Titans vs. Patriots: Five Questions with Pats Pulpit

by Jimmy on Oct 16, 2009 10:57 AM CDT in 5 Questions Comment 37 comments

1. Does Brady look timid in the pocket to you? I have only been able to watch one Pats game this season, the opener, and it looked to me like he wasn't stepping into his throws. Have you seen that to be the case? How would you assess his play so far?

I think Brady is suffering from a number of things. First, his mechanics appear to be off. He's simply not throwing the way he used to (overthrowing Moss a number of times). Second, timing with his receivers isn't all it's cracked up to be. Third, Brady and his receivers are simply not on the same page. Tom expects Welker to go one way and he's adjusting to coverage, heading off in another direction. Fourth, as you indicated, he's not stepping into his throws like we're used to. There's certainly a bit of timidness, a desire to protect his left leg, but I'm not really surprised at this. Many expected the return of the 2007 Brady and that's just unrealistic.

2. Do you think this team misses Josh McDaniels?

Yes. Josh, more than anything, was a very good quarterbacks coach (his role before taking over OC duties). He knows quarterbacks and he knows who to manage them. Case in point: I thought one of his best years was 2008 when Matt Cassel took over the QB reins. It wasn't a great year for the team (missed the playoffs), but without McDaniels the Patriots may have been much worse off.

3. What is the one match-up the Patriots have to win in order to win this game?

I think we have to stuff the Titans' run game. In particular, Chris Johnson can breakout at any moment and make a big play. I think the matchup to concentrate on is sealing up the edges and forcing Johnson inside where the Patriots' defensive line can bottle him up.

4. Talk about how good Jerod Mayo has been for this team.

Jerod Mayo has been huge for the Patriots. In his 2008 rookie season, he had to step up and become one of the main players in our front 7. He still struggles in pass coverage, but makes up for it by being all over the field. He's so well respected by the coaching staff that he wears the radio helmet.

I think the most important aspects of Jerod Mayo, however, are his insane work ethic (they had to kick him out of the weight and film rooms during off season) and the long term youth he adds to the defense. After losing so many veteran players, we were in dire straights for a leader and Mayo appears to be that guy.

5. Write the headline in Monday's Tennessean.

The Titans' Chris Johnson had a solid day in Foxborough, MA, but Kerry Collins was unable to find his receivers, barely cracking 200 yards passing. The Titans ultimately fell to a home field Patriots and a Tom Brady who decided to finally connect with his receivers for 300 yards and 4 TD passes. Patriots defeat Titans, 35-14.

Click here to his questions with my answers.

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Headline

Will Probably be right on

by Big Bad Bulluck on Oct 16, 2009 11:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep

by danomite on Oct 16, 2009 11:14 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

hmmmm i dunno thats a pretty long headline.... haha

by ryansax on Oct 16, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about

Brady gets Mojo Back vs. Helpless Titans Secondary

I’d hate to see that headline, but given the way things are going, passing against us is pretty much like shooting fish in a barrel.

by numbertenox on Oct 16, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed.

whatever problems any team has had this year, we’ve been the cure. at least for 1 week. then they usually go get killed the next week. unfortunately that just proves how bad we really are.

"hey, quit reading these ridiculous words of wisdom and get back to work!"

by stetix01 on Oct 18, 2009 7:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the biggest reason why Brady doesn’t seem the same is…

… because he is extremely scared to death his leg will get hurt again.

Brady doesn’t seem to want to move that left leg the way he is supposed to in order to deliver the pass properly.

That’s good news for everyone else in the NFL, but of course, that’s very bad news for the Pats…

I had to stop arguing with drunks, Steeler fans, and all other fools.
It was making my brick wall jealous...

by steeler-hater on Oct 16, 2009 1:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Headline - "Vince Young Rallies Titans To Win Over Patriots"

Bring Back Vince Young!

by pigskinpundits.com on Oct 16, 2009 2:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks man. I needed that laugh today.

Official MCM Hater!

Retire #9!

by gramsey712 on Oct 16, 2009 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Headline - "Kerry Collins Discovers New Life By Throwing With His Left Hand - Will Add Years To His Career"

Bring Back Vince Young!

by pigskinpundits.com on Oct 16, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

both....

funny and scary.

"Waiting for the return of the Mac"
"Let VY loose, give him the chance to play his heart out. for himself, for the titans...and for mcnair"
"Titans & Texans fan, dont bug me w/your petty b.s., life's confusing enough."

by kg_2005 on Oct 16, 2009 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rec'd.

Official MCM Hater!

Retire #9!

by gramsey712 on Oct 17, 2009 8:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

we need this headline to happen

"I finished the game. In my mind, if I finished the game, I can play next week." - Steve McNair RIP

by Pinoy Titan on Oct 16, 2009 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and.....

thus avenging the loss that kept ten out of the playoffs his sophomore season. good stuff.

by kg_2005 on Oct 16, 2009 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

rookie season, he was in the playoffs with a 10 win season during his slump

by mattd97 on Oct 16, 2009 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Bill Belicheat gets caught again - banned from NFL for life"

“Tom Brady, out of a perverted sense of honor, also retires”

That’s the highlight I am looking forward to.

T-Rac's Posse - T-Rac is one boss raccoon.
My personal Tribute to Air McNair

by T--Rac's Posse on Oct 16, 2009 2:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Very unlikely…

… unless he gets caught red handed pulling an “OJ”, Belicheat will not be going anyplace.

Brady isn’t gonna quit playing unless Gisele tells him to stop…

I had to stop arguing with drunks, Steeler fans, and all other fools.
It was making my brick wall jealous...

by steeler-hater on Oct 16, 2009 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

if she told me I'd stop too.

"hey, quit reading these ridiculous words of wisdom and get back to work!"

by stetix01 on Oct 18, 2009 7:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Patriots should follow the Colts' example

of how to stop CJ.

Flush him outside, take good angles and tackle.

I can’t muster up enough emotion to care whether the Titans win or not. I would just like a wholesale change. Coaching staff, aging players, et al. I really like Fisher but agree with the sentiment that there is a stale feeling at Titans HQ right now.

If we are built to be a run-oriented team, we must have a good defense. Watching this Titans team try to mount a comeback through the air is pure horrorshow.

Ball, oskie, cover, block, cut and slice, pursue and gang tackle... for this is the WINNING EDGE.

by pound the rock on Oct 16, 2009 3:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

We've struggled on the edge

For some reason, our OLB’s are vulnerable these days. I’d rather turn him in and jam him up.

Blogger at SBNation's Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Oct 16, 2009 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought CJ

Stopped CJ by not running north and south enough last week… He was dancing a lot when holes were there

by Big Bad Bulluck on Oct 16, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Kerry Collins Reveals Secret Affair With Jessica Simpson To Blame For Poor Play"

Bring Back Vince Young!

by pigskinpundits.com on Oct 16, 2009 3:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If this were true, I could almost forgive him.

I mean, as long as she isn’t talking, she’s hot.

by hartley on Oct 16, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Collins got back on the booze, VY can't deal with the Booos and the Titan fans

have the blues. Now everybody sing with me.

Joy Kat

by Joy kat on Oct 16, 2009 4:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think that if

you can add something about trains and rain, you’ve got a country hit on your hands.

by JimR on Oct 16, 2009 6:55 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

cocktail collins!

by vancouverTITAN on Oct 17, 2009 8:27 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Tha Ballad of Cocktail Collins

I drove my truck in the driving rain
To get my momma off the midnight train
She was free from prison after only one year
But she shoulda stayed in cause it’s worse out here

Cocktail Collins is back on the booze
Scramblin Vince is running from the boos
Nashville fans have the NFL blues
Cause the 09 Titans just lose and lose.

by JimR on Oct 17, 2009 9:03 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs