How Good is the Tennessee Titans Secondary Now?
by Jimmy on Nov 19, 2009 12:02 PM CST
in Tennessee Titans Previews
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PrintWe have spent a lot of time talking about how much better the Titans secondary is now than it was at the Boston Massacre. But my question is how much better are they? They looked good against Jacksonville, San Francisco, and Buffalo, but none of those teams have a passing attack that really strikes fear into anyone. Thus the real test comes Monday Night in Houston. The Texans have the 3rd ranked passing attack in the league, and feature one of the best receivers in the game in Andre Johnson. AJ can accurately be called a Titan Killer. In his last 2 games against the Titans he has 207 and 149 yards receiving respectively with 3 touchdowns.
The good news for this particular match-up is there is no way AJ will ever be lined up across from Nick Harper. Most of the big plays to Johnson have come with Harper "covering" him. I would love to see the Titans chance the philosophy a little bit and line Cortland Finnegan up across from Andre on every play, but even if they still refuse to do that at least he would be Rod Hood's assignment instead of Harper's.
This game is also arguably the biggest of Michael Griffin's career. August wrote a couple weeks ago about Griffin addressing his poor play (via Kuharsky). Griffin has played better, but stil got caught peeking in the backfield last weke against the Bills. Pretty much all of us here thought that after the season he put up last year Griffin was on track to become one of the best safeties in the league. He has regressed this year, and Monday night would be the perfect opportunity for him to re-assert himself in the upper echelon of safeties.
It seems that his biggest problem this year has been guessing run far to often and letting receivers get behind him. Gramsey offered me the perfect solution for this yesterday:
I wish MikeGriff would never ever, ever, ever, ever, evaevaevaeva, read run, eva
Sounds like a plan to me. Kuharsky made the point on the radio this morning that there is really no reason for him to worry about the run in the scheme the Titans play because most of the time he is 12-15 yards away from the ball when it is snapped and there are at least six other guys that have run responsibility before it gets to him.
I still have faith that Griffin is going to be a star in this league. No better time than Monday night on a national stage to prove that. His play will go a long way in determining if this secondary is ready to be the strength of the defensive unit as it was a year ago.
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I'm of the opinion our secondary still isn't very good
When our pass rush got to Edwards/Fitzpatrick, the secondary looked good. When they didn’t, TO and Lee Evans were doing some work. Rod Hood is a definite improvement. Fuller is a pretty good nickelback. But overall, whatever it is, the secondary goes down in flames when the QB has time.
T-Rac's Posse - T-Rac is one boss raccoon.
My personal Tribute to Air McNair
Fortunately, Schaub has been susceptible to pass rush in the pass.
Plus the Texans running game seems stalled in neutral, making pass protection even harder for them.
This was a very close game last time. The game planning this time seems straight-forward. Double cover AJ on every play and get a pass rush.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
Agreed. I think the Titans can play good pass defense
But its by having a killer pass rush. Our secondary is still our biggest defensive weakness.
T-Rac's Posse - T-Rac is one boss raccoon.
My personal Tribute to Air McNair
by T--Rac's Posse on Nov 19, 2009 1:34 PM CST up reply actions
I don't think
I’ve ever seen one without the other… a defense that leads the league in INTs is almost always right there in sacks/pressures.
Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.
I agree completely.
But I knid of have a different take. I mean, look, with Owen Daniels on IR, the Texans will have ONE proven weapon on the field. Granted, he is a very talented weapon, but still… is there anyone else on the Texans that will kill you besides Johnson?
With Daniels, the answer is probably YES. Without him, I think I’d take my chances in one-on-one match-ups and look to get pressure on Schaub.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
Jacobi Jones is a burner
provided he only has to run straight, but you’re right about brining the pressure.
Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.
You gotta pick your poison.
Johnson is the guy who won the last two games for them. You take him away, and that’s the start of a reasonable plan. Any other plan than that is probably doomed to failure.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
Who, Barbara?
But seriously, you mean Kevin Walter (no S)? The guy, who aside from last week, didn’t break THIRTY yards receiving, and aside from the one in week three against the stupendously horrible Jax pass defense, has no touchdowns?
That has “proven weapon” written all over it.
walter is by far a legit proven weapon.
rod hood will own schaub and expose the fact that he is not as great as his numbers make him out to be. who have the texans really played. i guarantee they would be lucky to have the same record as us if they had the same schedule as us up to this point.
by TitansFanForever on Nov 19, 2009 5:21 PM CST up reply actions
However shitty our O-Line is in run blocking(and be assured it is quite shitty) they have pretty fantastic in pass blocking. Other then against the Jets in the first game they have done their jobs, and Schaub has looked much much better dealing with a pass rush then before, although he still tends to hold on to the ball too long(Almost all of the 7 sacks Brown has surrendered are because Schaub held the ball too long).
Dude...you're profile pic is FREAKING ME OUT!!!
by titansfan4ever on Nov 20, 2009 12:53 PM CST up reply actions
Looks more like...
my last girlfriend when I told her “It’s not you…it’s me”.
by titansfan4ever on Nov 20, 2009 2:22 PM CST up reply actions
You can't give the qb time to throw...doesn't matter who we're playing.
That’s why you have to give the D-Line alot of credit for the way they have played the last 3 weeks.But, like Jimmy said, this week will be their toughest test so far. I think KVB will be the key…look for him to have a monster night.
Agreed on the D-line pressure.
But I Don’t see KVB having a Huge night. I see Kyle getting doubles all night probably the Texans even keeping Slaton in to block when they pass. Expect Jason Jones to get some good looks at Shaub or even take your pick of the 9 (exaggerated) D-ends rotating opposite KVB, those guys have skills.
Either way, Shaub almost always ends up on his back and hurt against the Titans. Look it up.
I thought Schaub missed like 1,000 games
after Cortland’s brutal malicious acid tipped atomic bomb attack hit last year.
Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.
Our DB's are fine
I really like the guys we got back there now (Not so much Griff now, but he has been good,so I’ll give him a break)
Cortland is a beast. Hope is solid. Hood IMO is way under rated,he’s been such a nice upgrade from that old guy that can’t run.
Griff needs to stop worrying aboot the run.That’s what the LB’s are for.
I think the DB’s will be just fine as long as the defensive line continues to apply pressure like they have tha last few games. I’m really impressed with the play of the young guys, and I believe their pressure and the secondary’s coverage will play a big role in the whipping the Texans are fixing to get.
And CJ is unstoppable. Can’t wait for MNF.
by BadV6Blazer on Nov 19, 2009 6:01 PM CST via mobile reply actions
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