NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans (0-0) open their preseason schedule this week, traveling to Seattle to face the Seahawks (0-0) at CenturyLink Field (capacity 67,000). Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. CDT on Saturday, Aug. 11.
The Titans begin their second preseason under head coach Mike Munchak, now in his 31st season with the franchise. Last year, Munchak led the Titans to a second-place finish in the AFC South with a 9-7 record. They finished a game behind the 10-6 division champion Houston Texans and narrowly missed out on a Wild Card playoff berth.
THE BROADCAST
The game will be televised regionally on the Titans Preseason TV Network, including flagship WKRN-Channel 2 in Nashville. Cory Curtis will handle play-by-play duties, while former Titans running back Eddie George and former Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck will provide analysis. Dawn Davenport will report from the sidelines. A full listing of preseason affiliates is available on page 2 of this release.
The Titans Radio Network, including Nashville flagship 104.5 The Zone, will broadcast the game across the Mid-South with the "Voice of the Titans" Mike Keith, color commentator Frank Wycheck, sideline reporter Cody Allison and gameday host Larry Stone.
CLOSE TIES TO SEATTLE
The Titans have several front office members and players with close ties to Washington and the Seahawks, including quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker. Hasselbeck spent 10 years with the Seahawks (2001-10) prior to joining the Titans in 2011. During his time in Seattle, he guided the Seahawks to six playoff appearances and became the club's all-time leader in most passing categories, including passing yards (29,434), attempts (4,250) and completions (2,559).
Locker enjoyed a storied career at the University of Washington from 2005 through 2010. A native of Ferndale, Wash., he played an integral role in turning the program around and into a unit that won a bowl game in Locker's final appearance. Locker ranks second all-time in Washington history with 7,639 career passing yards, 1,148 attempts, 619 completions, 53 touchdown passes and 9,578 combined yards.
Two additional projected starters for the Titans have played significant portions of their careers with the Seahawks: left guard Steve Hutchinson (2001-05) and safety Jordan Babineaux (2004-10). Defensive coordinator Jerry Gray also spent a season (2010) in Seattle prior to coming to Tennessee.
Tennessee's front office is led by Mike Reinfeldt, who was promoted to senior executive vice president/chief operating officer this offseason after a five-year stint as general manager. He previously spent a total of seven seasons with the Seahawks as senior vice president (1999-03) and vice president of football operations (2005-06).
Within player personnel, three former Seahawks executives play key roles with the Titans. Ruston Webster, now general manager for the Titans, was Seattle's vice president of player personnel from 2006-09. Lake Dawson was a pro personnel assistant (2001-04) and assistant director of pro personnel (2005-06) before coming to Tennessee, where he is now vice president of player personnel. Finally, Titans scout Tim Ruskell served as president of football operations and general manager at Seattle from 2005 to 2009.
THE SEAHAWKS
The Seahawks, who finished 7-9 in 2011, are led by head coach Pete Carroll. This is Carroll's third preseason with the club since leaving his former post as head coach at the University of Southern California.
During the offseason, Seattle acquired quarterback Matt Flynn as an unrestricted free agent from the Green Bay Packers. The former LSU standout played his first four seasons in Green Bay as a back-up to Aaron Rodgers. He is competing this preseason with incumbent starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and rookie signal caller Russell Wilson.
At running back, the Seahawks have Marshawn Lynch, who ranked seventh in the NFL in rushing last season with 1,204 yards.
On defense, the Seahawks field an acclaimed young secondary that includes cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner, as well as safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas. Browner, Chancellor and Thomas were named to the Pro Bowl last season.
