TITANS ANALYSIS: Taking a look at the Titans’ free agents

The Tennessee Titans fell short of expectations of the heightened expectations they created with their 10-0 start and 13-3 finish.

Now, the Titans’ main goal is to keep as many of the pieces as possible in place for another run in 2009.

They have already lost defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to the Detroit Lions as head coach, and will likely choose from Dave McGinnis, Chuck Cecil and Gunther Cunningham for a replacement.

But on the field, there are key elements that could leave in all three phases of the game — from Albert Haynesworth on defense to Kerry Collins on offense to reliable kicker Rob Bironas on special teams.

Let’s examine the signability of each of the Titans’ unrestricted free agents, rating them from 1-10, with one being least likely to be re-signed to 10 being a certainty. Then, we will follow with a rating regarding the impact of that player’s re-signing or leaving.

Albert Haynesworth — DT

SIGNABILITY: 5.

Haynesworth has waited two years for a big payday, and though the Titans say he is a priority, don’t underestimate Haynesworth’s desire to see what he is worth on the open market. The Titans probably need to overwhelm him before free agency starts Feb. 27. Thus far, talks have been near zero. If they allow other teams to jump in the bidding, Haynesworth is likely gone.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 10.

Haynesworth isn’t in line to become the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player for nothing. If he leaves, the Titans would plug Jason Jones in, but it would really be on the entire d-line and defense to pick up the slack.

Kerry Collins — QB

SIGNABILITY: 8.5

Collins wants to come back, as he feels he has unfinished business from the playoff loss. The Titans need a starting quarterback, and Collins says he would rather retire than be a backup again. Something will get done, unless the Titans come in with a low-ball offer or some other team overwhelms Collins.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 9

If Collins leaves, it puts the Titans back to square one at the most important position on the field. Can they really trust that Vince Young has learned anything from watching? Could Chris Simms compete for the starting job after so much time off? Is there another free agent to plug the gap or the next Joe Flacco waiting in the draft? Those are questions the Titans neither want to nor should answer. Re-sign Collins.

Bo Scaife — TE

SIGNABILITY: 8.

Scaife led the Titans in receptions with 58, a career high, but his production dropped off late in the season for whatever reason. Scaife is a good player, and one of a number of nice success stories as a sixth-round pick who made good. As long as he isn’t commanding Antonio Gates-type money, the Titans should try to keep him.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 7.5

Scaife is a reliable target in the middle of the field, and despite being a tight end, was one of the few run-after-catch threats on Tennessee’s offense. Alge Crumpler is a solid veteran, and the Titans believe Craig Stevens will develop, but Scaife offers more as a receiver, and would have to be replaced in the draft if he left.

Rob Bironas — K

SIGNABILITY: 9

Bironas enjoys playing for the Titans and loves Tennessee, because the organization gave him his first full-time shot at being an NFL kicker. He has thrived on it, with plenty of big kicks over the past three years, including several game-winners. Though the Titans didn’t include him on their list of players who were given extensions before the season, retaining him should be a priority.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 9

As a general rule, kickers are a lot like relief pitchers in baseball. If you have a good one, you need to hang on to him, because finding the next guy and asking him to perform under pressure could be a crapshoot. Letting Bironas walk would be mistake for a team that relies on field goals as much as the Titans do.

Chris Carr — DB/KR

SIGNABILITY: 8

Carr came in as a restricted free agent from Oakland and provided the Titans with a strong return presence, especially on kickoffs. Carr said he wants to come back and would like a bigger role next season on the defense. With three other free agents in the secondary, if he comes back, he could be vie for time as the nickel or dimeback.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 7

Carr’s presence or absence would most likely be felt on returns, where the Titans went from last to first in kickoff returns. He was also solid on punt returns, though Rafael Little might vie for that role next year in training camp.

Justin McCareins — WR

SIGNABILITY: 4

McCareins didn’t have the impact the Titans hoped he would have when he returned on a one-year contract before the season. The question here isn’t necessarily whether McCareins would come back, but how much interest the Titans have in him at this stage of his career. Returning as a veteran backup isn’t out of the question.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 5

McCareins caught 30 passes this season, and was plagued by various nagging injuries. One asset in his favor that could be hard to replace is that he is the team’s best blocking wide receiver — something that cannot be ignored on a run-first team like the Titans.

Brandon Jones — WR

SIGNABILITY: 6.5

Jones is a player that Titans coach Jeff Fisher sounded interested in bringing back at the season-ending news conference, reminding Jones of the time it took for Derrick Mason to develop into a quality receiver. Jones’ first choice would probably be to stay, but with a thin free agent market at receiver, some other team might gamble on the flashes of ability he has shown.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 7

Jones caught 41 passes this season, playing mostly as a third receiver when everyone was healthy. His route-running and consistency still have to improve, but he made strides under Mike Heimerdinger, who kept him mostly in the slot so as not to overload him.

Vincent Fuller — S/NB

SIGNABILITY: 6

Fuller has been valuable to the Titans as a nickelback during his time here. He probably isn’t big enough to hold up as a full-time safety, but don’t be surprised if he isn’t looking for that opportunity somewhere. Schwartz might be willing to give him that shot, based on his knowledge of the defensive system.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 7

The nickelback is a very underrated position, but one the Titans have emphasized over the years. Fuller is probably the best player to hold the nickel job for multiple years since Donald Mitchell. If he left, he would be missed.

Chris Simms — QB

SIGNABILITY: 7

Make no mistake, Simms is grateful to the Titans for helping to resuscitate his career, which was floundering in Tampa Bay, thanks to the spleen injury and the Bucs’ unwillingness to wait on him to heal. Sure, Simms doesn’t want to be a No. 3 quarterback, but who’s to say that with a year in Heimerdinger’s system, he wouldn’t rise to second on the depth chart behind Collins in Tennessee with a strong camp and preseason?

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 5

OK, backup quarterbacks by nature don’t have a whole lot of influence on what happens with the team, but Simms got himself ready to play, both physically and mentally, and would be a nice insurance policy to have for ’09.

Daniel Loper — OT

SIGNABILITY: 5

Loper has been the good soldier on the offensive line, backing up both tackle spots and also filling in at guard when needed. As much as the Titans would like to have him back, he has earned the right to find himself a starting job, if one is available. Jim Schwartz would be wise to take a chance, given the shambles the Lions’ line is in.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 6

A hard worker, good guy and one of the funniest men on the team. Those kinds of things are harder to replace than you might think.

Eric King — CB

SIGNABILITY: 6

King has had terrible luck the past two seasons, breaking his forearm in the same area twice, ending both years prematurely. He has been solid depth when healthy and is the type of player who could go elsewhere to a corner or nickel-needy team and challenge for a starting role.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 6

The Titans have always emphasized depth in the secondary, and King has been a solid part of that the past three years. If he leaves, the Titans will have to add help in the draft to back up.

Craig Hentrich — P

SIGNABILITY: 2

Hentrich has been one of the NFL’s top punters throughout his 15-year career, but appears to be headed toward retirement in the near future. Injuries and age have finally caught up with him, especially after a second surgery on his back last year.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 8

Hentrich’s presence as a punter will certainly be missed, with things like his “knuckleball” punt and ability to force fair catches to dangerous return men. More than that, Hentrich was a solid all-around athlete, who also served as a holder, an emergency kicker and even an emergency quarterback for several years. Plus, he was always good for a fake punt or two. The Titans will find another punter, but Hentrich’s versatility will be hard to replace.

Reynaldo Hill — CB

SIGNABILITY: 2

Hill started for two years in the secondary, and later became a backup cornerback and special teams player. The way he was quickly shuttled to injured reserve with a minor hip pointer injury is evidence that he probably is in need of a fresh start.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 4

Hill played very well his rookie year, then was beset with nagging injuries in 2006. After that, with the emergence of Cortland Finnegan and the signing of Nick Harper, he settled into a backup role. A good locker room guy, who accepted the lesser role with grace.

Tyrone Poole — CB

SIGNABILITY: 1

Poole, 36, keeps himself in great shape, and that alone might warrant another shot in the league somewhere. However, it’s unlikely that chance will come with the Titans.

IMPACT OF PRESENCE/ABSENCE: 3

Poole was a good locker room presence for the Titans, but by coming in on the fly in mid-season never really got the chance to make much impact on the field.