Popular Post OILERMAN Posted November 11, 2013 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 The Titans big picture came into focus with the embarrassing loss to the Jags yesterday and it's a picture that should be frightening for fans of this franchise. It's a picture that shows just how far this team is from actually contending in a league full of average to terrible teams. It's a picture that leads you to believe the canvas needs to be wiped clean and a new picture created. I really don't think it's the end of the world because the Titans lost a home game to the 0-8 Jaguars. I think it's possible the Titans beat the Colts Thursday night and get right back into the race mathematically. Anyone that saw what the Rams did to the Colts yesterday isn't thinking the Colts are a lock to get an easy win against the Titans. What came into focus with the loss was something far more troubling than losing to a terrible Jaguars team, it was the big picture. When you look at the Titans season as a whole you start to see problems with the foundation of the team that make it almost impossible for me to believe this could be a SB winning team. It wasn't a series of fluke events that led to the loss yesterday, it was season long trends that caught up to the Titans yesterday. The loss isn't what scares me with this team, it's the big picture. The Titans started 3-1 this season despite some serious flaws. The Titans offense was just as bad during that 3-1 stretch as it was yesterday minus an NFL record tying start to the season of not turning the ball over. They needed a miracle TD pass as time was expiring to beat SD and beat a terrible beat up Steelers team, the Jets game was an anomaly. The Titans are now 1-4 in their last 5 games and the real difference is the early streak of no turnovers was unsustainable. Yesterday the Titans were held scoreless on their first 7 drives, a pretty routine occurrence all season long. Last week the Titans had all of 70 yards deep into the 3rd quarter. Four times yesterday the Titans had 3rd and 3 or less and failed to convert. The running game was terrible yesterday, that's not surprising, last weeks successful running game was the surprise. The Titans first 7 drives ended like this: Fumble, punt, punt, punt, punt, INT, punt and fumble. I'd like to be able to say the injury to Locker contributed to the loss but Fitzpatrick had an outstanding game posting a 111 passer rating almost leading the team back after falling into a 13-0 hole behind terrible play by Jake Locker. The Titans terrible pass protection led to 9 points directly. A blitz RT Mike Otto failed to pick up led to a strip fumble return for a TD and a holding call by Chance Warmack in the endzone caused a safety. Once again, this wasn't a fluke, the pass protection has been terrible all season. You will not win consistently in today's passing NFL if you cannot pass protect, especially when you have one of the worst running games in the league. Special teams also remained consistently bad yesterday, once again, not a fluke. Watching this team try and develop Jake Locker is one of the most frustrating things I have ever witnessed as an Oiler/Titan fan. Assuming he's out for the season he will enter his 4th season having started 17 games total, in 4 of those starts he only played a half or less. Considering Locker's injury history and the fact he's still recovering from an injury I was shocked to see him carrying the ball on designed run plays and less shocked to see him routinely absorb big hits. Jake Locker refuses to protect himself so the coaching staff has got to manage this, not magnify it by running him into the belly of the defense! This doesn't even speak of the offensive philosophy of taking the ball out of his hands and trying to be a power running team with Chris Johnson, the exact opposite of a "power runner" to put it kindly. Last week on Monday Night Countdown on their "Come On Man" segment they showed Peyton Manning as the Bronco's fumbled the ball. As soon as the ball was fumbled Manning immediately got as far away from the scrum as possible. He wasn't trying to jump on a loose ball to save a single play. Peyton Manning understands the big picture and his health greatly outweighs a single fumble. The Titans are an unstable team and the staff has no such luxury, they are fighting for their future every game. If they think an option play by Locker against the pitiful winless Jags will help them win then future be damned! Fans are calling for Munchak's head all of the sudden because of this single loss despite the fact last week everyone was on top of the world after defeating long time Titans/Oilers head coach Jeff Fisher. The truth is there is no difference in last week and this week, the big picture is just a lot clearer to everyone. No one knows anything about the new ownership and how they will handle things after the season. All we can really hope for is they start fixing this team in a way that truly leads to the team being built correctly and into a contender. Right now they aren't even close.Click here to view the article XAEA12, scine09, TitansGuru, and 6 others 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonboy Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Doesn't make me feel any better...but this might be your best blog yet. Only part I even slightly disagree with is that it took a "miracle" TD to beat the Chargers. Yesterday's hail mary with the Bengals was a "miracle TD." Jake just threw a great pass and Hunter made a great catch - exactly what they're supposed to do - against an inexplicable defensive set in the Chargers game. Watching this team try and develop Jake Locker is one of the most frustrating things I have ever witnessed as an Oiler/Titan fan. Assuming he's out for the season he will enter his 4th season having started 17 games total, in 4 of those starts he only played a half or less. Considering Locker's injury history and the fact he's still recovering from an injury I was shocked to see him carrying the ball on designed run plays and less shocked to see him routinely absorb big hits. Jake Locker refuses to protect himself so the coaching staff has got to manage this, not magnify it by running him into the belly of the defense! This doesn't even speak of the offensive philosophy of taking the ball out of his hands and trying to be a power running team with Chris Johnson, the exact opposite of a "power runner" to put it kindly. Preach. All in all...it freaking sucks. We aren't bad enough to have a top 5 pick, yet we aren't good enough to be in legit contention. I also agree we could "shock" the Colts on Thursday and many would be right back to believing. The flaws run deep, however. Seeing a team like the Chiefs turn it around so quickly does give me hope. Alcibiades, Aramis, and OILERMAN 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OILERMAN Posted November 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Doesn't make me feel any better...but this might be your best blog yet. Only part I even slightly disagree with is that it took a "miracle" TD to beat the Chargers. Yesterday's hail mary with the Bengals was a "miracle TD." Jake just threw a great pass and Hunter made a great catch - exactly what they're supposed to do - against an inexplicable defensive set in the Chargers game. First of all hard to say which blog is the best, they are all so good!!!! I don't disagree about the SD game aside from the fact it was a miracle SD went man coverage in that situation. BTW, Cordelle Patterson is looking pretty damn good to me and a future star in the making XAEA12 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobo Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 The way Munch/Ruston have built this team is not working, and doesn't look like it'll work itself into a consistent winner. Inconsistent QB, speed back for a power run built offense, bad O coordinator choices, tons spent on OL and receiving options that haven't paid off. I admit I try to drink the koolaid and see the bright side to most of these things in the beginning, but when they give you serious doubts as well early on, it feels totally unshocking to be where we currently are. Feels right at home. Number9 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonboy Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 BTW, Cordelle Patterson is looking pretty damn good to me and a future star in the making Really wish he would have went to a team with a decent QB. He had flaws as a WR for sure, but he's been a star on special teams already. I haven't gotten to watch them enough to know how he's improved as a WR. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Munch was a terrible hire from day one. The guy wasn't prepared for his interview and never thought he would get the job. I also think Webster needs to go. What has he really done? Locker was a waste of a 1st rounder and Wright while serviceable will never be a game changer. Don't get me started on the Warmack pick either. The idea to build a power running team around a soft player like CJ is worth being fired over alone. I've never been as down as I am right now on the direction of this team. Hopefully Tommy Smith's post game comments were serious and not some PR bullshit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number9 Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Real good blog Oilerman. It's kind of hard to read, but it nails the Titans. I agree it's all fixable, but who knows if it will be done. The description of Jake's carelessness and the stupidity of the offensive scheme's use of him is really alarmingly eye opening. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OILERMAN Posted November 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Real good blog Oilerman. It's kind of hard to read, but it nails the Titans. Because of my poor writing skills or because it's hard to read negative comments regarding the Titans? Number9 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMJ Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 jonboy kissing ass. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Number9 Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Because of my poor writing skills or because it's hard to read negative comments regarding the Titans? They are not negative. They are true. Using Jake to run the option after the NFL said it's okay to blowup any QB who does that, just makes you wonder do they have any GD sense at all. OILERMAN, and IsntLifeFunny 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonboy Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 jonboy kissing ass. LOL Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OILERMAN Posted November 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 Two positives The play by Casey in this game was amazing. After the Locker-CJ fumble exchange Casey busts through the line and tackles MJD for a 3 yard loss, then on 3rd down he gets a sack, Verner's INT was pretty incredible. The Jags throw a back shoulder fade and it's a very accurate pass but Verner contorts his body around and with one arm picks the ball away from the WR. I've never seen a back shoulder fade defended so well. Jonboy, Number9, and IsntLifeFunny 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OILERMAN Posted November 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 I also thought the TD drive after half by the Jags was absolutely terrible on the Titans. The Jags marched that ball down the field. The first Pollard penalty was offset and the Jags were still 1st and 15 and the Jags completed a skinny post on McCourty and converted. Then they just easily punched it in for the TD. Although Pollard got flagged for roughing the passer for the most part the Jags just marched down the field. The Jags were not just winless this season, they had been blownout by double digits in every game, they were without Blackmon and both starting OTs from the start of the season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonboy Posted November 11, 2013 Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 I'm going to be so freakin' annoyed if they let Verner go. Omar, and OboroTitanFan 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OILERMAN Posted November 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2013 I'm going to be so freakin' annoyed if they let Verner go. There are tough choices coming Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.