Tennessee Titans @ San Francisco 49ers : 5 Keys to Victory

by Aditya T (smashville) on Nov 7, 2009 8:00 AM CST in Tennessee Titans Previews

Run the ball. We have to see if Chris Johnson can get anything against this great 49ers defense that allows only 85 yards per game on the ground. If anyone can do it, the leading rusher in the NFL can. Running the ball will also keep the pressure off Vince Young in his second start in two years. The Titans will be much better off relying on Chris Johnson and Lendale White than Vince Young and his receivers. The key is a mixture of the two backs throughout the game to get the defense thinking.
Pass with confidence. The 49ers have the NFL's fourth worst pass defense, and it will be even worse with their starting cornerback, Nate Clements out. Against a bad pass defense and a good run defense, this is the perfect opportunity for Vince Young to have a good passing performance. Vince had a stellar completion percentage against the Jaguars, but let's see if he can continue against this defense.
Prevent turnovers. Turnovers are the worst thing a team can do, because it allows the other team an opportunity to score with momentum on their side. The Titans did a good job last week of causing turnovers by the Jaguars after not being able to for the previous 6 games. If the Titans win the turnover battle, they will be in a very good position to win.
Ride the momentum. The Titans had their first win of the season on Sunday, and they are riding high. Nate Washington and Chris Johnson say that they can go 10-0, and they have won 9 straight against the NFC. It seems the team is on a high, but they need to build on it.
Keep the receivers in check. The Titans had their best pass defense of the season last week, and a good part of it was probably due to Cortland Finnegan and Vincent Fuller both being back. Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree are the two most threatening targets for Alex Smith, and the secondary needs to limit them especially. If Jason Jones gets to the quarterback fast like he did last week, it could be a very long day for Alex Smith.

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#2 SF Passing D

Beg to differ… they give up yards, but are stingy against passing scores (9 on the season) and they just shut out Manning. The passing yards surrendered are a product of the attempts (38 per game tied for most in the NFL) more than the defensive quality (18th in the league in Y/A). All the pass attempts are a product of the dominant run D, not OCs smelling blood.

Additionally, Nate Clements had already lost his job to Tarell Brown prior to the injury and was demoted to nickelback. Sure losing him hurts, but Nate Clements’ play and questionable speed is why Roddy White went for 8-210 with 2 TDs.

This is a tough defensive matchup all around. Success in the passing game is key, but it too will have to be hard fought.

by WC22 on Nov 7, 2009 9:37 AM CST reply actions

very true

while their raw yardage may be near the bottom, they are 11th against the pass in DVOA, which underscores that fact that teams have chosen to throw more than usual to get those yards.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Nov 7, 2009 10:43 AM CST up reply actions

Okay, really? Call me Mr. Optomistic but...

It’s the 49ers. They have beaten the Seahawks, the Rams, and the Cards. Big deal. Why are we even sweating these guys? Alex Smith? Please.
I know it was a long time ago but last year we wouldn’t even have blinked at this game.
I’m calling it: We win this one going away.

by Titan9 on Nov 7, 2009 10:51 AM CST reply actions

Let’s hope so…

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

by steeler-hater on Nov 7, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions

we are sweating them

because they are a very worthy opponent, the titans suck on the west coast and because when you are 1-6, you sweat every game.

if i were to take you seriously:

they held adrian to 85 yards and 0tds and lost by a fg to the 2nd best NFC team on the road.

their only truly bad game was when the falcons smoked them at home. lets face it. we do not have the falcons’ offense.

in their last 2 games, they have gone on the road and lost by 7 points total to HOU and IND, 2 teams in our division that have beaten us.

they kept peyton out of the endzone. i don’t care what you say, that’s an enormous accomplishment.

3 of their 4 losses (HOU, IND, MIN, all on the road), have come by a total of 10 points. those teams have a combined record of 19-4.

basically, if you think we have shown at any point this season that we are better than the 49ers, you are just wrong. the titans definitely have a chance if they continue to build on last week. the spread for this game is positively insane, SF -4. wining in SF would be several times more impressive than beating a bad bedazzlers team.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Nov 7, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Very nice.

I agree. All very good points.

by bull4real on Nov 7, 2009 4:24 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah I hear ya and all good points.

My original post has some tongue-in-cheek to it but I’m sticking to it.
I just have a gut feeling about this game. I know the Titans haven’t shown much at all this year to be this optimistic and this could be a huge pipe dream. I think our boys have found new life and the D harasses Smith all day long.
Although, I have definitely been wrong before.

by Titan9 on Nov 7, 2009 12:07 PM CST reply actions

my prediction

is our d-line either wins or loses this one. cj is always capable of breaking a long one, but in general i think our offense is going to need some good field position to score. our special teams are obviously garbage, so turnovers and sacks will be of greatest importance. we need to have one of those games like the steelers game last year where the d-line just runs wild and takes over the game.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Nov 7, 2009 12:29 PM CST up reply actions

I agree 100%.

by Titan9 on Nov 7, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions

Thank you for being honest hal....Titan9 is way off on this one

Brett Favre gets a miracle pass and beats the niners in Minnesota during a game where Frank Gore gets hurt and knocked out after the first play. Indy needs a trick play…that did work…but was the only reason they won…and Houston got lucky in that Shaun Hill started and not Alex Smith. Falcons; yeah, they kicked our butt real bad.
This week…I expect Vince Young to get sacked 4 or 5 times and throw 2 or 3 picks….your RB might break one…if he does that and possibly a special teams score will be all the Titans will get. I see Alex Smith finding Vernon Davis and for the first time Crabtree for some scores…and Josh Morgan will slip one in while all focus on Davis, Crabtree, and Gore…I see the niners winning 35-17.

by Max50 on Nov 7, 2009 12:07 PM CST reply actions

Okay now.

This is also ridiculous. Vince is not getting sacked 4-5 times because he has his legs. And the Titans are not getting a special teams score.

"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 Nov 7, 2009 12:11 PM CST up reply actions

special teams score!

hilarious

by Great Paperclip on Nov 7, 2009 12:46 PM CST up reply actions

Special teams are allowed to score?

Weeeeeiiiird.

Christie kicks it high and short...Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25...He dishes it back to Wycheck...He throws it across the field to Dyson...

www.manningface.com

by Michaeltastic on Nov 7, 2009 1:30 PM CST up reply actions

Hey Max...

with your ability to see into the future….you ought to go down to race track…you could make enough money to buy yourself a little island somewhere and spend the rest of your life so that we wouldn’t have read your LAME predictions anymore!!

by titansfan4ever on Nov 8, 2009 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

re: "against a bad pass defense..."

hi, think u underestimated our secondary where the biggest liability was, in fact, clements (was benched before breaking his shoulder). there are other flaw areas but overall the D has been a strength this year. it really takes after singletary in identity, similarly losing composure at times (ok, entire Falcons game) but has regularly beat up qbs against the pass (warner, hasselbeck, favre, boller, peyton).
here are the team-released stats for the d-line rotation — who needs 3-4 olbs when the unit is this productive (averaging almost 12 qb pressures a game; nt aubrayo is on pace for 98 tackles despite not featuring in 4-man fronts.)

aubrayo franklin 43 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 8 pressures
justin smith 39 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 38 pressures
isaac sopoaga 31 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 sack, 6 pressures
ray mcdonald 15 tackles, 0 TFL, 3 sacks, 21 pressures
kentwan balmer 14 tackles, 1 TFL, 0 sacks, 4 pressures
demetric evans 8 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 0 sacks, 4 pressures

on the other hand, the O remains a question mark, even with the skill guys (gore, vernon davis, crabtree, alex smith) coming good. that’s cuz the o-line play is poor (can’t even run-block out of a spread set) & now getting hurt (both o-tackle spots). singletary & jimmy raye are also unbelievably ultra-conservative with the playcalling.

by Moxie on Nov 7, 2009 2:38 PM CST reply actions

Can't wait for this game.....

alex smith is going to get a rude awakening. our defense is just starting to get their feet underneath them again, and with the addition of rod hood theres not that liability of getting beat off the ball and as our secondary is healthier now and alex will get a return of our pro bowl defense. plus kvb has just got that taste for blood in this last game, look for him to try and get more. and i cant wait for VY to get out their on that field, yes it is his second game and will still be some rust, but lets see that defense try and stop one of the games best scramblers and our athletic young receivers at the same time. will be a good game. cant wait……VY knows how to get things done in cali.

"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 7, 2009 9:18 PM CST reply actions

oh and uh, one more prediction.....

crabtree gets lit up by finny!

by kg_2005 on Nov 7, 2009 9:32 PM CST up reply actions

mmamcneill

there have been electronic computer studies done on this play to prove that the music city miracle play was a legal backward or lateral pass, and was definitely not foward. It matters where the BALL was thrown and where the BALL was caught. Any expert studies or studies done with new, reliable technology prove and confirm the ruling that was made on the field. It’s ok to be wrong once in a while. Just admit it and move on and stop embarrasing yourself. Titans 49ers game should be a good one. It won’t be a blowout either way. Each team has only been blown out once, the Titans blowout far worse. All things said, Jeff Fisher is a genius, and I he think will find a way to get his Titans to pull out a win. Don’t counter this by saying all your crap about how we suck and that the 49ers will smash us and everything, this is the TITANS website with TITANS fans, so of course we’re going to pick the Titans to win. Go to a 49ers site and you will find the complete opposite of what you find here. Go Titans!! And if the 49ers do pull out the win, then all credit to you for a good game.

by jcdukecrzy on Nov 8, 2009 2:03 AM CST reply actions

I posted this on another thread but since no one has been there for a day thought i would post where someone might read.

First off i am a 9er Fan.
Of course i WISH it to be a blow out in favor of the 9ers. However realisticly i know that this will probably be a close game depending on which face of both our teams shows up. While i agree with MMamcneill in spirit i dont want to come to your house and start a fight. However, i love starting friendly arguments :-)
Taking off the fan glasses for a moment and looking at the last 6 quarters for the 9ers and the last 4 quarters for the Titans (cuz less face it they now have completly different dynamics than before that) I think that the 9ers do have the edge based on current strengths vs weakness. Assuming both teams bring their best game, one big play by either team probably means the win for that team.
Both teams really look like they are starting to find themselves. However, i really do believe that the Titans need another week or two before they really come into their own and the Niners are really hungry for that win.

My GUESS is it will be 17-14 Niners If they contain CJ and your QB then, but one break out play by CJ or too many interceptions by Alex Smith could mean your guys win. either way i think it will be close and a good game to watch. Good Luck Titans!! all though no offense, I want you to lose:-)

by DCSMITH722 on Nov 8, 2009 12:07 PM CST reply actions

A post from a Niners fan that isn't complete antagonistic BS.

Yeah, it probably will be a close game and thanks for the respectful post. Let’s have a good game.

by Titan9 on Nov 8, 2009 1:22 PM CST up reply actions

Good Game

Well, I was wrong about us winning yet right in how we would likely loose. It all came down to Alex Smith Turnovers. Also you guys played a hell of a game. Good win, You earned it. Good luck the rest of the season Titans.
Time for my 9ers to focus on the Bears i guess. This season might not amount to my hopes but give us an offseason to rebuild our O-line and get Alex in line and we will get you next year :-)
Go 9ers!!!

by DCSMITH722 on Nov 8, 2009 6:46 PM CST up reply actions