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SPORTING NEWS TODAY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2009
[url="http://www.sportingnews.com"]http://www.sportingnews.com[/url]
NASHVILLE—Jeff Fisher tried to
joke when asked if his Titans had
trouble fixing the mistakes that
cost them their first three games.
“No, we went through the list,
and I don’t think there’s anything
else that can happen now,” Fisher
said.
Oops.
His Titans found a new way to
blow a game Sunday, the latest by
coming out flat with no sense of
desperation or urgency in a 37-17
loss to Jacksonville that was never
really close.
The team that posted an NFLbest
13-3 record in ’08 with 10
consecutive wins to start that season
has flopped out the gate in ’09
as one of the league’s last winless
teams. A franchise whose expectations
a month ago included a
Super Bowl berth is 0-4 and with
goals set considerably lower.
Safety Michael Griffin said the
team once called the Houston Oilers
could be the Tennessee Spoilers.
Linebacker Keith Bulluck
noted New England missed last
year’s playoffs at 11-5 and that the
Titans’ remaining 12-game schedule
almost looks like the NCAA
Tournament at one and done.
“We still have faith,” Bulluck
said. “Definitely, it’s not about
playoffs. It’s about just getting a
win and getting some wins. ... It’s
the NFL. You’ve got to love it. Each
year, you have to prove yourself.
Each week, you have to prove
yourself.”
These Titans have proven only
that they can’t finish a game, having
blown second-half leads in
their first three games.
There’s plenty of blame to go
around.
Personnel decisions range from
letting two-time Pro Bowl defensive
tackle Albert Haynesworth
leave rather than break the bank
to keeping nine rookies on the roster.
Fisher released a veteran kick
returner only to bring Mark Jones
back a month later after two bobbles
led to a loss to the Jets. Fisher
also chose youth over experience
in hiring his new defensive
coordinator.
Balls have not bounced the
Titans’ way. Or it just might be the
Curse of the Terrible Towel. Tennessee’s
last win was Dec. 21 when
Bulluck and running back LenDale
White stomped on a couple
towels that reached the field at the
end of the Titans’ romp over Pittsburgh—
six consecutive losses ago.
Once Washington won the bidding
war for Haynesworth, the
Titans insisted they could play
without the man who collapsed
offensive lines and freed up teammates
to hit quarterbacks. Well,
they haven’t yet. Tennessee has
only nine sacks and six interceptions,
down from 15 and eight at
this point in ’08.
“We play the defenses that are
called,” Bulluck said.
When former coordinator Jim
Schwartz left for Detroit this offseason
to be head coach, Fisher
promoted Chuck Cecil from secondary
coach instead of linebackers
coach Dave McGinnis, a former
coordinator. The defense is giving
up 27 points a game, up from 14.6
last season.
“Chuck’s putting the players in
position to make plays. They’re
prepared, we’re just not doing it,”
Fisher said.\
Only one team has started 0-4
and reached the playoffs. That was
San Diego in 1992. Those Chargers,
like these Titans now, lost all
four games to AFC teams with two
of those coming in their division.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2009
[url="http://www.sportingnews.com"]http://www.sportingnews.com[/url]
NASHVILLE—Jeff Fisher tried to
joke when asked if his Titans had
trouble fixing the mistakes that
cost them their first three games.
“No, we went through the list,
and I don’t think there’s anything
else that can happen now,” Fisher
said.
Oops.
His Titans found a new way to
blow a game Sunday, the latest by
coming out flat with no sense of
desperation or urgency in a 37-17
loss to Jacksonville that was never
really close.
The team that posted an NFLbest
13-3 record in ’08 with 10
consecutive wins to start that season
has flopped out the gate in ’09
as one of the league’s last winless
teams. A franchise whose expectations
a month ago included a
Super Bowl berth is 0-4 and with
goals set considerably lower.
Safety Michael Griffin said the
team once called the Houston Oilers
could be the Tennessee Spoilers.
Linebacker Keith Bulluck
noted New England missed last
year’s playoffs at 11-5 and that the
Titans’ remaining 12-game schedule
almost looks like the NCAA
Tournament at one and done.
“We still have faith,” Bulluck
said. “Definitely, it’s not about
playoffs. It’s about just getting a
win and getting some wins. ... It’s
the NFL. You’ve got to love it. Each
year, you have to prove yourself.
Each week, you have to prove
yourself.”
These Titans have proven only
that they can’t finish a game, having
blown second-half leads in
their first three games.
There’s plenty of blame to go
around.
Personnel decisions range from
letting two-time Pro Bowl defensive
tackle Albert Haynesworth
leave rather than break the bank
to keeping nine rookies on the roster.
Fisher released a veteran kick
returner only to bring Mark Jones
back a month later after two bobbles
led to a loss to the Jets. Fisher
also chose youth over experience
in hiring his new defensive
coordinator.
Balls have not bounced the
Titans’ way. Or it just might be the
Curse of the Terrible Towel. Tennessee’s
last win was Dec. 21 when
Bulluck and running back LenDale
White stomped on a couple
towels that reached the field at the
end of the Titans’ romp over Pittsburgh—
six consecutive losses ago.
Once Washington won the bidding
war for Haynesworth, the
Titans insisted they could play
without the man who collapsed
offensive lines and freed up teammates
to hit quarterbacks. Well,
they haven’t yet. Tennessee has
only nine sacks and six interceptions,
down from 15 and eight at
this point in ’08.
“We play the defenses that are
called,” Bulluck said.
When former coordinator Jim
Schwartz left for Detroit this offseason
to be head coach, Fisher
promoted Chuck Cecil from secondary
coach instead of linebackers
coach Dave McGinnis, a former
coordinator. The defense is giving
up 27 points a game, up from 14.6
last season.
“Chuck’s putting the players in
position to make plays. They’re
prepared, we’re just not doing it,”
Fisher said.\
Only one team has started 0-4
and reached the playoffs. That was
San Diego in 1992. Those Chargers,
like these Titans now, lost all
four games to AFC teams with two
of those coming in their division.
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