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8/14/2019 Titans Tracker: 2007 Tennessee Titans
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Titans Tracker: 2007 Tennessee Titans
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2007 Tennessee T i t ans
by Will Len
Cover photo by Ray Montgomery is licensed under a Creative CommonsAttribution 2.0 Generic License.
Copyright 2008 by Will Len.All Rights Reserved
www.titanstracker.com
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Preface
Titans Tracker: 2007 Tennessee Titans is a relatively unvarnished compilation of articles
I posted on my blog, TitansTracker.com, from August 2007 to February 2008. Thisebook is a free gift to fans of the Titans and the NFL. Feel free to share it with others. Ihope you find it worthwhile.
TitansTracker.com allows me to combine two of my favorite things: writing and NFLfootball. The blog is a labor of love. I wish I had started blogging about the Titans sooner.
Anyone who regularly writes in a public forum is fairly certain of his opinions, but I'velearned a lot about football, the Titans, and myself over the past year.
My belief that the National Football League is the greatest professional sports league
promoting the greatest game remains unchanged.
The Titans, under owner Bud Adams and Head Coach Jeff Fisher, is a model of stabilityand exemplifies the team-first approach in a "me-first" sports world.
And, after years of showing half-hearted interest in the franchise that left Houstonbehind, and a brief flirtation with the Houston Texans that ended in 2006, I am firmlycommitted to supporting the team that makes its home in Nashville.
While compiling this ebook, I realized I spent an awful lot of time defending fellowLonghorn alum Vince Young. For some reason, I felt obligated to defend him againstwhat I thought was a great deal of unfair criticism.
If you read what I wrote about his professional and emotional struggles in 2007, his"incident" in September 2008 was not a surprise. His professional future is uncertain, buthe's in good hands with the Titans organization. I'll continue to watch, cheer and write asthe future unfolds.
TitansTracker.com has been the one positive constant in my life in a year in which I'vefaced unprecedented personal and professional challenges. I thank God forTitansTracker.com, and I do not use these words lightly.
Happy Holidays, and Go Titans!
Will LenDecember 23, 2008
www.titanstracker.com
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Welcome!August 11, 2007
Welcome to TitansTracker.com.
I have been a fan of the Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers since January 10, 1982, when,
after the San Francisco 49ers Dwight Clark made The Catch, I switched allegiances
from the Dallas Cowboys to the Houston Oilers.
I watched Houston during the lean years of the mid-80s and was elated during the House
of Pain years which soon followed. I was disappointed when the Oilers left for
Tennessee but an appearance in Super Bowl 34 helped me get over it.
Now I watch with excitement as fellow Longhorn Vince Young leads my favorite team.
Heres to another Super Bowl appearance. I hope you enjoy reading my blog.
Preseason is not the time to panicAugust 19, 2007
The Titans won its preseason game against the New England Patriots. The Titans defense
looked good, particularly cornerbacks Cortland Finnegan and rookie Michael Griffin.
The Titans offense, especially Vince Young, still needs work.
Nevertheless, it is not time to panic, despite Youngs 5-for-17 performance. He showed
his trademark competitiveness in an unsuccessful dive toward the end zone. Most
importantly, he walked off the field without injury.
Yes, statistics are important to a degree. But heres a little perspective.
John Elway, one of the greatest (if not the greatest) quarterbacks ever, completed 47.5
percent of his passes during his rookie year, along with 7 touchdowns and 14
interceptions.
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Number of Super Bowl championships? Two.
Dan Marino is the current all-time leader in passing yards attempts and touchdown
passes. He completed 58.4 percent of his passes in his rookie season and had an out-of-
this-world second year, throwing for 5084 yards and 48 TD passes.
Number of Super Bowl Championships? Zero.
Theres no need to panic over Vince Youngs preseason performances.
Vince Young is a big game player. This was not a big game.
The New England Patriots, however, played defense as if it were in a Super Bowl. The
team was true to character Friday night. They were ruthless.
Any franchise that would put Vinny Testaverde, an over-the-hill backup quarterback, into
a game simply to extend an NFL record, has to be ruthless.
From reports, the Patriots defense attacked Vince Young and the Titans offense with the
same intensity as it would during a playoff game. Young took a vicious hit from safetyRodney Harrison, a player not known for his sportsmanlike conduct.
Here is a highlight video from the Titans-Patriots game.
Recap: Titans vs. BillsAugust 25, 2007
Titans fans are undoubtedly relieved that Vince Young played well in last nights
preseason victory over the Buffalo Bills. Young went 13-for-19 and passed for atouchdown during the first half. He also ran for a touchdown.
Watch highlights of his game and note Youngs incredible footwork as he ran out of the
shotgun and dived into the end zone.
www.titanstracker.com
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Rookie Michael Griffin was burned by Bills receiver Lee Evans. Heres the deal with
Evans:
Memo
To: NFL Players and Fans
From: Will
Subject: Lee Evans
Date: August 25, 2007
Lee Evans is fast. Really, really fast
Lookat what he did to the Houston Texans last season. I watched him run past Texans
cornerbacks for two 83-yard touchdown passes on his way to a 265-yard receiving day.
Youve got to do what you can to keep Evans in front of you.
Next for the Titans: a home game on August 30 against the Green Bay Packers.
Typically, starters play very little in the final preseason game, but you wonder if Young
might get a little extra work on Thursday.
Titans sign Simon say what?August 28, 2007
Continuing a trend of former Indianapolis Colts signing with the Titans, Corey Simon
inked a deal with Tennessee today. Simon joins fellow ex-Indianapolis Colts Nick Harper
and David Thornton on the Titans roster.
Simon was released by the Colts in 2006 after signing a mammoth contract in 2005. Why
didnt Simon play last year?
The undisclosed illness Simon had in 2006 was polyarthritis.
If it sounds serious, it is.
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Polyarthritis is arthritic inflammation in multiple joints and has many possible causes,
such as an autoimmune disorder or an infection.
After terminating Simons contract earlier this month, Colts owner Robert Irsay called
the teams relationship with Simon a bad mistake. If the Colts were not willing to
commit to Simon after signing him to a five-year, $30 million contract and a $14 million
signing bonus, why are the Titans taking a chance on him?
Besides the enigmatic Alfred Haynesworth, the Titans must not have much confidence in
the prospects of the defensive tackles currently on its roster.
Perhaps the Titans should have kept talented defensive lineman Robaire Smith, who from
all accounts is having a very productive preseason with the Cleveland Browns.
However, as former Titans GM Floyd Reese said in this article about Kyle Vanden
Bosch:
Just like every team in the NFL, you spend countless hours during each off-season
evaluating your roster and ultimately making choices you hope will pan out in the
long run. Some are slam dunks, some are risky and some simply take time to find
out.
Lets hope this risk pays off for the Titans and for Simon.
Earl Campbells current business venturesAugust 29, 2007
Note: One reason I chose the tagline all Tennessee Titans and Houston Oilers all
the time is because, in addition to writing about current Titans news, I intend to
write about the Houston Oilers and the current activities of former Oilers and
Titans players. Here is the first post on TitansTracker.com about the greatest
Houston Oiler, Earl Campbell.
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Earl Campbell has become the poster child for what can happen to a football player,
particularly a running back, who carries too great a burden for his team. Larry Johnson
had this to say after recently signing a contract extension with the Kansas City Chiefs:
I never know what shape my body is going to be in six years from now. Will I be
like Earl Campbell or will I be able to walk like Lenny Moore? You can never
gauge that.
Yet, despite the toll the game of football has taken on the Oilers legend, Earl Campbell is
very active in the business world.
Some of you may know that Campbell is part of a number of successful joint ventures.
He is president of Earl Campbell Meat Products, Inc. The companys signature product is
its spicy sausage, which now will be served in the new Earl Campbells Sports Bar
located in the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The sports bar opens August 30.
Also, the Tyler Rose has partnered with Triton to open a chain ofsports-themed auto
dealerships named Earl Campbells Pro Player Auto. The first dealership opens in
Texas City, Texas on September 8. And, of course, Campbells barbeque will be a
featured item at the grand opening.
I do not know whether Campbells soup will be served at either the new sports bar or the
auto dealership barbeque.
LenDale White expected to win RB jobAugust 30, 2007
Based on LenDale Whites preseason performance, along with his status as a 2nd rounddraft pick in 2006, TitansTracker.com projects that White will start at running back for
the Tennessee Titans in 2007. Tonight, White had 15 carries for 58 yards against the
Green Bay Packers in the Titans 30-14 victory in Nashville.
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Whites performance is also important for fantasy football managers, as he joins Vince
Young as a legitimate Titans fantasy prospect.
As I suspected, Vince Young got extra playing time tonight after being benched for the
first preseason game. He completed 11-of-16 passes for 96 yards and had two
touchdowns: one in the air and another on the ground.
The biggest mystery for the Titans before the start of the regular season is which
receivers will remain on the roster. Im pulling for underdog Biren Ealy. Unfortunately,
Ealy didnt help his chances much in tonights game. He had no catches.
Dont judge Vince Young and the Titans on paperSeptember 1, 2007
I was happy to read that ESPNs John Clayton picked the Tennessee Titans as one of his
five sleeper teams in 2007.
Veteran center Kevin Mawae says there is togetherness on this team that defies statistics.
Maybe hes right. Maybe this is a team that shouldnt be judged on paper.
If there was ever a player who should not be judged on paper, it is Vince Young. How
much more does this young man have to do to silence his critics?
He completed 65.2 percent of his passes during his final collegiate year. He led the Texas
Longhorns to a national championship over the favored USC Trojans in the greatest
performance ever by a quarterback in a college football game.
Let me repeat that. Vince Young had the greatest performance ever by a quarterback in a
college football game.
To say the Houston Texans made a mistake by not taking Vince Young first in the 2006
draft is a gross understatement. Luckily, my favorite team, the Titans, had the common
sense to pick him.
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Before the regular season starts, Vince had to deal with rumors of a poor score on the
Wonderlic test and criticism from the likes of Merril Hoge.
After starting the 2006 season 0-3, Young had a tough debut as a starter against the
Dallas Cowboys and played well in a close loss to the Colts in Indianapolis. Then, the
wins started coming. The Titans finished 8-8 and would have made the playoffs if they
had won the last game of the regular season against the New England Patriots.
At the end of the season, Young was recognized for his performance and leadership and
won the leagues Offensive Rookie of the Year award. And, as a bonus, he was selected
as an alternate to the Pro Bowl.
After all this, Vince still has his doubters, but granted, they are fewer in number than
before the start of the 2006 regular season. However, I suspect Merril Hoge is still among
them.
But I ask you, sports fans: after what Vince Young has accomplished as a Longhorn and
as a Titan, do you really doubt that he will one day lead the Titans to a Super Bowl
victory?
I do not doubt it, and I look forward to celebrating the victory when it happens.
Extend Jeff Fishers contract!September 2, 2007
I was reading an AFC scouting report on the New York Times website and this sentence
caught my eye:
Coach Jeff Fishers job could be on the line, and the schedule does the Titans no
favors.
My first thought was The New York Times is supposed to be the paper of record. How
is Jeff Fishers job on the line? The Titans signed him to a new contract. Didnt they?
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Jeff Fisher is a likeable young coach who would be hired in a heartbeat if the Titans let
him go. I assumed he had been given a new deal during the offseason and Id simply
forgotten about it. The Paper of Record receives a lot of criticism and they werecertainly going to hear from me about this.
Well. Jeff Fishers job may or may not be on the line. However, he has not been signed to
a new deal.
No coach is perfect, but the Titans currently have one of the youngest rosters in the NFL.
Is he responsible for the salary cap dilemma and subsequent drop in quality veteran talent
the team has dealt with over the past few years?
It can be argued that Vince Young had more to do with the Titans success last year than
Jeff Fisher. Nevertheless, stability in sports is usually a good thing. The best thing for
Titans owner Bud Adams to do is to maintain stability on this club. You have a franchise
quarterback, a great offensive line and emerging young talent at all positions.
Dont allow Jeff Fisher to get a new high-profile job in the NFL or NCAA. Keep him
with the Titans. Give Jeff Fisher a new deal now.
Titans expected to have horrible seasonSeptember 5, 2007
Titans fans have seen the projections. Weve read the NFL magazines and the special
sports sections with reviews of the 2007 NFL season. We know most of the
prognosticators share these two opinions:
1. The Titans will not improve on last years 8-8 record and will finish last in the AFCSouth.
2. Vince Young will take two steps back in his progress as a quarterback this season.
What if the experts are right? Should we resign ourselves to a losing season and look
forward to 2008?
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Not so fast. Here are some things you might not have predicted last season:
The New York Jets did surprisingly well under first-year coach Eric Mangini:
10-6
Super Bowl contender Miami Dolphins and Daunte Culpepper were a huge
disappointment: 6-10
The Baltimore Ravens regular season record was much better than expected with
the addition of Steve McNair: 13-3
The Pittsburgh Steelers missed the playoffs after winning the Super Bowl in 2005:
8-8
San Diego didnt miss a beat with Philip Rivers at QB; in fact, the Chargers
finished 14-2
The Philadelphia Eagles lost Donovan McNabb but still won the NFC East with a
10-6 record
The Chicago Bears survived Rex Grossmans erratic play, finished 13-3 and was
the runner-up in the Super Bowl
Super Bowl contender Carolina Panthers finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs
and last but not least,
Rookie quarterback Vince Young led the Tennessee Titans to an 8-8 record and
the Titans missed the playoffs by one victory.
If Ive learned one thing over my lifetime as a NFL fan, it is this: the game of football is
completely unpredictable. Betting on games and picking winners week-to-week is not
how wise fans spend their time. Its best to simply sit back and watch the games, and the
season, unfold.
Go Titans!
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You play to win the Super Bowl. Hello!September 7, 2007
A blog post at Two Tone Blue led me to an article by the Tennesseans David Climer.
Climer says:
In the here and now, the Titans are still chinning themselves up since bottoming
out with 5-11 and 4-12 seasons in 2004 and 05. They made considerable
headway last season but will struggle to match the 8-8 record.
It doesnt matter if the Titans are one year away from challenging for the AFC South
title.
All that matters is the here and now. What matters is whether the Titans can make the
playoffs this year.
An NFL teams number one goal is not to win the division title.
The Titans goal is to win the Super Bowl.
A Super Bowl victory can happen any season a team makes it to the NFL playoffs. Last
year, the New York Giants made the playoffs with an 8-8 record. Going 9-7 gives you a
very good chance of making the playoffs, and going 10-6 makes it almost certain that
youll have a chance to play for the title.
As I said before, I have complete confidence that Vince Young will win at least one
Lombardi trophy during his career. My expectations have no time limit and have nothing
to do with how the Titans look on paper.
The only thing we know about this season today is this: Indianapolis is Indianapolis,
Drew Brees had a bad game and Jason David is easy pickings for quarterbacks and wide
receivers. Thats it. Thats all we know.
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So whether or not the Titans ever challenge for the AFC South division title is of no
consequence. They may never win the division as long as Peyton Manning is healthy.
But not winning the division doesnt mean the Titans cant win the Super Bowl this year,
or any year.
They just have to make it to the big dance.
Titans 13, Jacksonville 10September 9, 2007
In a game that most experts and fans expected the Titans to lose, Tennessee literally ran
all over the Jaguars in a hard-fought victory in Jacksonville.
Story of the Game
Titans' second string running back Chris Brown had the biggest game of his career. He
rushed for 175 yards on 19 carries against the vaunted Jaguars defense. Brown helped
Tennessee win time of possession, sustain long drives and keep Maurice Jones-Drew and
Fred Taylor off the field.
Brown made a serious bid to be the Titans starting running back next week. He looked
quicker, faster and more decisive than LenDale White, who looked slow and tentative.
However, even White managed to gain 66 yards on 18 carries.
The Other Story of the Game
The Titans defense shut down Jones-Drew and Taylor who combined for only 48 yards
on 13 carries. The defense did allow David Garrard to complete a long touchdown in the
first half but did not let the Jaguars offense mount a comeback in the fourth quarter.
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Vince Young
Young had a typical VY day: 11-of-18 for 78 yards with one interception; he ran for 22
yards, had a fumble and scored the Titans only touchdown. He looked shaky whenever a
play took too long to develop downfield. Nevertheless, its a win in Youngs 14th game
as a starter in the NFL. I give him credit for staying in the pocket and for frequently
choosing to throw to his checkdown receiver.
Albert Haynesworth
Two personal fouls were called on defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. The first
penalty resulted when Haynesworth threw Jones-Drew to the turf at the end of a play. It
wasnt exactly a body slam, but I understand the officials call. The second penalty was a
bad call by the official. Haynesworths hand grazed David Garrards face mask while the
quarterback was scrambling in the pocket. Im sure Haynesworth is being watched
closely because of the incident with Dallas Cowboy Andre Gurode last season when
Albert was suspended for stomping on Gurodes neck.
Next Week
The Titans play the Indianapolis Colts at home. Does anyone want to predict a Colts
blowout? It wont happen here at TitansTracker.com.
If you like what you read here, subscribe to my RSS feed or bookmark this site for more
optimistic Titans coverage.
Go Titans!
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Earl Campbell regrets hitting Isaiah RobertsonSeptember 13, 2007
Earl Campbell is featured in the September 5th episode of CostasNOW. During Bob
Costas interview of Campbell, the Oilers legend says he regrets the hit he put on Los
Angeles Rams linebacker Isaiah Robertson:
I finally had a chance to see him. And I said, Man, Ive been looking for you for
many years, to apologize to you. And hes all, Man, its okay. It was just, you
know, its just football. But because of that one run I think it did something to
him, you know?
If youve ever seen an Earl Campbell highlight reel, youve seen this hit. Watch it again
during this Hall of Fame induction video tribute to the Tyler Rose.
No one, and I mean no one, runs like Earl Campbell. He was feared by defenders, and not
in the same way Barry Sanders or Gale Sayers were feared. As a defensive player, you
simply did not want to tackle this man. There are big running backs today who deliver
punishment to defenders, but not with the same intensity as Earl Campbell. He was a joy
to watch.
I hope he looks back on his career with fondness, because he is certainly paying the price
for his intensity.
Colts 22, Titans 20September 18, 2007
Story of the Game
Future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning threw for 312 yards and a touchdown and gave the
Colts the edge it needed to win a hard-fought game in Tennessee.
The Other Story of the Game
Vince Young improved on his week 1 performance by completing 63 percent of his
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passes for 171 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. However, he was off-target in a
few key situations and was not able to lead the Titans to a comeback victory.
LenDale White
White held on to the football and his job on Sunday while rushing for 64 yards and a
touchdown.
Theres lots of game video here.
Next Week
The Titans face a desperate New Orleans Saints team which has looked awful in two
early season losses to Indianapolis and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tennessee has
performed well enough for Titans fans to expect a win on Monday night. The Saints
havent shown they are capable of beating anyone. However, this is New Orleans first
home game of the season, but emotion will only carry you so far.
Go Titans!
Vince Young and the Donovan McNabb controversySeptember 20, 2007
Last weeks big story was the New England Patriots Bill Belichick. This week its
Philadelphia Eagles quarterbackDonovan McNabbs comments about how tough it is
being a black NFL quarterback:
Theres not that many African-American quarterbacks, so we have to do a little
bit extra, McNabb tells HBO. Because the percentage of us playing this
position, which people didnt want us to play is low, so we do a little extra.
and
Let me start by saying I love those guys [Peyton Manning and Carson Palmer],
McNabb tells HBO. But they dont get criticized as much as we do. They dont.
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I agree with McNabb that too much is being made of his comments, especially the do a
little extra part. I think its a throwaway line that doesnt mean much of anything.
However, I dont agree that black quarterbacks are criticized more than white
quarterbacks. Ever heard of Rex Grossman? Chad Pennington? David Carr?
I do think that, generally speaking, black quarterbacks are criticized differently than
white quarterbacks. Often, when a black quarterback scrambles, hes criticized for not
staying in the pocket. And, ironically, black quarterbacks are often criticized for not
taking the opportunity to run. Can you imagine someone criticizing Carson Palmer or
Peyton Manning for not running?
When asked about McNabbs comments, Vince Young said:
That is his opinion. I really feel like myself, black or white quarterbacks, we all
go through something because that is the life of a quarterback You have to be able
to handle all the pressure and you have to be able to handle the losses and you
have to be able to handle the media saying this about you. If you cant handle it,
then you have to get off that position and go play something else.
Yes, that is the life of a quarterback, and its a good thing that Young knows what he
faces and is prepared to handle the pressure. But is Vince Young free from scrutiny based
on his race? Far from it.
Heres a quote from Stephanie Stradley about comments she received on her blog in
2006:
Right after the draft, on my former blog, any time I mentioned Vince Young,
there would always be a few really nasty racial blasts that Id have to delete. I am
guessing that the stuff a black quarterback hears during the course of his life
would probably be worse than that.
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The bottom line is that, whether or not you agree with McNabb, he is insinuating
something that many people do not want to acknowledge or confront. Racism exists in
2007, and Stradleys statement is an ugly reminder of this.
Titans 31, Saints 14September 24, 2007
Story of the Game
Vince Young escaped the Madden jinx and had a great overall performance, passing for
two touchdowns and running for 22 yards. He left the game late in second quarter with an
apparent injury which, thank goodness, turned out to be cramps. The offensive line
deserves praise for giving Young plenty of time to survey the field and make effective
throws.
The Other Story of the Game
Mr. Monday Night, Keith Bulluck, had three interceptions and the Titans defense
turned the Superdome into the House of Pain. Reggie Bush scored two rushing
touchdowns, but was held to 15 yards on seven carries.
What on earth has happened to Drew Brees?
Total Team Effort
The Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon was fond of using the phrase total team
effort to describe his clubs performance during victories. This was an excellent game
by the Titans. The passing game and special teams showed explosiveness. The defense
continues to play championship football.
However, it wasnt a perfect game. Vince Young threw an interception into heavy traffic
and Rob Bironas missed a 27-yard field goal. Not much to complain about.
Who would have expected Tennessee to be 2-1 with two road victories?
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Next Week
Expect to see Titans players celebrating, vacationing and visiting their alma maters.
During week five, Tennessee will attempt to win its first home game against the AtlantaFalcons.
Go Titans!
America continues to eat Vince YoungOctober 1, 2007
The only good thing about Sundays incredibly negative Vince Young feature on 60
Minutes is that Scott Pelley never compared Vince to Michael Vick. Otherwise, Pelley
and the 60 Minutes editors did a great job of making Young look like an arrogant jerk.
I found it highly ironic that Pelley said that public ridicule is Vinces driving force. At
this point, Vince Young has received enough public ridicule to propel him and the Titans
to several Super Bowl victories.
Look, Im a Tennessee Titans fan and UT alum, so Im biased, but this VY hatred has
gotten out of hand. Its completely absurd. Why isnt America embracing Vince Young?
What has he done to deserve so much irrational criticism?
Merril Hoge. Jason Whitlock. Michael Wilbon. 60 Minutes. Whos next?
Merril Hoge led the Jay Cutler bandwagon last year. How far do you think the strong-
armed but constantly-sulking Cutler will take the Denver Broncos?
And how about Hollywood Matt Leinart? Leinart is currently playing so poorly for the
Arizona Cardinals that hes been taken out of the past two games in favor of 36-year old
Kurt Warner. Does anyone still think the Titans should have drafted Leinart?
Give Vince Young a well-deserved break from the irrational criticism and respect him for
his leadership and improving play on the field.
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Titans must-win game vs. the FalconsOctober 3, 2007
Its week five of the 2007 NFL season and the Tennessee Titans have a must-win game
against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. No playoff spot is at stake. Jeff Fishers job is
secure. Fan support is strong. Nevertheless, the Titans have to win this game on Sunday,
and heres why.
The Titans have been a surprise team this season, posting an unexpected 2-1 record. Any
reasonable person could have expected Tennessee to go 1-2 or 0-3 versus the Jaguars,
Colts and Saints. Granted, no one expected New Orleans to completely lose its mojo from
2006. Even so, the Titans fell three points short of being undefeated after three games and
many sports pundits rank Tennessee as one of the NFLs top ten teams.
It would be easy for the Titans to relax against Atlanta. Vince Young is fresh off a two-
touchdown performance on Monday Night Football and a non-flattering appearance on
60 Minutes (well, they say all publicity is good publicity). Keith Bulluck made a bid to
become a household name and played up to the level of his cool nickname, Mr. Monday
Night.
And the Falcons are coming to town. Atlanta is doing its best to recover from one of the
worst offseasons in sports history. The former face of its franchise faces five years in the
joint.
The Falcons new quarterback? A man who was the third overall pick in the 2002 draft
who is now playing for his third NFL team.
Joey Harrington doesnt have a cool nickname like Mr. Monday Night. Hes known as
the Piano Man. Hes also known as Joey Blue Skies, because, as his critics say, no matter
how badly things are crashing down around him, Joey Harrington will always have a
smile on his face.
Which makes him the perfect quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.
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Harrington is 2-0 after Byron Leftwich signed a two-year contract with the Falcons. A
two-year deal says you may not ever become the face of our franchise, but were not too
confident in the guy currently under center. Its safe to say that Leftwichs presence has alittle to do with Harringtons inspired play over the past two weeks.
Harrington and the Atlanta Falcons have nothing to lose. Every victory this team wins
keeps them out of an emotional cellar. The Titans, however, are in danger of slipping to
the level of the team which lost to Atlanta last week, the Houston Texans, a team so
savvy it chose a defensive lineman in the 2006 NFL draft instead of a Houston-born
heroic quarterback or a running back who might be the second coming of Gale Sayers.
Why must Tennessee win on Sunday? Because theyre better than the Falcons, and
theyre better than the Houston Texans.
Comment: Donovan McNabb controversyOctober 5, 2007
Heres what I expect to be my final comment on Michael Wilbon, Vince Young and the
Donovan McNabb controversy:
Apparently, Michael Wilbon didnt like Vince Youngs response to Donovan McNabbs
statements about black quarterbacks being criticized more harshly than their white
counterparts.
With all due respect to Wilbon, whose work I generally enjoy, hes completely off the
mark in calling VY a self-absorbed jerk.
When Vince said this isnt my battle to fight he was not referring to his status as ablack quarterback combating racism and unwarranted scrutiny or racism. He was simply
saying the battle, in this particular case, belongs to Donovan McNabb and that it is not
his job to defend McNabb or to become embroiled in this controversy. Vince simply
wants to do his job.
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Memo
To: Everyone
From: spOiler
Subject: Commenting on racial issues
Some African-Americans do not want to act as a spokesperson every time a
question arises about a controversial issue involving another African-American.
Often, when an African American has achieved a significant accomplishment, you will
often hear someone say that he looks forward to the day when race is a non-issue. When
will journalists like Wilbon allow this to happen?
Titans 20, Falcons 13October 7, 2007
What an ugly game.
Tennessee did not deserve to win today against Atlanta, but saying this discredits the
effort by the Titans defense to shut down the Falcons offense and help the team overcome
its coaching, offensive and special teams mistakes.
Fans that did not watch the game might look at the stat sheet and see Vince Youngs
three interceptions and the Titans five turnovers and think those were the major factors in
the game. Not today.
Story of the Game: Questionable Coaching Decisions
The Titans coaches made error after error in this game. Jeff Fisher had a 6-6 record after
bye-weeks and he and his coordinators almost lost this game today. Offensive
coordinator Norm Chows play calling was too conservative in the first half and too
aggressive in the fourth quarter. During the first half, Tennessee seemed content to run
repeatedly on the Falcons statistically-weak rushing defense. Although Chris Brown
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scored a touchdown in the first half, LenDale White fumbled and DeAngelo Hall
recovered it and scored for Atlanta. Overall, the Titans ran for only 92 yards.
Vince Young looked at his best during the two-minute drill at the end of the first half.
Even so, Norm Chow did not call enough plays during the drill with receivers running
into the end zone. Tennessee settled for a field goal to tie the game 10-10.
In the second half, it was clear the Falcons offense would not have any success against
the Titans defense. After the Titans took a 20-13 lead, Norm Chow started calling risky
passing plays instead of trying to wear down the Falcons defense with the run. Vince
Young made a poor decision on his third interception, but I question Chows play call.The defense was playing lights out. Why pass?
On special teams, the Titans gave up a 76-yard kickoff return to Jerious Norwood. So
what did the Titans do on the next kickoff? Did they squib kick? No. They kicked off to
Norwood who broke another long kickoff return.
The Titans coaching must have rubbed off on Atlanta late in the game. The Falcons
substituted Byron Leftwich for Harrington late in the fourth quarter. Joey Harrington had
been visibly shaken by the Titans defense and was having no significant success, but how
do you bring in a guy who has virtually no chemistry with the Falcons receivers in a
critical situation?
Leftwich completed two-of-eight passes for 28 yards. Most of his passes sailed over the
heads of his receivers.
The Other Story of the Game: Titans Special Teams
Other than Rob Bironas, the Titans special teams play was atrocious. Two long kickoff
returns by Norwood and a complete breakdown on punt protection late in the fourth
quarter gave the Falcons a chance to tie the football game with field position 19 yards
away from the end zone.
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Titans Defense
Titans fans should be thankful the defense brought its A game today, because the
offense earned a C-minus at best and the special teams earned an F. Atlanta managed toearn 99 yards rushing and 99 yards passing and did not score an offensive touchdown.
Albert Haynesworth was disruptive. David Thornton made a key interception and missed
another pass that Joey Harrington threw to him. Cortland Finnegan played inspired
football against Roddy White.
Vince Young
VY threw three interceptions. After the first one, a deep pass on which Bo Scaife
couldnt outjump Falcons linebacker Michael Boley on the sideline, you assumed VY
had thrown his obligatory first half interception and would regroup for the rest of the
game. Not today. The second pick was during a play in which he was being sacked and
lobbed the football up for grabs. Unfortunately, Falcons defensive tackle Trey Lewis
caught the lob. As I said earlier, the third interception was a poor decision but I place the
responsibility on Norm Chow for making a questionable play call.
Other than the interceptions, VY completed 60.6 percent of his passes and made some
good throws. Hopefully hell learn to take the sack instead of throwing up lobs when he
has no other options.
Next Week
The Titans face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. Tennessee may welcome the
chance to get away from home after todays shaky home performance. The Bucs are
hurting after the loss of Cadillac Williams but are playing good defense. Jeff Fisher,
Norm Chow and Vince Young have to regroup and help the Titans outstanding defense.
3-1 after an ugly win? Ill take it. Go Titans!
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Buccaneers 13, Titans 10
I did not write a game summary for this game. I was fired on October 8, 2007. Titans
Tracker was the last thing on my mind the day Tennessee played Tampa Bay on October14.
Why the Madden Curse might strike Vince YoungOctober 16, 2007
Vince Young pulled a quadriceps muscle in Sundays loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
You couldnt help but think Madden Curse when you saw Young hobbling off the
field.
His status is uncertain as the Titans face the Texans in Houston in week seven. Word is
that Vince is seeking help from a higher power so he can attempt to embarrass his
hometown team again this year.
I heard someone say, in response to the idea of a Madden Curse, that football players get
injured and that the injuries Madden cover players suffer are mere coincidence. This may
be the case, but I see a scenario in which the curse might strike Vince Young.
Heres a quote from Dr. Mike Pagnini about Youngs injury:
Any time you have a muscle strain anywhere in the body, the sooner you rush
back the greater the risk you could re-injure it or pull it worse, just like with a
hamstring, said Pagnini, who also has served as team physician for the Pittsburgh
Pirates and Chicago White Sox. The longer you wait, the greater the likelihood
that you wont re-injure it or pull it again.
Vince Young wants to play Sunday. Real bad. As long as VY is the Titans quarterback,
when the team travels to Houston, it will always be more than just another game.
Heres the question: will Vince be humble and patient enough to rest until week eight
against the Oakland Raiders, or will he rush back on the field and do further damage to
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his body? Is playing in one game worth risking injury and being out for the rest of the
2007 season?
The way the Titans defense is playing, Tennessee can beat the slumping Texans without
Vince in the lineup. I hope VY thinks this through carefully.
Titans 38, Texans 36October 21, 2007
Great game. The Titans defense did its best to give the game to Houston and Sage
Rosenfels, but Rob Bironas and Kerry Collins saved the day.
Give credit to the Houston Texans for fighting hard at the end. The Texans scored 29
points in the fourth quarter and recovered an onside kick to close the gap on the Titans.
Story of the Game: Rob Bironas breaks NFL Record
Rob My Bironas set an NFL record by kicking eight field goals in a game, including
the game winner, and lifted the Tennessee Titans to a 4-2 record. Bironas broke the
Oilers/Titans franchise record in the third quarter after kicking his sixth field goal.
After the Texans went up 38-36 on a long pass from backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels
to Andre Davis, Titans quarterback Kerry Collins, substituting for the injured Vince
Young, drove the Titans to the Texans 11-yard line and set up Bironas game winning
29-yard kick with two seconds left.
The flip side of the coin is that Tennessees offense had multiple opportunities to score
touchdowns and only produced two. Touchdowns, not field goals, would have put this
game out of reach for the Titans.
The Other Story of the Game: Titans defense takes a fifteen minute nap
Todays defensive letdown was a surprise. I would have expected the offense or special
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teams to break down instead of the defense allowing a backup quarterback to nearly
produce a Bayou City Miracle.
Tennessees defense confounded the Texans offense during the first three quarters. Albert
Haynesworth forced Texans quarterback Matt Schaub out of the game with an injury and
Sage Rosenfels produced two turnovers on his first two possessions. Nick Harper
recovered a Schaub fumble and intercepted two Rosenfels passes.
After three quarters, Tennessee led 32-7, and the Titans defense decided to take a fifteen-
minute nap and never woke up. Perhaps the front four was tired after pressuring the
Texans quarterbacks. Tennessee could not contain Rosenfels as Houston scored 29 pointsin the fourth quarter and almost won the game. Thank goodness for
Kerry Collins
Props to Kerry Collins for managing the game and for his great performance on the
games last drive which included a nice 46-yard pass to Roydell Williams.
Collins threw for 280 yards and looked very good throwing down the field. He was
average with his short passes and threw no touchdowns. Nevertheless, he performed
when it counted and put the Titans in position to win the game. Its good to know
Tennessee has a more than capable backup quarterback.
Sage Rosenfels
Ive always wondered why Rosenfels hasnt been given a chance to start in the NFL. I
thought he looked good in limited action with the Miami Dolphins and he looked great
today, despite throwing three interceptions. I dont know if Rosenfels is better than
Schaub, but there are at least five NFL teams that could use Rosenfels, including the
Dolphins.
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LenDale White and Chris Henry
LenDale White had his first-ever 100-yard game and scored a rushing touchdown. I
found it interesting that he broke a 28-yard run soon after watching teammate Chris
Henry run hard and score his first NFL touchdown.
Speed and quickness are good qualities. I hope Henry gets more carries.
Next Week
The 2-4 Oakland Raiders travel to Nashville. Oakland is struggling to find an offensive
identity and the teams only victories were against the Cleveland Browns and Miami
Dolphins.
Its nice as a Titans fan for my team to anticipate winnable games. Lets look forward to
seeing VY back on the field and hope the defense plays all four quarters against the
Raiders.
Go Titans!
Watch video highlights of the Titans-Texans game by clicking here.
Titans 13, Raiders 9October 28, 2007
This was not an exciting game, but it was a victory the way Jeff Fisher like to win:
running the ball and stopping the run. I call that style of play championship football.
It didnt hurt that the Titans played the Oakland Raiders which hurt its chances by
committing fourteen penalties, which is typical of the Raiders franchise.
Story of the Game: Poor Red Zone Offense
Early in the fourth quarter, the Titans led 10-9 and Travis LaBoy forced Daunte
Culpepper to fumble on the Raiders 9 yard line. The Titans next offensive drive produced
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five yards on a LenDale White run and two dropped passes one from Quinton Gaither
and the other from Roydell Williams which could have produced touchdowns.
Rob Bironas was the teams leading scorer for the second week in a row. Its great to
have Bironas, but Tennessee does not want to become the next Baltimore Ravens
great on defense, erratic in the passing game and capable of winning only one Super
Bowl championship.
Tennessees model should be the high-flying New England Patriots, which has a great
defense, an otherworldly offense and three Super Bowl Championships.
The Other Story of the Game: LenDale White
White had his best rushing day as a pro and his second 100-yard game in a row. LenDale
had big runs of 21 and 27 yards in the third quarter. He ran hard and offensive
coordinator Norm Chow devised a good game plan and attacked the edges of the Raiders
defense.
Vince Young
VY passed for only 42 yards, completing 6 of 14 passes. The pressure is on Vince to
produce more in the passing game. Tennessee is now a playoff-caliber team and fan
expectations are high.
Its probably not fair to be too critical of Vince. This was only his nineteenth start in the
league, and the Titans are winning, so theres no need to panic. On the other hand, at this
moment VY appears to be the teams weakest link, and many fans could care less about
Youngs learning curve, or offensive line breakdowns, or dropped passes.
Now is not the time to panic. A young players true potential or lack thereof is fully
revealed in his third season. If Vince is regularly producing sub-100 yard passing games
in 2008, then Ill panic.
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Next Week
Tennessee can look forward to another winnable game as they face the 4-3 Carolina
Panthers. The Titans defense will face either 43-year old quarterback Vinny Testaverde
or the easily-sackable David Carr. Regardless of who starts for Carolina, Steve Smith is
capable of outrunning the Titans secondary.
I dont think the Panthers are as good as their 4-3 record, especially on offense. Even so,
the Titans must score more touchdowns before their luck runs out and they lose a game to
a team it should easily defeat.
Go Titans!
Watch video highlights of the Titans-Raiders game by clicking here.
Adams among Oilers/Titans HoF preliminary nomineesOctober 31, 2007
An article from TitansOnline announces that Titans owner K.S. Bud Adams is one of
eight individuals associated with the Oilers/Titans franchise who is on the 2008 Pro
Football Hall of Fame Preliminary Nominee List. The other Oilers/Titans preliminary
nominees are:
Robert Brazile
C.O. Brocato (scout)
Ray Childress
Kent Hill
Wilber Marshall Reggie Roby
Ken Stabler
Steve Tasker
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Given Adams long history with the NFL and AFL, I think he will be voted into the Hall
of Fame someday.
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, and others, thinks Bruce Matthews will be the
last Oiler to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
I disagree.
Ray Childress was fierce. He was a five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman and was part
of the House of Pain defense that was known for shutting down the run. He deserves to
be inducted.
Eddie George has a good (but not great) chance of being inducted. He was the heart and
soul of the Oilers/Titans offense and made the Pro Bowl four times. Also, the Hall likes
running backs. If Thurman Thomas was seen as a key contributor for the Buffalo Bills
and eight of his thirteen seasons were average at best George deserves a look.
I saw Robert Brazile play when I was a kid, and while I didnt fully appreciate his impact
on the game, I have a hunch he deserves to be inducted.
Finally, Id love to see Steve Tasker be inducted as a special teams player, even though
he gained notoriety as a Buffalo Bill.
Chris Henry picked wrong major, faces suspensionNovember 4, 2007
If youre a college football player who wants to play in the NFL, you might want to
change your major to pharmacy. Immediately.
Chris Henry, the Titans rookie running back who majored in philosophy at the University
of Arizona, is facing a four-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
Interestingly enough, the banned substance was in a prescribed medication, is not
considered to be performance-enhancing, and was not banned by the NFL last year.
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Is Chris Henry responsible for knowing the chemical breakdown of his prescription
drugs? Does the NFL take into consideration when Henry received the prescription and
what ailment was being treated? What if Henry really need to take this particular drugand has no viable alternative?
As an outsider, I can only speculate, but on the face of it, suspending Chris Henry seems
unreasonable. Perhaps there is something the league knows that, if made public, would
make the suspension seem more fair. Without more information, it appears the NFL is
playing Gotcha! with one of its own players.
Henry is appealing the suspension and should play today against the Carolina Panthers.
If Chris Henry, who rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns over the past two weeks,
is suspended, it will be a minor blow to the Titans offense. Backup Chris Brown is still
recovering from an ankle injury, but LenDale White looks more like the running back
who dominated while at USC. Vince Young is due for a big game running and throwing
the ball. Tennessees offense can survive the loss of Henry but his speed and
quickness will be missed.
On another note, its not a good time to be named Chris Henry, or to have the surname
Henry. Chris Henry of the Cincinnati Bengals is soon returning to his team after an
eight-game suspension for violating the NFLs personal conduct policy. Also, former
Titan and current Denver Bronco running back Travis Henry is facing a one-year
suspension for a substance abuse policy violation.
Titans 20, Panthers 7November 5, 2007Barring a complete collapse, the Titans will make the playoffs this year. 76 percent of
teams with a 6-2 record make the playoffs. Running the ball and stopping the run
has produced a successful first half of the 2007 season. The pressure is on Vince Young
and his receiving corps to step up.
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On Sunday, the Titans defense was excellent as usual, Vince Young was so-so and
LenDale White ran hard. But Carolina had no chance to win this game, and heres why.
Story of the Game: David Carr
It is now clear that the problem with David Carr is not his offensive line or his supporting
cast. After five and a half seasons in the NFL, David Carr has been sacked so many times
that he is likely more concerned with avoiding the pass rush than with completing passes.
Why? More often than not, Carr holds the football too long in the pocket.
Look at Carolina QB Vinny Testaverdes success with the Panthers offense in the teams
week six victory against the Arizona Cardinals. Carolina literally pulled Testaverde from
his recliner, stuck him in the lineup and watched him immediately develop chemistry
with receiver Steve Smith, who caught ten passes for 136 yards against Arizona.
What type of chemistry did Steve Smith have with David Carr? Smith caught three
catches for 15 yards. Until the fourth quarter, Smith had two catches for zero yards.
Sometimes you get a little help from your opponent on your way to victory. David Carr,
who was sacked seven times, gave the Titans a lot of help.
The Other Story of the Game: LenDale White
LenDale White has been the offensive MVP over the last two weeks. He ran for exactly
100 yards and one touchdown against the Panthers.
When asked if anything has recently changed with the Titans offense, White said:
Nothing, nothing at all, insists the second-round pick from 2006. Its the same
stuff were running. Maybe Im just more comfortable in the offense. Thats about
it. Nothing major has changed. Its the same plays we called three or four weeks
ago that were calling now. (courtesy Nashville City Paper)
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I think hes been pushed by Chris Henry and, to a lesser degree, Chris Brown, and as a
result, hes running harder.
Vince Young
Young looked OK on Sunday. He was accurate throwing out of the pocket and looked
sharp during the first drive of the game and during the two-minute drill to end the first
half. His stats, however, were unimpressive and he threw two interceptions. After the
second interception he sat on the bench, buried his head in his hands and had to be
consoled by center Kevin Mawae.
Vince appears to be a rhythm quarterback. Perhaps the Titans should play a hurry-up
offense more frequently. The Titans are a running team, but conventional wisdom says
that points are produced in the passing game, so theres much room for improvement.
Next Week
The Titans must bring its A game when it faces the Jacksonville Jaguars. Third-team
quarterback Quinn Gray threw for 354 yards in the Jaguars 41-24 loss to the New Orleans
Saints. Jacksonvilles defense is not what it used to be, but division games are alwaystough, and the Jaguars have playmaker Maurice Jones-Drew on offense and special
teams.
Tennessee has defeated relatively weak opponents over the past three weeks. Vince
Young will need to play his best game thus far in order for Tennessee to beat the Jaguars.
With all due respect to the Titans defense, I will be shocked if they completely dominate
Jacksonvilles offense.
Go Titans!
Watch video highlights of the Titans-Panthers game by clicking here.
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Pacman will miss entire 2007 seasonNovember 6, 2007
ESPN reports that Adam Pacman Jones will not be have his suspension shortened by
the NFL and will sit out the entire 2007 season.
The Titans, who have replaced their best defensive player, had been expecting the
suspension to stand.
As we have said all through this process, we understood the suspension was for a
year and made preparations to move our team forward without Adam Jones, the
team said in a statement. We will continue to monitor his situation and will
address his future when he is reinstated by the commissioner.
The Titans are doing fine at cornerback without Pacman. 2007 first-round pick Michael
Griffin, a college safety, was chosen by the Titans to play cornerback, but second-year
cornerback Cortland Finnegan has played so well that the Titans are starting Griffin at
free safety. Free agent Nick Harper is holding down the left cornerback slot.
Jaguars 28, Titans 13November 11, 2007
The wrong team played Titans football today.
Jacksonville took the Titans out of its game with aggressive run defense and effective
running by Maurice Jones-Drew.
By beating Tennessee with backup quarterback Quinn Gray and without defensive tackle
Marcus Stroud, Jacksonville showed that it is the second-best team in the AFC South
behind the Indianapolis Colts.
Its almost unfair to point the finger at the defense as the primary reason Tennessee lost.
Jacksonville simply outplayed Tennessee. Also, the Titans made tons of little mistakes
(bad snaps, dropped passes, interceptions, penalties) which contributed to the loss.
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Story of the Game: Titans cant stop the run
Albert Haynesworth, Tennessees most valuable defensive player thus far, sat out todays
game with a hamstring injury. The Titans missed Haynesworths run stuffing and pass
rush. Tennessee gave up three rushing touchdowns, allowed Maurice Jones-Drew to run
for 101 yards, and produced only one sack. The Titans defensive line committed a
number of penalties trying to anticipate Quinn Grays snap count.
Jacksonville held the ball for over 34 minutes. While the Titans defense did a good job of
containing quarterback Quinn Gray, overall it spent too much time on the field and
allowed Jacksonvilles offense to convert a number of key third down plays, including a
scramble by Gray on 3rd and 12 with 4:57 left in the game. Fullback Greg Jones scored a
three-yard touchdown on the next play to give the Jaguars a 28-13 lead.
The Other Story of the Game: Titans cant run the football
Jacksonville made a commitment to shut down the Titans running attack after allowing
Tennessee to run for 282 yards in game one. Before LenDale White left the game with a
knee injury, he had run for only 12 yards on eight carries. Backup Chris Henry was held
to minus-two yards on three carries. Vince Young led the team with 52 yards on eight
carries.
Vince Young
VY had his highest passing yardage total as a Titan, completing 58.5 percent of his
passes for 257 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
While I would like to take credit for offensive coordinator Norm Chows decision to run
a hurry-up offense in the second half (see my previous blogs which discuss VYs success
in the hurry-up/two-minute offense), the Titans were forced to throw after being down
21-3 at halftime.
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With White injured, backup running back Chris Brown recovering from injury and Chris
Henry facing a possible suspension, Young may be forced to throw more over the next
few weeks. This might help accelerate his growth as a passer.
Next Week: The Merril Hoge Bowl
Tennessee travels to Denver to face the Broncos and quarterback Jay Cutler on Monday
Night Football. Titans fans remember that, in 2006, ESPN commentator (and relentless
Vince Young critic) Merril Hoge said if he were a general manager, he would draft Cutler
in favor of Vince Young or Matt Leinart.
The Broncos do not have a great run defense, but Young may have to match Cutler throw
for throw if LenDale White is out. Passing success will be tough since Denver has a great
secondary with Champ Bailey and Dre Bly at cornerback.
The Titans are better than the Broncos on paper but Mile High Stadium is a tough place
to play. Can Keith Mr. Monday Night Bulluck inspire his team to a tough road victory?
Go Titans!
Watch video highlights of the Titans-Jaguars game by clicking here.
Tracker Off Topic: Rickys back!November 15, 2007
Every NFL fan has an opinion about Ricky Williams, including me.
Ricky Williams, the eccentric running back currently with the Miami Dolphins, was
reinstated by the NFL after an 18-month absence due to a drug suspension.
The 0-9 Miami Dolphins need Ricky Williams. The NFL needs Ricky Williams.
We need Ricky Williams. Why? Because he shows us there is more than one way to live
ones life and that its OK to fail as long as you continue making the effort to overcome
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your shortcomings. Also, he challenges the idea that there should be a forgiveness
quota.
I have a tendency to like athletes who are mavericks and nonconformists. Think
Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Dennis Rodman. Ricky Williams falls in the same
category. He marches to the beat of his own drum and often makes people uneasy with
his behavior and his opinions. I dont think drug use is cool, but I like Williams because
hes not afraid to be different.
Wouldnt life be boring if we were all alike?
Hes well-read and well-traveled. Hes a soft-spoken thinker in an aggressive sport. Hes
also a very good running back.
In 2004, Ricky was interviewed by 60 Minutes Mike Wallace. As we saw during this
years Vince Young interview, 60 Minutes tries very hard to make the majority of its
guests look bad. VY probably assumed the best of60 Minutes and spoke without guile
(not necessarily a bad thing), but after CBS edited the piece, Vince looked like a selfish
jerk, not like an assertive leader. However, Ricky, being the iconoclast he is, did a good
job of not allowing himself to be portrayed as simply a self-centered pothead.
I love his response when asked about his sudden decision to leave the Miami Dolphins
during the 2004 training camp.
When would it have been OK for me to stop playing football? Williams says.
When my knees went out? When my shoulders went out? When I had too many
concussions? When is it OK? Im just curious. Im just curious, because I
dont understand. When is it OK to not play football anymore?
Due to his multiple drug suspensions, Ricky Williams has managed to extend his NFL
career. He has only played six NFL seasons and seven professional seasons overall he
spent 2006 with the Canadian Football Leagues Toronto Argonauts.
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Williams has rushed for 7,097 yards, almost four thousand yards less than Edgerrin
James, the running back chosen one pick prior to him in the 1999 NFL Draft. Ricky has
elite talent and very low mileage for a thirty-year old player. And he will continue todraw interest from NFL teams because hes really big and really fast.
Does he deserve repeated chances to play football? He spent five and a half months in a
Boston treatment center dealing with social anxiety disorder, and, presumably, his
marijuana use. He has done what was asked of him by the NFL. And Commissioner
Roger Goodell, who is no pushover, gave Williams the OK.
Should the Miami Dolphins allow Williams to play for them? Why not? The Dolphins arewinless. Some observers might say that accepting Williams is further evidence of the
teams dysfunction.
Dolphins management has been criticized for making questionable personnel decisions
over recent years, none of which involve Ricky Williams. Adding Ricky to the roster
would be a sign of sanity for a once proud franchise that has lost its way.
I hope, as a Ricky Williams fan, that hes done sabotaging his NFL career so I can watch
him do what he does best: run the football with a rare combination of exceptional speed
and brute force.
Is Vince Young too hard on himself?November 16, 2007
Vince Young is having a tough sophomore season.
Hes completing over 60 percent of his passes and his team has a 6-3 record, but hesthrown ten interceptions and has accounted for only six touchdowns four passing and
two rushing.
There is no doubt that the Titans lack playmakers at the receiving position. Playmaking
receivers make tough catches and fight through tight coverage. They dont drop easy
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passes. A young quarterback needs playmakers to ease the learning curve. Rookie Ben
Roethlisberger had Hines Ward on his side in 2004. Tony Romo has Terrell Owens. Eli
Manning has Plaxico Burress. Other quarterbacks, such as the 49ers' Alex Smith, strugglein part because they lack a dynamic and experienced receiving corps.
Apart from the Titans receivers, I think Young is struggling because hes trying too hard
to be a pocket passer.
An article by ESPNs L.Z. Granderson says that Young sometimes wears a t-shirt that
says I am a quarterback. His expressed goals are to take the Titans to the Super Bowl
and to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Vinces ambitions will serve him well in the long run (no pun intended). The Titans will
have games similar to last weeks loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars where the defense shuts
down Tennessees running game and Young will have to pass frequently in order to give
his team a chance to win. Cowboys great Troy Aikman recently said the most important
quality in a quarterback is accuracy. If Vince wants to be a Hall-of-Famer, he must
become a more accurate passer. And heaven forbid he suffer a knee injury and lose his
effectiveness as a runner (see Daunte Culpepper and Donovan McNabb). If he becomes a
solid passer, he increases his odds of having a long and productive NFL career.
But how do Vinces goals affect him in the short run?
There have been a number of occasions this season that Ive seen Vince Young roll out of
the pocket with open field in front of him. Instead of taking the opportunity to run, as he
often did in 2006, he passed (pun intended). More passing and less running mixed with
inexperienced receivers equals more interceptions and fewer touchdown passes.
Its awkward trying to play football (this is a game, remember?) and overcome
stereotypes at the same time. Its even tougher when youre a high-level competitor like
Vince Young.
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But I understand why he trying to become a better pocket passer. Hall-of-Fame ambitions
aside, no quarterback ever wants to be compared with Michael Vick.
Anthony Cotton of the Denver Post wrote a great article about Vince Young and suggests
that he is taking too much responsibility for his teams offensive struggles.
Not long after his Tennessee Titans lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars last Sunday,
Vince Young, still clad in most of his game uniform, took a seat in front of his
locker and stared. Soon enough, the 15 minutes became 20, and 20 turned into 30.
Teammate LenDale White ambled over, offering a few words, as did backup
quarterback Kerry Collins a short time later. Before the lonely contemplation was
complete, offensive lineman Michael Roos also would approach, offering his own
solace.
Its not his fault, Roos said. He gets the blame for a missed pass, but its the
offensive line maybe not giving him enough time. It could be the receiver. It
could be the tight end.
Its everybody. He just shouldnt be so hard on himself.
Weve seen what happens to athletes when the game becomes work. When its no longer
fun. When he cant deal with unreasonable fan expectations. Some athletes turn to drugs
or get in trouble with the law.
Other athletes retire early.
I dont want Vince to retire because hes not having fun, or because he never became as
accurate as Troy Aikman, or because he never passed for 4,000 yards in a season.
I want to see the Tennessee Titans win the Super Bowl and Vince Young sharing the
victory with his teammates, regardless of his passing stats.
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Barring injury, Vince Young has the competitive drive and the physical talent to become
one of the greatest quarterbacks ever, but it wont happen if hes playing quarterback
simply to overcome stereotypes. In order for Young to reach his full potential, hisdecision-making ability needs to equate that of the great Joe Montana, with a twist.
If running the football is the best option during a pass play, run.
Its OK to be a quarterback who runs the football. Redefine the position and win.
Broncos 34, Titans 20November 20, 2007
The Denver Broncos won the Merril Hoge Bowl but Vince Young silenced his critics
with a big night. Unfortunately, the Titans have lost two games in a row and slipped to
the middle of the NFL pack with a 6-4 record. The Titans miscues dropped passes and
missed tackles cost them the game.
Story of the Game: Titans D gives up big plays
The Titans defense is not the same without Albert Haynesworth. They gave up a 48-yard
TD pass to Brandon Stokley, a 41-yard TD pass to Brandon Marshall and a 62-yard TD
run by Andre Hall. In addition to Haynesworths absence, the Titans tackled poorly all
evening. After the Stokley touchdown in the first quarter, I knew the Titans were in for a
long night.
The Other Story of the Game: Vince Youngs big night
VY completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 305 yards passing with one touchdown and
two interceptions. He also ran for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Young was forced to pass early and often and he delivered in a big way. In the first
quarter, it appeared as if the Titans were trying to establish the passing game (are the
Titans coaches listening to the critics who say they need to open up the offense and allow
Vince a chance to improve as a passer by throwing more often?).
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Overall, the Titans passed 41 times and ran the ball 29 times, including Vinces 11
carries. The offense missed opportunities (dropped passes by Roydell Williams, Brandon
Jones and Bo Scaife) and Youngs interceptions hurt the Titans effort. Even, so, VY hada great night while getting little to no help from the defense.
Next Week: Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have taken a giant step backward. Cincinnati is 3-7 but still can air it out
with Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, T. J. Houshmanzadeh and (the other) Chris Henry.
The Titans need this victory to avoid a three-game slide into mediocrity. The Titans need
Haynesworth back on the field and another big game from Vince Young to avoid being
embarrassed by the Bengals.
Go Titans!
Watch video highlights of the Titans-Broncos game by clicking here.
Is Vince Young thinking about retiring?November 23, 2007
Remember this statement from my November 16 blog about Vince Young?
Weve seen what happens to athletes when the game becomes work. When its no
longer fun. When he cant deal with unreasonable fan expectations. Some athletes
turn to drugs or get in trouble with the law.
Other athletes retire early.
I dont want Vince to retire because hes not having fun
I wondered if I was being melodramatic by suggesting that Vince Young might be worn
out from criticism and thinking about retirement.
Turns out I was right.
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Watch the Vince Young interview in this episode of Titans All Access.
Im not trying to start a false rumor, but its clear that Vince is bothered by criticism. He
mentioned Merril Hoge by name in the postgame press conference after the Broncos
game.
He also knows its not reasonable to expect a second-year quarterback to play like Tom
Brady. But do Titans fans know this? Does Merril Hoge know this?
Bengals 35, Titans 6November 25, 2007
No Albert Haynesworth, no victory.
Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
The Titans are 0-3 for the second half of the 2007 NFL season and 0-3 without defensive
tackle Albert Haynesworth in the lineup. Cincinnati dominated the Titans on offense,
defense, special teams and coaching on its way to a 35-6 victory.
Story of the Game: Wheres the D?
Without Haynesworth, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, the Titans defense
helped receiver Chad Johnson get his sexy back with three touchdown receptions.
Tennessee only managed one sack against quarterback Carson Palmer, who completed 32
of 38 passes for 283 yards and three touchdown passes to Johnson.
Cincinnatis Rudi Johnson ran for 88 yards and scored his first rushing touchdown of the
season against a defense which showed little intensity all day.
Now I understand why the Titans signed defensive tackle Corey Simon earlier this year.
The Titans desperately need depth on its defensive line. Unfortunately, Simon retired on
October 25, Haynesworth is still injured and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch left
todays game in the fourth quarter with an injury.
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Haynesworth has to get better, right?
The Other Story of the Game: Questionable Play Calling
Prior to today, Cincinnatis defense was ranked 29th overall. Theoretically, Tennessee
could have success with whatever offensive strategy it designed. However, with a defense
playing poorly without Ha
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