Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Preview
by Jimmy on Sep 10, 2009 9:24 AM CDT
in Tennessee Titans Previews
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PrintI am so excited that there is finally some real life football to talk about. We have been talking about this game for so long that it is almost hard to believe that it is actually happening today.
Entirely to much talk surrounding this game has focused on the terrible towel stuff that happened at the end of the last game. That stuff is great for blogs, radio shows and message boards, but it means nothing when the ball is kicked off tonight night.
The key for the Titans in this game is to play the same game they did against the Steelers in week 16 last season. I know that is over-simplified, but it really is the truth. The Titans got after Ben Roethlisberger all day long, and in doing so they were able to keep him funneled into the pocket. From all reports I have heard, the Steelers spend a significant amount of time in practice working on plays where Big Ben has broken contain. Last season the Titans were able to really punish him without letting him escape. That will be key once again tonight.
Take a look at these numbers from that game last season:
Those numbers don't even show the 5 fumbles the Titans defense forced or the 5 times they were able to sack Roethlisberger.
The other key you see there is that the Steelerswere only able to gain 73 yards on the ground. If the Titans can put up a similar effort tonight, it forces the Steelers into obvious passing situations. That is where the Titans defense will excel.
As you can see below, the Steelers defense was very, very good against the run last season. The Titans actually had success against them last season. Chris Johnson racked up 69 yards on 16 carries and LenDale White added 48 yards on 15 carries. We all know the Titans are committed to the run even when it doesn't work. We will probably see quite a few running plays tonight that go for next to nothing, but it only takes a couple of seams for CJ to keep the defense honest.
Kerry Collins was also very good in that game last season going 20-29 for 215 yards with 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions. We all know that is the game the Titans need him to play. If he puts up similar numbers tonight it will be a good night.
As always in a game like this, special teams will play a huge role. The Steelers have a new return man, Stefan Logan, who has apparently lit the world on fire this preseason. Containing him will be very important for the Titans.
Special teams is a bit of a question mark for the Titans. I expect to see Javon Ringer returning kicks, andall indications are that Cortland Finnegan will handle the punts. The long term goal is for Ryan Mouton to handle punts, but they don't think he is ready tonight because of his injury. They also probably don't want to throw him right into the fire coming off that injury as a rookie in a game of this magnitude. Say a little prayer every time a punt goes in the air that nothing happens to Finnegan. We all know what losing him would mean.
There is no doubt that this is a tough game in a tough atmosphere against a tough team, but it is a game that the Titans match-up well in. Take care of the ball and good things will happen.
Last year's stats:
| Titans | 2009 Stat | Steelers |
| 137.4 (7th) | Rush Offense | 105.6 (23rd) |
| 200.5 (17th) | Pass Offense |
206.3 (17th) |
| 313.6 (21st) | Total Offense | 311.9 (22nd) |
| 23.4 (14th) | Scoring Offense | 21.7 (20th) |
| 8.8% (14th) | Offense DVOA | 1.7% (20th) |
| 93.9 (6th) | Rush Defense | 80.3 (2nd) |
| 199.8 (9th) | Pass Defense | 156.9 (1st) |
| 293.6 (7th) | Total Defense | 237.2 (2nd) |
| 14.6 (2nd) | Scoring Defense | 13.9 (1st) |
| +7 (8th) | Turnover Ratio | +10 (2nd) |
| -17% (5th) | Defense DVOA | -26% (1st) |
| 27% (5th) | Total DVOA | 27% (5th) |
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Comments
I am very excited to see Stefan Logan in the regular season. He has looked amazing in the preseason in punts and kicks….should be an interesting match-up.
Good Luck to the Titans and all the folks over here at MCM.
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Sep 10, 2009 9:28 AM CDT reply actions
With Cook more then likely out..and washington hobbled
im going to look for Britt to step up and show me something..i hope he does
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you.
-Bob
Hiding under the couch?
Reading the new SBN frontpage?
Already in a bar?
At home with multiple supermodels?
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
i am at work...
sitting at my desk twiddleing my thumbs…. i hate having to wait 12 waking hours for a game, epecially the first one. this is brutal.
im used to opening sunday…. getting wasted on saturday so that i wake up sunday at 11 and only have to wait a couple hours.
this day is killing me.!!!
speaking....
words of wisdom, although my wake up time is usually half an hour before kick off.
"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"
so would mine if i could
usually on every other day i would wake up, go back to sleep, wake up, go back to sleep….
but on game days, once im up…. im up for good.
i'm at home
it’s 9PM right now. I’m still undecided whether to sleep early or wait it out til 3:30 AM.
"I finished the game. In my mind, if I finished the game, I can play next week." - Steve McNair RIP
Ok, I think I will
if anybody has a PS3 out there, I will be at the EA Poker Room or the Bowling Alley playing pool.
"I finished the game. In my mind, if I finished the game, I can play next week." - Steve McNair RIP
by Pinoy Titan on Sep 10, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions
well iam on my way to bosie
going to learn about dentures for a few days, got a long drive but i am leaving early so i wont miss the game and all the pregame stuff.
so iam not going to talk about the game much cus i dont want to jinx us.
in class all day
trying to not think about tonight in hopes that it will speed the day up.
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
right now
a film class on spike lee’s early work.
other highlights from today include:
comp science c programming
american populism: thomas jefferson to rush limbaugh
history of the 1960’s in america
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
RRRRRRARAAAAWWRRRR
populist outrage!!!!!!!!!!
Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.
One question...
Was ‘Hello World’ the first assignment you had in your programming classes? I have taken visual basic, c, and c+ and the first assignment in all 3 classes was that Hello World program.
Now I am learning Allen Bradley PLC programming and automation and I was so relieved not to see that project. Instead I got to learn how to automate the controls for stop lights, garage doors, and silo level meters. It was actually kind of fun doing those.
I am in school for that stuff now as well
Titans Blogger at Music City Miracles even though gramsey hates it.
I took a bunch of those fuzzy courses, too.
Ended up majoring in European History. Was only by the very grace of God that I took enough engineering courses to actually be employable.
DannoE
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
anybody wanto to set an over/under line for tonight's open game thread?
i’m betting it gets pretty rowdy.
i say that the line starts at 1250 comments. feel free to add input below and we can settle on a number by game time.
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
over/under 1800
i’m counting on the heavy commentators. theologic, numbertenox, michaeltastic, bull4real, GingerSnapsTN to name a few. Let’s go everybody!
"I finished the game. In my mind, if I finished the game, I can play next week." - Steve McNair RIP
by Pinoy Titan on Sep 10, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions
it being a road game helps too.
and for those who plan on hitting bars tonight, just remember that the drinks are cheaper at Music City Miracles in the open thread
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
studies show MCM commentators live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
"I finished the game. In my mind, if I finished the game, I can play next week." - Steve McNair RIP
by Pinoy Titan on Sep 10, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions
the 5th was too drunk to answer
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 Sep 10, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions
if got a good feeling about tonight...it comes down to this
we run the ball…we win the game.
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you.
-Bob
I considered playing video games all day
to make the day go faster. Man, I am praying on both knees that we win tonight. Go Titans!
So am I the only one who's got a bad feeling about this game?
I just don’t feel that we’re going to provide enough pressure to get to Ben. I just see him getting out of the pocket and exploiting Harper’s old legs.
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
could happen
but i’m way too excited to have any bad feelings. i still say the matchups are in the titans favor big time, and if emotions & mistakes don’t get the best of the titans, they should win. i also have doubts about big ben’s drive this season.
The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.
of course i am a little uneasy...
but i think everyone is. Its an opening day thing. i was nervous the alst 2 years on opening day also and those games turned out okay
Same here..
I’m a bit uneasy every opening day. I don’t have a bad feeling about the game though, at least not yet.
Well...
Last year, I picked the Steelers to win and was wrong . I’m doing the same this year, hoping for the same result. Anybody else pick them to win in the Yahoo league?
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 Sep 10, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm nervous
I don’t have a “bad feeling,” but at the same time I’m hoping this is a well played game and that the titans come out on top. It really does depend on how well we contain Ben
by Great Paperclip on Sep 10, 2009 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions
seeing KVB's relentless pursuit of big ben....
and the freak at the other end. puts me at a ease a little bit more.
"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"
Being a Texas Longhorn fan
I go into every season thinking, if the disasterous happened, all my team has to do is beat OU. I’ll take a 1-11 season with a win over OU. Now sure I don’t want the Titans to win against Pittsburgh tonight and lose fifteen straight believe me. But i want this team to win tonight so much more than usual its just unbelievable. I’m worried about Kerry in particular, wondering if he can do it again..I hate the whole good manager of the game crap, I feel like it comes down to being able to complete passes or not, with little mistakes such as interceptions, holding on to the ball too long and so forth. I feel like if Kerry can complete the passes he needs to complete, and the defensive line can step it up without Fat Albert, I think we’ve got a great shot. Still super excited, and GO TITANS!
I think..
this game will be won or lost by mistakes. We’re matched pretty good on offense and defense. If we cause more mistakes than we make, like the last time we faced them, we should come out with a big win.
you better hope the titans
practiced their silent snap count…their ears are going to be bleeding from the noise at heinz
they must bleed
for ESPN to do a ten minute piece on them today!
by Great Paperclip on Sep 10, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions
Ah yes...
The Eastern Sports Propoganda Network strikes again…..
How could those hillbillies desecrate the sacred towel? Why, it’s like they’re desecrating the dead soldiers who fought to defend our freedoms! How could those backwards people sully the holy yellow towel that brings orphans in Pennsylvania so much joy? What uncivilized beast would mock the symbol of hope for rust belt union workers during a recession?
Good old ESPN: Derek Jeter signed an autograph today for someone before the ballgame – here’s a clip, and an interview with everyone who saw it. After that, we’ll have a 1.5 second mention of everything that happened in sports in all of the flyover states………..
"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 Sep 10, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Can we...
…tie the Steelers’ rag around our Center’s derrier for KC to use to dry his hands before snaps?
"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 Sep 10, 2009 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions
French's > Heinz
yeah I said it.
Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.
by August West on Sep 10, 2009 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
that's probably...
the dagger to the heart. nicely done.
"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"
So I was bored and decided to watch NFL Network...
They have “America’s Game” on and it’s on the Steeler’s season last year. They completely skipped over the Titan’s game.
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
Question about that game...
Why isn’t James Harrison suspended any games this season?
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 Sep 10, 2009 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Quote of the day, by drinkyourmilkshake on BTSC:
The Titans are the NAVY of the NFL…they might not pass all game
Awesome!
Official MCM Hater!
Retire #9!
Titans should have won this game.
Although, being from Pittsburgh, I’m glad they didn’t.
The Steelers did not look good last night. They won it with playground ball and a lot of luck. I was there and the crowd was dejected for half the game. Unbelievable sight. They’ve done nothing to improve their Offenseive Line. Darn. Maybe a new Steeler’s Fight Song would give them a little more pep???
DM
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