ET, ESPN) aren't marquee names. Twenty-two sacks have come from a group of outcasts, misfits and football orphans from the scrap heap mixed with draft picks from Eastern Michigan, Winston-Salem State and Central Arkansas.

They are a lot like Evans, who was undrafted out of Alabama-Birmingham.

The Titans probably expected their starting ends at this point to be rookie first-rounder Derrick Morgan and William Hayes, a three-year veteran from Winston-Salem State.

Morgan, though, is out for the year with a torn ACL, and after Hayes was slowed by a knee injury in the preseason, he’s working as part of a deep rotation.

The front-line rushers on the outside are Jason Babin and Dave Ball, regular Joes who are personable, low-key guys six days a week and fierce quarterback killers Sunday.

Washburn makes them sound like they are related to Darth Vader when he says they each have a “dark side.”

“When emotions get high and things get crazy, my alter ego and my inner being kind of come out,” Babin said. “And he’s not a nice guy. I wouldn’t say I am trying to maim or hurt people. But I am definitely not considerate by any means.

“Off the field, I’m a dad, I’m a husband. I help out with dinner. I do bath time. But not out there.”

The Titans fleeced the Houston Texans in a 2004 draft-day trade made for the 27th pick in the first round. The Texans took Babin and tried to turn him into a linebacker in their 3-4, but things never worked out in his three seasons there. Babin then bounced from Seattle to Kansas City to Philadelphia.

The Titans grabbed him last spring with a one-year, $1 million deal. In their simple get-the-quarterback scheme, he has 5 1/2 sacks in five games, more than his total in any of his previous six seasons.

He knows it will take a much longer stretch of quality production to remove his bust reputation. But he’s a poster boy for how complicated schemes and projected position changes can get in the way of a player playing solid football.

“It’s a simple game, it’s basic and if you try to draw X's and O's and scheme, that stuff doesn’t work,” Babin said. “Here, we come off the ball, and whatever happens, happens …

“Wash likes to joke, ‘If I had my hands on you, you’d have a lot more money and a lot more sacks,’ and maybe that’s true. But the journey that I took has really made me who I am today. I’m more humble and more respectful than I was when I started. I really cherish practice, working out and every play on the field.”

Ball has bounced around as well. Drafted out of UCLA in the fifth round by San Diego in 2004, he spent time with the Chargers, Jets and Panthers and then had a season out of football. He signed with the Titans in early 2008.

Mostly a rotation guy for Tennessee in his first two seasons, Ball has stayed healthy and been productive this season. He has 4 1/2 sacks while holding off Hayes, Jacob Ford and Morgan (while he was healthy) despite regular worries about losing rank.

“He’s a paranoid dude,” Washburn said. “He is just afraid to fail. He’s obsessed, just like Kyle (Vanden Bosch). He’s afraid every day.”

Ball said his receding hairline is partly because of that mentality. Although he doesn't come to work fearful that he could be cut as he once did, he still is concerned about the potential for drop-off.

“I worry about not keeping up the pace I’ve been going,” he said. “I always want the best for me and my family. Any little wrinkle, any bump in the road I get freaked out because I’ve sat out a year, I bounced around at the beginning of my career.

“I’ve been paranoid for the longest time. I always get tremendously nervous during football. I wasn’t going to play good, or someone was going to beat me out or I wasn’t going to be the best kind of player … It makes me work extremely hard.”

Ball has the ability during games to set his concerns aside and have fun, helping him be consistently disruptive.

Evans, who played some of his best football as the Titans went to Super Bowl XXXIV in January 2000, had that sort of fun and effect when he played for Washburn too. He’ll likely be watching the Titans against the Jaguars, feeling connected. So will a lot of former Washburn linemen people have never heard of or forgotten.

“We just play off the theme we’ve been playing off for 12 years,” Washburn said. “We’re nobodies or whatever. Nobody thinks we’re very good. I would imagine it’s what most coaches play off of if they have small-school guys, reclamation projects, guys that have not experienced a lot of success.”

“What would you do? You’d do the same thing, wouldn’t you?"

Brian in Austin, Texas, writes: Thoughts on the Texans trading Jacques Reeves or Fred Bennett to the Ravens for Troy Smith to shore up our backup quarterback situation? I know the mindset is that Dan Orlovsky has all the tools and physical makeup, but every time I've seen him in a game he looks lost. I think I'd rather have a guy who can manage a game with his arm and legs to manufacture wins if Schaub goes down.

Paul Kuharsky: I don’t know that Troy Smith is a sure thing as a quality backup either, or that Baltimore, needy as it might be in the secondary, wants Reeves or Bennett.

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Jim in Greenville, S.C., writes:Chances Raheem Brock makes the Pro Bowl? Better yet, chances any of the defensive line besides Tony Brown making the Pro Bowl?

Paul Kuharsky: Brock has to worry about making the team before making the Pro Bowl. Brown would be most likely. One of the kids could have a big year and get in when they go eight deep at his position the way they do these days.

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Brian Weinkauf in Houston writes: On your AFC South Blog you talk of unknown trios for the Texans as Glover Quin, Antoine Caldwell and Zac Diles. I would agree with Diles as he led the team in tackles year before last until he got hurt. Quin was the only CB in the league to not allow a TD besides Champ Bailey. I disagree with Caldwell... he's looking good at guard, but has not stood out from any other of the five guards says Kubiak. Connor Barwin led all rookie DE's last year in sacks, but only played sparingly. He's the third.

Paul Kuharsky: You are right, Barwin was an obvious choice and I missed him. Probably would have moved the Texans up on that list, too.

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Chris Barber from Clarksville, Tenn., writes: First question I have involves the Colts. Every year the question arises, is this the year the Colts begin to decline. I personally think as long as #18 is taking the snaps that probably won't happen, but have you seen anything in their camp to make you think otherwise? Second, I think the Titan's offense should be good enough to keep them in most games, but I'm terrified about their defense. Do you think Derrick Morgan could have a Jevon Kearse like effect on the team? Thank you for your time. PS -- I too am terrified of the Dino Chicken.

Paul Kuharsky: I cannot understand why there is no outrage and widespread fear over Dino Chickens.

I cannot understand why anyone thinks the Colts dip. They should be very good again.

Kearse was a once-in-a-generation kind of guy. Morgan is not going to explode onto the scene in the same way. Jim Washburn has said that’s an unreasonable expectation.

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Cody in Nashville, Tenn., writes: I know the Titans are considered to be in a small market, but I wasn't sure what defined that. They've sold out every season since they have been here. What defines a large market, population? Ticket sales? City? Just curious. Thanks for all your insight.

Paul Kuharsky: Sellouts have nothing to do with it. The Packers are in a tiny town -- as small market as any major league franchise in America -- and they have a monster waiting list for season tickets.

Small markets are about fan-base size and business population in terms of available sponsorship dollars.

From the general numbers I am finding, New York’s metropolitan area has over 10 times the population of Jacksonville or Nashville. It’s a lot easier to sell tickets and sponsorships and maintain an interested fan base with that sort of advantage.

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Barrett in Houston writes: Paul, You are great when you are factual, but when you start to editorialize, your biases come out to a disappointing degree.

Paul Kuharsky: I certainly welcome you to be more specific. You are great when you are specific, but when you start to generalize, it’s disappointing.

I’m supposed to editorialize, chief. The blog is a bit of everything, reporting, observation, reaction, response, analysis, opinion.

I get accused of being biased against all four teams, which I usually take to mean I am doing a good job.

You’re from Houston, so I presume you think I am against the Texans.

I assure you I am not. But I also ask you and any Texans fans who share that sentiment, what have the Texans done that's deserving of any alleged missing praise?

Notable players: LG Bruce Matthews, QB Steve McNair, RB Eddie George, DE Jevon Kearse, CB Samari Rolle, WR Derrick Mason, S Blaine Bishop, TE Frank Wycheck

Analysis: While the Titans were transformed by reaching the franchise’s first Super Bowl during an improbable run in 1999, most insiders -- and this observer -- believe the follow-up team was better.

Fred Miller wasn’t as good as Jon Runyan at right tackle, but Randall Godfrey was a significant upgrade over Barron Wortham at middle linebacker. The defense allowed 133 fewer regular-season points than the year before. The addition of offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger also qualified as an improvement. These Titans weren’t discovering they were good, they knew they were good, rolling to a 13-3 season.

An opening-night loss at Buffalo was a grudge match over the Music City Miracle, but Tennessee responded with an eight-game winning streak. The Titans won in a variety of ways. They beat the Giants 28-14 and the Steelers 9-7, adapting to what a certain Sunday may have demanded.

They also lost close games to Baltimore and at Jacksonville. The total margin of their three losses was seven points.

With the NFL’s best record and as the No. 1 seed, the Titans felt primed to return to the Super Bowl and win it. But they were undone by the rival Ravens, who upset the Titans in Nashville with big defensive and special-teams performances that sparked a run to a championship. Jeff Fisher says the 2000 Titans are the best team he’s coached, which made the loss to the Ravens all the harder to swallow.

Most impressive win: The Giants were ranked as the NFC’s best team in 2000, and the Titans beat them by two touchdowns on Oct. 1.

Research room: While it was the Ravens’ year, and they are regarded as an all-time defense, it was the Titans who finished the year as the NFL’s No. 1-rated defense.

Honorable mentions:

1993: This edition of the Houston Oilers, which had two Hall of Fame offensive linemen in Mike Munchak and Matthews and a Hall of Fame quarterback in Warren Moon, rattled off 11 consecutive wins to conclude the regular season and finished 12-4. But they lost their first playoff game to Kansas City.

1961: The Houston Oilers were 10-3-1 and won their second AFL championship in a row with 13 players who were in the AFL All-Star Game.

1999: The Music City Miracle came to define a gritty, prepared, never-say-die team. They won their first playoff game thanks to the last-second trick play and came a yard short of forcing overtime on the final play of the franchise’s lone Super Bowl appearance.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- They may have preferred another defensive end, but the Titans had to be happy to get Georgia Tech’s Derrick Morgan at No. 16 in the first round.

He’ll have ample opportunity to play early as the team sorts through a young group that lost Kyle Vanden Bosch as a free agent and let Jevon Kearse walk as his contract ran out.

Now Morgan will search for a role along with William Hayes, Jacob Ford, Dave Ball and Jason Babin, the journeyman signed as a free agent.

Morgan had 19.5 sacks and 29.5 tackles for a loss in his 39-game career as a Yellow Jacket. Twelve and a half of those sacks came last year as a junior.

Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn is a top-flight position coach who’s done well developing pass rushers, and they want their defense to be able to rush effectively with only four. Right now they don't have the back end personnel that can allow for much blitzing.

Many estimated Morgan was the top ranked end in this class, but both Brandon Graham (Philly traded to 13 to get him) and Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants at 15) went before Morgan.

The Titans will say Morgan’s the one they prefer of the three. It may be true.

They will address cornerback later in the draft.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter reported that Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be suspended four to six games.

That will have directly impact one AFC South team: The Tennessee Titans host the Steelers on Week 2 on Sept. 19.

Instead of dealing with Roethlisberger, they will face Dennis Dixon or Byron Leftwich.

That’s a better deal on an NFL Sunday for sure.

But while Roethlisberger led the Steelers to an overtime win in the NFL’s season opener against the Titans last year, his line wasn’t phenomenal: Roethlisberger connected on 33-of-43 passes for 363 yards and a touchdown, but was intercepted twice and sacked four times.

I expect the Tennessee defense the Steelers see this time around will feature six new starters.

Kyle Vanden Bosch is now with Detroit; Jevon Kearse and Nick Harper are free agents they won’t re-sign; Keith Bulluck is a free agent coming off a blown out knee I don’t expect them to re-sign; Jovan Haye should rank behind Jason Jones or Sen'Derrick Marks as well as Tony Brown; and banged up David Thornton's starting slot is in jeopardy.

Add another reclamation project to Jim Washburn’s pile -- provided the Eagles don’t choose to match the one-year, $1 million contract Jason Babin has agreed to with Tennessee, according to Adam Schefter.

Washburn, the Titans' defensive line coach, has had his share of high draft picks – Jevon Kearse, Albert Haynesworth, Travis LaBoy, Antwan Odom, Randy Starks, Jason Jones and Sen'Derrick Marks -- to work with.

But he’s also been given a share of scrap heap guys.

And before people like me jump to say we don’t expect much from Babin, who busted big time as a first-round pick for the Houston Texans in 2004, we’d be wise to review some of those names, too.

Kyle Vanden Bosch and Tony Brown turned into defensive stalwarts and Dave Ball was tendered at a second-round level with a one-year $1.8 million price tag.

So Babin is an extreme case of wait-and-see.

Perhaps he eases the pressure on the team to find a pass-rusher in the first three rounds of the draft. I would think it’d be awfully hard for them to make that assessment before the draft, though, and he won’t change their plans.

If he blossoms under his new position coach, the Titans will take the depth and experience.

Here’s the bonus review from Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc., who returns e-mails with lightning speed.

DE/OLB tweener who has never really found a home or position that best suits him. Had a tremendous Combine when coming out for the draft and I think that has clouded some people into thinking he is a great athlete who can really play coverage (in a 3-4 for example). But that hasn't been the case and he is more or less just an upfield 9 Technique...which is like [Dwight] Freeney or [Robert] Mathis (lining up real wide). He does have speed, but hasn't developed a real repertoire of pass rush moves and when run at, is a liability. Obviously DE is a need area for the Titans, so adding him to the mix isn't such a bad thing, but he isn't an everydown guy and in the end, you would hope that you can do better for a pure specialty pass rusher.

Randy Phillips in Mt.Vernon, Ill., writes: Am I the only Titans fan that realizes the Titans will be better this year? I guess many do not get the point of addition by subtraction. Jevon Kearse and Kyle Vanden Bosch had more penalties than sacks last year. I think Jacob Ford and William Hayes paired with Tony Brown and Jason Jones will be the starting front four, and Titans will probably add a stud DE with 16th pick. Would like Jason Pierre-Pail, but he will probably be gone. Carlos Dunlap could be a great steal at 16. What do you think about that, and who do think starts beside Finnegan this year?

Paul Kuharsky: Kearse hardly played and Hayes and Ford have not shown they can handle a full load of snaps. They’ll be younger, that’s for sure. JPP and Dunlap are both intriguing, but I don’t know how you can guarantee they are good out of the gate. I like the first four, but they need more than four.

I hope Finnegan’s counterpart is not on the roster yet. Best current option is now Rod Hood. They’ll hope for jumps from Jason McCourty and Ryan Mouton, and may look at a restricted free agent and will certainly draft one.

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Carl from Iowa City, Iowa, writes: Hey Paul, I can't tell you how good it is to have a daily connection to football during the off-season. In terms of the Colts, since Tony Dungy's departure, Jim Caldwell began installing beefier defensive linemen, and it now appears he's looking to do the same on the O-line. Will this affect the high level of protection Manning has come to expect? Also, it seems that since the Super Bowl, the tone from the Colts as an organization is that of a grumpy neighbor. I really think the Colts are still shocked that they lost the Super Bowl, and recovering from losses is not something they're used to dealing with. Do you really think the Colts are past the big loss, or is this something that will linger to the point of being harmful next season?

Paul Kuharsky: Peyton Manning gets rid of the ball so quick, he created a large degree of his own protection. Since that’s the case, they seem to be thinking, "We can find bigger guys who can pass block and also help us when we need a tough 2 yards on the ground."

Recovering from big losses is not something they’re used to dealing with? They’ve suffered big losses in the playoffs every year but one.

I think they’ll always have regrets but have moved on and it’ll have minimal bearing on next season, except serving as some of the inspiration for changes they are making.

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Scott Ota in Austin, Texas, writes: With all these veteran free agent running backs on the market, why haven't the Texans shown interest? I know they made mistakes with Ahman Green in the past, but someone who can help develop our youth would be huge -- Arian Foster and Steve Slaton. With a terrific passing game, bringing someone in like Brian Westbrook would create matchup nightmares all over the field, and limit his carries and increase his durability. Or, possibly putting Westbrook and Slaton on the field at the same time is another exciting thought. Anyways, I think if we had those three backs exchanging carries, we could have a much more potent, balanced offense. Your thoughts? And I am also excited about our young defense. I am proud to say that we have drafted well, and next year gives us more opportunities. For my draft, I see us taking safety and cornerback in the first two rounds.

Paul Kuharsky: Thanks, Scott.

I think Thomas Jones would have been a nice fit. Pay Westbrook and he gets a concussion and is that much closer to done. I can understand their determination to go younger. It’s clear they will be drafting the back, and that Slaton will still have a significant role -- I did this column on that recently.

Huge mistake in my opinion to expect much from Foster. That was a very small sampling we got of him, and I don’t think he’s someone they can rely on for much.

I’d love to see a safety in the first -- Earl Thomas would be great. Figure in first three they need FS, CB, RB in some order.

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LQ from parts unknown writes: Do you think the Jaguars will add another defensive end or defensive tackle from free agency? Who would be a good fit for their defense? And what of the future of the Quentin Groves and Derrick Harvey?

Paul Kuharsky: Maybe, but not anyone of note. Aaron Kampman and Kassim Osgood are the two big additions. I think they will be mostly focused on the draft from here unless they try to lure an inexpensive unrestricted free agent -- and he probably wouldn’t be a lineman.

Harvey is locked in as the second starting end and is better than people think, just not a great rusher. Groves has a lot of questions to answer.

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Jeff Piercey in Goodlettsville, Tenn., writes: Paul, I listen to The Wake Up Zone every morning, and always look forward to when you will be the guest. Your insight to the program is invaluable. My question is this, what do the NFL owners think of LenDale White? It must not be very much. I thought a club would jump at giving a second-round pick for him. How come no club has made him an offer?

Paul Kuharsky: Owners don’t decide the value, their GMs do. Restricted free agency hasn’t really gotten started. I suspect it will pick up after compensatory draft selections are awarded, so teams know exactly what they have.

I don’t know why you would think teams would jump at giving up a second for him. Seconds are considered super-valuable. I know at least one team still has character concerns left from its draft review. A lot of teams are two-deep at running back. Combine all that, and the possible match list is slim, no?

We’ve got mock draft battle up Wednesday at ESPN.com, and while you need to be an Insider to see it all, I’ve received top-secret clearance to tell you what Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have to say about the AFC South.

So here they are, with thoughts from yours truly:

10th – Jacksonville

Kiper: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

McShay: Earl Thomas, S, Texas

Kuharsky: From what I know, I think either would stand to help the Jaguars. A lot depends on what they are feeling about Reggie Nelson, who didn’t earn a lot of confidence in 2009.

16th – Titans

Kiper: Sergio Kindle, OLB, Texans

McShay: Morgan

Kuharsky: Need wise, I see more for Morgan than for Kindle. A prime pass-rusher is, as it was in 1999, the primary missing ingredient for this defense, when Tennessee drafted Jevon Kearse 16th.

20th – Texans

Kiper: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State

McShay: Wilson

Kuharsky: Wilson can certainly help fill the Dunta Robinson hole, but if the right running back or free safety is there (Kiper has C.J. Spiller and Thomas still available), Houston could easily go one of those directions.

31st – Colts

Kiper: Brian Price, DT, UCLA

McShay: Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida

Kuharsky: With Ryan Lilja let go, the Colts lack established guards. And trying to get bigger, Pouncey can bring that. But they draft the best player available at the top, and if it’s Price, they could go there.

Houston Texans

Potential unrestricted free agents: CB Dunta Robinson, WR Kevin Walter, RB Chris Brown, DT Jeff Zgonina, G Chester Pitts, S Brian Russell, S Nick Ferguson, LS Bryan Pittman, LB Chaun Thompson, QB Rex Grossman, LB Khary Campbell, G Tutan Reyes, T Ephraim Salaam, P Matt Turk.

Potential restricted free agents: DL Tim Bulman, S John Busing, OT Rashad Butler, TE Owen Daniels, RB Ryan Moats, S Bernard Pollard, LB DeMeco Ryans, G Chris White.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: I don’t think the Texans will jump out and make any monumental moves. But by deciding not to tag Robinson they created another hole and saved themselves big dollars. With needs at corner, running back, free safety, interior offensive line and defensive tackle they may have more than they can address in one draft. That means they could jump out for one significant free agent – like they did last year with defensive lineman Antonio Smith -- and maybe another less expensive one or two.

Indianapolis Colts

Potential unrestricted free agents: MLB Gary Brackett, K Matt Stover.

Potential restricted free agents: WR Hank Baskett, S Antoine Bethea, S Melvin Bullitt, OL Dan Federkeil, CB Aaron Francisco, LB Tyjuan Hagler, CB Marlin Jackson, CB Tim Jennings, DT Antonio Johnson, OT Charlie Johnson, LB Freddy Keiaho, DT Dan Muir, CBPR T.J. Rushing.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: Brackett is priority one and the team has indicated a plan to pay him as an upper-echelon guy. The restricted list includes a lot of key guys who will remain big factors next year. Indy is not a team that looks to bring in many outsiders for big roles and it won’t start now. Bill Polian’s said the Colts will sit back and see how things unfold in the new capless landscape.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Reggie Hayward, G Kynan Forney.

Potential restricted free agents: DT Atiyyah Ellison, LB Clint Ingram, DL Greg Peterson.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Jaguars are draft-reliant, but will also shop for bargains in free agency, hoping to plug a couple holes with high-character guys with upside who fit what they are doing. As for a big splash, it’s unlikely based on their recent busts with big-name free agents like Jerry Porter and Drayton Florence and the direction they’ve moved since.

Tennessee Titans

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, C Kevin Mawae, LB Keith Bulluck, TE Alge Crumpler, CB Nick Harper, CB Rod Hood, DE Jevon Kearse, S Kevin Kaesviharn.

Potential restricted free agents: DE Dave Ball, DT Tony Brown, TE Bo Scaife, LB Stephen Tulloch, DT Kevin Vickerson, RB LenDale White.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Titans will undergo a youth movement, especially on defense where Vanden Bosch and Bulluck, who’s recovering from ACL repair, are going to be allowed to walk. Mawae been told his only chance to return is as a backup at a backup price. Brown, Scaife and Tulloch are important guys they’ll want to retain. Beyond that, expect mostly bargain shopping.

Houston Texans

Post combine thoughts from John McClain.

A combine wrap from Battle Red Blog.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts added Ron Turner to their staff, says Chappell.

Don’t underestimate what Tom Moore does, says John Oehser.

An argument against potential new overtime rules for the playoffs, says Deshawn Zombie.

A detailed look at Turner from Stampede Blue.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Jack Del Rio talked with Michael C. Wright at the combine.

The Jaguars could make one big move in free agency, suggests Michael C. Wright.

LaDainian Tomlinson can be a cautionary tale for Maurice Jones-Drew, says Gene Frenette.

Monday is big for the Jaguars as defensive linemen work out, says Vic Ketchman.

Ketchman was with Del Rio when the US scored a late goal to tie the gold medal hockey game.

The truth about Eugene Monroe from Terry O’Brien.

Tennessee Titans

Unsurprisingly, the Titans are finished with Jevon Kearse, says Jim Wyatt.

Jason McCourty’s, Devin, brother is looking to be better than his twin, writes Wyatt.

Wyatt and Jonathan Hutton review the combine from Tennessee’s perspective.

Fisher on Kenny Britt from Terry McCormick.

It’s no surprise that Craig Hentrich is retiring. But Jim Wyatt and Terry McCormick both report an announcement from the team will come Wednesday.

Known for a tricky knuckleball that caused punt returners fits, Hentrich’s final season ended with a torn calf muscle after just two games. But he was around the team much more than most players on IR, helping tutor his replacement, Brett Kern.

Hentrich’s retirement is most notable because he was the last continuous link on the roster to the 1999 Titans, who played in the franchise’s lone Super Bowl.

Defensive end Jevon Kearse was on the Super Bowl team, later leaving as a free agent and returning after four years in Philadelphia. He’s going to be a free agent and won’t be back.