Jaguars vs. Titans : 5 Keys to Victory

by Aditya T (smashville) on Oct 31, 2009 8:00 AM CDT in Tennessee Titans Previews

Forget about the past. This bye week is giving the Titans a clean slate to work with. Forget about the first six games before the bye. It's a new ten game season to work with. It's safe to say we aren't making the playoffs, so might as well give it your all and try to get some wins anyway. Play with all your heart, and don't give up. If we lose, it's no surprise. If we win, it will be a confidence booster. I hope the players got their rest out of the way during the bye week, because it's time for ten straight weeks of tough battles.
Win the turnover battle. Four interceptions and four fumble recoveries is all the Titans have obtained this season. They have lost nine interceptions and nine fumbles, which combines for the most turnovers in the league. Coach Fisher emphasized ball security numerous times during the bye week, but it's impossible to coach how to prevent fumbles because it's usually a good defensive play rather than a careless play by the fumbler. If we give them the ball with good field position, we don't deserve to win.
Run the ball. As always. It's necessary to run the ball early and often. This also controls the clock, which we couldn't seem to do last time around considering the Jags had the ball for ten more minutes than we did. Pound, pound, pound with Lendale White, Chris Johnson, and even Vince Young to tire the defense and get back to smash-mouth Titans football.
Slow down David Garrard. Last time we played these Jaguars, Garrard threw for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns. A struggling team can not win by letting a mediocre passing game have a game like that. Vincent Fuller and Cortland Finnegan should be back playing, and Michael Griffin says his problems have been taken care of during the bye week.
Let Vince Young get comfortable early. Obviously Vince's biggest threat is not his throwing ability, it's his ability to scramble out of the pocket. If he starts playing poorly to begin, expect another long day. Throw some short, easy throws to prevent turnovers early. Let VY get a feel for the game that he has been out of for 22 games.

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VY

Is gonna start a 10 game win streak like Collins did!!! 10-6 and in the playoffs!!

Cue Mora clip in 3, 2…..

I told you we would beat Georgia!! Now, as for those 9 wins in '09......
I got bored and made a blog!! SCS

by VolBrian on Oct 31, 2009 8:52 AM CDT reply actions

There’s no way Garrard should throw for anything close to 323 yards on us this time. The secondary looks to be in better shape for this game, but I do worry that even if Finnegan and Fuller are back they are probably not up to 100% yet.

by JimR on Oct 31, 2009 9:09 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

It would be exciting to see the D back

up to near full strength again. We really ought to be able to stuff this team down to ten or fewer points. That would be fun to watch. I’m ready.

by JimR on Oct 31, 2009 9:30 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

This D will be not the same like it was

Schwartz gone, Big Al gone; and some players (for example Vanden Bosch) looks like to starting getting old. Don’t expect miracles from them.
I not expect 300+ yards from David; BUT! This isn’t the same old Jags who cannot pass. Not the offense has REAL WRs in Holt, MSW and Mike Thomas (not to mention some secret weapons…) Ifd the secondary will play like on week 4 and David plays near on that level too-don’t expect too much good things. This Jaguars team has a 11th ranked offense. Don’t count that one out.

I expect an extremely close game; because I think the Titans will give what they got tomorrow. The big question is which Jaguars team will show up? The good one (that played against the Texans; Titans; and Rams) or the bad (Played on the 1st half of Arizona, and Seattle). If the good I think Jags will win with 7 or less points. If the bad-the Titans will see something they don’t experienced in 2009-a victory!

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Oct 31, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

I was not comparing this year's D to 2008

I just want to see the kind of performance we had this year in the opening game with the Steelers when we held them to ten points in regulation.

by JimR on Oct 31, 2009 10:20 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I understand now

But do you think the team and speciall the D can regroup all of sudden from this 0-59, and the way they played in the last 3 games?

By the way can someone tell me what is Fisher’s record coming off from the bye week?

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Oct 31, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Honestly

I don’t know what to expect from this game. There are so many unknowns (how many people are back from injuries and will they be up to speed, did the team really re-group during the bye, VY, etc. etc.), and I don’t know what the history is coming off of bye week. I was just saying what I hope to see, not necessarily what I predict. This season has taught me to get out of the prediction business.

by JimR on Oct 31, 2009 10:51 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Fisher is

8-6 after the bye week. 8-3 in the last 11 years.

"As strong as a team as we are on paper, you have to go out and prove it. We have yet to prove that we're the team we think we are,'' Keith Bulluck
"This is the only building in the NHL that the fans get up and cheer for no apparent reason just to support us." - Dan Ellis

Official Graphic Designer/Researcher/Grammar Police of MCM.
Official Graphic Goon of OTF.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Oct 31, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Thank you very much

So he is using the bye week well.

Life without knowledge is death in disguise

by Zoltan from Budapest on Oct 31, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Come on Vince,

Time to nut up or shut up.

by Titan9 on Oct 31, 2009 9:31 AM CDT reply actions

And things like dat.

by BadV6Blazer on Oct 31, 2009 1:50 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I disagree somewhat about coaching fumbles.

Did you see the replay of Lendales fumble in the pats game? Carrying it one handed and low on his body. Awful.

Ain't no time for hesitatin'
All you got to do is groove

by BonzosMontreaux on Oct 31, 2009 10:03 AM CDT reply actions

Upon further review........

I would add a #6 to the keys: the receivers need to catch balls that hit them in both hands!

by JimR on Oct 31, 2009 10:25 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

EXACTLY, so will they start catching the passes for VY and if so

what do you make of that? Is it that they wanted VY and were dropping them on purpose? Did White fumble for the same reasons? I have my concerns in this area. In all honesty there were a TON of passes flat out dropped that could have won a game or two early on.

by Joy kat on Oct 31, 2009 11:17 AM CDT reply actions

I don't know what to think about all the drops

but I don’t believe it is intentionally directed at either QB. They used to drop a lot of VY’s passes, too, as far back as 2007. That’s what’s so puzzling and frustrating about our drop ratio: it is a long-standing problem that spans different seasons, QBs, and receivers. That would suggest that it’s a coaching issue. In any case, it is a major problem.

by JimR on Oct 31, 2009 12:00 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

No. 6 A Music City Miracle

"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 31, 2009 12:20 PM CDT reply actions

#7: A little prayer couldn’t hurt, either…

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 31, 2009 12:43 PM CDT reply actions

new.....

beginning indeed. i can always trust the titans to have enough pride to make the necessary adjustments as best they can to come out and compete, i expect (and hope) the titans to come out strong to re-establish who they are. ahhh the VY situation, at 0 and 6 as everybody as been saying, we have to see whats on the bench. not just b/c im a VY fan, but its more IMO I think he gives us the best chance to win (probably one of few). but i hope he can make some plays and that it will be a changed VY we see sunday, if not and its been said, he’s most likely a gonner. and if that happens, so be it, i will always root for him wherever he goes. but this is the official second chance that i would like to see before any decisions are made. i am a realist and want the best for my team, VY doesnt sway which team i root for, ive been all titans even before VY ever came into the conversation. heres to a new start, even at 0 and 6, that bye week was killer.

"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 Nov 1, 2009 5:55 AM CDT reply actions

Well said.

by Titan9 on Nov 1, 2009 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

thanks....

for that, and not goin english teacher on me. when its coming from the heart punctuation, grammar, etc. are just not as important. especially if im NOT IN CLASS. feels good to finally get one, can get a rest this week from defending a winless team.

by kg_2005 on Nov 1, 2009 6:47 PM CST up reply actions

Good luck, ladies.

Today you can see the new ‘Bedazzle Motion" first hand. It’s scary sparkly. Congratulations to all the VY supporters! Fisher made the right decision…last year.

Vae Victis!

by viator on Nov 1, 2009 8:46 AM CST reply actions

I agree...

with these 5 keys…especially the one about the defense stopping the Jags…that’s the main one…of course, we will have to put some points on the board, obviously…so…run, run and run some more…but don’t forget about Britt…if he’s open…let it rip!!

by titansfan4ever on Nov 1, 2009 9:36 AM CST reply actions