The Power Play: Titans win a game...so now what? A look ahead
Chris Brooks
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Sports
Well, well, well. Look what the Titans found. The win column. And after Tennessee's 30-13 pasting of Jacksonville last Sunday, the media immediately praised quarterback Vince Young for leading the Titans to victory.
I'm not buying that Young was the reason that the Titans won. But I'll make a case that the Titans aren't as bad as their record (1-6) shows, let's take a look at what happened Sunday, and what's happened so far to put them in the AFC South basement:
Sunday's differences
1. A commitment to the run. The Titans ran the ball 49 times against the Jaguars, the 30th time since Jeff Fisher became the head coach in 1995. In those games, the Titans are 29-1. Sunday, those 49 carries translated into 305 yards, second-most in team history.
2. Giving VY a chance. Vince Young was not asked to do much. He completed 15 of 18 attempts for 125 yards and a score. Most of those attempts were 10 yards or less, essentially an extension of the running game which the Titans executed very well. Young did what was asked of him, and no more. It's been the formula for him since he's been in the league, and that will remain the same going forward.
3. Defensive help. With the exception of two long Maurice Jones-Drew runs (that featured poor tackling), the Jags' offense was pedestrian, at best. Having Cortland Finnegan back helped out tremendously, and he helped hold top target Mike Sims-Walker to just two catches for nine yards.
The year's problems
1. Pass defense. It's been bad since that Week 1 loss at Pittsburgh. Ranked no higher than 26th, as of now they are dead last in the NFL in passing yards allowed. Kyle Vanden Bosch finally recorded his first sack of the year last week, an indication that the pass rush has been non-existent for most of the year. New defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil has had problems getting the coverages adjusted, and they've been gashed by opposing quarterbacks.
2. Special teams problems. It's a bad thing when you're constantly rotating kick returners like the Titans have. Fumbles on punts cost the Titans a shot at beating the Jets in New York, and the carousel of those fielding punts has twirled since then. Punter Craig Hentrich was lost for the year with a strained thigh after the Houston game, and three different punters have been used since then.
I'm not buying that Young was the reason that the Titans won. But I'll make a case that the Titans aren't as bad as their record (1-6) shows, let's take a look at what happened Sunday, and what's happened so far to put them in the AFC South basement:
Sunday's differences
1. A commitment to the run. The Titans ran the ball 49 times against the Jaguars, the 30th time since Jeff Fisher became the head coach in 1995. In those games, the Titans are 29-1. Sunday, those 49 carries translated into 305 yards, second-most in team history.
2. Giving VY a chance. Vince Young was not asked to do much. He completed 15 of 18 attempts for 125 yards and a score. Most of those attempts were 10 yards or less, essentially an extension of the running game which the Titans executed very well. Young did what was asked of him, and no more. It's been the formula for him since he's been in the league, and that will remain the same going forward.
3. Defensive help. With the exception of two long Maurice Jones-Drew runs (that featured poor tackling), the Jags' offense was pedestrian, at best. Having Cortland Finnegan back helped out tremendously, and he helped hold top target Mike Sims-Walker to just two catches for nine yards.
The year's problems
1. Pass defense. It's been bad since that Week 1 loss at Pittsburgh. Ranked no higher than 26th, as of now they are dead last in the NFL in passing yards allowed. Kyle Vanden Bosch finally recorded his first sack of the year last week, an indication that the pass rush has been non-existent for most of the year. New defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil has had problems getting the coverages adjusted, and they've been gashed by opposing quarterbacks.
2. Special teams problems. It's a bad thing when you're constantly rotating kick returners like the Titans have. Fumbles on punts cost the Titans a shot at beating the Jets in New York, and the carousel of those fielding punts has twirled since then. Punter Craig Hentrich was lost for the year with a strained thigh after the Houston game, and three different punters have been used since then.
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