Ladies and Gentlemen, our next opponent - the Titans

[jmt57]

Views from Titan-land

Titans fans face the unthinkable: How low can this team go? by Terry McCormick of the Nashville Scene

The other day, my 5-year-old son Connor told me he and his kindergarten buddy Landon had been discussing football—in particular, the Tennessee Titans. That's how bad it's gotten. Even 5-year-olds know the Titans are off to a terrible start.So what were they saying? "The Titans gotta start playing tougher and scoring more points."

There you have it. Connor and Landon just might have a future in coaching. Too bad that assessment was before Tennessee's drubbing Sunday night at the hands (or hooves) of the Colts. Let's look at the grim record so far and see how the Titans dug this hole—and if there's a way out.

McCormick goes on to assess what's wrong with the Titans' offense, defense, special teams, and compares the 2009 team to the 1994 Oilers team - that went 2-14 after going 12-4 the previous season.



Nothing Else To Say by Mike Keith of Titans Radio

Truth is, the Titans are 0-5 for a lot of reasons, not just one or two. But it took my ten year old son, just coming off of a successful fifth-grade football season, to crystallize what is really wrong with the 2009 Tennessee Titans.

When the team for whom you work is having a rough year, you cannot help but bring it home. Everyone at Baptist Sports Park is part of the team and, while most don't have long-term contracts with lots of zeroes, their heart is into everything that Jeff Fisher and the Titans do. When the Titans win, Titans employees soar. When the Titans lose, they struggle.

My son has grown up watching his dad go through the ups and downs of seasons good and bad. He's learned to read the cues. And to his credit, he always seems to know the perfect thing to say. Plus, like his mother, he is no puller of his punches. Thus, I am getting truth tempered only with consideration for me.

His comment this past Monday was completely on target.

It began as it always does after a loss: "Dad, sorry about the game." It was his continuation that was the laser beam: "You know, we're just not very good this year."

Right now, he's correct. Several players who performed well in 2008 just aren't playing to that level in '09. The early schedule is tougher and the injuries have been more position-specific (losing several defensive backs), but the fact remains that the Titans haven't played well in one ballgame. Certain guys, yes. Certain periods of time, yes. But not for a whole game.


That's the big reason this team is 0-5. Plain and simple.

I guess kids being inspiration for sports columns is a big thing in Nashville this year.

 

[jmt57]

Pats - Titans facts, stats and trivia

Gary Marbry of WEEI delivers a plethora of information on the Pats - Titans in this week's Nuggetpalooza. Here's a few interesting tidbits:

- The Titans defense has allowed 18.6 points per game in the first half this season, which is the most in the league. Pats need to take advantage of that trend, grab a lead, and take Chris johnson out of the game.

- The Titans have allowed 27 or more first downs three times since the start of last season, including 30 against the Jaguars two weeks ago. Again, take advantage of this trend and keep the ball out of Johnson's hands.

- The Titans have allowed points on 25 different drives this year, tied for the most in the NFL. The Pats are the only team in the NFL to score every time they have been in the red zone, and their twenty red zone possessions is most in the NFL. The team has nine touchdowns and eleven field goals; a little higher TD/FG would be nice to see Sunday.

- The Titans defense has allowed opponents to complete 58% of their passes thrown 21+ yards downfield, on 11/19 passing for 406 yards. Conversely the Pats are just 2/19 on pass attempts of that yardage. Seems like a perfect opportunity for the Pats to rectify that stat.

 

[Mountain_Commando]

well informative links jmt57, thanks for posting.

 

[JSn]

Following form...

Finnegan out of Sunday game | tennessean.com | The Tennessean

Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan has officially been ruled out for Sunday game at New England.
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Finnegan has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and did not practice all week.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Re: Pats - Titans facts, stats and trivia

Gary Marbry of WEEI delivers a plethora of information on the Pats - Titans in this week's Nuggetpalooza. Here's a few interesting tidbits:

- The Titans defense has allowed 18.6 points per game in the first half this season, which is the most in the league. Pats need to take advantage of that trend, grab a lead, and take Chris johnson out of the game.

- The Titans have allowed 27 or more first downs three times since the start of last season, including 30 against the Jaguars two weeks ago. Again, take advantage of this trend and keep the ball out of Johnson's hands.

- The Titans have allowed points on 25 different drives this year, tied for the most in the NFL. The Pats are the only team in the NFL to score every time they have been in the red zone, and their twenty red zone possessions is most in the NFL. The team has nine touchdowns and eleven field goals; a little higher TD/FG would be nice to see Sunday.

- The Titans defense has allowed opponents to complete 58% of their passes thrown 21+ yards downfield, on 11/19 passing for 406 yards. Conversely the Pats are just 2/19 on pass attempts of that yardage. Seems like a perfect opportunity for the Pats to rectify that stat.

Dunno why, but every team that plays us seem to play opposite of what their stats indicate. :snob:

And from what Bruschi mentioned that teams with losing records tend to perform better on the road as they bond together against all the negativism and criticism, I am not at all comfortable with a desperateTitans D that might notch it up more in the physical aspect trying to copy the Jesters.

 

[jmt57]

Titans-Patriots preview by the Sporting News

Titans-Patriots preview by The Sporting News

From reading some of the quotes, it is apparent that the Titans primary focus is to get Chris Johnson involved and get their running game going.

"We've made our own mess," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "We have to find our way out of it."

After losing their first two games by a field goal each, the Titans' margins of defeat have gotten bigger each of the last three weeks, capped by a 31-9 home loss to Indianapolis last Sunday night.

"As far as a quick fix is concerned, it's not there," Fisher said. "You keep doing what you're doing. You can go back, you look at the games. You correct them. You move forward."

Explosive running back Chris Johnson, meanwhile, was held to 34 yards on nine carries against Indianapolis, and hasn't found the end zone outside of an outstanding Week 2 performance against Houston.

"We need to run the football better. I would start there," Fisher said. "We run the football better, then all those other things happen down the field."

And as tight-lipped as the Patriots are known for being, it is obvious that their plan will be to take advantage of Tennessee having to start backup corners, and throw the ball deep.

The Patriots would like better performances from some of their other veterans - including Brady, whose numbers have been unspectacular as he tries to round back into form after missing nearly all of last season with a knee injury.

One reason is the lack of production from Randy Moss, who has four total catches in the last two games and only one touchdown all season after catching an NFL-record 23 from Brady in 2007. He had five catches of more than 50 yards that season, but his longest reception this year is 36 yards.

"Coach hammered into us (Wednesday) that we haven't had a pass over 40 yards yet this year in five games," Brady said. "It's something that I've got to do a better job of."

The duo will try to exploit Tennessee's defense, which ranks 31st in the league against the pass. Defensive end Jevon Kearse was inactive and left the stadium last week despite not being on the injury report, and the Titans' injury-riddled secondary has been without cornerback Cortland Finnegan (hamstring).

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Re: Titans-Patriots preview by the Sporting News

Titans-Patriots preview by The Sporting News

From reading some of the quotes, it is apparent that the Titans primary focus is to get Chris Johnson involved and get their running game going.



And as tight-lipped as the Patriots are known for being, it is obvious that their plan will be to take advantage of Tennessee having to start backup corners, and throw the ball deep.

Isn't the weather supposed to be rain and wind tomorrow? Guess we can expect our offense also to rely much on running the ball.

Shoot!

 

[Satchboogie3]

Re: Titans-Patriots preview by the Sporting News

Isn't the weather supposed to be rain and wind tomorrow? Guess we can expect our offense also to rely much on running the ball.

Shoot!

Ugh, 45*, raining, with 22mph winds. I hope LoMo is ready...

 

[JSn]

Re: Titans-Patriots preview by the Sporting News

Ugh, 45*, raining, with 22mph winds. I hope LoMo is ready...

Oh yeah, this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click...

 

[Modest]

Re: Titans-Patriots preview by the Sporting News

Oh yeah, this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click - this is going to be his breakout game - click...

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