Tennessee Titans Midseason Report: Eight Down, Eight to Go

Of all the things that could be said of the Tennessee Titans’ enigma of a season thus far, this much is true: they sure keep things interesting.  

After a disastrous, jaw-dropping 0-6 start, they’ve reeled off two wins in a row, and, perplexingly enough, have looked pretty good doing it.

Remember, this is the same team that, until three weeks ago, couldn’t hold on to passes, couldn’t tackle, and couldn’t find their will to win.  They all but rolled over during the Boston Massacre; a 59-0 drubbing at the hand of the New England Patriots.

Granted, they haven’t necessarily been dominating.  But they’re doing the small things and executing the fundementals that they’re supposed to; things that are historically a hallmark of this franchise in the Jeff Fisher era.  

It almost makes a fan want to harbor a shred of (possibly) false hope.  With each win, their fledgling confidence snowballs and grows.  Can they simply do what they did the past two weeks for a mere eight more games and shock the world?  

For obvious reasons, it’s way too early to tell.  There is too much that can, could, and would need to happen.  

However, as per their usual when they start slow, they’re getting hot at the most intriguing of times.  

Early season favorites are beginning to display flashes of vulnerability (see: New York Giants, Denver Broncos).  

Borderline teams that initially flirted with competitiveness are now erring on the side of mediocrity (see: Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers).

Yet here the Titans are, beginning to quietly rack up the wins.  Where will it all eventually lead?  Again, it’s anybody’s guess.  

But here’s a look at how Tennessee’s made the grade (or not) thus far.

 

Offense: B-

So far, running back Chris Johnson has been the most consistent producer.  The fact that he’s done so well while earning his paychecks on a team that nearly always plays from behind makes it all the more remarkable.   

As most folks know, it’s the passing game that has been the Achilles Heel of the Titans this year.  Incompletions, dropped balls, and interceptions have plagued them since week one.  

The hardest part for players and fans alike is that so many of those passes were, indeed, catchable.  Did the team roll over on Kerry Collins?  Or was it merely a mental block, spawned by the lack of confidence that increased with each mounting loss?  

At any rate, since the insertion of the embattled Vince Young at quarterback, those mistakes are now few and far between.  However it’s working, it’s working; psychology be damned.  

Young and his offensive cohorts aren’t necessarily dazzling anybody, Johnson notwithstanding.  They’re simply playing the lost (until now) art of Titans football: smart, mistake-free passing preceded with a prolific and powerful running game.  

Given his loose-cannon, inconsistent career thus far, Young still has a ways to go in terms of proving his long-term worth and vindicating his critics.  

But he’s off to a good start.

 

Defense: C-

The knee-jerk reaction was to give them a resounding “F” in this category, given their string of blowouts around the first quarter mark of the season.  

However, in their first few games, they kept things relatively respectable.  And in their two victories, they were darn near good.  Almost.   

True, no one’s going to compare them to the 2000 Baltimore Ravens any time soon.  But they’ve been holding their own with the “bend, don’t break” motif as of late.  

Decent enough, yes.  But throw in the fact that a few point-producing turnovers have been procured, and there’s reason for excitement in the Titans community, from the locker room to the water cooler.

Cornerback Cortland Finnegan looked like the Pro Bowler he is this past Sunday with his interception and subsequent touchdown run.  The sight of linebacker Keith Bulluck following him, hands raised, to the end zone is something that hasn’t been seen in a while.  

The swagger is beginning to return.  On a team that desperately needed confidence, this was the unit that needed it the most.

Yes, they will have their fair share of bad days where they yield the big play.  But so long as they keep up their new-found ability to recover from those snafus and tighten up when it matters the most, then the Titans will always have a shot.  

 

Special Teams: C+

Sometimes, no news is good news.  Especially when considering the early season woes in this unit.  

While there are no electrifying returners of the Devin Hester/Percy Harvin variety on this club, at least there are no more senseless, costly turnovers.  

In other words, they’re no longer a liability.  As the season progresses, however, the odds are that they will at one point or another be asked to win a game for the team, but so far, being solid has sufficed. 

 

Coaching: B

For the most part, it’s not what you let happen to your team, but how you get them to recover from it.  

As Tennessee slipped further and further into chaos with each loss, the company line was “if anyone can fix it, it’s coach Jeff Fisher.”  

Yet the more they lost, the more that felt like a hollow, pointless axiom that was said more out of comfort than truth.  

After the “Peytongate” incident at a charity event followed the worst loss in franchise history, many felt that the team had hit rock bottom.  

Perhaps they did, given that at that point, there’s nowhere to go but up.  

However they’re doing it, Fisher and his staff have got the team playing with passion again.  Heck, they’re coaching with passion again.  

The sight of Fisher pumping his fist after clenching victory last week reminded us all that there is plenty of fight left, across the board.  

 

Overall: C

Like the defense, this is a category that would have merited an obvious “F” a few short weeks back. 

In fact, some may question the decision to move the Titans from an “F” to a “C” based on just two victories.

But it’s not just the modest winning streak that raises eyebrows; it’s the way that they’ve done it.  

They’ve faced quality teams.

They’ve come from behind.

They’ve made silly mistakes…and kept their composure.  

The million-dollar question is “why did it take six straight losses for them to wake up?”

Who knows.  But, as is usually the case with Tennessee, they seem to play better with lower expectations.  

Perhaps the Super Bowl predictions made them a bit uncomfortable.  

Perhaps they’re right where they want to be.  

Well, ok, probably not right where they want to be.  

But as the second half of the season commences this Sunday, they’re on the right track. 

 

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Can Tennessee Titans’ Chris Johnson Avoid the Running Back Curse?

So far, so good.  

With his stellar performance this year, Titans running back Chris Johnson has proved that his prolific rookie campaign wasn’t a fluke.

And chances are, he’ll be a force for years to come, regardless of whether his team is winning or not (see: this year).

But just how many years is the question, given the historically volatile nature of his position. 

Over the years, all have shown the signs.

From Franco Harris to Eric Dickerson; from Edgerrin James to Shawn Alexander, the age of thirty is kryptonite of sorts for running backs.

Holes become smaller as the once-quick first step wanes.  

Plays that would have once been easy touchdowns get snuffed in the backfield.      

Life is hard for star running backs in their thirties.  Call it the James Dean position of the NFL.  Their careers burn bright and fast, only to be over before it seems like they should be.  

The odd thing is, the decline for a running back is usually sudden and swift.  Gradual drop offs are rare.  

We’ve seen it happen all too many times: the star back in his late twenties who gets the new, extravagant offseason contract…only to produce like a third stringer the rest of his career.  

As a rule, 1,700 yard backs don’t have a 1,100 yard “buffer” season before they fall into oblivion.  It usually happens right away, and for a variety of reasons.  But more on those later.

It’s worth noting that there have been two exceptions to the rule in the modern era of the NFL.  

Hall of Famer Walter Payton, of the Chicago Bears, enjoyed seasons of over 1,500 and 1,300 yards after his 30th birthday.  

And most folks remember Curtis Martin in 2004, who, at 31 years of age, won the league rushing title with nearly 1,700 yards.  

It could be argued that Barry Sanders would have produced well past that dubious milestone had he not retired early, ala Jim Brown.

But other than that, the going is tough for the position’s “elder statesmen.”  Down the road, can Chris Johnson eventually join those two?   

A speedster like Johnson doesn’t take as much punishment as a traditional power back in the mold of, say, the Giants’ Brandon Jacobs.  That’s the good news.  

But regarding the bad news?  Well, speed, his bread and butter, is only bestowed on the young.  His style will need to evolve and expand in order for him to produce in his “geriatric” years.  

And of course, there’s the inevitable intangibles.  He could blow out his knee and render all of the prognostication moot.  

But if he stays injury free—and off of the cover of the Madden video games—he might have a shot at staying relevant.  

In many ways, the Barry Sanders comparison is the most intriguing.  True, their styles aren’t carbon copies.  But they’re both alike in that they have a feast or famine way of running.  

They either get you -2 yards or an 80-yard touchdown run.  Also, they both avoid the big hits, as mentioned.  Rarely do they grind it out in the trenches.  

If Johnson enhances his elusiveness to compensate for the sure-to-come drop off in speed, then not only will the comparison be more accurate, but his career will obviously last longer.  

Granted, there are many other outside factors.  Coaching and scheme changes can sap the productivity from a back that’s still in his prime.  

Just ask Marcus Allen and Deuce McAllister.  Thanks to Bo Jackson and Reggie Bush, respectively, their careers arguably never soared to the heights they could have, thanks to split work loads. 

And on and on.  There could literally be a full-length book written regarding the “what if’s.”  

Time will tell whether or not Johnson can buck the trend and run wild into his thirties.  

But so far, so good.   

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Titans-49ers: Can Tennessee Keep the Momentum Going in San Francisco?

“Okay, guys. Remember what you did last Sunday? Just do that again.”

One can’t help but think that Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher will preach a paraphrased version of that mantra this week as his squad prepares to take on the enigmatic San Francisco 49ers.

Tennessee snagged their elusive first win of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars with explosive running and mistake-free, albeit pedestrian (pun intended), passing.

The 49ers present a different set of challenges, but like Jacksonville, they are a talented team playing under their potential.  

Coach Mike Singletary and Co. started fast, only to string together some sloppy losses. At this point, they too are in search of an identity.  

Chances are they are looking at the Titans as a non-conference, “get back on track” game.  

Not that they’re underestimating them, mind you. It’s just that Tennessee will prove to be the most tempting to overlook, given the fact that in spite of their troubles, they’re still in the thick of the NFC West race.  

As has been mentioned in these pages, confidence goes a long way when it comes to the proverbial intangibles.  

But how exactly do the Titans match up with the 49ers otherwise?  

Here is a look at a few key areas to watch.

 

Chris Johnson vs. 49ers Rush Defense

Titans running back Johnson is playing his best football of the year right now. That’s saying a lot, given his consistent knack for making the big play.

However, San Francisco has the second-ranked rush defense in the league. They held Minnesota’s equally explosive Adrian Peterson to a paltry—by his standards, anyway—85 yards.

If the Titans can effectively use Vince Young as a decoy in certain situations, then perhaps that would open up some lanes for Johnson.  

 

Vince Young vs. 49ers Pass Defense

Come to think of it, Young just might have a chance for a breakout day…as a traditional pocket passer, perhaps.  

San Francisco is ranked 30th in the league in pass defense right now. With the new energy (and ensuing confidence) that Young has breathed into the offense right now, the Titans just might have a shot.

Of course, “having a shot” means, “Don’t throw interceptions, and hold on to the ball.”

As mentioned, his legs might open up a few doors for the running game, for him and Johnson. All year long, the 49ers have faced nothing but traditional pocket passers. This matchup should be interesting.  

 

Frank Gore vs. Titans Rush Defense

Uh-oh.  

Tennessee might have some trouble with this one. Last week, the Jags’ Maurice Jones-Drew ran roughshod over the Titans.  

Gore is a similar running back: deceptively powerful, deceptively fast.  

Don’t look for the 49ers to be run-first all day, however. Odds are that he’ll initially be used to set up a suspect passing game.  

Tennessee would be wise to employ a “bend, don’t break” defensive philosophy like the one then-Giants defensive coordinator Bill Belichick used on Bills running back Thurman Thomas in Super Bowl XXV.

Give him his five- to seven-yard carries; let him have his 100-yard day. Just don’t let him into the secondary, and don’t let the passing game beat you because of the running game.

 

Alex Smith vs. Himself

Their quarterback, the embattled Alex Smith, was benched all year until recently. At this point, his career is arguably a borderline bust—which is sad, given his immense talent and mishandling by previous coaches.

But this year, he gets another shot, as Coach Singletary benched previous starter Shaun Hill due to lack of productivity. Not exactly a sign of stability.

In spite of the Titans’ woes on pass defense this year, they are capable of playing decently. This was proven last Sunday, when they effectively shut down David Garrard and the Jags. 

Truth be told, San Francisco’s passing game doesn’t scare anybody at this point. That’s not to say that they aren’t capable of later developing into a big play unit, but nowadays they’re a bit too rough around the edges.  

Isaac Bruce was at one time phenomenal…in the leather helmet era.  

Michael Crabtree is still learning and unproven.

Vernon Davis, the underachieving tight end, is at the moment their biggest weapon (literally and figuratively).   

Of course, subpar units have made a living out of feasting on the Titans all year long. Stats on paper are one thing; Tennessee consistently seizing defeat from the jaws of victory is another.

 

The bottom line? Whoever makes the fewest mistakes—not the most big plays—should emerge victorious.

The 49ers have thus far been guilty of playing to the level of their competition. Against the Indianapolis Colts last weekend, they played tough and lost by four. Yet against the less scary Atlanta Falcons, they got blown out by 35.   

Tennessee, it’s time for an encore performance.

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Tennessee Titans: A Flash in The Pan Or For Real?

Well, this is different.  

For at least one week, there are no “maybe next time” sentences to type.  

For at least one week, there is no “coulda, woulda, shoulda” sentiment to opine on.  

Yes, the Tennessee Titans finally showed some semblance of resolve, handily defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday.  

For once, they put it all together, nearly living up to their potential.  

“Nearly,” because of a few lingering red flags and holes that are in obvious need of addressing.  

But more on that later.  For now, Nashville and the rest of Titan Nation can temporarily rejoice that the monkey has been lifted off of their team’s back.  

Now comes the hard part: how can Tennessee sustain their nascent momentum?  

For starters, the newfound confidence that comes from winning should go a long way. Especially since their next two opponents, San Francisco and Buffalo are both in tailspins of varying degrees.  

However, even the most casual fan knows that this team has way too far to go to even begin to think of one-month-later schedule hypotheticals.  

The only thing that matters at this point is the 49ers.  So long as the Titans do what they did this past week, then well, they just might have a shot at returning to respectability.  

And what, exactly, did they do differently to grace the win column with their presence? 

Chris Johnson’s historic day notwithstanding, it really wasn’t so much huge plays as it was…doing what they should have been doing all along.  

Staying away from mistakes and simply executing.  

If you’re a fan of these 2009 Titans, then suffice it to say that you, for once, were not slapping your forehead in as many “are you serious?!” moments as you’re used to.  

Linebackers were not covering speedy receivers in the slot.  Kick returners held on to the ball.  Receivers caught passes when they were supposed to.  

After seven long weeks, things finally went the way they were supposed to.  

For the most part.  

At first, it looked eerily reminiscent of the Week Two matchup with the Houston Texans, where the offensive shootout unfolding was more like a Madden 2010 game than a real one.  

Chris Johnson was unstoppable, yes.  But, the Titans couldn’t find a way to stop the ever-prolific Jags running back Maurice Jones-Drew either.  

Here we go again—or so we thought.  

See, a funny thing happened on the way to 0-7.  

The pass defense clamped down, arguably for the first time since the Pittsburgh Steelers game.  In fact, the whole team had a collective gut check.  

Tennessee went on to rack up 30 points, while holding Jacksonville to 13.  Granted, that’s a sophomoric and glorified way of restating the final score, but given the Titans’ woes this year, it remains significant.  

Coach Jeff Fisher told the press this week that he aims to maintain what his team did this past week.  

Easier said than done? 

Not quite.  

In this case, when lack of confidence snowballs with each mounting loss, the first win is more than just a godsend.  

It’s a new beginning; a near-cinematic, Rocky IV-esque “he’s cut!” moment that can prove to be the catalyst for a season’s turnaround.  

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  Every week is a new adventure with Tennessee, for better or worse.  

In the meantime, the players and fans alike should take pride in the fact that this team isn’t as bad as people thought—or feared.  

Fellas, dare to be different. 

 

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Titans Vs. Jaguars: Like Ships Passing in The Night

In a sense, the Tennessee Titans will be looking in a mirror come Sunday.  

A mirror of their former selves.  

The Jacksonville Jaguars are a gritty, hard-nosed football team that plays a full sixty minutes of football.  

A team that, despite its historic loitering in the purgatory of mediocrity, is on the rise.  

Not long ago, all of the above could have very well described the Titans.  Not so much, anymore.  

A few weeks ago, the Jaguars not only beat Tennessee, they embarrassed them.  The Houston Texans’ flirtations with success notwithstanding, it was a changing of the guard of sorts.  

Nowadays, it’s Jacksonville that has taken the quasi-dubious mantle of Indianapolis’ kid brother in the division.  

All things considered, the Jaguars are playing for the obvious reasons this week.  

Playoff seeding and the division are all on the line.  The Colts look tough, but there’s still plenty of football yet to be played.  

The Titans, on the other hand, have a slightly more complicated situation.  At what point is this disaster of a season written off?  

At what point do they eschew all conventional wisdom and experiment, in the name of next year?   

“One game at a time” is a tired and trite cliché.  Mathematically, Tennessee still has an infinitesimally small shot at the playoffs.  

But anyone with a shred of sanity who’s seen them all but roll over this year knows the unlikelihood of such an event happening.  

Yes, these Titans will be playing for pride; against the Jaguars and beyond.  But other than that, how does a player find motivation?

Further thickening the plot is the fact that many of the aging veterans on the squad are nearing the end of their contracts.  Much has been made of the Vince Young storylines, but the prospect of Keith Bulluck and Nick Harper departing quite possibly bears more significance.

Win, lose, or draw, this is probably the last we’ll see of this particular lineup of Titans. One always hears about the narrow window of opportunity, and frankly, last year was essentially it for Tennessee.  

Make no mistake, they will be back in contention eventually.  The way the NFL is set up all but guarantees it.  

But chances are, there will be new faces next year as a rebuilding effort commences.  

So, enjoy the farewell tour.  Savor every game.  

And scratch your head at every loss.  

These Titans don’t get better, they don’t get worse, but they sure stay interesting.    

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With Titans Starting Young, Significance Goes Beyond The Win/Loss Column

It’s funny how things can come full circle.  

A little over a year ago Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans were faring somewhat poorly in a season-opening matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.  

Of course, we all know the end result:  

The interceptions.

The boos. 

The benching.  

To be fair, he was injured in the game, but one gets the feeling that he probably would have been pulled anyhow, given his and the team’s sluggish performance.  Kerry Collins then came in to lead the team to a stellar regular season record and the playoffs.

Nowadays, with the team having gone 2-10 since their improbable 10-0 start last year, the Titans coaching staff has named Young the starter for their upcoming game with…Jacksonville.  

In essence, the first day of the rest of Young’s career begins now.  There are many questions about not only his affect on the team’s success, but also as to just how the rest of his playing days will pan out.  

At this juncture, he’s delicately treading the fine line between being a success and being a bust.  Not only is he aiming to save a franchise in turmoil, but also his flailing career.  

Owner Bud Adams has emphatically stated that he feels Young to be the quarterback of the future.  Having the man who signs the checks on your side is not necessarily a bad thing.  

However, his underperforming career makes it hard to justify giving him his hefty salary as his contract nears its end.  It’d almost be easier to trade him.  For what, specifically, depends on how well he plays the rest of this year. 

Then again, if he does, in fact, resuscitate the Titans to respectability, Adams could view it as validation.  Afterwards, Young goes on to a glorious—or, at least some semblance of respectable—career with the franchise.  

The storylines are endless; the plot ever-thickening in this latest installment in the Vince Young saga.  

How well he does or doesn’t play will speak volumes.  If he consistently shows lack of effort or sloppiness out there, then that says that he pouted, loafed, and didn’t make the most of his time with the clipboard.  

If he does well, then perhaps he does have the heart of a champion.  To face the adversity and embarrassment that he’s been through, only to come back stronger and a better person, would give hope not only to the Titans, but his career as well.  

All things considered, this is, without question, sink-or-swim time for Young.  Throw in the fact that Tennessee is winless, and next year’s draft looks to be quarterback-rich, and, well, the proverbial writing is on the wall.  

If he plays his cards right, he’ll ensure that his play will merit him a spot on someone’s team next year.  

It’s almost fitting that the team he began his tailspin against is the same team that he can begin to script his resurgence.

Mr. Young, time to complete the circle.   

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Jeff Fisher Remains Mum As Titans Prepare to Flee The Status Quo

Pardon my continued use of the scientific simile, but Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher is beginning to take on the look of a mad scientist.  

It began with his publicity stunt from a week ago, when he wore the Peyton Manning jersey.  

Yes, I said “stunt.” In spite of his coyness about charity, Tony Dungy’s presence and the fans’ crocodile tears, he knew the effect it would have on the organization full of prideful players.  

Nowadays, he’s spouting off darn-near cryptic phrases about lineup changes and playing time shakeups.

The whole organization has a “first day of the rest of our life” feel to it.  

Even owner Bud Adams has gotten in on the act recently, not being shy about twisting Fisher’s arm to start Vince Young in place of the struggling Kerry Collins.  

That’s hardly insignificant, given the good faith and carte blanche that Adams has given his coach over the years.  

When Bud talks, you know something’s wrong (or, really good, but that’s obviously not the case in this dreadful debacle of a season).  

So, the Titans commenced to tweaking their ways.

For starters, Fisher closed the main portion of practice from the media.  

Then, he gave the players the weekend off to “clear their heads” while him and his coaching staff remained hard at work behind closed doors, burning the midnight oil.

The opponent this week, the Jacksonville Jaguars, are a well-known—and greatly improved—foe that promise to pose a stiff challenge. The days of Tennessee regularly notching easy victories of the Jags—despite how good or bad they were—are long gone. 

The funny thing is, there is almost an opening day excitement coursing through my veins. It’s not so much a “everyone’s 0-0, in first place and full of promise” sort of anticipation, true. 

No, this is more of the “nothing to lose, this should be exciting,” variety, regardless of the win-loss record.  

Will the adjustments be more on the vanilla side? Say, for instance, if Vince Young starts; that wouldn’t shock anyone.

Or, will there be an exotic sea change, rife with Wildcat formations, crazy blitzes, onside kicks and fake punts aplenty?

We saw a similar thing in Miami about a year ago. In 2007, they were dreadful, winning only one game.  

The next year, they and their new coach employed all sorts of “why not?” schemes (the Wildcat was one of them) to rise to the top of the AFC East and make the playoffs.  

Can Tennessee regroup to reproduce a mini version of that success story?  

They’re on the right track; changing the old methods that thus far haven’t worked at all for them.  

Time will tell if there’s a method to Fisher’s madness.  

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Back To The Laboratory: Titans Seeking Direction During Bye Week

Success is a very relative term.  

For some teams, it’s defined as the obvious goal of winning a Super Bowl. For others, merely winning a game is their Super Bowl.

In a matter of two months, the Tennessee Titans have had to use both definitions. 

Heading into their bye week, there is at least one bit of good news: they’re guaranteed to not lose this Sunday. But how coach Jeff Fisher and the rest of his downward-spiraling team use their time off will determine not only the rest of the season, but the direction of the franchise as well.

Across the board, jobs are on the line. Fisher is wisely focusing on the team and what they can do to get better, as opposed to going into “save-my-job” mode.  

He’s got the right idea. You have to play to win; you can’t play to not lose.  

When it comes to righting the Titans’ wrongs, “where do I start?” becomes the obvious question.

Apparently for Fisher, it involves wearing a Peyton Manning jersey. The more the dust settles from that incendiary incident, the more it looks like a psychological ploy on his part to fire up his team.

Heck, if the players get half as mad as a lot of the fans did, then he did his job. Most folks take for granted that he’s on par with Bill Parcells when it comes to pushing the right buttons with his players.  

And it couldn’t have come at a better time.  

The most disturbing thing about this year’s Titans is not necessarily the winless record. It’s the way that they’ve gotten blown out and manhandled in said losses that’s the most perplexing.  

The Titans aren’t playing like a team with bad luck. They’re playing like a bad team, period.  

Theoretically, if Tennessee doesn’t win one more game this year but at least shows effort and heart, then that’s success. Barely, but it’s better than the current state of affairs.  

If Tennessee strings together a few wins to keep the AFC South interesting, then that’s an added bonus. Even the most optimistic fan knows the unlikelihood of the Titans stringing together 10 straight wins and shocking the world in the playoffs.  

But if Jeff Fisher and Co. can focus on the fundamentals and keep the “one game at a time” philosophy close to their hearts, then it’s a good start. With a little over a week to go before the Jacksonville Jaguars visit, there’s plenty of time to refocus and, if anything, settle on a general sense of direction as a team.

Things certainly can’t get much worse for Tennessee. Even the smallest, most insignificant improvement is a step forward.

All things considered, success just might not be that elusive after all. 

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Back To The Laboratory: Titans Seeking Direction During Bye Week

Success is a very relative term.  

For some teams, it’s defined as the obvious goal of winning a Super Bowl. For others, merely winning a game is their Super Bowl.

In a matter of two months, the Tennessee Titans have had to use both definitions. 

Heading into their bye week, there is at least one bit of good news: they’re guaranteed to not lose this Sunday. But how coach Jeff Fisher and the rest of his downward-spiraling team use their time off will determine not only the rest of the season, but the direction of the franchise as well.

Across the board, jobs are on the line. Fisher is wisely focusing on the team and what they can do to get better, as opposed to going into “save-my-job” mode.  

He’s got the right idea. You have to play to win; you can’t play to not lose.  

When it comes to righting the Titans’ wrongs, “where do I start?” becomes the obvious question.

Apparently for Fisher, it involves wearing a Peyton Manning jersey. The more the dust settles from that incendiary incident, the more it looks like a psychological ploy on his part to fire up his team.

Heck, if the players get half as mad as a lot of the fans did, then he did his job. Most folks take for granted that he’s on par with Bill Parcells when it comes to pushing the right buttons with his players.  

And it couldn’t have come at a better time.  

The most disturbing thing about this year’s Titans is not necessarily the winless record. It’s the way that they’ve gotten blown out and manhandled in said losses that’s the most perplexing.  

The Titans aren’t playing like a team with bad luck. They’re playing like a bad team, period.  

Theoretically, if Tennessee doesn’t win one more game this year but at least shows effort and heart, then that’s success. Barely, but it’s better than the current state of affairs.  

If Tennessee strings together a few wins to keep the AFC South interesting, then that’s an added bonus. Even the most optimistic fan knows the unlikelihood of the Titans stringing together 10 straight wins and shocking the world in the playoffs.  

But if Jeff Fisher and Co. can focus on the fundamentals and keep the “one game at a time” philosophy close to their hearts, then it’s a good start. With a little over a week to go before the Jacksonville Jaguars visit, there’s plenty of time to refocus and, if anything, settle on a general sense of direction as a team.

Things certainly can’t get much worse for Tennessee. Even the smallest, most insignificant improvement is a step forward.

All things considered, success just might not be that elusive after all. 

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Jeff Fisher’s Peyton Manning Jersey Gaffe: Good Joke Or Bad Taste?

“I just wanted to feel like a winner.”

Those were the words of Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher on Tuesday at a charity function at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn.  

With your eyes closed, that might seem like he’s overstating the obvious.  But to open them and see him in a Peyton Manning jersey was jaw-dropping to say the least.

He has since apologized for the incident, saying he was sorry if he offended any fans.

However, it was simply inexcusable.  Yes, it was in jest.  We all know that Fisher is not a double agent for the Indianapolis Colts, or any other team.  But to publicly make light of your team and their struggles is crossing the line. 

It is true that these are grown men who’re handsomely paid to play a kid’s game. Teachers, doctors, policemen and soldiers (among others) are arguably worth just as much money, if not more, given their actual societal contributions.  

But to throw your team under the bus the way Fisher did just might have sealed his fate with Tennessee.  For the players, it’s their dream to play in the NFL and one day win a title.  Failing that, there is a little thing called pride, which runs in every league in every sport.

When your fearless leader throws that out the window and insults it, then it’s time to find a new leader.  

True, the charity is a great cause.  Rocketown is a large entertainment complex in Nashville that serves as a place for teenagers to hang out in a drug and alcohol free environment.

But there are other ways to express your humor.

The clear cut counterpoint to all of this is that those who were offended are taking it too seriously.  Fisher himself took that angle in his addressing of the subject.  

“It was for a very, very worthwhile cause, charity,” Fisher said on his radio show as he recounted the events, which also had Tony Dungy in attendance.  “I was introducing Tony, having fun with it, and I really apologize if I offended anybody.

“But if you are offended…then I think you need to rethink things.”

Thanks, Jeff.

Thanks for brilliantly using the red herring argument fallacy to perfection.  Because of a little thing called sports passion, it is possible to be offended by this and still care about the charity.  

But nice attempt at making apples and oranges appear to be the same.

It’d be one thing if the Titans were winning.  It’d be another if the Colts were losing too.  

But that’s not the case, and the culture—winning or losing—starts with Fisher.  

About a year ago, much was made of Lebron James’ donning a New York Yankees cap for the coin toss at a Dallas Cowboys game.  The thing is, however, they were different sports and well, his team, the Cleveland Cavaliers were actually winning.

What will the ultimate fallout be from all of this?  Truth be told, none of it will be a direct effect.

If Fisher saves his job by eking out a string of unlikely wins, then this will be chalked up as a temporary flare-up; a bad-humored eccentricity from a normally reserved man. 

But if Fisher and the Titans continue their meltdown, then this event will be viewed as the perfect encapsulation of what’s wrong with the franchise.

Mr. Fisher, you want to feel like a winner?  

Try focusing on your own team’s locker room.  

If you know where that is.   

 

 

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