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2009 Tennessee Titans Roster Review: Offensive Line

2009 wasn't a banner year for many position groups on the Titans' roster, but the one group that shined as a whole was the offensive line.  Despite a few uneven performances early on, they consistently played at a high level in both phases of the game.  They also continued a tough-to-underestimate trend of staying remarkably healthy, on the whole.

Of course, the first thing you can point to was the 2,006 yard rusher they paved the way for.  But perhaps more impressive was the way the line adapted to the insertion of Vince Young.  

Follow us through the jump for the rest of the story...

Star-divide

After a year of focusing on making a textbook pocket for Kerry Collins, the O-line seamlessly adjusted to Young's improvisational, mobile style with tremendous success.  According to Football Outsiders, the unit was the 3rd best in the league at pass protection, allowing a sterling adjusted sack rate of 3.7%.  That put them behind the Colts and Patriots, and above the Saints and Chargers.  Those teams all feature elite pocket QBs with a preternatural sense of avoiding the rush.  Vince Young hasn't been that: in 2007 he was sacked 25 times in 15 starts, which is 10 more than our line allowed all year in 2009.

While 2,006 yards should say it all for the O-line's run blocking, it really doesn't.  While the agility and ability to get to the second level we key in springing CJ2K to more big runs than any back in the league, they continued to struggle at the point of attack at times.  The results were some schizophrenic run block metrics at FO.  The line finished 28th in stuffs (runs of 0 or negative yards), but 7th and 1st in 2nd level and open field rankings respectively.  Some of that you can put on CJ, but it's been a reoccurring theme with this group for years now; they just aren't built in that Cowboys, Vikings, Ravens mold of sun-blocking mountain movers.  Instead they're somewhere between that and the Shanahan-era-Broncos mold of agile guards and center who move around to force the defense to react.

Individually, Michael Roos continued to cement himself as one of the best all-around left tackles in all of football.  David Stewart continued to be a mauler, even if he was more mistake prone in this campaign (see the Pittsburgh game) and struggled with a hamstring injury in the middle of the year.  Mawae showed why he'll be a sure-fire Hall of Famer, as the elder statesman of the unit continues to excel in the face of declining physical skills.  Jake Scott and Eugene Amano both got pushed around at times, but both turned in very solid campaigns.  

The personnel on the line has been remarkably consistent for the past few years, but that could definitely change this off-season.  Once again it's tough to forecast what will happen until there's a firm decision on the CBA and the salary cap, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to see either Amano or Mawae gone.  Leroy Harris is waiting in the wings, and the team still seems high on 4th round draft pick Troy Kropog despite the fact that he was inactive most of the year.  That gives us a lot of flexibility to make the best decision both financially and in terms of quality on the roster. Guys like Velasco and Otto provide nice depth, but don't look like they'll ever be NFL starters.

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Get rid of

Amano’s penalty prone ass. Im sick and tired of him.

by TitansJonne on Feb 9, 2010 11:15 AM CST reply actions  

Really?

Care to explain how? We have Leroy Harris who is more than capable of handling his spot. And we can just re-sign mawae.

by TitansJonne on Feb 9, 2010 3:04 PM CST up reply actions  

It's Beard Fassay!

I’m an early bird and a night owl. So I’m wise and I have worms.

by DonFrancisco on Feb 9, 2010 11:32 AM CST up reply actions  

DonFrancisco

dropping the Scrubs reference.

by asian phil on Feb 9, 2010 12:02 PM CST up reply actions  

0h, man, this is my favorite post of the year

O-line is where I played, and trust me if you have never been there: blocking for a guy like Kerry vs blocking for a guy like Vince are two very, very different things.

The fact that this crew could do both so well is a testiment to their talent and abilities.

Great group!! No doubt!

by JimR on Feb 9, 2010 12:44 PM CST via mobile reply actions  

serious question since i dont know

but how so?

"hey, quit reading these ridiculous words of wisdom and get back to work!"

by stetix01 on Feb 9, 2010 12:53 PM CST up reply actions  

I also

played Oline… actually this past year ( See Amarillo High Sandies 5A District (( Hardest District in the State of Texas, we finished 2nd to Odessa High )) ). I was the starting left guard… you can figure out who I am from there…

Protecting for a pocket passer is really not much more different than protecting for an agile Quarterback like Vince Young… ( Oline that is )

Trust your step… stay on your guy… and your blocking assignments.

Oline is where it’s at… I have so much respect for the way these guy’s play…. especially David Stewart.

by RhiNo6705 on Feb 9, 2010 2:12 PM CST up reply actions  

This is just weird

I played my HS ball in West Texas, too (ain’t saying where except we were too small – 2A – to play Odessa).

I also played two years of college ball before transferring to UT where I did not play.

I respectfully disagree that protecting a pocket passer is the same as for a mobile, roll out scrambler.

A lot of it is because you have to put a lot more effort into keeping track of where the QB is behind you, knowing when to switch from pass blocking to run blocking, and the mix of plays is very different, requiring different skills.

Also, I was a Center, and there are usually more deep snaps with a scrambler.

And, you usually run a lot further per game with a scrambler, which tires out a poor old lineman. :-)
 
There’s a lot more, but I’m typing on an iPhone, and that’s all I can do now.

by JimR on Feb 9, 2010 3:13 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Hmm

Bushland….
Frendship….
Dangerfield…?

by RhiNo6705 on Feb 9, 2010 3:22 PM CST up reply actions  

Ain't saying cause we were so small

It gets too personal
We were so small, there were only 19 of us on our traveling squad my senior year.

The Mean Nineteen!! :-)

by JimR on Feb 9, 2010 3:27 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Hint

I’m way south of you, and even south of the Broncos.

by JimR on Feb 9, 2010 4:15 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

I played OLine too

and I agree with JimR here. When you know its a pass from the pocket, you know where the QB is supposed to be. From there you can push the guy to the outside of the play and whatnot and just worry about blocking the guy in front of you.

Now when you have a QB that runs from the pocket, you generally have no idea which way he goes. When the DLine then follows, you’d think it’d be good to let him go that way since the QB is supposed to be sitting pretty, but then he gets a good lane for the sack.

Too many times we got made look bad when the QB would get jitters in the pocket and just rollout when he wasn’t supposed to. The play calls for us to form a pocket, and you do your best to stay in position to make one and then later realizing the QB is 5 yards away and is getting tackled from who knows who.

Or maybe I was just a terrible lineman and was incapable of blocking.

by asian phil on Feb 9, 2010 10:08 PM CST up reply actions  

Amen!

I shudder to think of the times when I embarrassed after blocking my guy right into the QB because he was nowhere near where I thought he was. It really makes you look bad.

by JimR on Feb 9, 2010 10:22 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

haha

 whenever we did good, nobody noticed. however, whenever it was bad, we always get the blame. the downfall of playing Oline.

by asian phil on Feb 10, 2010 2:39 AM CST up reply actions  

I think I got noticed once in a good way

It was my one claim to fame in HS. I was the center when we scored on a 57 yard quarterback sneak. I flattened the middle linebacker (and the safety was out of position.)

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 6:50 AM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Wow. That is out of blue!

Is this a trick question? Is there one of the commercials that dumb Texans are supposed to prefer? :-)

Seriously, I was rooting for the Homeaway ad (with Chevy Chase reprising his Vacation role) because the company is based here in Austin, and they were the local sentimental favorite. Plus, I actually got to see the refurbished “Truckster” on the street here one day.

Other than that, no one ad jumped out at me this year as better than the rest.

How about you?

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 12:42 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Mine was the Doritos ad.

I liked both, but the one with the guy in the casket full of chips made me lol. The E-Trade ones were funny, too. I guess if the Titans had made it, I’d be talking more about the game. I was soooooo glad to be wrong, though, since I’d picked the Saints to win. The look on Peyton’s face when threw that pick in 4th qtr…….PRICELESS!!!!!!!

by titansfan4ever on Feb 10, 2010 12:56 PM CST up reply actions  

should be “since I’d picked the Colts to win”

by titansfan4ever on Feb 10, 2010 12:59 PM CST up reply actions  

Maybe I'm just mean

but I prefered the Doritos ads where 1) the old guy tased the young guy who jumped in front of him at the vending machine, and 2) the dog put the shock collar on his owner.

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 1:08 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

You're just showing your sadistic side...

how about the Bud Light one where the guy’s girl is having a book club…or the one where guys start talking like synthesizers.

by titansfan4ever on Feb 10, 2010 1:13 PM CST up reply actions  

So...........

how inane do you think this stale thread has to get before August gets it in gear and posts a fresh version of Morning links?

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 1:12 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

We still have a long, long way to go

to create the worst thread ever! This isn’t even close to some of the doozies from the good old Kerry vs Vince days.

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 2:07 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Yeah, those were the days.

Hey maybe we should start a new topic like "What was your favorite Titans/Oilers memory of all time?

by titansfan4ever on Feb 10, 2010 2:16 PM CST up reply actions  

Let's start a rumor

that smash and gramsey are trying to get control of MCM from Jimmy and August in a radical coup d’état

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 2:13 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Vacation

Official MCM Hater!

mARKEITH say GO TROGANS!

by gramsey712 on Feb 11, 2010 10:07 AM CST up reply actions  

OK

I was skiing in Michigan.

You asked for it!

Official MCM Hater!

mARKEITH say GO TROGANS!

by gramsey712 on Feb 11, 2010 10:31 AM CST up reply actions  

Snowmobile mostly.

Official MCM Hater!

mARKEITH say GO TROGANS!

by gramsey712 on Feb 11, 2010 2:14 PM CST up reply actions  

I am jealous.

And jealousy is G!

Official MCM Hater!

mARKEITH say GO TROGANS!

by gramsey712 on Feb 11, 2010 3:23 PM CST up reply actions  

First...you are not.

Second….it is not G! (but your sarcasm is G!)

by titansfan4ever on Feb 11, 2010 3:43 PM CST up reply actions  

Hey!

Can a whole thread get Rec’d?

We should win some kind of award for creative time killing on a bad weather day.

by JimR on Feb 11, 2010 4:25 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

BTW....

somebody tell smash that Claire Bennett CANNOT be killed!!!

by titansfan4ever on Feb 10, 2010 1:15 PM CST up reply actions  

Yeah...that's right

it was her friend that died

Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Feb 10, 2010 2:24 PM CST up reply actions  

sorry guys,

life got in the way for everybody this morning, it seems. I’m working on getting something up soon.

Music City Miracles blogger and official Jon Bovi tour manager.

by August West on Feb 10, 2010 2:14 PM CST up reply actions  

It's not a problem at all

We just got bored and started razzing you. If we were good citizens, we would have spent our time looking up links for you.

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 2:18 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

He's kinda like the Genie in the Lamp....

you just rub him the wrong way and…..BOOM….there he is!!

by titansfan4ever on Feb 10, 2010 2:20 PM CST up reply actions  

BTW....

did smash & gramsey carry off that radical coup thing?

by titansfan4ever on Feb 10, 2010 2:23 PM CST up reply actions  

Well, we just heard from August, unless.......

gramsey got his password in the coup!!!

Then it’s kinda like a cyberspace version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers!

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 2:29 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Don't you understand?!? It's all part of gramsey's

diabolical plot to make us believe that August is still really August. It’s all out of control. Run!!

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 2:44 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

I think hal is behind it all...

have you noticed he’s been absent lately?

by titansfan4ever on Feb 10, 2010 3:11 PM CST up reply actions  

OK. Serious question (for once)

Didn’t Hal move away and sort of disengage from MCM? I have been offline myself for a while, but I thought I saw a post to that effect a while back.

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 3:23 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

He moved to Rhode Island...

now a serious ? for you…is it snowing up there yet? I’m @ Canyon Lake & they say it’s supposed to.

by titansfan4ever on Feb 10, 2010 3:45 PM CST up reply actions  

Perfect timing on your question

My wife just called from the office with a weather update from all her co-workers who are at home: it was sleeting on the UT campus earlier, but it has quit now; light snow has just been reported at both Round Rock and the Salt Lick – so, basically both north and south of the city, but not in central Austin. Should I start a Fanpost with Austin weather updates? :-) Jimmy would probably ban me!

by JimR on Feb 10, 2010 5:31 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

So, did you ever get any snow at Canyon Lake

BTW how’s the lake level? Did you guys get hit as hard as us by the drought this summer?

by JimR on Feb 11, 2010 11:12 AM CST via mobile up reply actions  

No snow day here!!!

and yes, we did get hit hard by the drought, but with all the rain we’ve had in the past 3-4 months, we’re back up to full pool :-)

by titansfan4ever on Feb 11, 2010 2:20 PM CST up reply actions  

Odessa High?

Is that the same school where Claire Bennet was killed in Heroes?

Graphic Designer/Researcher/Writer at Music City Miracles.
Official Graphic Goon of On The Forecheck.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Feb 9, 2010 4:07 PM CST up reply actions  

Don't follow Heroes, but

It’s the same HS that gets killed by Permian almost every year.

by JimR on Feb 9, 2010 4:13 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Not this year.

Odessa High > Permian

We also defeated them as well.

by RhiNo6705 on Feb 9, 2010 4:48 PM CST up reply actions  

Really??

I long since moved to Austin, and I don’t follow it much any more.

I’m livin in the past.

by JimR on Feb 9, 2010 5:08 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Odessa Permian is the school Friday Night Lights was written about.

For anyone on this board that hasn’t read that, do yourself a favor and pick it up. That book, and The Blind Side are must reads for any football fan.

by SuperHorn on Feb 9, 2010 4:56 PM CST up reply actions  

I know lots of people who went to Permian

And, that book is true, true, true!

by JimR on Feb 9, 2010 5:10 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

Upon further review

it would be interesting to know what the Titans O-line thinks about this question of is it really different blocking for Kerry and Vince. I thought a lot about your answer that it’s not that different, and while I didn’t change my own position, I’m not sure whether most linemen would agree with you or me. We need an “Ask a Titan” hotline. Part of the issue here is that Kerry and Vince are so different in their playing styles. I never played with a QB who was as stationary as Kerry nor one who was as mobile as Vince. They were all in a range somewhere well between those two.

by JimR on Feb 9, 2010 9:54 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

i played 5A in central texas where its really at

Living in san marcos a our school jumps up and down districts playing 5a in san antonio playing teams like Judson and switching back to austin schools like Westlake… No with due respect.. West texas has good football too.. But u have to say Football is better in the state of texas than any other state..sorry cali,florida and ohio..that’s just a fact

by TattedTI on Feb 9, 2010 9:57 PM CST via mobile reply actions  

Absolutely

Drew Brees came out of Westlake HS

by JimR on Feb 9, 2010 10:14 PM CST via mobile up reply actions  

my old roommate played on the same HS team with Michael and Marcus Griffin at Austin Bowie

they played QB and RB as well as defense and the one of the highlights of my roommate’s career was having Michael give him a concussion in practice.

Do you mind if we dance with your dates?

by TitanFan2K on Feb 11, 2010 10:06 AM CST up reply actions  

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