By Kevin Kelly
Enquirer staff writer

If only because of his name, Chris Brown represents a new direction.

The Titans turned over their running game to the emerging talent this season after the July release of the popular, productive and pricey Eddie George.

"I don't think I'm that different than Eddie," said Brown, whose 663 rushing yards are third most in the NFL. "I think I might be a little more patient in the run game, but we're pretty similar in a lot of the things we do.

"We both go out there and want to get the job done and do the best we can."

George's release, which ended an eight-year relationship between the franchise and the former Heisman Trophy winner, helped define a salary cap-conscious offseason.

An offseason followed by a 2-5 start and accompanied by a 13-man injury report.

Tennessee hosts the Bengals (2-4) Sunday at The Coliseum.

"Certainly both teams are not in the position they hoped they would be, but that doesn't mean you can't continue to improve and win games," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "We proved it (in 2002). We dug ourselves out of a significant hole and made it to the (AFC) Championship game.

"So all things are possible."

The Titans' formula for building a winning football team - developing players from within and supplementing with free agents - has proven fail-safe.

The result was a sustained run of success led by players - from reigning co-MVP quarterback Steve McNair and George to defensive linemates Jevon Kearse and Samari Rolle - that became the cornerstones of the transplanted franchise.

Tennessee has made the playoffs in four of the past five seasons, advanced to the Super Bowl in 1999 and holds the second-best record (58-29) in the NFL since 1999.

"When you've got guys that have been together and have jelled, that's always a plus," said Bengals offensive guard Bobbie Williams, who spent his first four NFL seasons (1999-2003) with the Eagles. "But with the way things are nowadays, it's very rare that you'll be able to keep a team together like that. So you've just got to be able to adjust. And teams adjust."

This spring the Titans needed to shed about $18 million from their payroll to get within reach of the $80.5 million salary cap.

They started by locking up some of its top talent, such as Rolle and McNair, with contract extensions.

"But we had some tough decisions, as we've had in the past, with Jevon, Eddie, Robaire Smith and Justin McCareins," Fisher said. "These were obviously contributors to our success."

Considered one of the game's top pass rushers when healthy, Kearse left the Titans for the Eagles when the free agent market opened in early March.

The day after Kearse's signing, the Titans lost defensive line staple Smith to free agency. And a day after that, Tennessee traded wide receiver McCareins, a restricted free agent who scored seven touchdowns last season, to the Jets for a second-round draft pick.

The Titans used that pick on Hawaii defensive end Travis LaBoy, who missed the first three games but had seven tackles and two sacks against the Vikings Sunday.

LaBoy was one of five defensive linemen taken by Tennessee in the draft, and one of 13 picks overall.

"The veterans trust us that the players we're bringing in ... are here to help us," Fisher said.

Though 18 regular starters from last year remain with the team, that five are hurt (including two on injured reserve) has thrust young players into the lineup.

Four of the Titans' 2004 draftees - tight end Ben Troupe, defensive end Antwan Odom, offensive guard Jacob Bell and linebacker Robert Reynolds - have started at least one game this season.

"When you have 11, 12 rookies on your 45-man roster, obviously there's some growing pains that you go through," Fisher said. "The benefit of that is they are playing, getting experience and improving. Hopefully here very soon, we'll be able to take advantage of the opportunities they've been given."

E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com

Return to Bengals front page...