Ladies and Gentlemen, our next opponent - the Titans - Page 4 - New England Patriots Forums

condon84 · 10-14-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSn

I don't understand why the team (coaches) are so afraid to run pressure schemes AND play the receivers physical. I know there's a risk with that, but I'd rather see some great play and the odd long bomb completion of numerous marches down the field where your last hope is a goal-line stand.

This is exactly why I remain skeptical of our defense. From the Baltimore game, it looks like we have the personnel to play more aggressive, but our coaches would rather play it safe and hope we only give up 3 points. Biggest issue with this is that by the time the 4th quarter rolls around, our defensive players could be all gassed becuase of long drives and more susceptible to big plays even if when we are conceding the short gains.

***jmt57*** · 10-14-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSn

I don't understand why the team (coaches) are so afraid to run pressure schemes AND play the receivers physical. I know there's a risk with that, but I'd rather see some great play and the odd long bomb completion of numerous marches down the field where your last hope is a goal-line stand.

I'm thinking that there is a good chance that the Pats pass defense is more aggressive this week. For one thing the Titans' receivers are very average; the Pats secondary should be able to handle them. The other is that even if the Pats defense does get burnt, Tennessee has one of the worst pass defenses in the league; the Patriots should be able to respond with a score of their own.

In my opinion the defensive focus is going to be to first take Chris Johnson out of the game, and then force Collins in to predictable throwing downs. Perhaps it is wishful thinking but I do believe we'll see more pressure on the opposing QB this week.

Ochmed Jones · 10-14-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by condon84

This is exactly why I remain skeptical of our defense. From the Baltimore game, it looks like we have the personnel to play more aggressive, but our coaches would rather play it safe and hope we only give up 3 points. Biggest issue with this is that by the time the 4th quarter rolls around, our defensive players could be all gassed becuase of long drives and more susceptible to big plays even if when we are conceding the short gains.

I think it all boils down to third down conversions. No pressure on the QB plus a soft zone defense = high conversion rate for oppsing offenses.

I am not sure what our 3rd down stop rate is, but it has to be in the lower third in the league.

BB - please draft a stud pass rush demon. We need a pass rush demon off the edge for third down. Burgess is a joke and Thomas is JAG (along with Woods, who should be playing ST only.)
The only blitzers in the back eight worth anything are Merriweather and McGown. How sad is it when your safeties are better blitzers than all your LBers and you run a 3-4 LBer driven defense!!!!!!!

***jmt57*** · 10-14-2009, 01:34 PM

Titans feeling blue all over by the Nashville Tennessean

Quote:

This was supposed to be the week the Titans circled the wagons and fought back. Instead they were run over by a stampede of Colts.

On Sunday night, the entire nation got to see what everyone in Nashville had already figured out — the 2009 Titans are a far cry from the team that finished with the NFL's best record a year ago.

Quote:

The scene on the sideline revealed the current state of the Titans — players went from jumping around in excitement, to bickering with one another in frustration, to hanging their heads in disgust.

The Titans have been outscored 68-26 the past two weeks. Now they are the division doormat, and the gap between them and the Colts (5-0) has never looked larger.

What now? With 11 games left, beginning with a trip to New England next Sunday, the Titans have little to play for beyond pride.

I guess I don't feel quite so bad with the amount of negativity here after one loss.

***jmt57*** · 10-14-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ochmed Jones

I think it all boils down to third down conversions. No pressure on the QB plus a soft zone defense = high conversion rate for oppsing offenses.

I am not sure what our 3rd down stop rate is, but it has to be in the lower third in the league.

BB - please draft a stud pass rush demon. We need a pass rush demon off the edge for third down. Burgess is a joke and Thomas is JAG (along with Woods, who should be playing ST only.)
The only blitzers in the back eight worth anything are Merriweather and McGown. How sad is it when your safeties are better blitzers than all your LBers and you run a 3-4 LBer driven defense!!!!!!!

Pats now rank 24th in defensive 3rd down percantage at 41% (24 for 58). It probably seems worse than it is because the Pats were ranked much higher in this category earlyier in the season.

For all their defensive problems Tennesse, who is giving up nearly ten more points per game than the Pats, rank 14th with 37% (27 for 73).

Obviously there is a huge disparity in the number of third downs each team has had to face, yet they've played an equal number of games. Perhaps that time of possession stat is not as overrated as I have always thought it was. The Pats defense has on average been on the field for just 26:45 per game, which is fourth best in the league; the Titans D has been out there for 34:07, which is the second most in the NFL.

Net result is that the Pats defense has allowed opponents to convert 24 third down attempts, and that ranks right in the middle, tied with five other teams for 14th in the league. Keep the Titans offense off the field and you keep the ball out of Chris Johnson's hands.

***jmt57*** · 10-15-2009, 10:33 PM

Five Titans did not participate in practice today. From their secondary, CB Cortland Finnegan (hamstring), CB Nick Harper (arm), and S Michael Griffin (neck); on offense G Leroy Harris and TE Craig Stevens were bot held out due to concussions.

As concerned as we are about the Pats injuries, it sure looks like the Titans could be in a worse position for this game.

As for a Titan fan's view of this game, here is this from (talk about living in the past) MusicCityMiracles.com: Titans vs Patriots Series at a Glance

Quote:

As I am sure you remember, turned out that a win in that game would have put the Titans in the playoffs. The Titans lost the game 40-23 and ended the dream. You might also remember from that game that Bill Belichick put 90-year old Vinny Testaverde in the game and let him throw at touchdown with 1:47 left up 33-23 to extend Vinny's 30-year streak of throwing at least one touchdown. Keith Bulluck was none to pleased with that and had a nice staring contest with Belicheat that got him a 15-yard penalty.

The last time the Titans played in Foxboro was the 2004 Divisional Playoff game that ended on a Drew Bennett drop. Oddly enough, that one still hurts as well. I remember exactly where I was sitting when it happened.

Playing the Patriots is good enough to get us CBS's #1 broadcast team of Jim Nantz and Phil Simms. I cannot wait for the Tom Brady love-fest.

JSn · 10-16-2009, 09:06 AM

I see the spread on one betting site (forgive me, I don't remember which one) is -9.5 points. Apparently Vegas hasn't totally given up on the Pats.

The very interesting thing about this game is it could very well be the one that seals the fate of the Titans if they lose. I'm excited to see the Pats (hopefully) have a breakout game where everything gets firing at close to 100%, but also recognizing that the opposing fans will be throwing in the towel on these guys if they lose big. With the trade deadline looming, might be worth watching the Teen Titans' expendable assets.

SVN · 10-16-2009, 01:16 PM

i think the titans will get a break for their secondary with bad weather being forecast for this weekend.So maybe this isnt the week yet for the pats to get their passing game going...

***jmt57*** · 10-16-2009, 10:03 PM

Football Outsiders' Mike Tanier writes a preview of the game in a New York Times column; here's his preview; not too complimentary of the Pats though he does think they'll win.

Quote:

The Patriots now doubt what they were once sure of. Randy Moss, who used to brush off double teams like midge flies, is suddenly coverable. The telepathic link between Tom Brady and Wes Welker has been severed: the Patriots left 7 points on the board when Welker misread a defense and ran the wrong route against the Broncos. The graybeard (literally) receiver Joey Galloway has lost one too many steps and was deactivated for two games. Worst of all, the team that used to chapter-and-verse the rulebook now draws foolish roughing and taunting penalties. The veteran linebacker Junior Seau may bring leadership or simply provide Galloway with a Bingo buddy; the return of linebacker Jarod Mayo will have a greater impact on the defense. A win against the reeling Titans is almost guaranteed, but the Patriots suddenly have a way of making games like these look difficult.

Elsewhere in NY, five out of six pick the Titans to cover the 9.5 point spread. The New York Post's Dave Blezow says "Smarting from the loss in Denver, the Patriots will get back in gear against a Titans defense that is missing top cornerback Cortland Finnegan and ranks 31st against the pass."

***jmt57*** · 10-16-2009, 10:19 PM

In a very detailed column filled with plenty of quotes and stats, NESN's Jeff Howe explains that the Patriots Will Still be Tested on Sunday Against 0-5 Titans

Quote:

Here is all the Patriots' offense needs to know: The Titans are ranked 30th in passing yards allowed and passing touchdowns allowed, and they’re ranked second with 2.8 yards allowed per rushing attempt. That sounds like a pretty appealing formula for a New England team that loves airing it out with Tom Brady.

The Titans aren’t going to blitz a whole lot, so Brady should have plenty of time in the pocket to pick apart Tennessee’s banged-up secondary, which has been without cornerback Cortland Finnegan for a couple of games. Brady struggled mightily in the second half against the Broncos -- completing 5 of 14 passes for 63 yards, and just two of his passes resulted in first downs -- who scaled back their blitzes and left seven or eight players in coverage. That was probably a huge emphasis in practice for the Patriots this week, so they’ll receive immediate returns on their efforts.

Defensively, the Patriots have to account for Titans running back Chris Johnson, who has an NFL-high five touchdowns of at least 50 yards since the start of last season. Johnson leads the NFL with 594 yards from scrimmage this season, and he splits carries with bruising back LenDale White.

Titans' Chris Johnson is pure danger by Robert Lee of the Providence Journal

Quote:

The Patriots on Sunday will have the tough task of trying to contain the self-proclaimed fastest man in football, Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson.

“I ran a 4.24 40 [-yard dash] at the combine, the fastest time ever run electronically,” Johnson proclaimed. “I guess I’m the fastest guy in the NFL right now.”

His blistering speed is just one of the reasons teams have had a hard time containing him. He runs hard, makes guys miss and has the breakaway speed that gives opposing defenses nightmares.

Titans' running back Johnson poses a threat by Jim Fenton of the Brockton Enterprise

Quote:

He burst onto the NFL scene a year ago as a rookie running back out of East Carolina who gained 1,228 yards.

Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans may have been something of a surprise in 2008 when he finished second to Matt Ryan in the NFL Rookie of the Year voting, but that is no longer the case.

Johnson has followed up his productive first season by ranking behind only Cedric Benson and Adrian Peterson in rushing yards through five games this year.

The speedy back, who was clocked doing the 40-yard dash in 4.24 seconds at the NFL Combine in 2008, will be receiving a lot of attention from the New England Patriots when the Titans visit Gillette Stadium on Sunday.

“He’s a tough one,’’ said Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork. “He’s a special back.’’