Will the defense be dominant in 2008?

In 2007, the Tennessee Titans rode the coattails of a stingy defense that made life miserable for opposing offenses to the franchise’s first playoff birth since 2003. Led by the dominating presence of Albert Haynesworth and the steady play of veteran Keith Bulluck, the Titans finished with the league’s fifth-ranked defense.
It’s been an eventful offseason for the Titans defense, which lost two players (LaBoy and Odom) to free agency while dealing with the seemingly never-ending Haynesworth contract saga.
Will this year’s defense play up to its 2007 level?

The ability to pressure the quarterback loomed large in the success of the Titans’ defense last year. The Titans will try to replace LaBoy and Odom’s 14 sacks with a combination of rookies and “The Freak“.
Jim Washburn is one of the best defensive line coaches in the business and I expect him to have the youngsters ready to contribute as early as next year. As for Jevon, his ability to produce is contingent upon his ability to stay healthy, something that he has failed to consistently do since his departure from the Titans.
A healthy Jevon= a formidable Titan defense.
As mentioned earlier, the Haynesworth contract situation has been a frustrating ordeal for all involved. However, he is likely to sign his one-year tender offer and will hopefully be motivated to earn the long-term contract he desires. Haynesworth’s presence opens things up for the Titans’ pass rush while also helping to clog the lanes for opposing runners.
Defensive line aside, I like what the Titans have going at DB and LB. We should see bigger and better things from young defensive backs Cortland Finnegan and Michael Griffin, two emerging playmakers who appear to be future Pro Bowlers in the secondary. The steady play of veterans Bulluck and Thornton should continue to lead the way at linebacker.
It all starts with the trenches, so the success of the Titans’ defense in 2008 will hinge on the ability of the front four to get consistent pressure on the quarterback. A rejuvenated Freak, some big plays from William Hayes and some production from Jason Jones will all go a long way towards the Titans D repeating their stellar 2007 performance.
Of course, it’s probably not realistic to expect all of those things to happen. That’s why in 2008, I envision a strong Titan defense that statistically, may not match up with last year’s D. However, I’m still expecting a top-ten performance from Jim Schwartz’s crew.
What are your expectations for the defense in 2008?