NFL notes: No need to panic in Tennessee

Looking at the 0-2 teams in the league right now, I have to believe that the least amount of panic is taking place down in Nashville. Yes, the loss to Houston did expose some matchup issues for the Tennessee secondary. But even after giving up 30-plus to the Texans, the Titans still rank second in the league versus the run—giving up only 49.5-yards a game—and that will prove to win ball games as the season progresses.

APDespite being 0-2, life is a little easier for the Titans with running back Chris Johnson.

On offense, Chris Johnson has shown us that he may just be the most explosive player in the league, and there are plays on the field that QB Kerry Collins can make to stretch opposing defenses even more, making this offense even more potent with big play capability. However, the wild card for Tennessee is head coach Jeff Fisher. Does anyone think that Fisher—or his team—will show any signs of stress when taking the field against the Jets this week? No chance. This team will prepare to play the Jets just as if they were 2-0 or if they had already clinched a playoff spot.

Too much leadership on that team for the Titans to come out flat against the Jets.

In the past when you talked Buccaneers football, the first words that came out of your mouth had to do with the play of the defense—and the creation of the Tampa 2. But, after two weeks of action, where has the defense gone? The Bucs are giving up an average of 450 yards a game (good for 31st in the league), have forced three sacks and picked off one pass. It is no wonder that Bucs coach Raheem Morris has played with the idea of benching former first round pick DE Gaines Adams, because right now the entire defense is being questioned. Scheme has nothing to do with tackling, playing with technique and running to the football.

The Bills host Drew Brees and the Saints on Sunday at The Ralph, and I am curious to see how they attack New Orleans from a defensive perspective. As I have talked about plenty of times when it comes to the Bills, they are a Tampa 2 football team. But after two weeks, Buffalo has only registered three total sacks as a unit—which can spell disaster when taking on Brees.

APAaron Maybin has yet to register his first career sack in the NFL.

Just like every defense in the NFL, Tampa 2 is very beatable if the quarterback has time to throw the ball. I would expect Buffalo to pressure early with their zone blitz packages and then play coverage on third downs. But, someone outside of DE Aaron Schobel has to make an impact. Sunday would be a nice coming-out party for rookie DE Aaron Maybin from Penn State, who has yet to get his first NFL sack.

The NFL’s decision to fine Steelers safety Tyrone Carter has me confused. From my perspective, Carter was attempting to make a play on the football, nothing else. And, for the league to come down on him with a fine is really starting to limit the ways defensive backs can attack the ball. Even Bears TE Greg Olsen, who took the hit, admitted that he thought it was a clean play.

Unlike the leg whip by Dallas OT Flozell Adams, which was an intentional play that deserved a fine, Carter was doing what he was taught—and that is playing aggressive and going after a receiver with a clean hit. I am not sure where you draw the line, but you can’t take the playmaking ability away from defensive backs, as it creates an unfair advantage for the offense.

Josh McDaniels was brought in to coach the Broncos because of the numbers he could produce under his offensive system. But after two weeks and a 2-0 start, the Broncos defense is playing some of the best football in the league. They rank 1st in points allowed (6.5) and are 2nd in total yards allowed per game (253.3). I’m not sold that this defense has the ability to make plays for 14 more weeks, but it is hard not to give them credit for the way they are playing football right now.

APWill the misery ever end in Detroit?

There is a lot of upset talk in Detroit right now, but I’m not buying it. I understand that the Redskins have some major issues—and now some major issues along the offensive line—but this team will lean on its defense all season long under coordinator Greg Blache, and the Lions will struggle to score points. For Detroit to pull off the upset and end their streak of 19 consecutive losses, rookie QB Matthew Stafford will have to engineer some big plays down the field and protect the football—a lot to ask of a rookie against this defense.

I thought Cedric Benson’s play last Sunday at Lambeau against the Packers was excellent. But, was it merely an example of a team like Cincinnati—a team unfamiliar to the Packers—coming into town and stealing one? That remains to be seen, and can be judged at a later date, but we will know more about this Bengals offense when they host Pittsburgh on Sunday.

The Bengals offense is at its best when Benson can run the ball and produce big yards, but against the Steelers there will be no surprises. Divisional opponents know each other like college rivals. You spend time studying the tapes of your division opponents all offseason, and the game plans will not have anything that either team hasn’t seen. It usually comes down to players over schemes—and Benson need to be one of those players for the Bengals to pull of the upset.

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