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1997 Tennessee Oilers
Franchise Index: Previous Season / Next Season
Record: 8-8-0, Finished 3rd in AFC Central Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 333 points (20.8/g), 14th of 30 in the NFL.
Allowed 310 points (19.4/g), 12th.
Differential of 23 points (1.4/g), 13th.
Expected W-L: 8.7-7.3.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +6 (0.4/g), 9th.
Simple Rating System: Total 1.7, Offense: -0.3, Defense: 1.9, SoS: 0.2, versus averages of 0.0.
Coached by
Jeff Fisher (8-8-0)
Offensive Coordinator: Les Steckel
Defensive Coordinator: Gregg Williams
Training Camp: Tennessee State (Nashville, Tennessee)
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Starters
ProBowl(*), 1st-team All-Pro(+),Hide Non-primary Starters
| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | ||||||
| QB | Steve McNair | 24 | 2 | 16 | 216 for 415, 2,665 yards, 14 td, 13 int, & 101 rushes for 674 yards and 8 td | Houston Oilers / 1st / 3rd pick / 1995 |
| RB | Eddie George* | 24 | 1 | 16 | 357 rushes for 1,399 yards, 6 td, & 7 catches for 44 yards and 1 td | Houston Oilers / 1st / 14th pick / 1996 |
| WR | Willie Davis | 30 | 6 | 15 | 43 catches for 564 yards, 4 td | |
| WR | Chris Sanders | 25 | 2 | 14 | 31 catches for 498 yards, 3 td, & 1 rush for -8 yards and 0 td | Houston Oilers / 3rd / 67th pick / 1995 |
| TE | Michael Roan | 25 | 2 | 13 | 12 catches for 159 yards, 0 td | Houston Oilers / 4th / 101st pick / 1995 |
| TE | Frank Wycheck | 26 | 4 | 16 | 63 catches for 748 yards, 4 td | Washington Redskins / 6th / 160th pick / 1993 |
| TE | Michael Roan | 25 | 2 | 13 | 12 catches for 159 yards, 0 td | Houston Oilers / 4th / 101st pick / 1995 |
| TE | Frank Wycheck | 26 | 4 | 16 | 63 catches for 748 yards, 4 td | Washington Redskins / 6th / 160th pick / 1993 |
| LT | Brad Hopkins | 27 | 4 | 16 | 1 fumble recovered | Houston Oilers / 1st / 13th pick / 1993 |
| LG | Bruce Matthews* | 36 | 14 | 16 | 2 fumbles recovered | Houston Oilers / 1st / 9th pick / 1983 |
| C | Mark Stepnoski | 30 | 8 | 16 | 1 fumble recovered | Dallas Cowboys / 3rd / 57th pick / 1989 |
| RG | Kevin Donnalley | 29 | 6 | 16 | Houston Oilers / 3rd / 79th pick / 1991 | |
| RT | Jon Runyan | 24 | 1 | 16 | Houston Oilers / 4th / 109th pick / 1996 | |
| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Anthony Cook | 25 | 2 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Houston Oilers / 2nd / 35th pick / 1995 |
| LDT | Gary Walker | 24 | 2 | 15 | 7.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Houston Oilers / 5th / 159th pick / 1995 |
| RDT | Henry Ford | 26 | 3 | 16 | 5.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Houston Oilers / 1st / 26th pick / 1994 |
| RDE | James Roberson | 26 | 1 | 11 | 2.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | |
| RDE | Kenny Holmes | 24 | Rook | 5 | 7.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Tennessee Oilers / 1st / 18th pick / 1997 |
| LLB | Joe Bowden | 27 | 5 | 16 | 2.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Houston Oilers / 5th / 133rd pick / 1992 |
| MLB | Barron Wortham | 28 | 3 | 16 | Houston Oilers / 6th / 194th pick / 1994 | |
| RLB | Lonnie Marts | 29 | 6 | 14 | 1.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | |
| LCB | Denard Walker | 24 | Rook | 11 | 0.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Tennessee Oilers / 3rd / 75th pick / 1997 |
| LCB | Steve Jackson | 28 | 6 | 5 | 1.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Houston Oilers / 3rd / 71st pick / 1991 |
| RCB | Darryll Lewis | 29 | 6 | 14 | 0.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Houston Oilers / 2nd / 38th pick / 1991 |
| SS | Blaine Bishop* | 27 | 4 | 14 | 1.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Houston Oilers / 8th / 214th pick / 1993 |
| SS | Rayna Stewart | 24 | 1 | 5 | 0.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Houston Oilers / 5th / 143rd pick / 1996 |
| FS | Marcus Robertson | 28 | 6 | 14 | 0.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Houston Oilers / 4th / 102nd pick / 1991 |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Al Del Greco | 35 | 13 | 0 | 27 of 35 field goals & 32 of 32 extra points | |
| P | Reggie Roby | 36 | 14 | 0 | 73 punts for a 41.8 average, 0 blocked | Miami Dolphins / 6th / 167th pick / 1983 |
| PR | Mel J. Gray | 36 | 11 | 0 | 17 punt returns for a 8.5 average and 0 td | New Orleans Saints / 2nd / 42nd pick / 1984 Supp |
| KR | Derrick Mason | 23 | Rook | 2 | 26 kick returns for a 21.2 average and 0 td | Tennessee Oilers / 4th / 98th pick / 1997 |
| No. | Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | Mike Archie | 25 | RB | 5 | 0 | 205 | 5-8 | Penn St. | 10/14/1972 | 1 | Houston Oilers / 7th / 218th pick / 1996 |
| 32 | Tomur Barnes | 27 | DB | 3 | 0 | 188 | 5-10 | North Texas | 9/8/1970 | 3 | |
| 23 | Blaine Bishop* | 27 | DB | 14 | 14 | 197 | 5-9 | St. Joseph's (IN),Ball St. | 7/24/1970 | 4 | Houston Oilers / 8th / 214th pick / 1993 |
| 58 | Joe Bowden | 27 | LB | 16 | 16 | 230 | 5-11 | Oklahoma | 2/25/1970 | 5 | Houston Oilers / 5th / 133rd pick / 1992 |
| 83 | Isaac Byrd | 23 | WR | 2 | 0 | 188 | 6-1 | Kansas | 11/16/1974 | Rook | Kansas City Chiefs / 6th / 195th pick / 1997 |
| 78 | Anthony Cook | 25 | DE-DT | 16 | 16 | 295 | 6-3 | South Carolina St. | 5/30/1972 | 2 | Houston Oilers / 2nd / 35th pick / 1995 |
| 84 | Willie Davis | 30 | WR | 16 | 15 | 180 | 6-0 | Central Arkansas | 10/10/1967 | 6 | |
| 3 | Al Del Greco | 35 | K | 16 | 0 | 200 | 5-10 | Auburn | 3/2/1962 | 13 | |
| 77 | Kevin Donnalley | 29 | G-T | 16 | 16 | 310 | 6-5 | Davidson,North Carolina | 6/10/1968 | 6 | Houston Oilers / 3rd / 79th pick / 1991 |
| 30 | Anthony Dorsett | 24 | DB | 16 | 0 | 205 | 5-11 | Pittsburgh | 9/14/1973 | 1 | Houston Oilers / 6th / 177th pick / 1996 |
| 91 | Josh Evans | 25 | DT | 15 | 0 | 280 | 6-3 | Ala-Birmingham | 9/6/1972 | 2 | |
| 83 | Malcolm Floyd | 25 | WR | 1 | 0 | 194 | 6-0 | Fresno St. | 12/19/1972 | 3 | Houston Oilers / 3rd / 101st pick / 1994 |
| 92 | Henry Ford | 26 | DT-DE | 16 | 16 | 295 | 6-3 | Arkansas | 10/30/1971 | 3 | Houston Oilers / 1st / 26th pick / 1994 |
| 27 | Eddie George* | 24 | RB | 16 | 16 | 235 | 6-3 | Ohio St. | 9/24/1973 | 1 | Houston Oilers / 1st / 14th pick / 1996 |
| 35 | Spencer George | 24 | RB | 5 | 0 | 202 | 5-9 | Rice | 10/28/1973 | Rook | |
| 21 | Mel J. Gray | 36 | RB-WR | 11 | 0 | 167 | 5-9 | Purdue | 3/16/1961 | 11 | New Orleans Saints / 2nd / 42nd pick / 1984 Supp |
| 93 | Mike Halapin | 24 | DT | 3 | 1 | 294 | 6-4 | Pittsburgh | 7/1/1973 | 1 | |
| 51 | Lemanski Hall | 27 | LB | 16 | 2 | 231 | 6-0 | Alabama | 11/24/1970 | 2 | Houston Oilers / 7th / 220th pick / 1994 |
| 33 | Ronnie Harmon | 33 | RB-WR | 11 | 0 | 200 | 5-11 | Iowa | 5/7/1964 | 11 | Buffalo Bills / 1st / 16th pick / 1986 |
| 99 | Kenny Holmes | 24 | DE | 16 | 5 | 265 | 6-4 | Miami (FL) | 10/24/1973 | Rook | Tennessee Oilers / 1st / 18th pick / 1997 |
| 72 | Brad Hopkins | 27 | T | 16 | 16 | 305 | 6-3 | Illinois | 9/5/1970 | 4 | Houston Oilers / 1st / 13th pick / 1993 |
| 24 | Steve Jackson | 28 | DB | 12 | 5 | 188 | 5-8 | Purdue | 4/8/1969 | 6 | Houston Oilers / 3rd / 71st pick / 1991 |
| 57 | Lenoy Jones | 23 | LB | 16 | 0 | 228 | 6-1 | TCU | 9/25/1974 | 1 | |
| 38 | Roger Jones | 28 | DB | 2 | 0 | 175 | 5-9 | Tennessee St. | 4/22/1969 | 6 | |
| 86 | Joey Kent | 23 | WR | 12 | 0 | 191 | 6-1 | Tennessee | 4/23/1974 | Rook | Tennessee Oilers / 2nd / 46th pick / 1997 |
| 50 | Terry Killens | 23 | LB | 16 | 0 | 235 | 6-1 | Penn St. | 3/24/1974 | 1 | Houston Oilers / 3rd / 74th pick / 1996 |
| 17 | Dave Krieg | 39 | QB | 8 | 0 | 193 | 6-1 | Milton | 10/20/1958 | 17 | |
| 66 | Jason Layman | 24 | G-T | 14 | 0 | 310 | 6-5 | Tennessee | 7/29/1973 | 1 | Houston Oilers / 2nd / 48th pick / 1996 |
| 29 | Darryll Lewis | 29 | DB | 16 | 14 | 188 | 5-9 | Arizona | 12/16/1968 | 6 | Houston Oilers / 2nd / 38th pick / 1991 |
| 88 | Roderick Lewis | 26 | TE | 10 | 1 | 254 | 6-5 | Arizona | 6/9/1971 | 3 | Houston Oilers / 5th / 157th pick / 1994 |
| 98 | Pratt Lyons | 23 | DE | 16 | 0 | 295 | 6-5 | Utah St.,Troy | 9/17/1974 | Rook | Tennessee Oilers / 4th / 107th pick / 1997 |
| 56 | Lonnie Marts | 29 | LB | 14 | 14 | 246 | 6-2 | Tulane | 11/10/1968 | 6 | |
| 82 | Derrick Mason | 23 | WR | 16 | 2 | 190 | 5-10 | Michigan St. | 1/17/1974 | Rook | Tennessee Oilers / 4th / 98th pick / 1997 |
| 74 | Bruce Matthews* | 36 | G-C-T | 16 | 16 | 305 | 6-5 | USC | 8/8/1961 | 14 | Houston Oilers / 1st / 9th pick / 1983 |
| 28 | George McCullough | 22 | DB | 2 | 0 | 187 | 5-10 | Baylor | 2/18/1975 | Rook | Tennessee Oilers / 5th / 143rd pick / 1997 |
| 87 | James McKeehan | 24 | TE | 10 | 0 | 251 | 6-3 | Texas A&M | 8/9/1973 | 1 | |
| 9 | Steve McNair | 24 | QB | 16 | 16 | 235 | 6-2 | Alcorn St. | 2/14/1973 | 2 | Houston Oilers / 1st / 3rd pick / 1995 |
| 97 | Bryant Mix | 25 | DE | 1 | 0 | 291 | 6-3 | Alcorn St. | 7/28/1972 | 1 | Houston Oilers / 2nd / 38th pick / 1996 |
| 64 | Erik Norgard | 32 | G-C | 16 | 0 | 282 | 6-1 | West. Washington,Colorado | 11/4/1965 | 7 | |
| 16 | James Ritchey | 24 | QB | 1 | 0 | 220 | 6-2 | S.F. Austin | 7/10/1973 | Rook | |
| 80 | Michael Roan | 25 | TE | 14 | 13 | 251 | 6-3 | Wisconsin | 8/29/1972 | 2 | Houston Oilers / 4th / 101st pick / 1995 |
| 90 | James Roberson | 26 | DE | 15 | 11 | 275 | 6-3 | Florida St. | 5/3/1971 | 1 | |
| 31 | Marcus Robertson | 28 | DB | 14 | 14 | 198 | 5-11 | Iowa St. | 10/2/1969 | 6 | Houston Oilers / 4th / 102nd pick / 1991 |
| 37 | Rafael Robinson | 28 | DB | 3 | 0 | 200 | 5-11 | Wisconsin | 6/19/1969 | 5 | |
| 7 | Reggie Roby | 36 | P | 16 | 0 | 249 | 6-3 | Iowa | 7/30/1961 | 14 | Miami Dolphins / 6th / 167th pick / 1983 |
| 69 | Jon Runyan | 24 | T | 16 | 16 | 330 | 6-7 | Michigan | 11/27/1973 | 1 | Houston Oilers / 4th / 109th pick / 1996 |
| 85 | Derek Russell | 28 | WR | 11 | 2 | 195 | 6-0 | Arkansas | 6/22/1969 | 6 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 89th pick / 1991 |
| 81 | Chris Sanders | 25 | WR | 15 | 14 | 188 | 6-1 | Ohio St. | 5/8/1972 | 2 | Houston Oilers / 3rd / 67th pick / 1995 |
| 73 | Scott Sanderson | 23 | T | 10 | 0 | 295 | 6-6 | Washington St. | 7/25/1974 | Rook | Tennessee Oilers / 3rd / 81st pick / 1997 |
| 59 | Dennis Stallings | 23 | LB | 13 | 0 | 240 | 6-0 | Illinois | 5/25/1974 | Rook | Tennessee Oilers / 6th / 181st pick / 1997 |
| 53 | Mark Stepnoski | 30 | C-G | 16 | 16 | 269 | 6-2 | Pittsburgh | 1/20/1967 | 8 | Dallas Cowboys / 3rd / 57th pick / 1989 |
| 26 | Rayna Stewart | 24 | DB | 16 | 5 | 198 | 5-10 | Northern Arizona | 6/18/1973 | 1 | Houston Oilers / 5th / 143rd pick / 1996 |
| 20 | Rodney Thomas | 24 | RB | 16 | 1 | 210 | 5-10 | Texas A&M | 3/30/1973 | 2 | Houston Oilers / 3rd / 89th pick / 1995 |
| 25 | Denard Walker | 24 | DB | 15 | 11 | 190 | 6-1 | LSU | 8/9/1973 | Rook | Tennessee Oilers / 3rd / 75th pick / 1997 |
| 96 | Gary Walker | 24 | DT-DE | 15 | 15 | 324 | 6-3 | Auburn | 2/28/1973 | 2 | Houston Oilers / 5th / 159th pick / 1995 |
| 42 | Armon Williams | 24 | DB | 6 | 0 | 221 | 6-1 | Arizona | 8/13/1973 | Rook | Tennessee Oilers / 7th / 216th pick / 1997 |
| 52 | Barron Wortham | 28 | LB | 16 | 16 | 244 | 5-11 | Texas-El Paso | 11/1/1969 | 3 | Houston Oilers / 6th / 194th pick / 1994 |
| 89 | Frank Wycheck | 26 | TE | 16 | 16 | 253 | 6-3 | Maryland | 10/14/1971 | 4 | Washington Redskins / 6th / 160th pick / 1993 |
| Team Total | 26.6 | 16 | 235.5 | 6-1.0 | 3.6 |