Breaking Down the 2008 Schedule: Week 8 vs. Indianapolis MNF

by Jimmy on Aug 13, 2008 11:00 AM CDT Comment 31 comments

Colts	Stat*	Titans
106.6(18th)	Rush Offense	131.8 (5th)
252.1 (6th)	Pass Offense	179.9 (27th)
358.7 (5th)	Total Offense	311.7 (21st)
28.1 (3rd)	Scoring	18.8 (22nd)
106.9 (15th)	Rush Defense	92.4(5th)
172.8 (2nd)	Pass Defense	199.2 (10th)
279.7 (3rd)	Total Defense	291.6 (5th)
16.4 (1st)	Scoring Defense	18.6 (8th)
+18(2nd)	Turnover Ratio	0 (12th)

*2007 Stats

The Colts (click at your own risk) put a lot of single digit rank in stats on the board in 2007. There is no doubt they have been one of the elite teams in the NFL for years now. Is this the year they slip? Time will tell, but what we do know is that the Titans have played them very well in the past couple of years, and there is no reason to think that will be any different this season.

This will be the first Monday Night Football Game in Nashville since the shootout against the Chiefs in 2004. (By the way, Billy Volek was 29-43 for 426 yards and 4 TDs, and Drew Bennett had 12 catches for 233 yards and 3 TDs.) We all know that Keith Bulluck is Mr. Monday Night, and that Vince Young plays his best on a national stage. This game will be about ball control for the Titans. Look for LenDale White and Chris Johnson to have big games. The Titans will win this game to push their record to 7-0.

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I really, really hope both teams are healthy and winning leading up this game

because it could be by and far the most entertaining MNF by the river since the Christmas Eve game against the Cowboys…

by August West on Aug 13, 2008 11:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Gotta plan to take that Tuesday off...

DannoE

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

by DannoE on Aug 13, 2008 11:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Already got Monday and Tuesday off

It’s gonna be legendary.

Course I own my own business so it is not hard to get days off!

by gramsey712 on Aug 13, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just wondering what you would do if the Titans would win the Superbowl?

Jimmy you are really optimistic in hoping for no losses in the first 7 games. I have a lot of faith, but come on .. . ... thats a huge stretch considering there has not been a game played that counts yet. Not only that, but what if CJ goes down to injury or Haynesworth, or KVB or any other key player? Get real !

As far as taking the day off, I get that. However only in the case of a loss. I used to be devastated in the past when my favorite college football team would lose a game, because it almost never happened. However now a days things are different. There is a lot more parity in college football. I am used to taking a few losses. No big deal really. Pro ball is no different really, nearly every team takes a few losses each season, it goes with the territory. With Vy in there it is a certainty.

by Joy Kat on Aug 13, 2008 11:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So I can't make any predictions?

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Aug 13, 2008 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bold? Yes

“A huge stretch?” I really don’t think so. Which one of these games isn’t winnable?

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Aug 13, 2008 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joy Kat

What are your predictions for the first 7 games?

by SuperHorn on Aug 13, 2008 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I predict a 5 and 2

My concerns for the first 7 games are Jacksonville and Cincinatti. David Garrard is playing very well for the Jags. They have a sound team and will not be a push-over. As far as the Bengals go, they still have the exciting, yet mouthy Chad Johnson with Carson Palmer throwing the ball to him.
The Titan defense is incredibly stout, but anything can happen. The Chiefs may be a sleeper as well. That one should be a win, but the moment you count someone out that is when you get blind-sided. The Colts don’t concern me much, for some reason I think that will be a victory. I know that sounds odd, because they look like the obvious tough team to beat, however if past performance is any indicator of future performance it should be close with a Titan win from the ground game.

by Joy Kat on Aug 13, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

5 and 2

Agree. If they are 7 and 0 I will crap myself. I’ll be very happy, but my pants will require cleaning.

by numbertenox on Aug 13, 2008 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we'll know a lot more after Saturday.

That Raiders Defense is a LOT stouter than was the Rams, and they have a much better rushing attack. If the Titans Offense can run all over the Raiders, and VY and the receivers look sharp, then I’ll be ready to be amazed come opening day.

DannoE

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

by DannoE on Aug 13, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Rams defense was horrible.

Not to discount what our offense did, but the Rams defense did look bad. I beleive CJ will have big games no matter who the Titans are playing, but when every Titan back is running through huge holes in the defense, that means only one thing. Poor defense. The Rams may be in for a very long season.
It will be interesting to see how the Titans do against a much better defense. I cannot wait for the Raiders – Titans game.

by Joy Kat on Aug 13, 2008 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll take the day off because, win or lose, I'll be too hyped up to sleep.

I’ll be throwing stuff at my TV! And that’s on the GOOD plays.

DannoE

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

by DannoE on Aug 13, 2008 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A Bold Prediction.

I want to believe, Jimmy, I do.

OH, and btw, incoming Colts homers flaming in 3…2…1…

by hartley on Aug 13, 2008 11:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"Click at your own risk"?

Come on! We very much respect the Titans, and their coach in particular. We may disagree regarding Vince Young, but he is one player on a 53 man roster. A vast majority of Colts fans, myself included, think the Titans are a tough team.

Better than Indy? No, not even close. There is not one area on the Titans were one can objectively say they are “better” than Indy. Not QBs, RBs, WRs, DBs, etc. Maybe the LBers. The Titans have some damn good ones (we miss you, David!). Last year, the one area where the Titans really excelled was the d-line, but with Odom and LaBoy gone that area is weaker. Kearse is done and was always over-rated, but that rookie James (?) might be good. And with the Colts beefing up the o-line, I don’t think the Titans d-line will be as effective.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Aug 13, 2008 3:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

All in good fun buddy

So now you want to go with the Kearse has always been overrated, huh? Explain the always part. I understand why you would think he is done now, but how can someone who averaged 12 a year his first 3 years in the league be overrated? Please don’t come back with he is only a speed rusher and doesn’t stop the run because the Colts have a very prolific defensive end who plays the exact same way.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Aug 13, 2008 3:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's a speed rusher and doesn't stop the run

I’m kidding, of course. Your assessment of Freeney (who I assume you are referring to) is incorrect, because he is indeed very good at stopping the run. Regarding Kearse, he only had three seasons (1999, 2000, and 2001) were he had double sack seasons. Statistically, if you look at his career, it’s been nothing but downhill since his freakish rookie season.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Aug 13, 2008 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

I just never got the sense that Kearse was a difference maker on defense. He can rush the passer, but he never seemed to have the game changing ability guys like Freeney, Strahan, and Merriman have.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Aug 13, 2008 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am going to need more of an explanation

on how Freeney changes the game more than Kearse did. Freeney has played 6 seasons and has 179 tackles in 88 games. Kearse had 169 tackles in his first 6 seasons in 82 games.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Aug 13, 2008 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um, huh?

First six years:

Freeney: 64.5 sacks, 31 forced fumbles
Kearse: 55 sacks, 21 forced fumbles

Don’t throw tackle numbers up at me, Jimmy. Tackles are about as useless a measurement as one can get when trying to evaluate a defensive player. Freeney clearly gets to, and pressures, the QB more so than Kearse. He also generates more turnovers. This means he’s a difference maker. Difference makers get to the QB and cause turnovers.

Don’t cherry pick facts and ignore other, more important details when evaluating players at DE. A DE who can’t get to the QB is useless in the modern NFL. Kearse was a fine player, but he basically shot his load his rookie year, and hasn’t come close to matching it since.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Aug 13, 2008 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fun

And yes, I know it was in good fun. Just didn’t want to scare the Titans fans. I do sincerely enjoy reading them (and you).

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Aug 13, 2008 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did you just use Peter King to prove your point?

I can’t believe you would stoop to that level.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles

by Jimmy on Aug 13, 2008 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No joke man...

Peter King only uses stats to gauge Romo’s DSQ rating (Dreamy Smiles per Quarter) and judge the available space in Favre’s lap so he can maybe sit on it.

Seriously though, the variance in tackle numbers is the problem, not its value as a statistical measurement.

by August West on Aug 14, 2008 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Regardless of whether or not Kearse is done, he's STILL an upgrade from...

Odom and LaBoy. Those guys were here for four years, had AT LEAST as much injury trouble as Jevon Kearse has ever had, AND only had one decent season apiece. Seriously, any reasonably talented DE should have had a monster season with KVB and AH rushing opposite them. But the true measure of Odom and LaBoy was seen when AH was out. They did SQUAT! Which is exactly what they’re gonna do for their new teams as well.

I don’t know that Kearse will make it through the season healthy, but I guarantee that the tandem of Kearse and Ford (or whomever they put behind him) will be at least as productive as were Odom and LaBoy. Hell, LaBoy was very nearly released last season in camp!

DannoE

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

by DannoE on Aug 14, 2008 7:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

BTW, the place where the Titans are demonstrably better than the Colts...

...is in the second and third string. With MUCH less money tied up in big-money contracts-by design-the Titans have been able to sign a number of veteran back-ups and special teamers, wich is why the level of play tends to drop less between the starters and back-ups in TN than on a lot of other teams. Heck, even Rey Hill is in danger of losing his job! But really, where you see this the most is on the O- and D-Lines. This year’s D-Line in particular should do better because of the improvement of depth.

DannoE

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

by DannoE on Aug 14, 2008 7:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or not.

Seriously, man, sometimes half his MMQB articles are about coffee.

by hartley on Aug 14, 2008 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dislike analysts as a whole.

No one predicts the Giants to win the Superbowl, despite them losing to the Pats by 3 in the regular season and playing on a tear throughout the playoffs. Really? Pats were unbeatable at the beginning of the season, but barely squeeked by in some games the second half, probably because of their old age catching up to them. In the end, all the so called “experts” were left eating their words.

But anyways, your predictions tend to be very inaccurate. Just look at Mike Williams…you predicted him to start!! You predict Vince to put up 40+ total TD’s this coming year. You often come up short, just like all those idiot analysts on TV.

by titanbt53 on Aug 15, 2008 2:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Predictions in football will always be a fool's game

because there’s such a miniscule sample size (16 games in NFL vs. 162 in MLB and 82 in NBA).

Plus all 22 players on the field are doing so much at the same time, so stats aren’t as easily accumulated by a single person’s greatness… it’s easily the most unpredictable sport in the world.

by August West on Aug 15, 2008 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs