Showing posts with label Tennessee Titans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tennessee Titans. Show all posts
A conversation about the 2015-16 AFC South
In AFC South, In Bryan Harvey, In Houston Texans, In Indianapolis Colts, In Jacksonville Jaguars, In Langston, In NFL previews, In Tennessee TitansSeptember 8, 2015
AFC South Division Preview 2009
In 2009 NFL Season Preview, In AFC South, In Colts, In Houston Texans, In Jacksonville Jaguars, In Langston, In NFL, In Teach, In Tennessee TitansAugust 17, 2009
In the past, we broke down every team in detail before the start of the season, but this year we decided to view each division as a dysfunctional American family and base our predictions off their family trees.
Place of Residence:
While it sounds cliche, "home is where the heart is." This family's most traditional roots are the nation's interstate system. The family member to start this tradition was Bob Irsay, who moved the family's home from an east coast car garage to one in the midwest, and it was continued by Bud Adams when he left Houston for Tennessee, by motorcycle. The grandkids, not having any real roots or an identity, were free to settle anywhere. Wayne Weaver settled in Jacksonville and decided to make a living raising Jaguars in a climate better suited for Gators and Seminoles. This business endeavor has relied on sales gimmicks and pinball machines. Bob Mcnair, longing to reverse the family's tendencies toward mobility, settled in Houston, in an attempt to make good on the promises Bud Adams left broken. His efforts, so far, have resulted only in the death of David Carr.
The family's lack of a hometown has left this family personality driven, rather than relying on historical landmarks and local customs to define them, which could explain the polar extremes of Peyton Manning's drive as a salesman and Vince Young's feelings of isolation, and this lack of deep roots could also be why journeymen and hobos find themselves waking up on the family's front porch like stray dogs.
Vacation Spot:
The family's constant moving never really gave the family the feelings of being trapped at home and needing to get away. Even in retirement, the patriarchs of the family, like Tony Dungy, feel the need to help out underprivileged youth find a better home. Many believe Dungy feels this way because he comes from a family that never really had a traditional home. One AFC South family member tried to go on vacation, but it ended tragically.
Favorite Pastime:
Because of the family's constant movements, no one in the family has possessed the sound foundations to do anything of real accomplishment. When the family does get together, which is rare because the geographical separation has left them with few real connections, they sit around and listen to Peyton yarn war stories. He is, after all, the only member of the family to go into the trenches and come out alive.
Teach's Prediction:
I'll be honest, I don't really know what to make of this division. Tennessee won it last year and went to the playoffs with home field advantage, but no one, outside of Tennessee, ever really believed they were the team to beat. Does the addition of Alge Crumpler on offense make up for the loss of Albert Haynesworth on defense? This team won with defense, and Crumpler's probably peaked. I think I just talked myself out of taking the Titans, which leaves the Colts as the only logical team for me to pick. Call it a belief in Peyton, and me trying to do my part for always taking the wrong side in all those New England-Indianapolis matchups--the Colts really were the better people.
Jacksonville is as unpredictable as hurricane season, but I think their window as the perennial AFC dark horse closed with last year. The receiving core has questions, and Garrard throws almost as many TD's as Int's. Houston is worth keeping an eye on. The schedule looks favorable, with New England as the only game one looks at without any hesitation and says Houston probably can't win that one.
Langston's Prediction:
The question every year in the division is who will challenge the Colts. The Texans have a good young defense and two of the best offensive weapons in the league. However, Matt Schaub's health is always a worry, and with Rex Grossman and Dan Orlovsky as the backups that worry becomes that much more prominent. The Jaguars have a good core defense along with the offensive threats of MJD and Torry Holt, but after those two, there isn't much else, which will impede their ability to contend.
The question every year in the division is who will challenge the Colts. The Texans have a good young defense and two of the best offensive weapons in the league. However, Matt Schaub's health is always a worry, and with Rex Grossman and Dan Orlovsky as the backups that worry becomes that much more prominent. The Jaguars have a good core defense along with the offensive threats of MJD and Torry Holt, but after those two, there isn't much else, which will impede their ability to contend.
The Titans have the defense, a healthier Kerry Collins, a slimmer and faster Lendale, and new receiving threats. Still, they replaced the defensive player of the year with Jovan Haye. Who?
The Colts also have their issues. With a regime change, Tony Ugoh's bustiness, and the ever-injured Bob Sanders. Yet, they are the most balanced team in the division. They drafted running back Donald Brown, who should help keep Addai healthy. The regime change should go along smoothly, afterall Peyton Manning has been the offensive coordinator for years now. The only question remaining for the Colts is how will the defense hold up. If they do, then the Colts should be on their way to another division crown.
The Colts also have their issues. With a regime change, Tony Ugoh's bustiness, and the ever-injured Bob Sanders. Yet, they are the most balanced team in the division. They drafted running back Donald Brown, who should help keep Addai healthy. The regime change should go along smoothly, afterall Peyton Manning has been the offensive coordinator for years now. The only question remaining for the Colts is how will the defense hold up. If they do, then the Colts should be on their way to another division crown.
Steve McNair 1973-2009
In Eulogy, In Steve McNair, In Teach, In Tennessee TitansJuly 5, 2009
(If the video doesn't play, here's the link. It's one of the better done tributes I've seen.)
The first time I heard of Steve McNair, he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated, underneath him was the headline "Hand Him the Heisman," and I latched onto him. He was one of those guys who never played for one of my teams but I always rooted for him to do well. Maybe it was because in the 1994 Heisman race McNair represented little Alcorn St., a HBCU, while the other candidates hailed from Colorado, Penn. St., and Alabama. Alcorn St. wasn't a division one school, let alone one of prominence. McNair's football talents and heart took him places that his background predicted he would never go, and he took his fans there with him; he gave the underdog a chance to dance in the spotlight.
In middle school, I used his Tennessee Oilers in Franchise Mode on Madden. I got bored playing with the Packers teams because they were too stacked. The Oilers weren't great, but they had McNair and Eddie George, which made them fun to play with in a video game. What I liked most about both of those guys was that it took a whole defense to bring either one to the ground.
McNair was a fighter. He was the first quarterback taken in the 1995 draft, and he sat on the bench his first years in the League, behind Chris Chandler. McNair proved that the greatest attributes for a young quarterback are the patience to wait for one's moment and the dedication it takes to truly learn the game. McNair was the first major move that Coach Jeff Fisher made for the Oilers franchise, and one could argue that without McNair's physical sacrifices on the field Fisher would not be the longest tenured coach in the NFL. McNair's stellar play transformed the Oilers into the Titans, which means that with McNair as quarterback the franchise went from chokers to Super Bowl contenders.
He was, is, and always will be the cornerstone of the Tennessee Titans.
McNair's last years in Tennessee saw his physical abilities decline. He looked stiff in the pocket, as if he was already a statue, dipped in bronze, guarding the stadium's outside sidewalks. He limped off the field and let his shoulders drop like bags of sand. His tenure with the Titans passed all too quickly. He missed his first Pro Bowl due to injury. He shared his one MVP award, and his team came up a yard short in the Super Bowl, and he failed to be the savior at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, yet we all remember him as a man of tremendous accomplishments because he sacrificed every second for his team.
In Super Bowl XXXIV, McNair took a beating from a St. Louis Rams team that was far more talented than McNair's Titans squad, but he kept making play after play, earning the admiration of his teammates and the fear of his opponents.
Steve McNair had our respect because no matter how dire the situation he always had more to give. He donated countless dollars and minutes to underprivileged children, and he helped rebuild parts of the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. He played football the way he lived life. At times, he was reckless and made choices that put his body in danger, apparently on and off the field, but he always bounced back; and he always had the love of his teammates and his community, which suggests he listened to the angel in his heart more than the devil on his shoulder.
Rest in peace, Steve. You laid it all on the line, and we were the better for it. You showed us that the battle with adversity is equal to the victory over it. I am sad to see another hero from my childhood go, especially in such a heedless act of violence.
Hand him peace.
NFL Playoffs: Who I'm rooting for..
In Langston, In NFL, In NFL Playoffs, In Tennessee Titans, In Who to root forDecember 31, 2008
Way before December or even November we all knew the Raiders would be in the same position we are, watching the playoffs from the comfort of their own homes. I think we all figured it out sometime between last years draft and August. It didn't take a genius to figure it out either, all it called for was a cursory glance at their roster to notice the onslaught of glaring holes they possessed. Ever since the shaming in San Diego, Oakland has been home to one of (if not) the most inept franchises in the NFL. So it comes as no surprise that for yet another year they failed to even pose a threat. However the season ended on a couple of good notes, that will surely give myself and the rest of the Raider nation far too much optimism for the 2009-2010 season. A two game win-streak that showed Jamarcus Russell may not be the next big flop that may have helped Al Davis find his next coach in Tom Cable. It was also nice to end the season with the Raiders knocking out Gruden's Bucs and helping Shanahan get canned.
The season isn't over for everyone, yet it has placed the Raider nation and many other fans in a common position. Mock drafting before the new year and deciding on another team to root for in the playoffs. Last year was probably the easiest year to pick a team to root for, that team, whoever was playing the 16-0 New England Patriots. This year is not so easy; there are under dogs across the board and perennial powers that cannot top the annoyance levels of the Pats or Cowboys. Without their being a clear cut team to root for or root against, I figured I would rank each team using my biased opinions on fan and player likability.
The first and only category we will tackle is player and fan likability, this is important because you will have to deal with these fans reminding you how great their favorite teams is for the next year. This is not such a bad thing when the fan is knowledgeable and/or loyal but when the fan started rooting for the team in November and/or has a Criss Angel aura about him, this can be almost as enraging as DC traffic. The player likability factor is important because not all players are as likable as Reggie White or Tony Gonzalez, and the last thing cocky overpaid and overhyped players need is even more reason to be cocky and overpaid. (Team colors and mascots may also be taken into account)
Who I am rooting for:
12. New York Giants; I know I am not alone in this but I don't want any team to win back-t0-back championships. Share the wealth and stop being so greedy. Only my team should have a dynasty.
11 . Minnesota Vikings: 11,000 tickets left, are you kidding me? Terrible.
10. San Diego Chargers: Blame Rivers
9. Miami Dolphins; Every girl in my middle school wore Dolphins Starter jackets, and I knew none of them could name one player on the team other than Dan Marino. Remembering how atrocious those jackets were and the fact that some people coupled them with Zubaz makes me want to watch the Dolphins lose.
8. Arizona Cardinals: I have never met a Cardinals fan, and I have spent more then half my life on the West Coast. So yeah, go Cards. Funny story though, my uncle bought me a Jake Plummer jersey after his rookie year for Christmas. That gift was never worn.
7. Carolina Panthers: While living in Myrtle Beach, I met a fair amount of Panther fans. They were knowledgeable and a joy to watch a game with. However I see pictures like this and it changes my mind about their fandom.
6. Baltimore Ravens: There is nothing that really makes me want to root for or against this team. I enjoy watching Ed Reed, but Bart Scott has a grating personality. They get stuck in the middle for this very fact.
5.Philadelphia Eagles; Knowledgable and loyal fans. With the Phillies just winning the World Series, the Philly area sports fans would be on the verge of becoming the next Boston/dynasty city. I don't know if they would be as annoying, but its not worth the risk.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers; Stiller fans are all across the country. You can probably find a Steelers bar in almost every city in the country. They are as loyal as they come. Yet a lot of them brain wash their friends into becoming Steeler fans. This leads to uneducated and annoying fans, bragging about championships won before they were born.
3. Atlanta Falcons; Just for what the franchise and its fan have had to deal with the past couple of seasons, they deserve a good playoff run. But I still can't find myself rooting for them. I don't know why, but I'll just blame it on Zubaz again.
2. Indianapolis Colts: They get this ranking solely on the enjoyment I receive from watching Peyton work the offense and the commercials he appears in. Even though the King of UT is leading his Colts to another playoff run, I cannot put all of my love behind them as they just won two years ago.
1. Tennessee Titans: The state of Tennessee is easily one of my favorites in the country. It has a little bit of everything; culture, history, music, and even better- their people. The fans are loyal, knowledgeable, and courteous. Watching a game at LP field is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and the biggest factor to that enjoyment; is the fans around you.
This ranking is obviously biased, so feel free to leave yours in the comment section. It really is nice to have, when the team your pulling for loses you can just mark them off and root for the next team. That way you can say you wanted them to win all along.
The season isn't over for everyone, yet it has placed the Raider nation and many other fans in a common position. Mock drafting before the new year and deciding on another team to root for in the playoffs. Last year was probably the easiest year to pick a team to root for, that team, whoever was playing the 16-0 New England Patriots. This year is not so easy; there are under dogs across the board and perennial powers that cannot top the annoyance levels of the Pats or Cowboys. Without their being a clear cut team to root for or root against, I figured I would rank each team using my biased opinions on fan and player likability.
The first and only category we will tackle is player and fan likability, this is important because you will have to deal with these fans reminding you how great their favorite teams is for the next year. This is not such a bad thing when the fan is knowledgeable and/or loyal but when the fan started rooting for the team in November and/or has a Criss Angel aura about him, this can be almost as enraging as DC traffic. The player likability factor is important because not all players are as likable as Reggie White or Tony Gonzalez, and the last thing cocky overpaid and overhyped players need is even more reason to be cocky and overpaid. (Team colors and mascots may also be taken into account)
Who I am rooting for:
12. New York Giants; I know I am not alone in this but I don't want any team to win back-t0-back championships. Share the wealth and stop being so greedy. Only my team should have a dynasty.
11 . Minnesota Vikings: 11,000 tickets left, are you kidding me? Terrible.
10. San Diego Chargers: Blame Rivers
9. Miami Dolphins; Every girl in my middle school wore Dolphins Starter jackets, and I knew none of them could name one player on the team other than Dan Marino. Remembering how atrocious those jackets were and the fact that some people coupled them with Zubaz makes me want to watch the Dolphins lose.
8. Arizona Cardinals: I have never met a Cardinals fan, and I have spent more then half my life on the West Coast. So yeah, go Cards. Funny story though, my uncle bought me a Jake Plummer jersey after his rookie year for Christmas. That gift was never worn.
7. Carolina Panthers: While living in Myrtle Beach, I met a fair amount of Panther fans. They were knowledgeable and a joy to watch a game with. However I see pictures like this and it changes my mind about their fandom.
6. Baltimore Ravens: There is nothing that really makes me want to root for or against this team. I enjoy watching Ed Reed, but Bart Scott has a grating personality. They get stuck in the middle for this very fact.
5.Philadelphia Eagles; Knowledgable and loyal fans. With the Phillies just winning the World Series, the Philly area sports fans would be on the verge of becoming the next Boston/dynasty city. I don't know if they would be as annoying, but its not worth the risk.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers; Stiller fans are all across the country. You can probably find a Steelers bar in almost every city in the country. They are as loyal as they come. Yet a lot of them brain wash their friends into becoming Steeler fans. This leads to uneducated and annoying fans, bragging about championships won before they were born.
3. Atlanta Falcons; Just for what the franchise and its fan have had to deal with the past couple of seasons, they deserve a good playoff run. But I still can't find myself rooting for them. I don't know why, but I'll just blame it on Zubaz again.
2. Indianapolis Colts: They get this ranking solely on the enjoyment I receive from watching Peyton work the offense and the commercials he appears in. Even though the King of UT is leading his Colts to another playoff run, I cannot put all of my love behind them as they just won two years ago.
1. Tennessee Titans: The state of Tennessee is easily one of my favorites in the country. It has a little bit of everything; culture, history, music, and even better- their people. The fans are loyal, knowledgeable, and courteous. Watching a game at LP field is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and the biggest factor to that enjoyment; is the fans around you.
This ranking is obviously biased, so feel free to leave yours in the comment section. It really is nice to have, when the team your pulling for loses you can just mark them off and root for the next team. That way you can say you wanted them to win all along.
LCB Power Rankings: Week 12
In detroit lions, In Langston, In LCB Review, In NFL, In Power Ranking, In Tennessee Titans, In titansNovember 21, 2008
Last week the Titans went into half-time down 14-3 to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They were on the verge of losing their first game of the season. But thanks to the fantastic play of the defense, especially that of Albert Haynesworth who had seven tackles a forced fumble and a sack, they are undefeated in week 12. Thanks must also go to the play of veteran QB Kerry Collins, who directed consecutive touchdown drives to open the third quarter, turning an 11-point deficit into a three-point lead. He later helped seal the victory with a perfect 38-yard TD pass to Justin Gage with 3:57 remaining. Collins finished 13-of-23 for 230 yards leading the Titans to a 24-14 victory over the Jags.
Collins' play has been as likely as the Titans season so far. When the Titans started the season, no one figured this was possible. When Vince Young went down with an injury and later had subsequent questions about his mental health, people wondered if they would be able to win without him. They have proved again and again, that they are for real and can play against any team in the league. Backups, starters, also-rans, home, away, down, ahead, it doesn't matter; the Titans keep finding ways to win.
This week the Titans take on the streaking New York Jets, and the game looks to be a great one. But like some other bloggers, I will looking ahead by a week. If the Titans can manage to win this weekend and the Lions lose to Tampa Bay, this years Thanksgiving day game in Detroit will be quite interesting. The 11-0 Titans versus the 0-11 Lions. I don't know about you, but that would make for an awesome game and I will be hoping for it. Go Titans, go Bucs.
1: (1) Titans 10-0-0
2: (2) Giants 9-1-0
3: (3) Panthers 8-2-0
4: (4) Steelers 8-3-0
5: (6) Buccaneers 7-3-0
6: (8) Cardinals 7-3-0
7: (9) Jets 7-3-0
8: (7) Falcons 6-4-0
9: (10) Ravens 6-4-0
10: (11) Patriots 6-4-0
11: (15) Broncos 6-4-0
12: (16) Cowboys 6-4-0
13: (17) Colts 6-4-0
14: (5) Redskins 6-4-0
15: (19) Dolphins 6-4-0
16: (14) Eagles 5-4-1
17: (20) Packers 5-5-0
18: (12) Bills 5-5-0
19: (13) Bears 5-5-0
20: (18) Vikings 5-5-0
21: (21) Saints 5-5-0
22: (25) Browns 4-6-0
23: (22) Chargers 4-6-0
24: (23) Jaguars 4-6-0
25: (24) Texans 3-7-0
26: (26) 49ers 3-7-0
27: (27) Seahawks 2-8-0
28: (28) Raiders 2-8-0
29: (29) Rams 2-8-0
30: (30) Chiefs 1-9-0
31: (31) Bengals 1-9-1
32: (32) Lions 0-10-0
2008 NFL Season Preview: #16 Tennessee Titans
In 2008 NFL Season Preview, In Mase, In Teach, In Tennessee Titans, In Welcome Back KotterAugust 5, 2008
Division: AFC South
Last Year's Record: 10-6
Head Coach: Jeff Fisher
Key Additions:
Alge Crumpler TE
Chris Johnson RB (rookie)
Jevon Kearse DE
Justin McCareins WR
Key Losses:
Pacman Jones CB
Benji Olson OL (retirement)
Chris Brown RB
Breakdown of the Offense:
Jeff Fisher is like Bill Lite or Diet Cowher: "same great taste, but less chin." Fisher's teams are always competitive. Even when they're having a down year, they put up a fight, much like Sargent Slaughter's old teams. Jeff Fisher embodies all that the term a football coach encompasses. Last year, he led a very inexperienced group to a 10-6 record and a spot in the AFC playoffs, which resulted in a 17-6 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
While the team did show improvement last season, those efforts do not guarantee a trip back to the postseason this year. The Titans play in one of the NFL's toughest divisions, in which they went 4-2 last season, but it will be difficult to match that success if Vince Young does not improve on his numbers of 9 passing touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Vince Young's development is the key to whether the Titans become a good team or remain a team that "just puts up a good fight." The Titans are, as many Jeff Fisher teams before them, at a precipice.
Vince Young threw three less touchdowns last season than he did in his rookie year when he played less games. He also threw more interceptions and ran for less toudchdowns than he did as a rookie. On the positive side, the team won more games. If Young improves, then the team will improve; and if this happens, then he and new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, who worked with Steve McNair during his prime, deserve all the credit. In other words, the Titans did nothing to improve a weak group of wide receivers.
Justin McCareins is the biggest addition the team made at wide receiver, and he caught a god-like 232 yards last season as a Jet. McCareins most likely will be the team's third receiver. I say most likely because the two starters are not exactly franchise cornerstones. Justin Gage caught 750 yards last season and Roydell Williams caught 719 yards. The two combined for only six touchdowns.
While the Titans will not be stretching defenses with their vertical passing game, they did bring in tight end Alge Crumpler, formerly of the Falcons. When Crumpler was in Atlanta, he played a part in any big passing days that Michael Vick had. Now, Vick did not have an extraordinary amount of big passing days, but Crumpler is a much needed improvement over Bo Scaife.
Despite the obvious need for a wide receiver, the Titans used their first pick in this year's draft to select running back Chris Johnson from East Carolina. Apparently, he runs a 4.24 forty, which sort of explains why a team whose top two receivers combined for 1400 yards drafted a running back when last year's starter ran for 1110. 1110 is not a huge number for a running back until one considers that it was done by Lendale White, who quite possibly did this while having another running back inside his stomach. Yes, he was extremely fat last year, which may have led to him running all last season with torn knee cartiledge. Solidifying the Titans ground game is the fact that Vince Young will go for anywhere from 300 to 500 yards on his own. The Chris Johnson pick remains a mystery.
Do not expect this offense to transform overnight, but if Vince Young throws for more touchdowns than interceptions and Lendale White stays healthy, then this unit can give the defense some of the breathing room it desperately needed last season, even if no one really wanted to mention it because that would change the law "Vince Young is a winner" into a theory. That's how science works, right? Laws, theories, hypotheses....
Breakdown of the Defense:
Looooonnnnnnggggggg paaaaaauuuuuuussssssseeeeeee...Sorry, I'm just trying to find something interesting to say about these guys. A lot of the excitement seems to have left with the artist formerly known as Pacman Jones, and he didn't even suit up last season. Albert Haynesworth is kind of crazy, but he's not tabloid crazy. I don't know. I've got nothing. Is it possible they played the theme song from Welcome Back, Kotter for Jevon Kearse?
Man, I love that song, and I'm glad "The Freak" is back in Tennessee. Some players just seem better when they're wearing certain uniforms. Kearse just looks better in a Titans jersey than he did in an Eagles one. The only problem with this whole reunion is that it's not the same Jevon Kearse coming home. He finished last season with twelve total tackles and 3.5 sacks. He's become injury-plagued and a shell of his former self, like Russia under Putin...still scary, but not USSR scary.
In fact, that idea kind of sums up this whole defense, which is the backbone of this team. They're solid. They're trustworthy. They're dependable. They're nice. They're someone you can watch Nick at Nite with. They're so sweet they're in the friendzone.
This unit gave up an average of 18.6 point and just over 300 yards per game last year. Their strength was the number of turnovers caused by their secondary, only one other team had more interceptions. The cornerstone of the secondary is Cortland Finnegan, who coach Chuck Cecil says, "I wouldn't trade [Cortland] for any other corner in the league." Second-year man Michael Griffin will be moving to free safety after playing the other corner spot last year. Cornerback Nick Harper and strong safety Chris Hope round out the defensive backs.
The linebackers are David Thornton, Ryan Fowler, and Keith Bulluck, the king of the friendzone. Thornton was the team's leading tackler last season with 122. He also finished with 5.5 sacks.
Defensive tackle Tony Brown and Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch join Kearse and Haynesworth on the defensive line.
Season Outlook:
If Vince Young improves in the passing game, then this team will be solid on both sides of the ball. His throwing the ball successfully will improve the defense as much as it does the offense, and until he makes that adjustment, the Titans are a mediocre football team. Neither the offense nor the defense will lose games, but can either unit really go out and win games consistently? They're in a tough division. The Colts are a Super Bowl contender, the Jaguars will most likely make the playoffs again, and the Texans are improving. The good news is Jeff Fisher will have this team ready to play and his teams usually play well against their divisional opponents. This team will not go 10-6 again. 8-8 or 9-7 are both more likely, just good enough to hang out with, but not good enough to sleep with.
Langston's Thoughts:
This team's success weighs solely on the arms and feet of Vince Young. Expect them to be better, but being in the same division as the Colts and Jags will make them an afterthought.
Schedule:
WK 1 Jacksonville
WK 2 @ Cincinnati
WK 3 Houston
WK 4 Minnesota
WK 5 @ Baltimore
WK 6 BYE
WK 7 @ Kansas City
WK 8 Indianapolis
WK 9 Green Bay
WK 10 @ Chicago
WK 11 @ Jacksonville
WK 12 NY Jets
WK 13 @ Detroit
WK 14 Cleveland
WK 15 @ Houston
WK 16 Pittsburgh
WK 17 @ Indianapolis
Now, I give you the friendzone of rap, not good, but not bad.
Man, being back sure didn't last long.
Last Year's Record: 10-6
Head Coach: Jeff Fisher
Key Additions:
Alge Crumpler TE
Chris Johnson RB (rookie)
Jevon Kearse DE
Justin McCareins WR
Key Losses:
Pacman Jones CB
Benji Olson OL (retirement)
Chris Brown RB
Breakdown of the Offense:
Jeff Fisher is like Bill Lite or Diet Cowher: "same great taste, but less chin." Fisher's teams are always competitive. Even when they're having a down year, they put up a fight, much like Sargent Slaughter's old teams. Jeff Fisher embodies all that the term a football coach encompasses. Last year, he led a very inexperienced group to a 10-6 record and a spot in the AFC playoffs, which resulted in a 17-6 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
While the team did show improvement last season, those efforts do not guarantee a trip back to the postseason this year. The Titans play in one of the NFL's toughest divisions, in which they went 4-2 last season, but it will be difficult to match that success if Vince Young does not improve on his numbers of 9 passing touchdowns and 17 interceptions. Vince Young's development is the key to whether the Titans become a good team or remain a team that "just puts up a good fight." The Titans are, as many Jeff Fisher teams before them, at a precipice.
Vince Young threw three less touchdowns last season than he did in his rookie year when he played less games. He also threw more interceptions and ran for less toudchdowns than he did as a rookie. On the positive side, the team won more games. If Young improves, then the team will improve; and if this happens, then he and new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, who worked with Steve McNair during his prime, deserve all the credit. In other words, the Titans did nothing to improve a weak group of wide receivers.
Justin McCareins is the biggest addition the team made at wide receiver, and he caught a god-like 232 yards last season as a Jet. McCareins most likely will be the team's third receiver. I say most likely because the two starters are not exactly franchise cornerstones. Justin Gage caught 750 yards last season and Roydell Williams caught 719 yards. The two combined for only six touchdowns.
While the Titans will not be stretching defenses with their vertical passing game, they did bring in tight end Alge Crumpler, formerly of the Falcons. When Crumpler was in Atlanta, he played a part in any big passing days that Michael Vick had. Now, Vick did not have an extraordinary amount of big passing days, but Crumpler is a much needed improvement over Bo Scaife.
Despite the obvious need for a wide receiver, the Titans used their first pick in this year's draft to select running back Chris Johnson from East Carolina. Apparently, he runs a 4.24 forty, which sort of explains why a team whose top two receivers combined for 1400 yards drafted a running back when last year's starter ran for 1110. 1110 is not a huge number for a running back until one considers that it was done by Lendale White, who quite possibly did this while having another running back inside his stomach. Yes, he was extremely fat last year, which may have led to him running all last season with torn knee cartiledge. Solidifying the Titans ground game is the fact that Vince Young will go for anywhere from 300 to 500 yards on his own. The Chris Johnson pick remains a mystery.
Do not expect this offense to transform overnight, but if Vince Young throws for more touchdowns than interceptions and Lendale White stays healthy, then this unit can give the defense some of the breathing room it desperately needed last season, even if no one really wanted to mention it because that would change the law "Vince Young is a winner" into a theory. That's how science works, right? Laws, theories, hypotheses....
Breakdown of the Defense:
Looooonnnnnnggggggg paaaaaauuuuuuussssssseeeeeee...Sorry, I'm just trying to find something interesting to say about these guys. A lot of the excitement seems to have left with the artist formerly known as Pacman Jones, and he didn't even suit up last season. Albert Haynesworth is kind of crazy, but he's not tabloid crazy. I don't know. I've got nothing. Is it possible they played the theme song from Welcome Back, Kotter for Jevon Kearse?
Man, I love that song, and I'm glad "The Freak" is back in Tennessee. Some players just seem better when they're wearing certain uniforms. Kearse just looks better in a Titans jersey than he did in an Eagles one. The only problem with this whole reunion is that it's not the same Jevon Kearse coming home. He finished last season with twelve total tackles and 3.5 sacks. He's become injury-plagued and a shell of his former self, like Russia under Putin...still scary, but not USSR scary.
In fact, that idea kind of sums up this whole defense, which is the backbone of this team. They're solid. They're trustworthy. They're dependable. They're nice. They're someone you can watch Nick at Nite with. They're so sweet they're in the friendzone.
This unit gave up an average of 18.6 point and just over 300 yards per game last year. Their strength was the number of turnovers caused by their secondary, only one other team had more interceptions. The cornerstone of the secondary is Cortland Finnegan, who coach Chuck Cecil says, "I wouldn't trade [Cortland] for any other corner in the league." Second-year man Michael Griffin will be moving to free safety after playing the other corner spot last year. Cornerback Nick Harper and strong safety Chris Hope round out the defensive backs.
The linebackers are David Thornton, Ryan Fowler, and Keith Bulluck, the king of the friendzone. Thornton was the team's leading tackler last season with 122. He also finished with 5.5 sacks.
Defensive tackle Tony Brown and Defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch join Kearse and Haynesworth on the defensive line.
Season Outlook:
If Vince Young improves in the passing game, then this team will be solid on both sides of the ball. His throwing the ball successfully will improve the defense as much as it does the offense, and until he makes that adjustment, the Titans are a mediocre football team. Neither the offense nor the defense will lose games, but can either unit really go out and win games consistently? They're in a tough division. The Colts are a Super Bowl contender, the Jaguars will most likely make the playoffs again, and the Texans are improving. The good news is Jeff Fisher will have this team ready to play and his teams usually play well against their divisional opponents. This team will not go 10-6 again. 8-8 or 9-7 are both more likely, just good enough to hang out with, but not good enough to sleep with.
Langston's Thoughts:
This team's success weighs solely on the arms and feet of Vince Young. Expect them to be better, but being in the same division as the Colts and Jags will make them an afterthought.
Schedule:
WK 1 Jacksonville
WK 2 @ Cincinnati
WK 3 Houston
WK 4 Minnesota
WK 5 @ Baltimore
WK 6 BYE
WK 7 @ Kansas City
WK 8 Indianapolis
WK 9 Green Bay
WK 10 @ Chicago
WK 11 @ Jacksonville
WK 12 NY Jets
WK 13 @ Detroit
WK 14 Cleveland
WK 15 @ Houston
WK 16 Pittsburgh
WK 17 @ Indianapolis
Now, I give you the friendzone of rap, not good, but not bad.
Man, being back sure didn't last long.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)