After Titanic Collapse, Tennessee Morphs From Questionable to Chaotic

For the 0-6 Tennessee Titans, “Yea, but…” has given way to “Uh-oh.”  

In fact, the 59-0 massacre at the hand of the New England Patriots last Sunday would merit full-fledged panic.  

A few weeks ago, there was hope for a turnaround.  

Then, following another loss or two, folks cited a very much beatable funk.

“If anyone can turn it around, it’s Jeff Fisher.”

Even as recently as the opening kickoff of the Patriots game, there were a bold few who harbored the quixotic, “mathematically alive” school of thought.

Not so any more.  

Even Tennessee owner Bud Adams claims to be “perplexed” by his team’s play.  Considering that the man has been in pro football since the Kennedy administration, that’s saying a lot.   

A few weeks ago, there were murmurs about coach Fisher’s job security.  But most people considered that to be folly, given his winning, rock-solid reputation.

Yet nowadays, those murmurs have crescendoed into blood curdling yells as his future—and the future of the franchise—has gone beyond questionable.  

Perhaps the most confounding thing about all of this is that there is no obvious reason as to why.  

Rebuilding?  Heck, this team didn’t even have to reload with 20 out of 22 starters returning from an impressive 13-3 campaign.  

Up until now, the one saving grace was that there was the illusion of a fighting attitude and an indomitable spirit.  

Eye of the Tiger , Remember the Titans ; pick your pop culture cliché.

To lose six straight games to open the season is bad enough.  But when it comes in the form of the biggest blowout that the NFL has seen since 1976 (when the Rams beat the Falcons by the same lopsided margin), it’s a strong indication of the dubiously proverbial “rolling over.”

The once proud secondary was essentially waving to—as opposed to tackling—Patriots receivers.

Yes, Tom Brady’s record setting second quarter would pretty much demoralize any team.  Especially a winless one.  

But players are embedded with a warrior’s spirit at a very young age.  Or, at least they should be.

Just as one is taught to never give up on a play, one should never give up on a game. 

Why do you think a basketball team that’s down by 20 points, with 30 seconds to go, still desperately fouls in an effort to stop the clock?  

Why does a baseball team down by nine runs with two outs in the ninth inning still swing for the fences?

It’s the “never give up” ethos that unfortunately seems to elude the Titans, the same way opposing offensive players elude them.  

The good news?  

Rock bottom has been achieved. It can only get better.

Remember all of those hapless Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals teams over the years?  The ones that, no matter how bad your team was, you could always feel better about yourself?

This year, it’s Tennessee.  As has been mentioned, with Tampa Bay and St. Louis, it was to be expected.  

With the Titans, it’s a complete mystery.  

Never has a work in progress been more miserable.  

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Any Given Sunday: Titans Head to Foxboro with Upset in Mind

There’s something to be said for being the best winless team in the NFL.  

Every week, no matter what the odds, there is undoubtedly at least one expert who sees an upcoming matchup as the Tennessee Titans’ breakout game; the one where they get the proverbial monkey off their back.

Such was the case this week, as NFL.com’s Brian Baldinger somewhat boldly predicted a Titans upset over a resurgent—and heavily favored—New England Patriots team. 

Was he out of his mind when he went out on that limb? Was he told by his handlers to be nonsensical to “keep it interesting?”

Or does he and the rest of the optimistic Tennessee faithful have a point?  

It’s always tough answer that question when a team is in a hole like the one the Titans are in. It’s one thing to be winless and have a young, purged roster, peppered with has-beens, in the name of rebuilding.  

Kansas City, St. Louis, and Tampa Bay are all in that same, similar boat. All three ushered in mediocre expectations this year, at best.  

But the Tennessee situation presents a conundrum. The inexplicable demise in spite of all the returning talent has everyone asking the same question: “What the heck happened to the Titans?”

At times, Sunday’s battle in New England looks like an open and shut victory for the Patriots. Then again, there are just enough intriguing matchups to perhaps make Mr. Baldinger look like he’s on to something.  

Here are a few areas that will be worth watching this weekend.

 

Patriots Rush Defense 

The past two weeks haven’t been easy on Tennessee running backs. Both Chris Johnson and LenDale White have put up pedestrian numbers as of late.  

As Denver found out last week, the Patriots getting Jerod Mayo back has decidedly bolstered their previously vanilla run-stopping abilities. True, injuries have forced them to abandon their vaunted 3-4 scheme for a less-scary 4-3, but they’re a force to be reckoned with once again.  

The law of averages would indicate that at least one of the Tennessee backs will have a “get back on track” day, given that the Patriots aren’t the quickest team on defense. But it will definitely be tough.

 

Patriots Pass Rush

This is one area that the Titans can possibly exploit. If Kerry Collins has time, he’s not half-bad.

Last week, the Pats’ D made Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton look like a Hall of Famer. This bodes well for Tennessee, for obvious reasons. Even if its running game plays at half-speed, Collins and his receiving cohorts should be able to move the ball effectively through the air.  

Remember, Denver drove 98 yards in the fourth quarter last week—an obvious pass-only scenario—and scored.  

Yep, Bill “the Mastermind” Belichick let that happen. To a Kyle Orton-quarterbacked team, no less.  

If the butterfingered Tennessee receivers can hold onto the ball and Collins keeps his happy feet under control, this looks to be a bright spot.  

 

Patriots Passing Game

New England sports the sixth-ranked passing attack in the league. And that’s with Tom Brady being out of sync thus far.  

To be honest, he can’t be too worried about going up against the underachieving, injury-decimated Tennessee secondary. Even if these were the Titans of last year, chances are he would find a way to carve them up.  

The key to knocking Brady off of his game is to pressure him constantly. Tennessee hasn’t had a scary pass rush since Jevon Kearse’s rookie year. Yes, there have been players with double-digit sacks, but nobody has really struck fear into offensive lines.  

This looks to be a long, long day for the Titans’ secondary. The only thing they can hope for is to keep either Wes Welker or Randy Moss in check. They’re not going to stop them both.  

Failing that, there’s always hope that Brady will have a bad day.  

But probably not.

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Patriots-Titans: Rebuild or Reload? Titans’ Defense Faces Burning Questions

When a season is all but lost, finger pointing becomes the norm.  

Both players and fans alike get in on the act; playing the blame game is the normal, knee-jerk reaction.  

Sure, players try not to throw their own friends and teammates under the bus.  All of the right things are said to the media.  If Tennessee displayed half as much grace on the field as they did towing the company line, then they arguably wouldn’t even be in this mess. 

“We’re losing as a team…” said defensive end Jevon Kearse.  

That may very well be, but with 10 of 11 starters returning from last year, it begs the question: what went wrong, exactly?  

While it is true that the injury bug has caught up to the Titans in recent weeks, the fact of the matter is that they began their dubious slide to the AFC South cellar well before the starters began to go down.

The normal ebb and flow of success in the NFL is to be expected.  Sometimes it’s your year, other times you’re counting down the days to the April draft.  But to fall so quickly, and with no glaring reason, has mystified fans, haters, and casual observers alike.   

Here are a few possible reasons and areas; some obvious, some not.

 

Coaching

Let’s start from the top.

First year defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil is shouldering much of the blame for Tennessee’s lackluster output this year.

It’s a sports cliché, but rarely is it one man’s fault—for players or coaches.  However, his lack of making adjustments is proving to be the unfortunate storyline for the season.

The losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Houston Texans could be forgiven.  At that time, the same old Titans D looked to be sufficient, on paper anyway.  

But weekly drubbing after weekly drubbing requires a shakeup of the gameplan.  Yet week after week, Tennessee routinely gets carved up by quarterbacks of all types.  

This past Sunday night, future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning came to town, and their defense gave him about as much respect as an over-the-hill Steve DeBerg.  

There was one play in particular that perhaps perfectly epitomized their season thus far.

With the Colts deep in Tennessee territory, Indianapolis wide receiver Austin Collie lined up in the slot.  When a speedy, big play wideout lines up in the slot, it’s common knowledge that the offense has big play plans.  

Who was covering him?  None other than linebacker Keith Bulluck.  The Titans inexplicably remained in their base personnel package.  A well-coached team would have known to have called a timeout, or at the very least audible to a more fitting defensive package.  

Did they think that Manning, the Einstein of football, would not see and exploit that?  

If Cecil and the Titans’ defense weren’t kicking themselves for it in the Monday film study, then there are major problems in Nashville.

Then again, they should have caught the mistake at the line of scrimmage…on Sunday night.  

 

Age

The average age for the 11 Tennessee starters on defense is 28, which technically doesn’t look too bad.  Old enough to properly employ their wiliness and experience, but young enough to stay healthy and still compete with the young bucks.

However, the older a player gets, the more they rely on the system.  For instance, Junior Seau—the WWI veteran who turned 97 this past week—has a deal in place to bring him back to the injury-decimated New England Patriots for yet another season.   

And chances are, he’ll do well.  No, he won’t return to his 1994 form, but he’ll thrive in coach Bill Belichick’s system.

Such was the case last year for Tennessee.  Right place, right time.  No one player truly dominated in a traditional sense, but they were essentially synergy incarnate. The sum of the whole was truly greater than the parts.

But, much like fellow silver fox Kerry Collins, the slightest veering from the course tends to expose older players.  No one was comparing Albert Haynesworth to Deacon Jones, but that extra push—literally and figuratively—was arguably just what the front four and secondary needed to excel last season. 

This year, however, players like Jevon Kearse and Keith Bulluck are no longer able to carry the team by picking up the slack.  Yes, they still have a few years of high-level play.  But suffice it to say that opposing teams don’t gameplan for them the way they did a couple of seasons back.

 

Imbalance

Tennessee’s defense is currently ranked 23rd in the league.  You might say that for an 0-5 team, that’s to be expected and about average.  

However, the canyon-like gulf between their pass and run defense is staggering.  As anyone who’s seen them this year might expect, their pass defense gives up a whopping 287 yards per game.

Yet their run defense is ranked third in the league.  Yes, you read that right. Seventy-five yards a game is all that opponents have been able to muster this year.  

These figures are even more jaw-dropping when considering how many rushing touchdowns the Titans have given up all season: three.  

By itself, the figure is impressive.  However, Tennessee is surrendering 28 points a game, which means on that on this side of the ball, the lion’s share of their winless woes are to be attributed to none other than their porous pass defense.

Simply put, even a part-time junior high coach would look like Mike Martz going up against the Titans.  

Just pass the ball, and the cure for whatever ails you is right there.  

With 11 games left, there’s plenty of time to adjust and tweak the game plan, regardless of playoff chances (or at this point, lack thereof).  Regardless of the win/loss record, Tennessee needs to right the wrongs and begin looking to the future.  

What it entails is anyone’s guess.  It all depends on their play for the rest of the season and how injuries play out.  Ideally, the Titans defense will get it together and find something to build on for next year.  

Otherwise, their problems will continue well beyond January.

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For Winless Tennessee Titans, The 2010 Preseason Begins Now

“Well, there’s always next year.”  

It’s the universal statement and rallying cry for the undermanned and underachieving all over.  

For some organizations, it’s wishful thinking.  For others, it bears a certain air of legitimacy.  

Ideally, the Tennessee Titans fall into the latter category—if they play their cards right.  

But first, they must come to grips with the grim realization that their season is, in fact, lost. Trouble is, it’s not a player’s (or coach’s) inherent nature to roll over and concede defeat. Pride is as much a vice as it is a virtue at this point. 

And in situations like these, that could be bad.

To be 2-3 or even 1-4 would merit the normal “what’s best to win right now” aesthetic. But to be 0-5 means two things:

1.  You’re going to be a spoiler at best, and

2.  With nothing to lose, why not try out new schemes, players and philosophies? 

Devil’s advocacy would pinpoint coach Jeff Fisher’s job security as the most obviously vulnerable. But given his unofficial “Dean of NFL Coaches” title and normally stable history with the team, his seat looks to be, well, not hot.  

Considering the hard and fast facts of the AFC South, the Titans would be wise to experiment. This year, they’re not going to scare anybody.

Indianapolis is unstoppable, Jacksonville is resurgent, and Houston is…well, um, not as bad as years past.  

Mr. Fisher, time to bench the one-year-wonder Kerry Collins. Whether he’s better than Vince Young is irrelevant—it’s not like it’s 1996 and he actually has an upside. It’s time to shake things up. Worst-case scenario, you draft another play-maker in what looks to be a quarterback-rich draft in ’10.  

Mr. Fisher, time to show the over-the-hill Alge Crumpler to the door and give the uber-talented Jared Cook a shot. Time to see just what promising rookie wide receiver Kenny Britt has.

“Time to…”

Time to make the most out of a season that was arguably lost in week two. As pathetic as it may sound, there’s something to be said for “losing with a purpose.” Just look at the 1-15 1989 Dallas Cowboys.  

Yes, they were hapless, but they were loaded with raw talent, on a mission, and knew they’d compete again in  a very short time. They harbored no illusions that they would actually compete that year.  

Three Super Bowls (in four years) later, no one in Irving, Texas, was complaining.

Given the talent and youth on the 2009 Tennessee Titans, there’s never been a better time for experimentation.  

This year, the promising palate of a season has thus far served nothing but lemons.

Time to make lemonade

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Contenders Or Spoilers? Titans Are Still Seeking Answers

What a difference a month makes.  

Just over four weeks ago, the Tennessee Titans and their fans were teeming with optimism.  And with 20 of 22 starters returning from a loaded 13-3 squad, why not?

Coach Jeff Fisher said himself that he felt this team was perhaps more talented than last year’s.  Throw in the fact that the stench of a bitter, early playoff exit was still on their minds, and just about everyone had this motivated squad picked to be playing deep into January.  

Little did folks know that by the time summer gave way to autumn, the talk of the town would not, in fact, be about home field advantage or playoff seeding.  No, these days it’s more murmuring about next year’s draft, Fisher’s job security and what little dignity can be salvaged this season.

Mathematically, all is not lost; this is true.  Stranger things have happened in this league.  But this reeling franchise needs to play darn near perfect football for the rest of the season to have a shot at the postseason.  

Sunday’s matchup with the darn near perfect Indianapolis Colts will, in essence, define the rest of their season.  

It’d be one thing if both teams were undefeated.  But to be winless and have your season be all but lost makes it that much tougher to get up for a marquee opponent.

Granted, pride is always a factor, regardless of the win/loss record.  But if Indy gets off to a fast start, do you think the Titans will have the mettle to not roll over?  Aside from the obvious goal of winning the game, the most important part of this game for them is their attitude, fight and spirit.  

Even with a loss, Tennessee getting its collective head on straight bodes well for the future.  Because so far, they lack an identity, which makes the losing that much more tough.  Moral victories carry more weight than usual at this point.

But regarding an actual victory?  It doesn’t bode well for the Titans.  Here are a few of the more glaringly ominous matchups that they will face Sunday.

Kryptonite for Chris?

Thus far, Titans running back Chris Johnson has been one of the few bright spots.  In fact, he leads the league in rushing.  The fact that Tennessee has the leading rusher when they’ve played from behind and pass so much is all the more impressive.  

But against the Colts he might have to make some adjustments.  Thanks to Johnson, Indy’s weakness quite possibly becomes their strength.  Their defense is undersized…but super fast.  

If these were the Titans of old, then the Colts would have cause for concern. Tennessee could simply use their brand of big back, ball control power football.  But with their new speedy look, it could prove to be a long day for Johnson.  

Lendale White could be used to spell him more than usual, but given his newly slender body, that might not work either.

Crunchtime for Kerry?

In this case, “crunchtime” isn’t so much a metaphor for a rapidly needed gut check as it is a literal truth.  When you have the super speedy Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney chasing an over-the-hill, immobile quarterback with confidence issues, disaster tends to strike for the offense.  

The running game could ease some of the pressure, but given Indy’s quick strike offense, the Titans could find themselves in the all-too-familiar position of playing from behind and becoming pass happy.  If that’s the case, coach Fisher just might have to put in Vince Young…out of necessity.  

Doomsday for the Defense?

If there were ever a time for the defense to dial in that long-lost swagger, it would be now.  

Last Sunday, the Titans made David Garrard look like a 2007 Tom Brady.  

That’s problematic.

This week, Peyton Manning comes to town.  

That’s potentially cataclysmic.    

Defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil’s scheme thus far has proved to be a colossal failure. The front four isn’t producing the same amount of pressure on the quarterback this year; new blitz schemes are needed.  

Conventional wisdom says that this will be a feast or famine affair.  Either Peyton Manning will have a record-setting day and further bolster his MVP ranking, or Tennessee will finally rise to the challenge and stymie him, given his high caliber reputation.

Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Shaub, Mark Sanchez and David Garrard, in spite of their respective successes, don’t strike the same chord of fear as Manning.  That fear just might wake them up to actually start playing actual defense.  

As is the case with most division rivals across the league, Tennessee knows how to play Indianapolis tough, regardless of who’s having the better year.

When the game clock strikes 0:00 on Sunday, we will have a better idea as to the future of the Tennessee Titans.  If they get blown out, then it perhaps might be time for a major overhaul.  

If they compete with the Colts, then there’s the aforementioned moral victory to build on for the rest of the season going into next year (see: 2006’s 0-5 start with an 8-8 finish).  

And if they win?  As has been said before, they would need 11 more games of miracles to make the playoffs, but it would certainly be a catalyst for an in-season turnaround.  

What a difference a game would make. 

 

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Tennessee Titans Fumbling Towards Respectability, One Game at a Time

Every year in the NFL, there is plenty of parity that inevitably boosts ratings; “any given season” is the new “any given Sunday.”  

This year, however, there are more plot twists than a LOST season finale.  

The dysfunctional Denver Broncos are 3-0.  The reigning Super Bowl champs are 1-2. And yes, the Detroit Lions have a better record than the Tennessee Titans.

Heading into this week’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Titans are a talented, desperate team in a must-win situation.  The Jaguars, on the other hand, are a team on the rise with an abundance of youthful promise perfectly spliced with veteran leadership.  

But sitting at 1-2, it is essentially a must-win for them, too, given their ultra-competitive division. 

In many ways, there are, in fact, more similarities than differences.  Both are coached by hard-nosed former defensive players.  Both espouse a smashmouth, ball control style of play.  And both are a few plays away from being 3-0.  

Like ships passing in the night, the outcome of this game could very well be indicative of the rest of their respective seasons.  

Which team will respond?  Which one will walk away with a near-impossible hole to dig out of?  

It could be argued that this matchup carries as much weight as a playoff game, considering that for all intents and purposes, both teams’ postseason aspirations ride on their next sixty minutes of football. 

One team will walk away with a shred of hope; a moral victory to accompany the literal one. 

Another will begin to ponder next year’s draft picks as they prepare to don the spoiler role.  

Here is a look at two of the more intriguing matchups to keep an eye on when they square off this Sunday.

Titans Defense vs. David Garrard

The Jaguars fan is liking their quarterback’s chances against a thus far dismal Titans pass defense.  On paper, it looks to be his breakout day.  

However, Jacksonville is a run-first team that thrives on clock management.  Rarely is he asked to air it out or be a gunslinger.  And for all of the Titans’ woes this season on defense, stuffing the run has not been a problem.  

But it does beg the question: will their run-stopping prowess hurt them?  In lieu of Jags running back Maurice Jones-Drew having a good day, will Garrard pick at Tennessee’s Achilles’ heel, pass defense?  

Chances are, no.  If Jacksonville were in the habit of seamlessly switching to an air attack when the running game stalls, they’d have been a lot better over the years and we’d be mentioning them in the same breath as Indianapolis.  

However, Tennessee needs to stay on their toes.  Remember, no one picked Texans quarterback Matt Shaub to have a breakout, career day in Week Two, but the Titans dubiously found a way to make that happen. 

Much has been said and written of the Titans’ overflowing talent in a secondary that has underachieved.  But perhaps a more accurate, less vague diagnosis lies within their ability to adjust, or lack thereof.

In summation, they don’t have as much pressure from their front four this year.  Last year, they didn’t need exotic blitzes to compete.  The quarterback got pressured, and the secondary’s job was easy.  

This year, however, new defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil needs to tap into his creativity and find new, effective ways to keep the big play from happening.  The scheme from last year isn’t working, and it has had a hand in landing them in their 0-3 hole.  

Jaguars Defense vs. Chris Johnson

To this point, Jacksonville hasn’t faced a premier running back.  True, they’ve held their own against three-straight prolific passing attacks, but they’ve yet to face a team like themselves; one that runs first.  

Most fans and critics alike have Titans running back Chris Johnson due for a letdown.  But don’t look for it to happen this Sunday.  While he may not run roughshod over the Jags like he did the Texans, suffice it to say, he isn’t facing enough speed to pose a challenge for him.

Jacksonville may have a reputation for playing tough defense, but so far they’ve only faced traditional power backs with moderate speed (who all happen to be in slumps at this point).  

While anything can indeed happen, it doesn’t bode well for the Jaguars.  Look for Johnson’s explosive first-half running to open up the passing game. 

With all of the favorable matchups, Tennessee doesn’t have to dominate to win this game.  If they curb their turnovers and don’t allow big plays, then even a pedestrian effort will do.  

Will that happen?  Well, that’s why we watch.

Any given Sunday.   

 

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Diminishing Returns: Can Tennessee Stop The Bleeding on Special Teams?

The task seemed simple enough.  

Catch the ball, and run towards the end zone.

It’s something that kickoff and punt returners do every week in this league.

Yet for a young Chicago Bear named Jeff Fisher, it proved to be the beginning of the end one fall day.  He was met by a Philadelphia Eagle named Bill Cowher, who broke his leg on a tackle, and he never played another game of significance again.  

Of course, we know how it all ended up.  Both went on to head coaching glory after hanging up their cleats in 1985.  

But now, over a quarter of a century later, Fisher yet again finds himself in dire straits when it comes to special teams play.  

After two costly turnovers in the return game led to fourteen points from the New York Jets last Sunday, many are questioning the decision making of the coaching staff.  Much has been written about the Titans’ as-yet-untapped potential on offense and defense, but football is a game of inches.

Field position is paramount.  Trouble is, you have to be able to actually hold onto the ball to acquire it.

Tennessee swallowed their pride this week by re-signing return man Mark Jones, whom they cut about a month ago.  But when your punt and kick return units rank 27th and 29th, respectively, just about any roster move is fair game.  

“We’re glad we got him,” Fisher told The Daily News Source this week.  “I think he’ll solve the problem that we’ve had.”

He’d better hope so.  While no one in Nashville is calling for his job just yet, an 0-3 start tends to procure more than just a few sideways glances.  Especially when considering the Titans’ prior Super Bowl aspirations.  

The good news for Tennessee is that Jones has years of experience in the return game. 

“I am a return man…it’s what I’ve been doing for my whole career now,” Jones told the media after his re-signing.  “I just want to make smart decisions, catch the ball, and try to make things happen.”  

Regarding the much-maligned return game, many pundits cited arrogance on the part of the coaching staff.  Critics argued that more than just speedy rookies were needed for success; experience was crucial as well.  

As it turned out, they were right.  Lucky for the players and their fans, Titans’ brass saw the err of their ways and have (hopefully) righted the wrong.  

Another development occurred this week that, while not garnering as much press attention, has proven to be the classic “injury to insult” scenario.  

Veteran punter Craig Hentrich was placed on injured reserve, effectively ruining his season.  He injured his calf muscle Sept. 20.  

Third-year journeyman Reggie Hodges takes his place.  

One month ago, as the dawn of a season filled with promise loomed, the Titans’ lack of experienced returners was but a mere afterthought.  Now, three games and no wins in, it has come back to haunt with a vengeance.  

With nearly a quarter of the season down, Tennessee can ill afford to have any more loose ends in need of tying.  

Mr. Jones, the task is simple enough.

Hold on to the ball.   

 

 

 

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Ravens Redux in New York: Titans To Face a Familiar Foe

Here we go again.

Another must-win game, another formidable foe for the Titans.

While Tennessee and the New York Jets don’t exactly share a storied rivalry steeped in bitterness, there are a couple of dubiously familiar faces that the Titans will see on the opposing sideline this weekend.  

Rex Ryan, the former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator, is now the Jets’ head coach. He also brought along linebacker Bart Scott, a seven-year veteran from the Ravens who, incidentally, engaged in a war of words with Tennessee fullback Ahmard Hall this week.  

If familiarity breeds contempt, then Sunday’s matchup pitting these two teams together could be very well billed as a bona fide grudge match.  

To an extent, that has been the story line for Tennessee this season, with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans having had their share of battles with the Titans over the years.

But this Sunday’s game promises to take the animosity and competitiveness up a notch. Simply put, there is genuine disdain here. Granted, Titans coach Jeff Fisher might not harbor as much enmity with Ryan as he did with, say, Brian Billick or Bill Cowher.  

But the decade-long history between the two—Ryan was defensive line coach for the Ravens for years before he became the coordinator—is enough to merit the added intensity sure to be on display at the Meadowlands.  

Sure, the coaches will say all the right things to the media.  

“It’s between the teams on the field.”

“We’re gonna prepare for this one just like any other week.”

But you can bet that both are going to find a way to weave in some historical context to have their respective squads more amped than usual tomorrow.  

The good news for Titans fans is that in both losses this season, the offense has looked good against decent competition.

While the Jets and all of their fabled, “exotic blitz” glory look to fare better than merely “decent,” Tennessee presumably has the trump card: Chris Johnson.

The speedster has a penchant for making aggressive blitzing teams pay. Run-blitzing teams usually do better against more traditional running backs that aren’t quite as shifty and lightning quick. If New York can’t wrap him up properly, then rest assured all of the Rex Ryan hype will die down quickly, at least for a while.  

As far as passing goes, if Tennessee plays smart and executes, it will be productive. Of course, considering the disappointing arc of this season thus far, that is without a doubt one of the biggest “ifs” ever written.  

But perhaps the more intriguing matchup is the one getting less attention. How exactly will rookie phenom Mark Sanchez match up against a talented, hungry, and desperate Titans’ defense?

His play thus far has been stellar; suffice it to say he’s this year’s Joe Flacco/Matt Ryan. But he’s due for a rookie reality check. And that’s not sophomoric trash talk, either; it happens to all first-year quarterbacks, historically.  

“I’m very confident that that was a one-time deal; it won’t happen again,” linebacker Keith Bulluck told the media after the Houston game. “We were all embarrassed by it on the defensive side of the ball. We got it out of the way.”

Now, if the Titans can just get a win out of the way, they’ll be on the right track.

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Week Two Roundup: Helter Skelter in the AFC South

 

“Why not us?”  

It’s becoming an all-too-familiar rallying cry for mediocre teams struggling to get over the hump.

Illusions of grandeur?  Perhaps, but these days any given season could be any given team’s year.  

The NFL is a sport that is rife with parity, thanks in no small part to its strict salary cap and revenue sharing.  It is arguably what makes it America’s most popular sport.  

Historically, no division in football better encapsulates this than the rugged NFC East.  And rightfully so, given that no team in that division has had a losing record since 2006.

Yet this year, the AFC South is poised to steal some of their thunder, with all four teams having a legitimate shot at making a serious playoff run.  

Some have a better chance than others, but no team in the division is a guaranteed two wins for its opponents.  The gap is closing, and the line between pretenders and contenders is becoming increasingly blurred.  

Here’s a brief dossier on all four teams; what needs to go right, what could go wrong, and the reality in between.

Indianapolis Colts

With Peyton Manning at the helm, ten or more wins are almost a given every year.  As long as he has at least one stud receiver, they will remain perennial Super Bowl contenders.   

It seems like almost every year that there are serious question marks regarding his supporting cast, yet he continues to keep his team playing at a high level.  In years past, the defense was suspect.  In other years, it was the injury bug catching up to older players.  

Nowadays, it’s his somewhat diminished receiving corps.  Anthony Gonzalez went down recently, leaving Reggie Wayne as the only proven threat.  But the inspired play of second year man Pierre Garçon has put their minds somewhat at ease.

In order to avoid a ho-hum (by Indy’s standards, anyway) 11-5 campaign and a second round playoff exit, they will need at least one other player to step up and make himself a superstar.  

Role players are important, but the Peyton and Reggie Show won’t cut it in the long run.

Tennessee Titans

An 0-2 start has many on the verge of panic in Nashville.  While the record doesn’t necessarily spell out the end of their season by any means, 0-3 just might.  

No team in the modern era has ever recovered from that to win a Super Bowl.  

The talent is there.  So is the play calling.  It’s their old nemesis; execution.  This is a team in desperate need of a win.  True, they can probably put together a run during their relatively easy second half schedule, but in this division, that might not be enough.  

As of late, Kerry Collins has been playing like he has on a Raiders uniform.  The Titans need him to channel his 2008 self ASAP.  Otherwise, Tennessee could be last year’s New England Patriots; 11-5 and sitting on their couch in January.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Losing handily to an inspired Arizona Cardinals squad bears no shame.  Neither does hanging tough with Indianapolis in their opener.  This team could best be described as “Tennessee Jr.” right now.  

Both are capable of playing better, and both have had their historically hard-nosed defenses shredded in recent weeks.  

The Jags also rid themselves of over-the-hill veterans and malcontents this past off season, and on paper, they’re poised for a decent season.  Granted, quarterback David Gerrard isn’t necessarily anybody’s definition of “the answer.”  But with their smash mouth style of play, he doesn’t have to be a gunslinger.  

Under coach Jack Del Rio, consistency hasn’t been this team’s strong suit.  Against the newly confident Houston Texans on Sunday, he would be wise to sell the game as a must-win for his players.  

Otherwise, they’ll find themselves awash in a sea of “shoulda, woulda, coulda’s.”  

Houston Texans

Getting blown out by an unproven Jets team is one thing. 

“Same old Texans,” was undoubtedly on the lips of fans everywhere.  

But to totally carve the Titans’ vaunted defense, (in Tennessee, no less), is cause for at least some measured optimism.

Suffice it to say that Matt Schaub and Co. are for real.  Every year, this team is a sexy pick for having a break out year.  Yet every year, something inevitably goes awry and they find themselves mired in mediocrity and unrealized potential.  

Yes, spirits are high in Houston, but that “something” this year could be their running game.  Last year’s rookie phenom Steve Slaton is off to a slow start.  The tornado’s not here yet, but the clouds are forming.  

While Schaub has proven that he can deliver on an important stage, it’s doubtful that he can maintain it over the next fourteen games if he doesn’t have run support.  All a team will have to do is blitz like crazy and double wide receiver Andre Johnson.  

But the fact remains that their schedule is moderately friendly and they’re oozing with confidence.  Those two things will be invaluable as they try to make their way to the postseason.

And that’s just the week two take on everything.  One bad play, one bad call or one key injury could literally remake the division.  

With history being rewritten every week, the mercurial AFC South promises to provide a script for the ages.     

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Best of the Worst: The 0-2 Power Rankings

Going into week three, there are nine teams that have yet to taste victory this season.
While being 0-2 hardly spells complete disaster, it does, however, make a serious playoff run a bit harder. On the flip side, being 2-0 doesn’t necessarily guarantee success come January; collapses are just as much a part of the game as comebacks
For some of these winless squads, the slow start will merely be a speed bump on the way to the playoffs. For others, it will be indicative of how the remainder of the season will play out.
The following list aims to separate the mildly disappointed from the hopelessly downtrodden.

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