Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Back On The High Horse Edition

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 8:59 AM CDT in Linkage Comment 39 comments

The Tennessean sits down with long-time Titans strength and conditioning coach Steve Watterson to talk about the off-season conditioning program which has just started. I can't see a picture of Waterson without remembering him tossing a cup of chicken noodle soup on Jerry Porter before a game several years ago.

This is also the same article where we find out that LenDale weighs 20 lbs less than he did last year. This is the case because he's a jackass who wasn't motivated enough to get in shape during a non-contract year. If ever there were an NFL player who will tank it after a big contract extension it's LenDale White.

That being said, it wouldn't surprise me if Crazy Legs and LenDale both broke 1,000 yards this year.

Today is the Vanderbilt Pro Day, and it's make-or-break time for possible 1st round pick D.J. Moore. If he can make-up for his poor 40-time at the combine D.J. could jump right back into the mix for the Titans at the 30 spot.

Paul Kuharsky has a small novella on Kerry Collins, and only waits a few paragraphs to get the money quote from my new favorite talker in the locker room, Justin Gage, on why Kerry has the starting gig locked-down:

Everybody looks to him for his leadership and his ability, sees that he's here already working out, that he's got guys coming in. We're getting our work together, our chemistry. You can definitely tell that this is a team that's going to grow behind him.

JJ Cooper takes a quick look at Mark Jones compared to Chris Carr's impact on our return game.

Don Banks thinks football fans and media couldn't talk about Cutler more than they have lately, even if - as he jokes - AIG was paying his bonus.

Hey did anyone else notice that the 2006 QB class hasn't worked out like most folks expected? Crazy stuff...

Every time you email me a link the football gods smile upon you, so if you have a link you'd like to submit for tomorrow's Morning Links email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com! (Be sure to include your commenting handle so I can give you semi-anonymous credit.)

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Mr West -

I don’t like your tone about LenDale. I challenge you to a duel in the Thunder Dome. 2 Men enter, 1 Man leaves!

Staunch Defender of the Round Mound -

by TrenchantTitan on Mar 20, 2009 10:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Why the ridiculous post, you ask?

I don’t understand why you are fueling hypercritical fodder about LDW -

Staunch Defender of the Round Mound -

by TrenchantTitan on Mar 20, 2009 10:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

it doesn't piss you off just a little

that the one complaint anyone has ever had about him is the fact that he’s been too flabby and out of shape, and he doesn’t fix that in 3 years, but magically loses 20 lbs. before his contract year?

That’s bush league, and we all knew it was going to happen… just because he can’t put down the bacon or swim a few laps…

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In fairness, this is the first season he's had as a Titan when he's not coming off of surgery, isn't it?

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Mar 20, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

C'mon

90% of weight loss is diet. This guy is making good money. Certainly enough to pay a nutritionist to tell him what to eat during the offseason. Unless you are training for a marathon, cardio is rarely the reason for weight loss because you have to do so much of it to see results. In a good fat loss program, cardio is a supplement to nutrition, not the other way around…

by SuperHorn on Mar 20, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not saying he couldn't do better.

In fact, I’m sure he could have done better, because like August said, he could have gotten in the pool or something, and burned some weight off that way.

That said, I don’t know if I agree with you about cardio vs. diet. I’ve always been more of the opinion that if you’re doing the right things with your life, you can eat (about) as much as you want.

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Mar 20, 2009 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Like anything...

It’s about perspective and goals. Sure, a regular Joe can eat most anything, and get away with it if he’s exercising a lot. He’ll most likely stay in a healthy weight range.

But, we’re talking about elite athletes. And, “staying fit” for normal people vs. keeping 200+ pounds of muscle on a football player are two very different things. You can be guaranteed that these guys in great shape (Jevon Kearse, TO, Brian Orakpo, etc.) aren’t eating a double meat cheeseburger for lunch. I’d go further that athletes in that kind of shape have nearly every meal planned out before the week even begins.

by SuperHorn on Mar 20, 2009 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair point.

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Mar 20, 2009 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chad Johnson claims he eats a double cheeseburger everyday.

maybe that’s what’s wrong with him: all of those beef steroids and hormones got to him!

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's never had major surgery

and almost everyone who is in the NFL gets cut-on to some extent in the off-season.

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 10:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with August.

I also am of the same opinion that he could have a big year this year.

by SuperHorn on Mar 20, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Weight has always been an "issue" with him -

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls05/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=2276480

He was at 244lbs on his proday, which should have been a bigger motivator than his final contract year. He played at 255lbs during the Rose Bowl & went APESH*&T He’s a big fella, and he plays BIG!

Staunch Defender of the Round Mound -

by TrenchantTitan on Mar 20, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

his yard per carry average says otherwise.

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

lets fix this:

~~Weight~~ Discipline and fitness have always been an “issue” with him

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 10:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Partial Concession -

Discipline I will give you, but fitness is a matter of opinion. His YPC is in line with any other powerback in a running tandem.

Staunch Defender of the Round Mound -

by TrenchantTitan on Mar 20, 2009 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

obviously LenDale was of the opinion that he wasn’t fit enough since he lost 20 lbs.

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

While were speculating...

Maybe he had a tapeworm, or maybe he took some of those millions & hired a nutritionist, or maybe, just maybe he took a huge crap.

Staunch Defender of the Round Mound -

by TrenchantTitan on Mar 20, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ha!

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

speaking of peace offerings.....what ever happened to Beans Carter?

Staunch Defender of the Round Mound -

by TrenchantTitan on Mar 20, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he was good at his job

but odds are he could’ve been better had he been in better shape.
as a football player your job is mainly to prepare to play, and obviously lendale wasn’t working as hard as he could to be an elite player.

by rolypoly32 on Mar 20, 2009 8:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not just a contract year

It’s the first post CJ offseason for him. Last off season we had CJ, but he was a rookie and no pressure on Lendale much. Now CJ is the shiznit. The presence of the “wow” that is CJ could be goosing him just as much or more this offseason as the contract status is. Combine those things, and if he doesn’t put the nose to the grindstone this season, he never will.

I think Lendale is going to be much improved next season.

by numbertenox on Mar 20, 2009 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you!

I think he realizes that he has officially taken a supporting role to Crazylegs, and that is his motivation now. Whatever his motivation, I think we will reap the benefits this season. After that, who knows.

Official MCM Hater!

by gramsey712 on Mar 21, 2009 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also -

Did Michael Scott really quit?

Staunch Defender of the Round Mound -

by TrenchantTitan on Mar 20, 2009 10:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Question of the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Official MCM Hater!

by gramsey712 on Mar 20, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No shot he really quit.

Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.

by Jimmy on Mar 20, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt it as well

but it was an interesting end to the show.

Staunch Defender of the Round Mound -

by TrenchantTitan on Mar 20, 2009 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

DJ Moore

I actually hope he has a horrible pro day because I don’t think he;s gonna be there at 30

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...

by Michaeltastic on Mar 20, 2009 10:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i agree

i’ve watched enough dj moore against sec athletes to know that he’s fast enough to play the game.
i hope he sucks it up so that there’s a bigger chance that he falls to us at 30.

by rolypoly32 on Mar 20, 2009 8:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Isn't this the same Kerry Collins....

…who lost the starting job to a rookie after going winless for half of the season a short while ago?

The same Collins who couldn’t find a TD in a two-minute drill to save his life?

The same Collins who couldn’t get into field goal range without Chris Johnson, given an entire half in the playoffs – at home?

Stop the Collins worship. He was a below average QB last year. This team would be wise to change the battle plan for a change, and at least look at the possibility of getting Cutler while there’s a shot.

But hey, who am I to question a team that’s never won a Super Bowl on how to win the Super Bowl?

"Bite my shiny metal ass!" -- Bender Bending Rodriguez

"Life is just one crushing defeat after another until you just wish Flanders was dead."

by The Jade Scorpion on Mar 20, 2009 12:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll never accept the argument that Collins "lost" any of those games by himself.

I grant you that he was terrible in his first three or four games as a Titan (up until that first Indy game), but since then, he’s done everything that’s been asked of him. No, he’s not the best QB in the League—not by a long shot. But he had an excellent year last year—save for a few bad performances down the stretch—and he played very well in the playoffs.

And more to the point, KC is the best realistic option that the Titans have. There is NO WAY that we could Cutler into Nashville. What or who would we give in trade (hat tip to the Podcast)?

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Mar 20, 2009 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re:

I grant you that he was terrible in his first three or four games as a Titan (up until that first Indy game), but since then, he’s done everything that’s been asked of him.

Everything? After the Texans game you were calling for the Titans to start Vince (more here):

KC was God-awful, and I will not allow anyone to sugarcoat it any other way. His game Sunday was worse than ANYTHING VY has ever done as a Titan.

….

We can only hope VY will come into the game. Then we’d have a real chance of winning it.

by SuperHorn on Mar 20, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"...save for a few bad performances down the stretch..."

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Mar 20, 2009 3:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And I can admit when I was wrong.

KC played poorly for a 3-game stretch. VY would, I’m sure, have looked worse.

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Mar 20, 2009 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In Collins' defense

1) He was in an impossible situation when he lost the starting job to VY. He was signed the week before the season began, had no time to learn the playbook and had no playmakers around him.

2) Collins won games in Baltimore, Cincinnati and Jacksonville on TD passes in the final minutes

3) We got into field goal range 3 times after CJ left the game. LenDale and Alge fumbled it and Bironas missed a FG in the 3rd quarter.

I agree that Kerry shouldn’t be looked at as elite in any way, but he did enough for us to win in almost every single game last year, he just isn’t good enough to wipe-out other people’s mistakes like the great QBs in this league can.

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: [He] had no time to learn the playbook and had no playmakers around him.

1) Can’t the same be said for Vince?

by SuperHorn on Mar 20, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

VY was the playmaker that year

and VY had an entire offseason to study Chow’s stripped-down playbook. I still say Kerry had no chance in hell to succeed in those first 4 games.

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's true, I suppose.

But, it’s at least worth pointing out that learning a pro offense for a kid that just came out of an offense like Texas ran is more difficult than a veteran coming in and learning another pro offense similar to what he’s run for 10 years.

by SuperHorn on Mar 20, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Where I was raised 2 + 2 = 3rd and 6.

by August West on Mar 20, 2009 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Collins is not an elit QB, but he is still serviceable

And on that fatefull day when the all powerful mike reinfeldt drafted CJ, I changed the entire outlook of our offense. He is a unique weapon that the defense has to account for every single play. At first we were all excited about the possability of getting Jay Cutler, but that’s just not going to happen so we need to move forward with VY. I’m am extremely curious to see what he can do now, with VY and CJ in the backfield it presents unique problems for defenses to defend. I still think that Collins will be our starter at the beginning of the year, but if VY has a good offseason and progresses as a passer, he’ll be the starter by the end of the year.

I also agree with august, LDW is a fat piece of crap and it didn’t surprise anyone that the year he decides to come inshape is his contract year.

Cortland Finnegan is a beast

by Titansfan_559 on Mar 20, 2009 12:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs