To preview this week's big game between what look like the top two teams in the AFC South this year, I conducted our regular question-and-answer session with Dustyn Richardson of Bloguin's Houston Texans site, Texans Tribune.
After the jump, my Q&A with Dustyn.
no comments
After the jump, my Q&A with Dustyn.
no comments
If this post is longer than normal, it's because I took advantage of the bye week to watch the Texans' two most recent games. Way back two weeks ago, they lost the the Oakland Raiders at home, 25-20, when Matt Schaub was intercepted in the end zone on the final play of the game. Last week, they lost to the Ravens at Baltimore, 29-14, as the Ravens scored on five of six meaningful second half possessions.
Here's what I saw:
no comments
Here's what I saw:
no comments
If you asked ten Houston Texans fans, nine of them would probably say the Titans are their biggest rival. Some of them would probably also say they hate the Titans.
It's not a reciprocal feeling. Most Titans fans, I believe, especially those who have been fans since the franchise moved to Tennessee, and even before that, would say the Steelers, Ravens and Colts, in some order, are the team's biggest rivals.
Does simply being in the same division as another team automatically make them rivals? I say it does not. True rivalries are based upon far more than that. no comments
It's not a reciprocal feeling. Most Titans fans, I believe, especially those who have been fans since the franchise moved to Tennessee, and even before that, would say the Steelers, Ravens and Colts, in some order, are the team's biggest rivals.
Does simply being in the same division as another team automatically make them rivals? I say it does not. True rivalries are based upon far more than that. no comments
Last week, we speculated about the possibility of WR Brandon Lloyd being acquired via trade. Considering Kenny Britt's season-ending injury and youngsters such as Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins failing to step up so far, sacrificing a mid-to-low round draft pick in exchange for a talented receiver didn't seem like such a bad idea.
Of course, despite taking a hard look at him, the Titans were beaten to the punch by the St. Louis Rams, who won the Lloyd sweepstakes at the mere cost of a conditional low round draft pick.
With Lloyd no longer available, Head Coach Mike Munchak raised an eyebrow or two yesterday by suggesting that if/when he's healthy, the talented albeit controversial WR Terrell Owens will likely be on the Titans radar. no comments
Of course, despite taking a hard look at him, the Titans were beaten to the punch by the St. Louis Rams, who won the Lloyd sweepstakes at the mere cost of a conditional low round draft pick.
With Lloyd no longer available, Head Coach Mike Munchak raised an eyebrow or two yesterday by suggesting that if/when he's healthy, the talented albeit controversial WR Terrell Owens will likely be on the Titans radar. no comments
As we are wont to do, we'll be doing another question and answer exchange with a blogger who writes about the opposing team. This weekend, the Titans play the Texans, which means we'll be doing the Q&A with Texans Tribune.
Do you have any questions about the Texans you'd like to see answered? Post them in the comments section, and I'll include them. no comments
Do you have any questions about the Texans you'd like to see answered? Post them in the comments section, and I'll include them. no comments
NFL analysts tend not to make bold predictions. Things don't normally chage that much. It's a lot easier to say things will continue to be like they have been than to say anything interestingly different will happen. I spend some time in that zone, but try particularly hard when it comes to the Titans to give the best prediction I can, even if I'm wrong. Sometimes this works out rather badly, such as in 2008 when I didn't think the Titans would win more than 8 games, and I ended up writing an "oops" post when they were 5-0.
Through the first 5 games of the 2011 season, the Tennesee Titans have had, contrary to most predictions, a pretty effective offense. Most observers who thought the Titans offense would be better than it was the second half of 2010 expected any improvement to come from a resurgent Chris Johnson and the ground game. That the Titans would rely heavily on the running game, notwithstanding its great struggles in 2010 and lack of any likely cause for improvement, was a big part of my deeply pessimistic outlook heading into the 2010 season.
And, well, I was half right. The Titans' ground attack has, in fact, been pretty much about as bad as it was in 2010. The offensive line hasn't been opening up holes. Chris Johnson hasn't been hitting what holes there are effectively. Even against a mediocre opponent, which the Steelers had been, the running game was not good enough to be the focus of a sustaining offense. If the Titans were relying on the running game as the foundation of their offense, they would very likely rank near the bottom of the NFL standings in terms of offensive effectiveness.
no comments
Through the first 5 games of the 2011 season, the Tennesee Titans have had, contrary to most predictions, a pretty effective offense. Most observers who thought the Titans offense would be better than it was the second half of 2010 expected any improvement to come from a resurgent Chris Johnson and the ground game. That the Titans would rely heavily on the running game, notwithstanding its great struggles in 2010 and lack of any likely cause for improvement, was a big part of my deeply pessimistic outlook heading into the 2010 season.
And, well, I was half right. The Titans' ground attack has, in fact, been pretty much about as bad as it was in 2010. The offensive line hasn't been opening up holes. Chris Johnson hasn't been hitting what holes there are effectively. Even against a mediocre opponent, which the Steelers had been, the running game was not good enough to be the focus of a sustaining offense. If the Titans were relying on the running game as the foundation of their offense, they would very likely rank near the bottom of the NFL standings in terms of offensive effectiveness.
no comments
| Titans | 3 | 2 |
| Texans | 3 | 3 |
| Jaguars | 1 | 5 |
| Colts | 0 | 6 |
The Titans can thank the Ratbirds for beating the Texans yesterday, dropping their record to 3-3, half a game behind Tennessee. It's been three weeks since anyone in the division won a game, as the four teams have combined for an 0-7 mark.
Jacksonville hasn't won since beating the Titans in Week One and Indy hasn't won yet this season. With eleven weeks to go, it certainly looks like it could be a two-horse race between Tennessee and Houston. no comments
In my last article, I looked at some positive things for the Titans as they entered their bye week. This post will address the negatives, and there have been too many of them.
The o-line, particularly the interior, hasn't been run-blocking. Eugene Amano and Leroy Harris are each strong as an ox yet neither of them is getting a push. Michael Roos, Jake Scott and David Stewart haven't done much better. I'm tired of hearing the chemistry excuse. This line has been together for a year and a half, since OTAs and minicamp last season. That's far more than enough time to develop some chemistry.
How important is chemistry? Twice this year we've seen makeshift, patchwork lines that had issues (the Jaguars and Steelers) push the Titans defense around, so it doesn't seem to take a whole lot of chemistry for a line to function well.
no comments
The o-line, particularly the interior, hasn't been run-blocking. Eugene Amano and Leroy Harris are each strong as an ox yet neither of them is getting a push. Michael Roos, Jake Scott and David Stewart haven't done much better. I'm tired of hearing the chemistry excuse. This line has been together for a year and a half, since OTAs and minicamp last season. That's far more than enough time to develop some chemistry.
How important is chemistry? Twice this year we've seen makeshift, patchwork lines that had issues (the Jaguars and Steelers) push the Titans defense around, so it doesn't seem to take a whole lot of chemistry for a line to function well.
no comments
Thanks to Kenny Britt's unfortunate season-ending knee injury, the Titans are without the services of their most dangerous weapon at the wide receiver position.
In his absence, youngsters such as Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins have been asked to pick up the slack. As Tom's recent post indicates, their production so far could certainly use some improvement.
If Williams and Hawkins aren't up to the task, there's a talented WR who has been placed on the trading block that the Tennessee Titans could be interested in acquiring.
His name, you ask? Denver's Brandon Lloyd, who according to reports, could be acquired for a 3rd-to-5th round draft pick. no comments
In his absence, youngsters such as Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins have been asked to pick up the slack. As Tom's recent post indicates, their production so far could certainly use some improvement.
If Williams and Hawkins aren't up to the task, there's a talented WR who has been placed on the trading block that the Tennessee Titans could be interested in acquiring.
His name, you ask? Denver's Brandon Lloyd, who according to reports, could be acquired for a 3rd-to-5th round draft pick. no comments
Sunday seemed like Damian Williams' breakout game. He set career highs with 6 catches for 66 yards and scored a touchdown for the second consecutive game. Matt Hasselbeck threw in his direction 11 times, which I'm pretty sure is another career high, and the most times Hasselbeck threw the ball in any receiver's direction. He was targeted only one on third down, the touchdown.
I mentioned last week that Lavelle Hawkins had been the Titans' top target on third down on weeks three and four. Once again, Lavelle Hawkins was Hasselbeck's top target on third down, with four passes thrown his way. Unfortunately only one of those was converted, and that came via penalty early in the game, when James Farrior was flagged for illegal contact. Hawkins' 4 catches tied his career high, and I think his 8 targets were also a career high.
The Titans are essentially conducting a trial by ordeal between Williams and Hawkins for the right to be the second receiver behind Nate Washington. Both receivers are getting thrown the ball more and more consistently than they've ever been thrown the ball before. The results? Well, let's back off a little bit and look at the full season numbers.
no comments
I mentioned last week that Lavelle Hawkins had been the Titans' top target on third down on weeks three and four. Once again, Lavelle Hawkins was Hasselbeck's top target on third down, with four passes thrown his way. Unfortunately only one of those was converted, and that came via penalty early in the game, when James Farrior was flagged for illegal contact. Hawkins' 4 catches tied his career high, and I think his 8 targets were also a career high.
The Titans are essentially conducting a trial by ordeal between Williams and Hawkins for the right to be the second receiver behind Nate Washington. Both receivers are getting thrown the ball more and more consistently than they've ever been thrown the ball before. The results? Well, let's back off a little bit and look at the full season numbers.
no comments
