Titans-Steelers Thoughts

by PB @ BON on Dec 21, 2008 3:30 PM CST in Football Comment 37 comments

Just got back from watching the Titans whip the Steelers at a local sports bar. A few thoughts, including a few follow up thoughts on last night's post:

Though my point in the Collins-VY post was that the Titans should be shooting for improvement by using Young in some form, I saw more than enough from Collins today to agree with those who say making a change this season would be a bad idea. Collins was at his absolute best today -- certainly good enough to let Tennessee's other strengths shine and take care of the game. I certainly wouldn't replace him as the starter.
With that said, my point last night stands: The Titans offense is B/B+, with ample room to improve. You can't convince me there aren't situational roles for Vince Young on that team.
The Titans whipped the Steelers today by controlling both lines of scrimmage. Jason Jones was a terror on defense, while the Titans' offensive line handled the Steelers zone blitzes far better than most. Kerry Collins played mistake-free football and that was that. This is a very impressive Tennessee football team.
Michael Griffin had 2 INTs for the Titans today, including one run back for a touchdown. Attakid.
Bruce Arians is a joke.
Ben Roethlisberger holds the football forever.
Congrats to the Titans, who clinch home field throughout the playoffs. I can't stand Jeff Fisher, but I like so many players on this Titans team. And even though I think this offense could be better if they'd look to exploit Vince Young here and there, it was fun seeing Kerry Collins (what is he, 40 years old now?) out there getting it done. Pretty great story.

0 recs | Comment 37 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Curious, PB, what do you dislike about Fisher?

I hated the call last week to go for it instead of kicking the field goal, but that was one week. Year in and year out Fisher is one of the best game managers around. Is it a personality thing?

by ctex80 on Dec 21, 2008 3:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Oh nothing major

I don’t hate the guy or anything. He just epitomizes the conservative, play-not-to-lose coaching style I so loathe in the NFL. I’m a recovering Bill Cowher watcher.

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Dec 21, 2008 3:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see him be more aggressive offensively,

but his defense is something to behold. We’ll see next year how much of that was Schwartz, however.

by ctex80 on Dec 21, 2008 4:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I see what you mean about being conservative, but I actually believe he just knows the strength of his team is its defense. So, he’s not afraid to lean on that frequently. However, against the Texans, I think he should’ve been conservative and tried the FG rather than going for it on 4th and 3. If nothing else, they didn’t need to go deep on that play. Anyway, I think he’s a fantastic coach, and a coach players love to play for. Some people don’t like the Titans, but I really don’t know why anyone would dislike Fisher. I guess I might be biased, though.

by junglerules on Dec 21, 2008 8:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't seem that way back in the Steve McNair days

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Dec 21, 2008 9:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

FYI on the FG

Fisher had charted his kickers % at different lengths both directions before the game. The way the kick was going to be was several yards past where his kicker had been hitting them. According to Fisher, ha makes those decisions at the beginning of the game and always sticks with them.

by Horncasting on Dec 21, 2008 11:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Some good doing by Longhorns in the Dolphins / Chiefs game too

Ricky Williams gains 34 on the ground for a touchdown; 50 in the air for the team’s second leading receiver.

Jamaal Charles takes a screen 75 yards; grabs another 2 passes for 27 yards.

Good to see so many Horns still getting after it. I love Ricky Williams’s story.

by TXinDC on Dec 21, 2008 4:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Benson

170 yards for the Bungals

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Dec 21, 2008 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

tarell brown

had a game ending int for the niners

by SFhorn on Dec 21, 2008 7:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Justin Blalock

Recovered a fumble for a TD in the Falcons game that put them in the playoffs.

by Horncasting on Dec 21, 2008 11:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How about Ricky vs. Derrick?

There was a play that Ricky tackled by Derrick. It was quite a reunion for both of former Horns players.

by GoHorns1 on Dec 22, 2008 6:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Keeping up with the Joneses.

The game ball goes to:

Rookie Jason Jones, who started in place of Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, had the game of his short career against the Steelers. The second-round pick out of Eastern Michigan picked up 3.5 sacks and forced three fumbles.

(from the Titans web site; the linky icon isn’t working, it goes to top of this page.)

Who was expecting this? When Haynesworth has been out before, usually the defense usually struggled. This represents some serious depth.

by whills on Dec 21, 2008 5:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Get over yourself

Vince Young is not a good NFL quarterback and will never be. I’m sorry for being a troll, but I can’t stand this denial that you guys have. Vince Young can’t cut it and won’t cut it ever in the NFL. Meril Hodge was right, the Titans hid him when he played. There is a reason why he was benched he can’t throw the ball and he isn’t smart enough to be an NFL quarterback. Platoon systems or two QB systems don’t work. You can’t run the zone read in the NFL. Make your stupid Aggie jokes and say “where is Reggie McNeal?” I don’t care, you guys need to get over yourself and realize that Vince Young is not going to be an NFL QB. Stop trying to defend him. He isn’t smart enough to play in the NFL and he doesn’t have a good enough arm or accuracy to play in the NFL.

by PrimeTime2012 on Dec 21, 2008 6:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

ROTY only 2 years ago

Meril Hodge was right, the Titans hid him when he played.

Riighhtt…. With two years under Chow who tirelessly tried to fit a square peg into a round hole. He did such a good job that he was fired in two seasons.

IMO, the offense, and Vince’s, performance would have improved dramatically with the addition of Chris Johnson in the backfield because you’re forced to defend a two headed monster out of the zone read that “can’t be run in the NFL.” It’s hard to draw any conclusions on the effectiveness of the zone read when the other player you’re defending is slow ass Lendale White. That’s not what he’s designed to do…

by SuperHorn on Dec 21, 2008 6:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He was roty...

PURELY, because he had a comeback performance in a few games and he was HEAVILY HYPED!!!!

I was listening to Bill King on Rivals Radio last week and they were talking about how poor collegiate secondaries are and that is by far the biggest difference between the college and pro’s as far as the difference in skill level. This is also why QB’s like BJ Symons and Timmy Chung(?) dont succeed in the pros. Those guys were excellent passers in college, better than VY. VY made collegiate defenses respect him because he could beat them so many ways. In the NFL the secondaries are much better and the defensive ends(who will prevent you from escaping the pocket) are much better.

VY is a tremondous ATH. He would be a HOF WR. Can he make the transition?

Furthermore, VY not succeeding in the NFL isnt an indictment of his perfomance with the Horns a few years ago. He is one of the best players to play the game.

by K2HMFIC on Dec 22, 2008 9:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"He would be a HOF WR"???? Are you high?

What in the holy hell are you basing that on?

by ctex80 on Dec 22, 2008 9:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

high may not be the culprit here....

What in the holy hell are you basing that on?

just a wild guess here, but based on the fine analysis and deep thinking displayed, could it be his, er, hue?

by Pflash on Dec 24, 2008 11:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You can't predict the future any better than anyone else.

And do you really think, if the Titans thought as you did, they’d still be paying out on a $58 M contract?

The fact is, you aren’t ready for prime time here and I do predict you “never will be.”

by whills on Dec 21, 2008 6:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Good point, whills

Never will be about sums it up.

Actually, the zone read is working great as a specialty series for several NFL teams. Vince doesn’t have enough arm to be an NFL success? He has enough arm to be an MLB success . . . I agree, to an extent, about the smarts and maybe the accuracy. I would ask PrimeTime, where’s David Carr today? Matt Leinart? They were NFL prototypes — arm, smarts, ran NFL offenses in college.

by edsp on Dec 21, 2008 6:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Obviously need to watch more

Vince definitely has the arm. You can question his accuracy in intermediate passes and his ability to read defenses, but questioning his arm is just stupid. He can throw.

Besides, the reason Vince was pulled was because of INJURY. Same thing happened to Warner in St. Louis, and nobody is going to say that Warner was/in an inept QB.

by TheElusiveShadow on Dec 21, 2008 7:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You did bring up a great point though

Where is Reggie McNeal?

"Stats are for losers, I like winning games."

by bendj on Dec 21, 2008 9:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

quick question PB,

why can’t you stand Jeff Fisher?

by jacobb23 on Dec 21, 2008 6:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

answered earlier

(look at 1st comment)

by longhornricky on Dec 21, 2008 6:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks.

sorry i was lazy..

by jacobb23 on Dec 21, 2008 6:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry PB, but your point doesn't stand

Now you’re saying Collins should remain the starter, so you’re backpedaling. With VY, you can’t just say the offense would improve. Sure, they’d gain mobility at QB, but what about turnovers? With Johnson and White, the necessity to have a mobile QB lessens. Collins is doing a solid job for a backup. Those “terrible WRs” didn’t look that bad today.

Lets re-evaluate this next preseason. This is just a very, very odd time to be starting up the “START VY” campaigns. Totally spontaneous PB.

by goingforthecorner on Dec 21, 2008 6:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hey now

Something’s got to take up our time. After all, we still have to wait a bit before our bowl game, and nobody wants to talk about our basketball loss, I’m sure.

by TheElusiveShadow on Dec 21, 2008 6:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I would at least like to discuss it

Anxiously awaiting PB / AW / GOBR’s recap of the MSU game…

by goingforthecorner on Dec 21, 2008 10:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Two things

I said the offense would be better using VY in some form. After watching today, I’m fine saying that it makes no sense to start him over Collins. Kerry was crisp as can be today. That doesn’t mean there’s not a way for Vince to be used situationally that can improve the offense. That’s not backpedaling. Read what I’m actually saying.

As for the MSU game, I had an 8-hour final yesterday and missed it. Three other BON authors were on planes. We may not get to this one. Texas Basketball Report will run this coming week though.

--PB--

by PB @ BON on Dec 21, 2008 11:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

VY is the future

Look, what options do the Titans have? Collins may have one more year before his legs go. They can’t afford to spend a #1 draft choice on a rookie QB when they have such dire needs at WR. Simms? Don’t make me laugh. So the only real option is to develop Young. By now Fisher must know that means retailoring the offense, which will have to be done in the off season. So the only reasonable course is to ride Collins the rest of the way this year and look to Young in 2009.

Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If they get mad, you're a mile away AND you have their shoes.

by Caradoc on Dec 21, 2008 9:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wide Receivers in the draft

Who are the NFL scouts projecting as first round wr’s? I’m sure it will depend on if people like Crabtree come out, but I just wonder who is considered first or second round material?

by junglerules on Dec 21, 2008 9:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just go over to Mel and get an idea.

Kiper’s choices of seniors (obviously when players start coming out, Mel’s draft picks will change). To get deep info, like top 5 by position, requires $. There’s all kinds of info out there.

Could be a banner year for TEs if they all come out. If Crabtree, Maclin and Percy Harvin declare, the WRs improve dramatically. Didn’t see Quan listed anywhere, but I think he’s got better hands than Iglesias. The true seniors are pretty thin.

Dec. 17 mock draft
4. Brandon Pettigrew, TE, OSU
22. Mohammed Massequoi, WR, Georgia
24. Joaquin Iglesias, WR, OU

Tennessee will draft in the bottom quarter; and there should be some decent choices around. Fisher still has to pull the trigger and that’s a big maybe.

by whills on Dec 22, 2008 1:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Next week

Since the Titans have already clinched home field advantage & the division, will the Titans start VY?

by longhornricky on Dec 21, 2008 9:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Now that could be a possibility

but I wouldn’t expect that to translate to anything in the postseason as far as VY getting playing time.

by goingforthecorner on Dec 21, 2008 10:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

way back in the day...

when, strangely enough, NFL offenses weren’t even as complex as today’s, it was generally thought that a QB needed a few years – 4 was often touted as ideal – of backup duty and learning…

I think the people who have buried VY on the basis of last year and this preseason may turn out to be a little too quick on the trigger. I still expect Vince to use his time on the bench wisely and come back stronger than ever some day soon.

I also agree with PB that this is not the time for him to replace Collins, but it would sure be a smart thing to work in a few special packages for him (even some like the ones Pittsburgh used for Kordell/Slash…) now, before they need them… that kind of foresight and imagination has been in short supply though around Nashville for a good while.

by Pflash on Dec 24, 2008 11:29 AM CST reply actions 0 recs