Titans Fall In Latest ESPN Power Rankings

NASHVILLE - Power Rankings and other media-created clutter mean little to the actual outcomes of games or in determining the eventual Super Bowl champs, so when I say the Tennessee Titans fell two places in the most recent ESPN rankings of the NFL's 32 teams, it's no big deal.

In the last rankings, the Titans came in at No.24, but in the most recent incarnation of their rankings of the league's teams from best to worst, the two-tone-blue dipped down to No.26.

Way-too-early ranking: 24

Top under-the-radar move: Signing linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair

The Titans released Zach Cunningham, and David Long Jr. signed a free agent deal with the Dolphins. That left Tennessee relatively thin at inside linebacker. Al-Shaair provides much-needed playmaking ability in the middle of the defense. Like Long, Al-Shaair is an instinctive player who is consistently around the football, whether that be coming up and making plays against the run or dropping back into coverage. Al-Shaair should help make up for the presence Long provided on third downs as well. He will likely be the one relaying the plays from the sideline to the defensive huddle. -- Turron Davenport

While new linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair is rated as an "under the radar" improvement for the Titans, the offense continues to be a sticking point for people when evaluating this team, and rightfully so.

While Ryan Tannehill is the starting quarterback at the present, his future for this season remains a fluid situation that could change at any moment.

So too, could the status of star running back Derrick Henry, and then there is the frightful situation that is the current state of the Titans receiver corps.

Those issues alone are enough to understand why the folks at the four-letter network don't have a lot of faith in the Titans as they are currently constructed.