Chargers 17 Titans 6

by Jimmy on Jan 7, 2008 7:42 AM CST in Tennessee Titans News

Yesterday was one of the most frustrating days of my life. Not only did the Titans lose, my 2nd favorite NFL team the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost, and the internet at my house didn't work on the one day I wanted to be a part of the open thread more than any other. I can't tell you how many times I turned off my modem, reset my modem, and hit the refresh button in explorer, all to no avail.

As for the game, I have a few quick thoughts for the morning with much, much more to come throughout the day. You cannot win in the NFL if you don't score touchdowns. That is really the bottom line. I told my wife at halftime, and she didn't care at all but I had to tell someone, that 6 points was not going to win that game. I really felt like we were going to have trouble scoring any more. Turns out I was right.

The 2nd problem, other than the offense, was the fact that the Titans failed to make the necessary halftime adjustments. The offense hasn't been able to make adjustments all year, but yesterday it seemed the defense failed as well.

If you would have told me before the game that LT was going to have 21 carries for 42 yards, and that Antonio Gates would have been out the entire 2nd half, I would have danced around my living room with visions of this team facing the 16-0 New England Patriots.

Yesterday's loss was very frustrating, but we have nothing to hang our heads about. This team went 10-6 and made the playoffs. There were very few people, myself included, who expected that. Again, I will have a lot more about this game today. Be sure and hang around this offseason as well as we will recap the season and get ready for the draft.

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Like much of the season, this was...

...an exciting, thrilling, frustrating game. I thought VY played well. I thought Biren Ealy played well. I thought the O- and D-Lines were good in the first half and then less-good in the second.

To me, honestly, the goat of the game was Chris Brown. To fumble on the 9 like that against a team that has more talent than yours... that was a killer. You only get so many chances, and you have to take advantage, even if it's just with a FG. His fumble was an absolute killer. The tempo of the game was never the same after that. The Titans had them, and then they let up, and they never regained control.

Bironas's missed FG was also bad. Right there, even if you're only giving up six points, it's enough to make it a one-score difference, which would have changed the tempo at the end.

What I cannot understand is why folks want to blame the fumble and the missed FG on VY. VY played pretty well. He had a good run, managed the game well, and made throws when he had to. And he was under A LOT of pressure. If you think Collins would have survived that, you're crazy. The Charger's D-Line hits every bit as hard as the Titans.

And BTW, I think VY knows he played pretty well. Witness his willingness to talk to the press after the game and to try to cheer his teammates. This season was a major learning curve for Vince, both because he had to grow up and learn to win without a lot of help and because he couldn't scramble as much... for whatever reason.

We have a lot to look forward to as fans. When you go to the playoffs in a rebuilding year, that's actually a good thing.

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Jan 7, 2008 8:01 AM CST reply actions

Danno E

First of all I don't blame VY for the fumble. Brown had a tough hit from the opposing defense that forced the ball out.
Secondly the game as far as VY goes looked like quite a few of his other games this year. He did not play real good, he did not play horrible. If the Titans defense continues to be as good as they were this season and Young manages to get the team close enough for Bironas to kick field goals the formula works,to a point. IF the Titans D loses any power next year the offense is in real trouble. They will have to step up and prove that they are worthy of their pay starting with VY. 9 TD 18 INT. for 17 games is just NOT GOING TO CUT IT.
The Chargers came out in the second half inspired, it seems as if they had a "talking to" during half time intermission that inspired them to take control of the situation.
I congratulate the Titans Defense on a great season, especially Haynesworth. To me, you are the defensive player of the year.

JOY KAT

by Bergman on Jan 7, 2008 9:04 AM CST up reply actions

Brown had no business jumping in the air like that

but if you do it, you have to have TWO hands on the ball when you do. Note the way LT does it. He's actually good at it. Chris Brown... not so much. So, to me, that fumble was avoidable. Because, as Eddie George used to say, "You've got to know when the journey's over." For that run, the journey was over. No foul there. But acting crazy causes craziness, and in this game, that wasn't a good thing.

Tiki Barber used to have this same problem until Tom Coughlin came in and MADE him run with two hands on the ball. After that, Tiki was AMAZING. It sucks that our guys haven't learned the same lesson.

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Jan 7, 2008 9:24 AM CST up reply actions

A couple of plays here or there

A couple of plays here or there could have made the difference Phillip Rivers fumble in the 1st quarter. They were able to recover their own fumble near their own goal line. #2 Chris Brown fumble in the red zone. #3 Bironas missed field goal. Any one of these going the other way could have easily changed the complexion.
Lastly the interception of Phillip Rivers could have been a spark to get the offense going, but it just didn't create the momentum needed to get a win. I sincerely wish Collins would have gotten a chance, he deserved a shot after securing the playoff spot last weekend against the Colts. Chow would have probably called more passing plays in the first half when the O line was doing their job. The second half, the Charger defense was on fire and eating everyone in front of them.

JOY KAT

by Bergman on Jan 7, 2008 10:37 AM CST up reply actions

I am sick of this secured the playoff spot crap...

....Ingle Martin could have secured that spot against the Colts 3rd teamers.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Jan 7, 2008 10:54 AM CST up reply actions

Hey,

I like Ingle Martin!

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 7, 2008 2:23 PM CST up reply actions

I do as well....

....just making a point.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Jan 7, 2008 2:30 PM CST up reply actions

my soapbox

i've been nonstop at this....

but our return game has got to improve

our offense sucks...no one, including me is denying that...

but it sucks even worse when it never gets to work with a short field...

our kick off return team can't get the ball past the 25...literally, it hasn't happened in weeks or months...

our punt return team can't gain as single yard and too often leave us backed up inside our own 10...

oh ya...one more thing..

NORM CHOW MUST GO

great season ya'll...i look forward to discussing offseason moves with everyone....

by zackmann on Jan 7, 2008 8:28 AM CST reply actions

What hurts

the most, is the fact that we lost a game we could (should?) have won...
Its one thing to lose to a 16-0 Patriots team (if we'd have gone to the next round)! I would have taken that alright, even if it was like 30 to 0...
But to lose to an average Chargers team, specially without scoring a TD, is something else completly different!
Brown's fumble and Bironas' miss really finished us! Otherwise it could have been a completly different ball game at the end!
Our defense line also sucked in the 2nd half! How can things change so much from one half to another? How can it happens so many times during the season???
Finnegan played really bad, despite that great interception!
LT's TD was very questionable!
VY's performance was nothing more than OK...

And just to end it:
NORM CHOW MUST GO!

The biggest Titans fan in Brazil.

by brazilian fan on Jan 7, 2008 8:43 AM CST reply actions

Finnegan played the best on defense...

him or Tulloch, Tulloch of which got praise from Peter King in SI's Monday Morning Quarterback. Tulloch best be our starting middle linebacker next season, Ryan Fowler was prety much non-existant all year, don't remember his name being called once.

by titanbt53 on Jan 7, 2008 11:32 AM CST up reply actions

impossible

he had some nice plays, but it is impossible to say anyone in our secondary played great. Their wr were open like Florida's used to be againt UT when Spurrier was there.

by DonFrancisco on Jan 7, 2008 7:11 PM CST up reply actions

I'm sorry

I am so bitter today...
I'm just sad... :(

The biggest Titans fan in Brazil.

by brazilian fan on Jan 7, 2008 8:44 AM CST reply actions

Let's not lose perspective here...

Don't any of you fine folks remember what the consensus was when VY was drafted? It would take him 2-3 years to get to the point where he could START for an NFL team.

Yet, before he's even started 32 NFL games, he's helped get us to the playoffs! Can't say that about Cutler, Leinhert, T. Jackson or anybody else.

We got a winner people.

We are set for a decade at QB. What we need now are some threats around him: can you imagine what we would look like a Gates/LT, Addai/Clark, Malroney/Moss or Parker/Miller type combo with our young QB?! Jesus effing Christ we'd be on par with the Colts every year if other teams had just 1 more offensive weapon to fear...

Reinfeld did a very nice job this year with the draft and free agency (a whole lot better than it looked like 6 months ago!), so let these haters hate in vain (believe me, there's the same kind of ignorant trash floating around Indy message boards as well) and lets get excited about next year!

My name is August West, and I love my Pearly Baker best, more than my wine

by August West on Jan 7, 2008 9:21 AM CST reply actions

Great Point

The only other person in his draft class that has done anything was Bush, ad he didn't start, didn't lead the team, and when Duece was hurt this season and Bush had the chance to step up and show his stuff he played like crap, so VY doesn't deserve all the critisizm that he has got, he is still learning, and when he gets it, he will take us far.

by mccarronz on Jan 8, 2008 12:32 AM CST up reply actions

Great Point...except

Maurice Jones-Drew was in that same draft class and he is doing very well.

However, he is a RB and not a QB so that wouldn't be a fair comparison.

by theologic on Jan 8, 2008 8:16 AM CST up reply actions

Weapons

Weapons, Weapons. Get VY some new toys on offense, change some stuff around, there's no going backwards with the pathetic passing offense we had this season. We should be able to use Pacman like the Bears use Hester. And we have the most cap money, I'd say we pull a Patriots and take all the best free agent reciever, like Bernard berrian, and also trade for a top reciver, like Chad Johnson. If we need to give away a first rounder, then thats what we should do for one of the top 3 recievers in the league. We dont want VY's growth to be stunted because he is playing with a bunch of #3 recivers, Roydell is probably the only one who is close to being called a #2.

by titanbt53 on Jan 7, 2008 11:34 AM CST reply actions

and don't forget...

Hell, it could be worse: we could be Steelers fans this year (all the talent and experience, but still going home)!

My name is August West, and I love my Pearly Baker best, more than my wine

by August West on Jan 7, 2008 12:49 PM CST reply actions

I made that point earlier today.

Big Ben threw THREE picks and scrambled like crap. They had, believe me, every chance to win and still blew it... at home. Ouch.

Honestly, it sucks that the Titans didn't win, but then again, there was NO WAY they were gonna beat the Pats. It is what it is: still the best season in a good long while.

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Jan 7, 2008 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

I'm home from the game....

I was at Qualcomm live and the damn chargers fan were all over me before kickoff... I was talking so much trash the whole first half and i was loving it... I haven't gone back to watch the game yet but we dominated the run and I saw exactly what rivers saw on the one of a million 3rd and longs... BLOWN COVERAGE... the second half was such a let down... i just can't believe it... Great Season overall though... I hope we get our Wideout and Pacman coming back next year will pay off huge in the return game and the secondary... Finnegan/Pacman Griffin/Hope with Harper back in the nickel... LOOK OUT!

by Titans Fan 10 on Jan 7, 2008 1:26 PM CST reply actions

my dog is dead i kicked him to hard yesterday

whats up with gage? first 2 throws to him he drops the pass?? hes done get him out of here. whats up with norm chows offence? why cant we score points. somebody give me an answer as to why we cant score points? is it cus of norm chows offence? is it cus chow and vince hate each other. is it cus vince dosnt cant make the throws? is it cus we have nobody at reciver worth anything. is it cus bud adams didnt sign bobby wade back? he would have been a big contributor yesterday i think. how does bud adams expect this team to win a playoff game with all these has been 2nd and third string recivers. eric molds and gage are just ok not great but semi ok. but why is it we cannot score points? somebody plase give me an answer cus i cant firgure it out.

by dentureboy on Jan 7, 2008 1:28 PM CST reply actions

i didn't know...

that they allowed you to blog in prison Michael Vick :)

I like Gage, I thought he had a solid year, a bad day yesterday...but a solid year.

by gotitans27 on Jan 7, 2008 1:33 PM CST up reply actions

Dude, he was the best receiver on the team...

... and he got cut from CHICAGO.

Yes, those WRs were THAT bad. Man, oh man, did we ever miss Keyshawn Johnson this year. What a game he'd have had yesterday.

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Jan 7, 2008 1:44 PM CST up reply actions

Gage is actually a free agent....

....but I am all for re-signing him.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Jan 7, 2008 2:31 PM CST up reply actions

I cannot imagine there would be that much market

for Gage. I'd think ANY Titans receiver would be toast just because he'd been on the team this year.

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Jan 7, 2008 2:42 PM CST up reply actions

I say we sign

the best free agent reciever and try to trade for chad johnson, even if its a first rounder.

by titanbt53 on Jan 7, 2008 4:57 PM CST up reply actions

There is another UFA out there.

Don't forget about the guy catching a few passes up in Foxboro. He's unrestricted this year and wouldn't cost a #1 pick. It'd be a LOT of money and a BIG risk, but he is available.

Big Bill "You never lose a game if the opponent doesn't score." Darell K. Royal

by Hook em Titans on Jan 7, 2008 5:12 PM CST up reply actions

not johnson

Johnson is a locker room cancer (Several reports said he took a few swings at Marvin Lewis earlier this year!) who fades every december and drops tons of crucial catches. We can do better than what he's shown over the last 3 years.

In this case, beggars must be choosers to an extent!

My name is August West, and I love my Pearly Baker best, more than my wine

by August West on Jan 7, 2008 9:09 PM CST up reply actions

i didnt kill my dog

if hind site is 20 20 dont you think after we shut down lt yesterday for all the the first half the titans coaches could possibly predict that they where going to try and thorw the ball in the 2nd half cus lt wasnt getting it done? why didnt we send everybody we could and blizs him to death cus we knew they where going to pass. iam sick and tired of sitting back in coverage and letting griffth and lawrey who are knew to the nfl try and cover all these guys forever cus we have no pressue. we should have sent everybody to get rivers off ballance then the backfield wouldnt have to cover these guys for eternity. how did these guys for the chargers get so wide open? i mean nobody within 15 yards of them and we have all these guys back there coverage cus we dont blitz and we still cant cover them. i liked the way jeff fisher came out he did just like i told him to. throw on first down and send blitzs ie rivers fumble on the blitz at the start of the game. they did that and we where kicking ass then for some unknown reason we go back to the predictable same old we cant score and we know it game plan. fisher did good yesterday at the start of the game after that he went to being to consertive. maybe thats the problem and why we cant score points cus we are to consertive. if next year we sit back and let qwaterbacks disect us cus of no pressue and no blitzes i dont know what ill do. maybe we should hire rex ryan to run our defense hes not scared to send people.

by dentureboy on Jan 7, 2008 8:06 PM CST reply actions

As usual

My Buckeyes DC looks like Norm Chow. Getting out coached again.

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 7, 2008 9:07 PM CST reply actions

Where are we?

Let's put all this in perspective. Jeff Fisher is a great coach. Took one of the youngest teams in the NFL and made the playoffs. I don't think many other coaches could have done as well with such a young and inexperienced team. So where are we as a team? Well, we have the best kicker in the NFL. Our running game is #5 in the NFL. Our defense is #8 in the NFL in points given up. That's a great start for the next season especially since defenses win football games. Don't believe me? Look at the top 10 teams in terms of points given up and they are all playoff teams. And some of you overlook that the Chargers have a great defense. Their defense is #5 in the NFL in points given up. So what did Chow have at his disposal to go against that defense? The starting quarterback and starting running back are just two years out of college and still learning. The starting tight end three years out of college and didn't play because he was hurt. The top two receivers from last year were let go and one of the top receivers this year was hurt and couldn't play. Doesn't surprise me we didn't score many points against the Chargers. We didn't score much this year against any teams though because what we're lacking is a passing game. I think the Titans will go after a quality receiver before next year. It's the missing piece. Drafting or getting a quality receiver last year didn't make sense because Vince Young was still learning and he is still inaccurate. An inaccurate passer ends up throwing interceptions or worse, makes his receivers streach for the ball which opens them up to the big hits and injuries. Also many of you are giving Vince Young too much credit for the Titan wins last year so anything less than what he did last year is a disappointment to you and you're ready to blame anything or anybody, like Chow. The #3 team in the NFL in points scored in the red zone this year was Arizona and do you know what their quarterback said how they did it? He said a lot of the scores were improvised and not the called play. Hey, isn't that what Fisher and Chow said last year about Vince's runs? Vince improvised. But having the highest paid player on your team running constantly is stupid because he can get hurt and your season is over before it starts. Vince needs to learn how to read defenses and pass better. That's the bottom line. I think that was his and the coach's goal this year. Once Vince does learn how to read defenses and pass better, that improvement along with our #5 rushing game in the NFL, the best field goal kicker in the game and defense that is #8 in point scored against us will make the Titans a real force in the NFL.

by kor1868 on Jan 7, 2008 9:43 PM CST reply actions

You wanted to

bench Vince for Collins at 1 point. So I don't think I want to hear anything else you have to say.

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 7, 2008 9:58 PM CST up reply actions

improvisation by qb

Part of the offensive coordinator's job is to teach this. Also, it's not just that we didn't score many points against the chargers, we scored no touchdowns. The only team of eight that played this weekend that was unable to score a single touchdown. And it was a chronic lack of touchdowns all season long, not just the final playoff game.

Again, coming in last in the NFL on passing touchdowns and 25th in overall touchdowns is a huge problem that has to be addressed, as Fisher himself owned up to in his final press conference of the season. There is absolutely no way to spin 7 passing touchdowns in 17 games and 25th in overall touchdowns. It's remarkably bad offense, plain and simple. When you say "you are ready to blame anything and anybody" - yes, part of the process of addressing a problem is trying to figure out what constitutes the problem in the first place and that does involve some blame assignment. If the Titans make no offensive player or coaching changes and just hope that "Vince learns how to read defenses better", that ain't real pro-active.

In Fisher's press conference he stated that addressing the lack of touchdowns would be the #1 priority. He also pointed out that when they set out to improve the run defense after the 2006 season's poor performance there, they were successful. Basically he way saying "we understand it's a problem and trust us to address it." He seemed to indicate that would involve obtaining some new play-makers on offense. I did not hear him mention or anyone ask about offensive coaching personnel changes or improvements.

To me - the Titans need to do both things - add more serious playmaking threats on offense at the skill positions (the line is pretty good, although if Olson retires that will need to be addressed), and also take a hard look at their playbook / playcalling. Too many times they appeared to not even seriously try to score a touchdown when in the redzone this year. They clearly played for securing 3 points rather than get 7 time and time again this year.

I like Fisher, think he's a good coach, and I'm optimistic that they will make moves to improve the offensive scoring next year. But - for heaven's sakes don't fuss at fans for calling an ugly duckling an ugly duckling.

by numbertenox on Jan 7, 2008 11:25 PM CST up reply actions

I agree

with you 100%

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 7, 2008 11:35 PM CST up reply actions

Jimmy

where is the much, much more to come throughout the day? More internet problems?

I've had a bad couple of days. Titans lose. And Buckeyes get smashed. Again! There is a reckoning coming next year with both. I can feel it!

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 7, 2008 11:39 PM CST reply actions

Yes

I have no internet at my house, and I was really busy at work yesterday. Today should be better.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Jan 8, 2008 7:41 AM CST up reply actions

That should have been running into the kicker

During the National Championship that should have been running into the kicker and not roughing the kicker. I was truly not for either team, just wanted to watch a close contest and that was a tough call. It changed the whole game, Ohio St. had momentum going and lost it then.

JOY KAT

by Bergman on Jan 8, 2008 7:38 AM CST reply actions

If the kicker goes down

and it is not an obvious acting job--like Rivers when Haynesworth hit him--then it is roughing.

It was a good call.

Go Titans!

by gramsey712 on Jan 8, 2008 8:22 AM CST up reply actions

It was

good call. And a ridiculously bad penalty. It definitely killed our momentum.

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 8, 2008 10:50 AM CST up reply actions

BBB....

....Are you ready to concede any time your team gets a National Title shot against an SEC team?

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Jan 8, 2008 11:49 AM CST up reply actions

Here is the thing

for me. I have a lot of friends that say they have better athletes in the SEC, and I think that is nonsense. To me, the last 2 years we have been outcoached. The SEC has far better coaching. That I will admit. But all this mumbo jumbo about the speed of the SEC is bs. Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, California just examples all put out great highschool athletes. And they are all split among different schools. Any one that knows football knows OSU gets superior athletes with great speed.

Last night there were parts of their team that did have more speed. They had faster WR, and faster CB. We had more speed in just about every other position in this game. And last year with Florida. We played right into their hands. Totally outcoached. Who on Florida had more speed than Ted Ginn or Anthony Gonzalez?

Perfect example, Michigan has the athletes to play with any SEC team. This year against Florida they proved it, when for once they weren't outcoached. Michigan has the talent to play with OSU every year, and gets outcoached by them. The Big Ten proves it with the level of pro athletes they put out.

Sorry for the rant! I have a lot of anger.

And to answer your question more directly. No, I am not ready to concede. We only had 2 senior starters. Next year, if some of our juniors stay. This team will be outraegous. We play USC in the 2nd game of the season, which will be a good guage for us. If we lose next year to an SEC in the championship game, I will then concede.

by Big Bad Bulluck on Jan 8, 2008 12:14 PM CST up reply actions

LSU was a tough draw this year.

But it was a wacky year.

Personally, I don't care a lot about the actual BCS Championship Game, I mean this year the whole process was nothing but an F'ing joke, but there was a Hell of a lot of good football played.

With that said, we got robbed of the OTHER game we needed to see: Georgia vs. USC. Like I said, I don't care who gets to play for the big diamond football, but I'd have liked to have seen Knowshaun Whatshisname against USC's Defense. When can the Titans draft Knowshaun?

(I love that guy's name. I'm gonna name my next kid Knowshaun, I swear.)

DannoE

Go read FRIDAY MAD SCIENCE at www.paperbackreader.com
Thanks!

by DannoE on Jan 8, 2008 2:41 PM CST up reply actions