Titans Get Their Bell Rung In Philadelphia
The Tennessee Titans got their bell rung in Philadelphia yesterday. Everyone knew the hapless Titans were as big of an underdog as Rocky was when he fought Apollo Creed in the City of Brotherly Love. This time Rocky got knocked out in the first round….with the first punch thrown.
The first punch came on the opening kick off. Ryan Succup boomed the opening kick 7 yards deep into the Philadelphia end zone. 13 seconds later Eagle returner Josh Huff celebrated at the other end of the field in the Titans end zone for a quick 7-o lead. Ball Game. The Titans were stunned, and the rout was on.
Most Titans fans saw this coming. Tennessee was in a tough spot coming off of a hard fought Monday night loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was a very physical game that quite frankly was the Titans best effort since the Kansas City opener. Coming off of this game and playing the up-temp0, gimmicky, high school/college style offense like Philadelphia runs was tough. We knew this would be a disaster.
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The Titans bright spot continues to be Zach Mettenberger. Many can criticize this young man, but he stood strong in the pocket against a fierce pass rush mounted by whoever played opposite of Michael Oher. Phillip Fulmer phoned in to say he is glad Michael went to Ole Miss after all. In defense of Oher, he was not given any help from the tight ends and since Tennessee was out of the game in the first quarter and forced to throw, the Eagles defense pinned it’s ears back and just rushed the passer. It was a pitiful game plan again by Coach Whisenhunt.
The Titans still struggle with identity on offense. They do not know who they are yet, and with the season ending soon it is likely to carry on into the offseason. The draft will be telling. On defense, well, they just struggle period. The Titans secondary was depleted. They already only have one player that could play on any other NFL team in Michael Griffin (and he is struggling as well) on the entire roster, but had so many out hurt that they were in danger of having to use another position player to fill in.
The linebackers were again nowhere to be seen. Embattled Eagle running back LeSean McCoy had is best game of the season. If a back gets by the defensive line of the Titans, it is an adventure that usually ends up in huge gains. The 3-4 is a complete bust at this point. The Titans do not have personnel to run it for sure. I don’t know how long it will take until they do, but it is going to have to be an incredible free agent signing year for the Titans front office. The Titans played the run stuffer nose tackle they should have taken in the late rounds last year when Daniel McCullers out of Tennessee started for the Steelers last year at that same position of need. What is the expression now on social media? SMH (Shaking My head)
I said at the beginning of the season (during preseason even) that this would be the worst Titans defense seen since the Oilers moved to Tennessee. That is pretty much dead on. These guys have a lot of pride. You do not get to be an NFL player by not being a great player. They are simply out of position and trying to fit in a scheme that they do not fit. I do feel a little sorry for these guys. I have played on teams that keep getting it handed it to you week after week. It is no fun, and I admire that these guys have not quit. They are just overwhelmed.
The Titans go to Texas next week. I don’t know what to expect. The Texans are playing an inexperienced quarterback that is semi – injured in Ryan Mallet. Arian Foster did not play this week as well. It would be good to see the Titans get a win against a divisional rival. I just don’t know.
Here is what I would like to see. I would like to see the Titans line up and try to run the ball physically against this defensive front of the Texans. Put Jackie Battle in at fullback and use Shonn Greene and Bishop Sankey to pound at these guys. Then you let Mettenberger use the play action to get the receivers involved. Yesterday, Titans slot receiver Kendall Wright had one catch. That catch came with a few minutes left in the game. Are you kidding me?
If Tennessee comes out and relies on Mettenberger to throw 40 times he will not finish the game. They had better think about this. If Jake Locker would have taken the hits that Mettenberger took yesterday in the Eagles game, Locker would have had the entire third floor of Vanderbilt Medical Center booked.
The Titans are now 2-9. They are battling to “not” be the worst team in the NFL. That goes with the Oakland Raiders for now, but they did get on the board Thursday against the Chiefs. That’s all I have to say about that.