How to break in 2 new tackles? Anchor them with experience

NASHVILLE (AP) ? Prefer stability? The Tennessee Titans certainly do, especially on the offensive line.

This franchise had right guard Bruce Matthews for 19 years and Brad Hopkins played 13 years at left tackle before retiring as a salary cap casualty earlier this year. The biggest change usually involved replacing a single starter as they rotated through right tackles.

Now the Titans find themselves breaking in three new starters at both tackles and at center, even if 12-year Kevin Mawae hardly needs teaching at this point of his career.

?We?re as young as we?ve ever been,? offensive line coach Mike Munchak said. ?So there?ll be some challenges ahead. Sometimes they don?t get exposed in the preseason when you cover it up a little bit. We?ll have to be smart going into the season and protect guys.?

The Titans signed Mawae to anchor the offensive line at center, replacing Justin Hartwig, a converted center who chose to sign with Carolina as a free agent. Michael Roos, a second-round pick who was the team?s highest offensive lineman taken since Hopkins was a first-rounder in 1993, was moved from right tackle to left.

Two-year veteran Jacob Bell is competing with David Stewart for the right tackle spot Roos filled last season as a rookie. Through one exhibition, Bell has the edge.

Luckily, the Titans still have lots of experience around Mawae, a six-time Pro Bowler. Left guard Zach Piller is going into his eighth season with 55 career starts, while right guard Benji Olson has 112 starts in his eight seasons.

Coach Jeff Fisher said that experience helps with any growing pains.

?The communication?s been real (good). It?s been solid. We had a few issues in the ball game, but they were more team issues. We didn?t block some things as well as we would?ve liked. They weren?t communication issues. At least they were all on the same page,? Fisher said.

Roos, the 41st pick overall in 2005, has the biggest spot to fill as the new left tackle. Hopkins started more games at left tackle in the NFL between 1993 and 2005 than any other player _ 188 games spent protecting 14 different quarterbacks.

?When you lose a guy like that who?s usually going against the best pass rusher, it isn?t going to be easy to replace,? Munchak said. ?Obviously, we think Mike can be awfully good. It took Brad a while to become the player he became, and hopefully we can help him and not put him by himself out there.?

Hopkins was very athletic, while Roos has at least 30 pounds and three inches on his predecessor at 6-foot-7, 315 pounds. He started the opener last season at left tackle for Hopkins, who was suspended, and then was on the right side for the final 15 games.

?To me, it?s my job,? Roos said. ?They moved me over to the left side. So now my job is left tackle. I?m going to come out and do my job the best I can.?

Bell?s advantage comes from starting at left guard as a rookie in 2004 after Piller tore his left biceps and missed the final 15 games. A fifth-round pick out of Miami of Ohio, Bell also is versatile enough to play at guard and filled in for Olson in last weekend?s 19-16 exhibition loss to New Orleans.

Munchak said Stewart needs all the work he can get in the preseason in this competition. A fourth-round pick in 2005 out of Mississippi State, Stewart didn?t play last season. But he is big at 6-7, 318 pounds and would give the Titans near-matching bookends at tackle.

Either way, Olson will be working beside the fourth different right tackle of his career. He likes how everything is coming together.

?Kevin?s really good. He?s very vocal and loud-spoken. He?s doing a good job making the calls. Me and Zach are getting those out to the tackles. So far it?s been pretty good,? he said.

?At this point, things are coming along all right.?