Titans 27 Dolphins 24: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
by Jimmy on Dec 21, 2009 10:45 AM CST
in Tennessee Titans Recaps
61 comments
I feel like this went pretty well last week, so I am going to run it again.
The Titans won a game that they absolutely had to have. I have said it a million times since yesterday (not literally because that would be a record), but it is so true- it is nothing short of amazing that we are talking about the playoffs, as slim as the chances may be, after the 0-6 start.
The Good
Rob Bironas. A 46-yard game winner is by no means a gimme, unless your kicker is Bironas. There was never any doubt in my mind that he was going to make that kick, and I literally laughed out loud when the Dolphins took the timeout to try and ice him.
Kick and punt coverage. Our coverage teams have been pretty bad this year, but they were nothing short of spectacular yesterday. They held Ted Ginn to 17.3 yards per kickoff return with a long of 23. That is well below his season average of 26.5. Kicking to Ginn was the one thing that really scared me about the Dolphins, and the Titans bottled him up all day long.
The Bad
Jeff Fisher's game management. I know valued member of the site gotitans27 is mad at me for piling on Fisher like everyone else, but I just have to call it like I see it, and he was terrible yesterday. The decision to start Nick Harper and keep Rod Hood inactive is an ongoing bad coaching theme (more on that in the ugly), but there was a lot of other in game stuff yesterday that was really, really bad yesterday.
Ask gramsey how he feels about not taking a shot to at least get a field goal at the end of the first half. I know it is silly to expect Fisher to do something like that because he never does, but the Titans had all of the momentum at that point and could have really put a dagger in the Dolphins with points there. Never mind the fact that the Titans got the ball at the 32 yard line with 25 seconds left and 2 timeouts, so they needed about 30 yards to have a legitimate shot at a field goal. Oh, and your quarterback's strength is throwing routes 10+ yards down the field. Yep, no reason to try and get more points. What good do points do anyway?
Then there is the preseason style offense and defense the Titans played after going up 24-6. Posse said all of the things I would like to say but can't for a variety of reasons here. In summary, Fisherball is good with a bad offense and a running back, ala Eddie George, that is suited to bang against stacked boxes. This is not the team to do that with.
Furthermore, the decision to punt in the 4th quarter on 4th and 1 from the Dolphins 42 in the 4th quarter was nothing short of horrendous. Brett Kern was cut by the Broncos because he kicks the ball low and BECAUSE HE CAN'T DOWN THE BALL INSIDE THE 20 TO SAVE HIS LIFE. Good thing we didn't take that "high risk chance" on 4th and 1 to save 20 yards in field position.
Lastly, there is no reason not to call timeout with the Dolphins backed up at the end of regulation. Fisher reasoning in the postgame presser makes a lot of sense though:
We had our chance to win regulation on the series before. We went three-and-out. My gut feeling…a lot of times I make decisions like that, I gut feel. What I didn’t want to do was call timeout, send a signal to them and force them to take a shot and make a big play down the field because then they had three timeouts. We had our chance to win the game in regulation. We didn’t get it so, you know, I was playing for a tie.
That is all well and good, except for the fact that they only had one timeout. Fisher gets praised all of the time for his in-game coaching and how well he knows every situation. It might behoove him to take a look at one of the humongous boards at either end of the stadium that let you know how many timeouts both teams have. Just a thought.
The Ugly
Nick Harper. What else can be said about his play that hasn't already been said? I don't know how many of Chad Henne's 349 yards were on Harper, but I feel confident saying it was 85%. I have never actually coached a football game, but I can see that every opposing quarterback knows he can make a completion on Harper pretty much every time. I guess I am missing something somewhere though.
As someone said in the links, can you imagine what this would be like had the Titans not won..
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All i could think about when I saw Bironas come to kick the field goal is....AM I GOING TO SEE...
by Bonafidebrother on Dec 21, 2009 10:50 AM CST reply actions
I did the patented "Bironas Gunfingaz" salute all the way down from my seats on Sunday
Well, mainly because it was cold and my hands were frozen like that for a good 10 minutes.
I was running around my house...
shooting the “Bironas Gunfingerz”…after he made that kick…
My wife couldn’t believe that he came from the arena league…
by Bonafidebrother on Dec 21, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions
Smash
can you make a wallpaper of the Bironas Gunfingaz for us?
I’m an early bird and a night owl. So I’m wise and I have worms.
by DonFrancisco on Dec 21, 2009 1:49 PM CST up reply actions
of course
"We really feel like we can go 10-0 in these last ten games...we’re trying to do something nobody has ever done." Chris Johnson
"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
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by Aditya T (smashville) on Dec 21, 2009 2:33 PM CST up reply actions
Kern and Harper
It’s kind of funny that the exact thing that Kern can’t do is what he did at the end of the 4th, and Fisher didn’t take advantage of it.
And we only noticed one pass thrown to Finnegan’s side. And he broke it up. Did anyone see more than one?
Fisher's quote
We had our chance to win regulation on the series before. We went three-and-out. My gut feeling…a lot of times I make decisions like that, I gut feel. What I didn’t want to do was call timeout, send a signal to them and force them to take a shot and make a big play down the field because then they had three timeouts. We had our chance to win the game in regulation. We didn’t get it so, you know, I was playing for a tie.
Again, I thought the same thing you did, Jimmy. But he’s talking about the series before the final one, where the Dolphins scored the TD and made the 2-pt conversion.
Now, why he’s talking about the previous series when asked about the end of the game I can’t say. But you are right- the Fins had 1 timeout and we should’ve used our’s at the end.
I don't think he is
We didn’t go 3 and out before that series.
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
What he's talking about is very convoluted
We did indeed go 3-and-out before the final series, but Miami only had 2 timeouts. They used one at the end of that series and had 1 left.
Whatever and wherever he was talking about, the fact is that at the end of the game, the Fins only had 1 timeout.
Guess I’m trying to give him benefit of the doubt here, but you’re right: if the guy didn’t call timeout at the end of the game because he thought the Fins had 3, then he needs to pull his head out of Nick Harper’s ass and pay attention.
I dont know why we aren't playing to win, like we have nothing to lose.
Our playoff hopes are miniscule, so why dont you play like it? Like every play is the last or our only chance to actually make the playoffs? This ultra-conservative play needs to be thrown out the window at this point.
RIP Steve McNair (1973 - 2009) Retire #9!
Hard-on for Hardesty!
by Pride of the Southland on Dec 21, 2009 12:16 PM CST up reply actions 6 recs
That is a fantastic point
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
Kick Coverage
I was wondering if field conditions were slowing down the returners. Britt didnt really look that good either.
I’m an early bird and a night owl. So I’m wise and I have worms.
The Nick Harper bashing...
I’ve been paying more attention to Nick Harper since I’ve been reading more on here about his crappy play. I tend to notice alot of the times he makes a bad play. However, I would like to know the answer to the question posed in the story here: How many of their yards were on Nick Harper directly?
Good question.
It really felt like 9/10 pass plays went after him. It’s just too easy.
Just looking through the play by play on plays he made the tackle on
It was 109 yards. That is by no means all though because he didn’t always make the tackle on plays he gave up.
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
no tackles in the run game either
pretty good for his supposed strength
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
He also managed to completely blow that tackle on Polite for a 3rd down stop.
Ain't no time for hesitatin'
All you got to do is groove
by BonzosMontreaux on Dec 21, 2009 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
One side point to the Harper argument
On a few (definitely not most) of the plays, it looks like Harper should be getting help over the top that doesnt come until it is too late. I am not sure if he is not dropping back far enough or if it is the safeties fault.
I’m an early bird and a night owl. So I’m wise and I have worms.
by DonFrancisco on Dec 21, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions
better question is how many against finn?
"hey, quit reading these ridiculous words of wisdom and get back to work!"
thats another aspect of this debate
Is Harper attacked b/c he is bad or b/c Finn is that good?
I’m an early bird and a night owl. So I’m wise and I have worms.
by DonFrancisco on Dec 21, 2009 1:25 PM CST up reply actions
as much as i love finny
hes not THAT good. hes not revis or ashomuaga or whatever the F his name is. hes one of the better and a probowl, but hes in no way a shutdown guy like that
You forgot in the Good section
VY’s 236yds and 3TDs, which by the way were three perfectly thrown balls. Also CJ 104 yds. I know the guy has been killing but we can’t take for granted a 104 yards day just because he did not go off in one of those patented 80+ runs.
I'm not a VY fanboy, I'm a VY supporter
thanks
You’d think we lost this game.
by zero defects on Dec 21, 2009 3:00 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Even more frustrating.
Check out Paul K’s article.
# Young had a passer rating of 143.6 and two of his three touchdown throws against the Dolphins defense when it deployed five or more defensive backs.
# Out of the shotgun, Young completed eight of 13 passes, all on third down, for a 143.6 passer rating and two TDs. Henne posted a 50.6 passer rating out of the shotgun.
We should have been throwing a lot more yesterday in the second half.
EXACTLY
Not only for the offense in and of itself, but because we HAVE A BAD DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is what blows my mind. I’d still be irritated, but I could at least UNDERSTAND the strategy if our defense was top 10. BUT IT ISNT!!!! WE LOST A GAME 59-0!!!! I know this defense has improved tremendously since then, but I don’t care. This defense cannot be depended upon to ice a game for us. If it plays well, that is icing on the cake.
However, our offense has the potential to be EXPLOSIVE. Yesterday, it was. SO USE IT!! Vince should’ve easily broken 300 yards passing and the Titans should’ve scored a minimum of 31 points.
I know we won, but the frustration comes from the fact that if we were playing San Diego and took a 24-6 then put on the breaks, we lose that game. WE HAVE TO LET THE OFFENSE CARRY THE TEAM IF WE ARE GOING TO BEAT SAN DIEGO.
Still mad.
T-Rac's Posse - T-Rac is one boss raccoon.
My personal Tribute to Air McNair
by T--Rac's Posse on Dec 21, 2009 12:10 PM CST up reply actions
it's funny
cuz defense saved our ass at the the end while the offense was busy doing nothing.
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
The offense can only be as good as the plays it's given to execute.
Miami bottled up CJ yesterday for the most part. 3.8 YPC is a tough day by CJ’s standards.
But, the deep passing game was working, and the coaching staff completely abandoned it. It’s not rocket science. Call the plays that work.
Instead, the coaching staff was so concerned with calling plays that kept the clock moving that it lost sight of what the offense is meant to do…score points.
no argument here
it blows my mind when i read people saying stuff about heimerdinger being a head coach. he has simply been flat out terrible this year at times. maybe he can coach qbs up, but his play calling often blows.
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
Well in all fairness Offense put up 24 pts defense gave up 24 pts and then redeemed themselves with a turnover. Just sayin “46”
My 2 cent's
Gotta agree with you there TRP, We won and thats dandy, but that game was really over with less than 10 minutes and we let an offense that isn’t that prolific move the ball on us and overcome an 18pt deficit. Losing Bulluck was huge too. There is a big drop off in talent behind Bulluck and company. With him not there to call defensive alignments and Dolphins running no huddle we weren’t getting defensive plays relayed fast enough and it showed.
“46”
not mad at ya....
just surprised to see the words fire and Jeff Fisher in the same sentence from you.
I agree that clock management in both halves was poor (especially the 2nd half….no idea what he was thinking). I agree that Harper has been very bad. I still think the punt was the best way to go, but that’s just my opinion.
If Fisher were to be replaced, then I wouldn’t jump ship or anything like that. I was a fan before him and will be long after him. I just see him as a staple of this organization, like I did Eddie and Mac. It killed me to see them go, I don’t want it to happen again. I guess I just really like him running this team.
I'm definitely not a Fisher guy BUT
I have to defend him on these two points.
1. Hood is a bum that none of you will ever get to see. Harper is actually better than the guy. So it’s not a coaching decision.
2. Fish figured with a big lead, he could feed CJ more to get the record.
Hood has already played in three games for us this season
And actually got 3 interceptions. And could actually cover a receiver.
Huh?
1. Hood is a bum that none of you will ever get to see. Harper is actually better than the guy. So it’s not a coaching decision.
Here’s a very simple question: If a guy has three straight games with an interception, would you bench him?
If the int(s)
1. Int – WR ran into official
2. Int – Griff tipped ball
3. Int- ball went through TO’s hands.
On all three plays, he was beat.
Then he is a least as good as Harper
He gets beat all the time.
I’m an early bird and a night owl. So I’m wise and I have worms.
by DonFrancisco on Dec 21, 2009 2:29 PM CST up reply actions
We've had this disagreement before
Early in the year, Nick Harper was playing 15 yards off the line. Those are free passes. Do you know why he was playing 15 yards back? Because receivers can blow by him. I’ve seen him play up some the last few games, and I actually didn’t mind him in the STL game because he IS a good tackler, but he’s lost a little bit of speed and in this league, that’s enough to make a huge difference in the NFL receiving game.
I refuse to believe, until I see Hood get lit up like Harper (in 3 games, Hood just didn’t get attacked that badly) but if you think Harper isn’t getting lit up you need to watch the games again. I’ll give him credit on the interception because if he’s near a ball, he knows how to get in position and block out the receiver, but the problem is his covering abilities have declined. I would, at this point, give Hood a shot. I don’t know for a fact that he’s better, and maybe the coaches are seeing something I’m not, but if I was a coach I would definitely be looking around this offseason.
by Great Paperclip on Dec 21, 2009 1:12 PM CST up reply actions
Earlers,
Watch a game every once in a while before you comment.
you're lucky that I don't have access to coach's tape because I would definitely be
able to show you that Harper > Hood.
all-time sure
but not this year
I’m an early bird and a night owl. So I’m wise and I have worms.
by DonFrancisco on Dec 21, 2009 2:21 PM CST up reply actions
You honestly believe that?
Maybe the coaches tape would tell me something different, but just from my limited football knowledge Hood did not get picked on like Harper has.
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
at least
Hood put himself in position to make a play. nott saying
Hood is awesome…but tired of watching the same corner
Getting roasted. I would welcome hood getting roasted
Just so we could say…“Well at least harpers not in there”
And could also say fisher aknowledges the problem
And is trying.
Also… On hoods first int, the receiver did hit the official but
Hood would have had it anyways he was in great position.
My hope is mouton comes up big in camp next year
Finally….one thing to think about, we could go first rnd for a corner
In the draft, but that’s not a quick fix….didn’t vontae
Davis get torched for three tds yesterday?
by zero defects on Dec 21, 2009 3:12 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Based on the samples that we have this season,
How can you even begin to argue this? Harper has broken up 5 passes and intercepted 1. In 10 games. Hood has broken up 3 and intercepted 3 in 3 games. And we all know that it is not as if teams are avoiding Nick.
I’m sure that you can pick individual plays out of Hood’s 3 games to show me where he screwed up. Fine. I don’t need coach’s tape to show you where Harper sucked. Just watch the opposing team’s highlights from every game he’s played this year. See the guy who’s barely in the frame as [insert receiver’s name here] is high-stepping to the end zone? That’s Nick.
We’re not asking for perfection. We’re asking for competence.
Come on...you're defending a guy who can't dress
for a game. Are you serious? He can’t tackle and that is the reason that he can’t play on special teams.
There are plenty of examples of Harper sucking,
Would love some examples of Hood’s deficiencies. Don’t remember any egregious missed tackles in the 3 games he started, but I could very well be wrong.
Also, the difference between “can’t dress” and “Fisher won’t let dress” is a big one. I don’t trust Fisher farther than I can throw him at this point.
Off topic
Good to see the Longhorns could get the charges dropped on Monroe just in time for the championship game.
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
I wish
You?
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
"What if I was Peyton Manning?"- CJ to the ref after they picked up a personal foul flag for a late hit on him.
I am.
Let me know if you end up going. We’ll be tailgating and I’ve got a beer with your name on it.
Jimmy loves beer. You better have a lot.
I’m an early bird and a night owl. So I’m wise and I have worms.
by DonFrancisco on Dec 21, 2009 3:02 PM CST up reply actions
I'm sorry if this point has been made
but I didn’t read all the comments. But when Keith Bulluck went down the the air went out of the Titans D. With David Thornton already out it hurt the D having Bulluck out just like when we went 0-6 with the secondary in the shape it was in. I was just thankful we held on and took it into ot and won it there.
we had
Zero pass rush in the end! Very frustrating. Why wouldn’t
U blitz henne?
by zero defects on Dec 21, 2009 3:15 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Thanks for keeping me informed MCM
I’m in the backwoods of Missouri seeing family. No tv access. Shitty phone service. Wished I could have seen the game
by zackmann on Dec 21, 2009 6:50 PM CST via mobile reply actions
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