Despite 0-3 start, they have the right ingredients to reach playoffs. Matt Bowen
Can the Tennessee Titans put together a run and get back into the AFC South race? In the history of the NFL, only five teams have started 0-3 ended up reaching the playoffs. Let’s take a look at what the major issues are right now for the Titans, and what they can rely on going forward with a brutal stretch of games coming up.
Tennessee Titans: 0-3 (fourth in AFC South)
’08 Record: 13-3 (first in AFC South)
The issues
1. The secondary
APCortland Finnegan had a particularly rough Week 2 against the Texans.
The Titans’ secondary has been carved up over the first three weeks of the season. It started in Week 1 when Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers threw for 300-plus yards, and it continued in Week 2 when the Texans’ Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson put on a show. This defensive secondary tightened last week against the Jets, but that should be expected against a rookie QB. This week, the Titans rank 29th in pass defense, giving up over 274 yards a game. Suddenly, the loss of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz to the Lions is taking effect — because the personnel hasn’t changed.
2. Kerry Collins
Collins was the savior of the ’08 Titans: dependable, accountable, and he protected the football. Everything you want from a pro quarterback. But he’s off to a slow start, and despite the additions of Nate Washington and rookie Kenny Britt at the wide receiver position, Collins has a QB rating of 69.9 and is completing only 55 percent of his passes. In last week’s loss to the Jets, Collins threw 13 consecutive incompletions to close out the game. I’m a huge supporter of Collins, but the production tells a different story. Time to bring back Vince Young? Not yet, but another loss and it might start to look that way.
The positives
1. Chris Johnson
APThe Titans always have a chance to win because of Chris Johnson.
Save the Adrian Peterson talk for another day because Johnson is the most explosive and maybe the most feared threat out of the backfield when it comes to big plays in the NFL right now. He’s racked up 351 yards and a 6.6-yards-per-carry average through three games to go along with 9.6 yards a reception. Any time he touches the ball, he can go for six because he’s the fastest player I’ve seen in pads for quite some time. Johnson gives this mundane offense big-play capability every Sunday.
2. The run defense
Stopping the run in the NFL is — and always will be — the No.1 priority of any defense when it walks on the field. Despite their deficiencies in the back end, the Titans rank second in the NFL against the run, giving up just over 60 yards a game. They shut down Willie Parker of Pittsburgh, Steve Slaton of Houston and, this past week, Thomas Jones and Leon Washington of the Jets. Good enough to win? Without a doubt, but this defense still needs that one big play because its front seven is keeping them in games all the way to the end.
The hidden stat
Tennessee is minus-3 in turnover ratio. During its 13-win season of ’08, it finished plus-14. Without the big play in the passing game, the Titans score points based off field position — and they need turnovers to work with a short field, something they are not getting in ’09.
Looking ahead
Here’s the lineup for the next three games on the Titans’ schedule:
At Jacksonville (1-2)
Vs. Indianapolis (3-0)
At New England (2-1)
APJeff Fisher is the longest-tenured coach with one team in the league.
Two must-win division games followed by a tough road trip to Foxborough to take on Tom Brady and the Patriots. Bottom line: a rough stretch before the bye week.
The wild card
Jeff Fisher. The Titans’ head coach is, without a doubt, a top-five coach in this league. His team will be prepared, and somehow he’ll find a way to stay in these games. Now it’s up to his players, because the scheme and the direction will be there. They just have to make the plays when the game is on the line.
Can they do it?
I’m hesitant to say that Tennessee is going to rebound, but taking a step back and looking at this team, there’s no reason to count them out yet. Because when you have coaching and can run the ball while stopping the run on defense, you’ll be in every NFL game down to the wire.
A tough climb, but of all the teams sitting at 0-3, Tennessee provides the most hope to put together a winning streak.
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Fish keeps them together and they rebound. No chance of catching Indy down by three games, but I can see them sneaking in with a wild card at 11-5, 10-6.
Run defense is too good to keep them out.
The personnel in the secondary might be the same, but they did lose Albert Haynseworth.
They basically giftwrapped a couple of scores for the Jets with fumbled kicks. Take those away, and it's an easy win. Also, their offense looked like they had never seen a blitz before. It's not like all out blitzes are a secret weapon for the Jets. How could Collins and the offense not be ready?
Everyone wants to praise Jeff Fisher, but let's look at the Jets game. He repeatedly put a rookie cornerback out there to handle punt returns. That cost them 14 points and horrible field position at least 2 or 3 times. Michael Griffin isn't great but could have handled them after the first fumble by Mouton. Fisher said all week that they were fine with their positions and that they didn't need to make a move. His arrogance proved to be the Titans downfall last week. Now they sign Mark Jones back on to the team. Better than Justin Miller? I don't know but at 0-3 it's a little late to just now make this move since it's been a problem since week 1.
Now on to Chuck Cecil and his inability to make adjustments to his defense.....actually you know what....I'm too frustrated to do that without tossing in some words I might regret so we'll let that one settle itself out.
Time for VY to get that arm warmed up and his diapers ready.
Haynesworth is what's missing, not Schwartz. Even DL Coach Washburn has broken the party line and said he "misses AH on 3rd down" and I don't think Cecil's doing things very differently from Schwartz. That being said, it's on Cecil to make adjustments and bring some heat from the back 7, but that's not the scheme this unit has been built around. Vanden Bosch has struggled and the secondary looks very different without that same pass rush.
Collins has been put into situations where he needs to win games instead of not lose games. Overconfidence with personnel and an unchanged scheme got them to where they are; the offensive personnel/scheme isn't going to have success without a dominant D and great special teams play (Chris Carr anyone?). The tape's out on Collins, you saw it with PIT and NYJ, make him move and the ball's going to a DB or out of bounds. It's now up to TEN and Collins to adjust, but how much can you expect out of 36 yr old QB with a 73 career rating?
Matt Damon we can see you're frustrated but Jeff Fisher has earned the benefit of the doubt.
I wouldn't count out one of his teams until the math makes it impossible. Coaches make hundreds of decisions that effect a game and there's always going to be mistakes, but the guys a great coach IMO, and in the opinion of many others.
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Sep 30, 2009
12:00 PM
Hard to believe the Titans are 0-3, but that team is definitely talented enough to turn it around. Jeff Fisher will not let that team fold, that's for sure. I think they'll fight to stay around the .500 mark over the next couple months, and having 3 straight home games in December will help them make a late push for the playoffs. The only thing I question is if Kerry Collins peaked last year and is on his way down. Their running game will have to carry the offense again this year.