As training camp opens Friday, we've seen a number of articles on the key questions facing the '08 Tennessee Titans they will have to answer positively if they want to take their game to the next level. I'll quickly agree with the two I've read the most with the first being "Can Vince Young take his game to the next level?". The attention given to Young's development in both his mechanics and reads will likely stay in the spotlight throughout the upcoming season and is the top question facing the Titans offense.

As training camp fast approaches, the Titans have reached a contract agreement with DE Williams Hayes. Hayes, the first of three Titans fourth round selections (103rd overall), started 22 of 30 games at Winston-Salem State and recorded 150 tackles (80 solo) with 15 sacks, 37 stops for losses and 15 quarterback pressures. As a senior in 2007, he led the nation with seven forced fumbles and tied for 10th nationally with a team-high 19 stops for losses. The Titans now have agreed to terms with four of their seven draft choices. The team opens training camp on July 25th.

The Titans have reached an agreement with seventh-round draft pick Cary Williams. Williams was the 229th pick overall out of Division II Washburn, and the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Williams led the Ichabods with seven interceptions as a senior. He spent three years at Washburn with a redshirt season but started his career at Fordham. He had 11 interceptions and averaged 25.5 yards on kickoff returns with two touchdowns in his career at Washburn. This leaves the Titans with four more draft picks to sign before training camp begins next Friday.

Of all the off-season changes the Titans made this year, perhaps the most significant was the re-acquisition of offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger. And why not? In theory, he should give a boost to everyone on the offense. Titans fans all across the land wait giddily for us to become a razzle-dazzle spectacle wherein Alge Crumpler returns to being one of the best tight ends in the league, Chris Johnson convincingly claims offensive rookie of the year acclaim, and Vince Young throws twice as many touchdowns as he did last year (actually, that last one shouldn’t be too hard).

The Titans announced this afternoon that they've signed WR Lavelle Hawkins who was drafted in the fourth round with the 126th overall selection. Hawkins played in 35 games in three seasons at the University of California. As a senior, his 72 receptions led the Golden Bears and ranked fourth on the school’s single-season record list. The second-team All-Pac 10 performer also set career highs as a senior with 872 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions, and his 42 kickoff returns and 922 kickoff return yards broke program records.

The Titans and Albert Haynesworth did not reach an agreement on a long-term contract before the 3 p.m. central deadline. The All-Pro defensive tackle will play under contract during the 2008 regular season with a one-year, $7.25 million deal. Following the deadline, the Titans released an announcement which included "We will remain in contact with his representatives throughout the season; and at years end, see if both sides can agree on a fair number on a long-term agreement for a player with his qualities."

Time is running out for the Titans and Albert Haynesworth to agree on a long-term deal. Haynesworth's agent, Chad Speck, and Titans officials were talking Monday with discussions expected to continue up to Tuesday's 4 p.m. EDT deadline to reach an extension. If no such deal is reached by that deadline, then the team cannot extend Haynesworth to a new deal until after the Titans conclude the 2008 season against Indianapolis on Dec. 28. Haynesworth, the first player tagged as a franchise player by this team since safety Blaine Bishop in 1997, is coming off the best season of his career.

It took less than two minutes Saturday morning for the Titans/Colts Monday night game at LP Field to sellout. It was quickly followed by the Steelers and Packers which were down to single seats in less than five minutes. Only singles remained for the Vikings and Jaguars by the 10-minute mark. Titans Executive Vice President Don MacLachlan reports the regular season completely sold out in 32 minutes. Since 2000, the eight regular-season games have been totally sold out within 45 minutes, and since LP Field opened in 1999, all 93 games have been sold out.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Don Denkinger’s pre-training camp NFL power rankings. From the final week of the preseason through 17 weeks of the regular season, I will be ranking the teams each Wednesday. To begin, I project 10 out of the 12 2007 playoff teams to return to the playoffs, including all six from the AFC. I have broken my list into six tiers listing their strengths and weaknesses. I have also drawn out the course of the playoffs to the Super Bowl winner. I invite all to discuss my predictions in the forum.

Seven different injuries have sidelined Jevon Kearse in nine seasons, costing him 30 games. Both he and the Titans are hoping his return to Tennessee will see him stay healthy and resurrect "the Freak". "I think he sort of realizes [coming back] wasn't for the money as much as it was to sort of restore his name a little bit," said DL coach Jim Washburn. "In Philadelphia he's a joke. I still think he has some ability if he can stay healthy." Kearse is hoping to make the Eagles regret letting him go. "They'll say, 'Why the hell did we let that dude go?'" Kearse said.

Over the past two seasons, the Tennessee Titans have been one of the youngest teams in the league. But with a playoff season behind them, NFL inexperience is no longer an issue. Using last season as a building block, the Titans should still be anchored by a defense that returns 10 of 11 starters from a year ago. "There’s only so many times you can use that (youth excuse), and we used it last year," Cortland Finnegan said. "Let’s just say we’ve matured one more year and we’re more comfortable, and that’s big for us right now.

Though he has played in only eight games during an injury-riddled career, DE Dave Ball has turned heads as a Titan. The 2004 fifth-round pick from UCLA has shown a big motor which reminds some of another DE who had success in Tennessee after a difficult start to his NFL career -- Kyle Vanden Bosch. "He’s not only a high-effort guy, he’s got some ability. He’s a good player. I think we were lucky to find him," Vanden Bosch said.

The Titans WRs are well aware of the national perception that many felt the team should have drafted a wide receiver in the top two rounds. "All that is fuel for our fire," said Justin Gage. "The reality is we have a lot of guys in here that can play at this level. We just have an opportunity to prove that to everybody. We do it behind the scenes, and now we need to take it to the field and show the world." Receivers coach Fred Graves also knows of the perception but feels his team has the talent to be successful. "For our offense, we've got the right guys," Graves said.

David Stewart has agreed to a six-year contract valued at $38.9 million. It averages just more than $6 million per season. It has $10 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus. The deal includes a roster bonus of $2 million this year along with a base salary of roughly $1 million. "David wanted to stay right where he is, and he's happy with it," agent Bus Cook said. "I think it's a great deal for him, and it's great for the Titans. It's a perfect place for him, a good fit." In April, the Titans signed Michael Roos to a six-year, $43 million extension.

Vince Young ended today's final OTA session on a high note. "Today really tells the whole story — his eyes downfield, picking up the deep receiver, his accuracy in the plus territory," Coach Jeff Fisher said. "His footwork today was excellent and only missed a couple of throws. He was very accurate in the one-on-ones and placed the ball where it needed to be placed." Reports earlier in the week was that Young had thrown a number of INTs. Like last year, Young has invited the WRs to Houston to continue work. So far, Justin Gage and Biren Ealy have accepted.