Titans 23 Bills 17: Grading the Defense

by Jimmy on Dec 5, 2011 2:29 PM CST

The Titans' defense had some big problems against the run yesterday. They allowed C.J. Spiller to average 5.9 yards per carry (14 for 83) and Tashard Choice to average 4 yards per carry (5 for 20). There were some big holes to run through, but there were also a lot of missed tackles that led to some of those numbers. They better learn to tackle before the Saints come to town.

Grade: C

The Titans did a nice job against Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills' passing attack. Fitzpatrick did end the day with 288 yards passing, but it took him 46 attempts to get there. They did a really good job getting their hands up and tipping passes. Of course Colin McCarthy set the tone for tipping passes when he batted one away on the first play of the game- not only is he a monster, he is also a tone setter.

The one thing we need to see more of from this defense is a pass rush. They were only able to tally one sack on those 46 attempts yesterday, and it was a coverage sack.

Grade: B

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The defense needs a playmaking DE and a playmaking safety and it looks like it is going to be set for a few years….keep drafting well Titans!

by dragak1981 on Dec 5, 2011 2:35 PM CST reply actions

OMFG I hate the end of game prevent D

Maybe if we are up by more than 1 score, ok. But damn TN, trying to give me a heart attack running that crap yesterday.

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by rothbard on Dec 5, 2011 3:01 PM CST reply actions

Prevent is the right call. All we had to do was keep them out of the endzone.

You see Jordy Nelson streaking down the sideline against the Giants? Ya, I wonder if they regret leaving their corner alone against the defending and still undefeated champs.

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by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 5, 2011 4:36 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Of course it is right call

I just hate it because I don’t think we are any good at it.

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by rothbard on Dec 5, 2011 6:08 PM CST up reply actions

We did run it successfully.

I think people get caught up in the “it doesn’t look good giving up yards” mentality (and in any other case I’d agree) but as long as we keep the clock moving and the opposition in front of the goal line, it worked.

2012: The year we clip the Hawk.

by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 5, 2011 6:12 PM CST up reply actions

Stop trying to make me feel better!!!

TN Prevent = blood pressure UP UP UP. Especially when we are only winning by 6

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by rothbard on Dec 5, 2011 6:13 PM CST up reply actions

Another thing to bring up: 6 point lead is the perfect time to use prevent.

Keep them out of endzone= win.
Prevent with 1-3 point leads is not nearly as smart. >3, very smart.

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by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Dec 5, 2011 6:17 PM CST up reply actions

our prevent always looks like we are going to give up 6

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by rothbard on Dec 6, 2011 10:37 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

When teams run a prevent defense it makes angels cry...

someone should show the Cardinals how to run a prevent, because I think they have been doing it wrong for about 20 years.

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by StPrattrick on Dec 5, 2011 6:18 PM CST up reply actions

The folks I was watching with and I

were groaning about the prevent as well, but we tempered it when we realized just how much clock was being burned.

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by numbertenox on Dec 6, 2011 12:09 AM CST up reply actions

Gregg Easterbrook will probably mention the Giants big blitz in his TMQ blog.

He hates when teams do it. Some of them seem to do it a lot and get burned at the end of the game. He’s certainly converted me to the idea of prevent but it does make you worry.

by AmishNukes on Dec 5, 2011 6:19 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, I hate it but it served its intended purpose.

Yes, they got points but it took 5:57 for them to do it.

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by ronburgundy7427 on Dec 5, 2011 5:23 PM CST up reply actions

It took 6 minutes because the Bills had no urgency whatsoever.

The titans played good prevent but that drive took an eternity. Near the end they took a timeout before running a QB sneak when they needed to conserve time. One less timeout when they gave it back to us. I was trying hard to hold back laughter about how bad it was wince I was at the game surrounded by bills fans.

Good thing the fans around me were nice. At one point the bills punt returner was juking in place and the Titans tackler just smothered him. I let out a very loud laugh and about 10-15 fans turned and gave me angry looks but otherwise I was without incident.

by AmishNukes on Dec 5, 2011 6:25 PM CST up reply actions

*since I was at

by AmishNukes on Dec 5, 2011 6:26 PM CST up reply actions

Good for you! Represent them Titans! I love getting dirty looks like that. LMAO!

GO TITANS!!!

by RhiNo6705 on Dec 6, 2011 12:58 AM CST up reply actions

They were only rushing two on a number of plays in the fourth

Considering the abysmal pass rush, that actually seems like a wise choice.

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by Strangely Enough on Dec 5, 2011 5:55 PM CST up reply actions

no pass rush

if someone doesn’t step up on the DLine against the Saints, it’s going to be really ugly for us.

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by hal41605 on Dec 5, 2011 6:25 PM CST reply actions

I agree.

And Word of Muth at FO just wrote a piece bragging on the Saints O line, specifically the guards. Since it seems like we get most of our pressure from our young DTs, that could be a matchup nightmare for us.

"Do the Titans have a miracle left in them in what has been a magical season to this point? If they do, they need it now. 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. 30, 40, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10, 5, endzone...touchdown, Titans! There are no flags on the field! It's a miracle! Tennessee has pulled a miracle! A miracle for the Titans!"

by TennesseeTyrants on Dec 5, 2011 7:43 PM CST up reply actions