| 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The Tennessee Titans will have a mostly unexpected 3-2 record going into their bye week, and while there are some areas which need a lot of improvement, there have been some good performances too.
Rather than dwell on the negatives at this time, I'd prefer to focus on the positive things the Titans can build upon in the next two weeks.
The acquisition of Matt Hasselbeck was serendipitous and his performance his been much better than anticipated.
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Rather than dwell on the negatives at this time, I'd prefer to focus on the positive things the Titans can build upon in the next two weeks.
The acquisition of Matt Hasselbeck was serendipitous and his performance his been much better than anticipated.
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Today's game started auspiciously for the Titans, as Ahmard Hall got a good block and Chris Johnson picked up 21 yards on the first play from scrimmage. The drive continued, and then the Titans got to the red zone. Where they failed to score on three plays, picked up a penalty, then failed to score on three more before settling for a field goal. A long kickoff return, a successful challenge, a third-and-one conversion, and a few more plays later, the Steelers took a 7-3 lead.
A three and out by the Titans followed. A successful fake punt and a few more plays later, the Steelers were up 14-3. Another three and out later, the Steelers were backed up to their own 10. No matter, as some excellent blocking and a poor tackle attempt by Jordan Babineaux later, the Steelers were in the red zone and a few plays after that they had a 21-3 lead.
At that point, the game felt over. The Steelers would extend their lead to 28-3 in the second half, and the Titans would cut that to 31-17 late before the capstone score went on, but it never got real interesting after that.
As to how things happened: the Steelers didn't try to throw downfield like I expected, but instead concentrated on getting the ball out quickly and completing passes. It wasn't fancy, and even with a 40-yard gain on the final score Roethlisberger finished under 10 yards per completion, but it was effective against the theretofore difficult to attack Titans secondary. Jason McCourty was picked on some, but it was really the Titans as a team that got beat, and beat decisively.
That's certainly not the most encouraging way to head into the bye week, but the Titans are still 3-2 at the bye week, even with or ahead of where most of the preseason predictions had them. More on today's loss to come later this week. no comments
A three and out by the Titans followed. A successful fake punt and a few more plays later, the Steelers were up 14-3. Another three and out later, the Steelers were backed up to their own 10. No matter, as some excellent blocking and a poor tackle attempt by Jordan Babineaux later, the Steelers were in the red zone and a few plays after that they had a 21-3 lead.
At that point, the game felt over. The Steelers would extend their lead to 28-3 in the second half, and the Titans would cut that to 31-17 late before the capstone score went on, but it never got real interesting after that.
As to how things happened: the Steelers didn't try to throw downfield like I expected, but instead concentrated on getting the ball out quickly and completing passes. It wasn't fancy, and even with a 40-yard gain on the final score Roethlisberger finished under 10 yards per completion, but it was effective against the theretofore difficult to attack Titans secondary. Jason McCourty was picked on some, but it was really the Titans as a team that got beat, and beat decisively.
That's certainly not the most encouraging way to head into the bye week, but the Titans are still 3-2 at the bye week, even with or ahead of where most of the preseason predictions had them. More on today's loss to come later this week. no comments
The inactives are out for the Titans' Week 5 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, and here they are:
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
CB Cortez Allen, NT Casey Hampton, LB James Harrison, G Chris Kemoeatu, RB Mewelde Moore, DE Aaron Smith, LB Jason Worilds
TENNESSEE TITANS
DT Zach Clayton, CB Chris Hawkins, S Chris Hope, C Kevin Matthews, DT Malcolm Sheppard, QB Rusty Smith, OT Byron Stingily
For the Steelers, all but Allen were listed as Out on the injury report, and Allen was questionable along with RB Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall is active but apparently may not play today. For the Titans, Craig Stevens and Leroy Harris were both listed as questionable but are active. As expected, Gerald McRath returns after missing last week's game, and the only new inactive is Chris Hope with his arm injury. no comments
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
CB Cortez Allen, NT Casey Hampton, LB James Harrison, G Chris Kemoeatu, RB Mewelde Moore, DE Aaron Smith, LB Jason Worilds
TENNESSEE TITANS
DT Zach Clayton, CB Chris Hawkins, S Chris Hope, C Kevin Matthews, DT Malcolm Sheppard, QB Rusty Smith, OT Byron Stingily
For the Steelers, all but Allen were listed as Out on the injury report, and Allen was questionable along with RB Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall is active but apparently may not play today. For the Titans, Craig Stevens and Leroy Harris were both listed as questionable but are active. As expected, Gerald McRath returns after missing last week's game, and the only new inactive is Chris Hope with his arm injury. no comments
I incorporate most of my previous thoughts into my Enemy Intelligence pieces, so check out this week's installment on Pittsburgh to for more preview details, but I also wanted to highlight three players I'll be keeping an eye on in tomorrow's game.
Ahmard Hall. He's back from his four-game suspension, and as I expected, the Titans cut Quinn Johnson without him costing more than his salary for four weeks (the trade was for a 7th-round pick conditional on playing more than four games). Frankly, Johnson had a couple receptions, but didn't really deserve to stick. Hall's a better blocker, but I didn't think he was that good in 2010. If the Titans are going to run successfully, he's going to need to take on linebackers Sunday. Can he win at the point of attack? Chris Johnson's life will be easier if he does.
Daniel Graham. Craig Stevens is questionable with his rib injury, and even if he plays will probably be limited. That probably means more snaps and a bigger role for Graham. I don't really expect any much in the passing game, but solid blocking and consistent play would be nice.
Alterraun Verner. I think the Steelers go multiple wide receivers and throw the ball vertically on the Titans. I think Verner's vulnerable to deep speed, and the Steelers have three guys with deep speed. Can he stay with his man? In addition to Verner's name here, feel free to mentally add McCourty, Finnegan, and particularly Griffin and Babineaux. The Titans will need another strong team effort from the secondary to win.
Those are three players whose play I'll be watching closely Sunday. no comments
Ahmard Hall. He's back from his four-game suspension, and as I expected, the Titans cut Quinn Johnson without him costing more than his salary for four weeks (the trade was for a 7th-round pick conditional on playing more than four games). Frankly, Johnson had a couple receptions, but didn't really deserve to stick. Hall's a better blocker, but I didn't think he was that good in 2010. If the Titans are going to run successfully, he's going to need to take on linebackers Sunday. Can he win at the point of attack? Chris Johnson's life will be easier if he does.
Daniel Graham. Craig Stevens is questionable with his rib injury, and even if he plays will probably be limited. That probably means more snaps and a bigger role for Graham. I don't really expect any much in the passing game, but solid blocking and consistent play would be nice.
Alterraun Verner. I think the Steelers go multiple wide receivers and throw the ball vertically on the Titans. I think Verner's vulnerable to deep speed, and the Steelers have three guys with deep speed. Can he stay with his man? In addition to Verner's name here, feel free to mentally add McCourty, Finnegan, and particularly Griffin and Babineaux. The Titans will need another strong team effort from the secondary to win.
Those are three players whose play I'll be watching closely Sunday. no comments
In preparation for this weekend's highly anticipated showdown between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers, two of Bloguin's finest sites got together for a little question/answer exchange.
Through a few email conversations, I picked the brain of Blitzburgh Blog's Bam Morris as he provided his thoughts on this Sunday's Titans/Steelers matchup.
The Total Titans/Blitzburgh Q&A exchange...after the jump.
In preparation for this week's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, I watched the Steelers' game last week, a 17-10 loss to the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium in Houston. The Steelers recovered from 10-0 halftime deficit to tie the game in the fourth quarter, but a later Arian Foster touchdown proved to be the difference maker.
This post is primarily on the Steelers' game last week, but it's actually the third time I've watched them this year, as the Ravens faced them for that week's Enemy Intelligence and then they played the Colts on Sunday Night Football.
Here are some things I noticed in watching the game:
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This post is primarily on the Steelers' game last week, but it's actually the third time I've watched them this year, as the Ravens faced them for that week's Enemy Intelligence and then they played the Colts on Sunday Night Football.
Here are some things I noticed in watching the game:
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