Ruud has given up 42 points

There's been a lot of Ruud hate over the past few weeks, that's for certain. Some of it tends to go overboard, yes, but how much of it is really justified? Well, he has given up a whole lot of points.

Week 1: At Jacksonville Jaguars

We were facing off against our division rival on the road to open the season. Chris Johnson came out slow, setting the tone for the running game for most of the year. Our offense couldn't get in sync at all.

In the first quarter, early in the game, neither team had scored yet. The Jaguars, riding a few decent passes from McCown over the middle and some hard running by Maurice Jones-Drew, were at the Titans 21 yard line, just out of the red zone.

MJD took the hand-off going inside, and Barrett Ruud completely failed to maintain gap responsibility, allowing MJD to run 21 yards untouched into the endzone. Ruud gave up a TD in that game; We eventually lost by 2.

Conclusion: One could argue Ruud allowing MJD to score the only Jaguars touchdown of the game early cost us this victory.

Week 4: At Cleveland Browns

With the game well at hand, we had held the Browns to only two long field goals and no touchdowns. In the fourth quarter, the Browns ended up at the 10 yard line in the red zone, but their offense was witless and Colt feared for his life. The Titans defense had a play drawn up designed to confuse McCoy. The Titans defensive end was supposed to drop back into a zone to cover the tight end for a few seconds, then the middle linebacker was supposed to come in and take up responsibility for covering him after that.

McCoy took the snap, looked, and found our defensive end alone in a zone trying to cover the tight end, expecting help from Ruud behind him. Ruud never came to help, leaving the DE on an island with Ben Watson. Ruud cost us a touchdown, but we won by over 2 TD's.

Conclusion: Ruud didn't cost us this game by any means, but it certainly wasn't a team play to let your DE get caught alone for a TD like that.

Week 5: At Pittsburgh Steelers

Coming off a 3 game winning steak, we were looking good heading into Pittsburgh, facing an underachieving Steelers bunch that was desperately trying to stay above .500 on the season.

In the first quarter, with the Titans up 3-0 early, the Steelers had pulled off a fake punt and were driving, our defense trying to regain their composure. At the 8 yard line, the Titans defense was trying to make a goal line stand. The Steelers tight end ran right up to the goal line, virtually 3 yards away from Ruud (very much in his zone), and was able to casually catch the ball and turn forward for the touchdown. Ruud gave up a TD; we lost by 3 TD's.

Conclusion: Ruud ended up giving the Steelers a lead and momentum, both things we didn't get back. However, he didn't directly attribute to the other 4 touchdowns that Big Ben threw, or the fact our offense couldn't do anything after the first drive.

Week 6: Houston Texans

Coming off a Bye week, we were at home to face the Texans. In the second quarter, with the Titans down by a field goal, the Texans were driving and were at our own 10 yard line. Shaub's tight end, Joel Dreessen, was running down the middle of the field. Ruud had dropped back into a zone and Michael Griffin was his help over the top.

However, when Shaub threw it up, Ruud simply didn't cover him, giving Griffin an "Oh crap" moment; when Dreessen caught the ball, Ruud didn't even try to hit him and pop the ball loose to make up for his mistake, he simply stood and watched Griffin try to do it. Ruud gave up a TD; We lost by more than that.

Conclusion: Ruud also gave the Texans a lead and momentum, neither we ever got back; but the Titans all-around looked terrible in that game, and the truly crushing TD of the day was caused by a combination of Witherspoon/Griffin failing, not Ruud.

Week 9: Cincinnati Bengals

After an expected win against the Colts, we were facing the opponent that is now one spot above us in the wildcard race. A win here would result in the Titans being in the wildcard and in the playoffs right now.

In the second quarter, with the Titans leading 3-0, the Bengals were driving but had relatively stalled out at the goal line. Andy Dalton dropped back and got flushed out of the pocket, causing him to run right towards the sidelines. Ruud was covering the tight end, Colin Cochart, At the last second, however, with Dalton already a few moments from going out of bounds, Ruud suddenly decided to bull-rush Dalton and leave Cochart completely uncovered in the endzone. Dalton was able to throw it to the man Ruud left open without Ruud laying a hand on either one. Ruud gave up a TD; We lost by a TD.

Conclusion: In a tight game like that one, that could pretty much decide our place in the wildcard race, Ruud made a mistake that cost us the amount of points we lost by. One could argue he didn't just cost us the game in this one, but the postseason too.

Week 11: At Atlanta Falcons

Coming off a blowout of the Panthers, the Titans needed a win against a surprisingly mediocre Atlanta team, that had their QB's top receiving target out for the game.

In the first quarter, with no score in the game, the Falcons had gotten good decent position off a bad punt by Brett Kern, and had drove 27 yards to our 17 yard line. Ruud and his fellow linebackers dropped back into a zone.

Gonzalez then ran directly at Ruud, it was clear his route was designed to take him directly at him. Ruud let the future hall of fame tight end Tony Gonzalez run right by him for a wide open 17 yard touchdown pass. That was one of only two TD's the defense would give up on the day. Ruud gave up a TD; We lost by less than a TD.

Conclusion: In a game that actually ended up being very close, Ruud gave up more points than we lost by. One could certainly argue this is the third loss he could be blamed for directly, and if you don't want to blame him entirely, you at least have to acknowledge he hurt the team in each of the three losses where he gave up a TD and the final score was a TD or less.

Total Points given up to the opponent: 42

When one player is guaranteed to give your opponent a touchdown almost every week, it is certainly time to make a change. And that change has arrived.

Colin McCarthy has brought intensity, passion, and good linebacking instincts to our defense. With him in there, our defense as a unit has only given up 4 TD's, and each one didn't come easy. McCarthy has already forced a fumble, got an interception, and repeatedly has made tackles for losses. He makes big plays for us, not for our opponents.

There's a bright future with this kid. So, Titans nation, I expect this to be a landslide... Who would you rather have out there?