Requisite Crow Eating.

by danielreese05 on Sep 20, 2011 6:01 AM CDT in Tennessee Titans Commentary

I've never been more proud to be a fan of this team after a game. I mean, wow, talk about exceeding expectations. Maybe some of you remember that last week, the Titans were actually ranked pretty high in the DVOA rankings. If they're not the number one team this week, I'll eat my hat. Right before the game, Jimmy posted three keys to victory. Make big plays, win the turnover battle, and pressure Joe Flacco. Check, check, and check. Kenny Britt and Matt Hasselbeck are obviously very in sync right now. There haven't been many QB/WR combos in the first two weeks better than them. I can't overstate how huge that is for this team going forward. Big plays are practically raining from the sky at this point. This is a division with a few very weak secondary units. Time to get to work on some of them.Even teams with bad running backs can have good running games if they have an elite passing offense. For once in his career, Chris Johnson might not have to run with eight men in the box. You thought he was good before, just wait for him to get back to his old self, especially if the offensive line blocks like it did on Sunday.

With Hasselbeck and Britt locked in at this point, it's time to see some other players get involved. It'd be especially nice to get Jared Cook a few more looks. His showed off some of that crazy ability on an amazing catch he made while falling away from Augusts' favorite player, Ed Reed. In any case, the big plays will come whether they're from Kenny or Jared or even Nate.

Winning the turnover battle seemed kind of hopeless to me. Baltimore's defense is built to take the ball from young and physically inferior teams with a blend of pass rushers and a safety with the best ball skills in the game. However, I underestimated the improvement that was to be made with the addition of two starting defensive ends, a new strong safety, and Cortland Finnegan getting his swagger back by running around as a nickel back. Derrick Morgan played a heck of a game. Jason Jones played a heck of a game. Jordan Babineaux played a heck of a game. And Cortland Finnegan may have played his best game in three years. When he wasn't blanketing Anquan Boldin, he was flying around and making plays outside of his assignment, going above and beyond every chance he got. Despite being the only starting corner without a pick on Sunday, Finnegan probably played the best game out of the entire unit. The influx of new players combined with Jerry Gray's game plan that kept Baltimore way off balance allowed Tennessee to steal the ball from the Ravens three times at critical moments.

As I mentioned before, Derrick Morgan played an awesome game. Just seeing him in the quarterback's face this week made the feelings of apprehension disappear. He looks for all the world like that first round pick from last year. I'll admit that the pressure wasn't terrific, for all of their hard work, the Titans only managed three sacks, but it was more than enough to get the job done.

Some other things I liked seeing were the improvements made across the board by the offensive line. The interior line really played well which is huge against a team that features Haloti Ngata. Maybe it's because of the short 3-5 step drops that Hasselbeck was taking all day, but the Ravens just never found their groove in the pass rush. We ripped the team all weak for its' lack of physicality. Maybe they heard us, because Baltimore's mountain in the middle, Terrence Cody has a concussion.

It's too tough to say what lies ahead for this team. If the Titans that beat the Ravens shows up every week, they've got a chance to maybe be in the conversation as a stretch run contender. If the team that lost to the Jaguars shows up every week, they'll be lucky to reach five wins. What say thee MCM? Are they that good? Are they that bad? Maybe somewhere in the middle?

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Let's also give some credit

to Thorchak and his staff. Playing aggressive on offense, finding ways to get ATV, McCourty and Finny all on the field at the same time(God forbid), I’d really like to think the coaching staff has played some factor in developing Washington’s dropsies, but that could be merely coincidental.
We can be a force to be reckoned with so long as we take it week by week and stay healthy. I am excited for the upcoming weeks!

by TitaninVA on Sep 20, 2011 6:18 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

finny was a beast

the guy was everywhere.

by tdtommyd on Sep 20, 2011 7:01 AM CDT reply actions

Remember my prediction for the game?

I saw some good things in that 4th quarter that I believe the Titans will carry over into this game against the Ravens.

Check

We will need to wear down that aging Ravens defense if we have any chance of winning on Sunday.

Check

If we can get out to an early lead, we will force the Ravens to become a one dimensional team.

Check

Chris Johnson to look somewhat of the CJ2K we know him to be.

Eh, small Check

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by rsikes on Sep 20, 2011 7:41 AM CDT reply actions

I'm still thinking somewhere in between the team we saw this week and Week One.

Of course I’ll be thrilled if proven wrong and the team from Sunday is what we get going forward, but I still see them having some rough days where they’re out of sync.

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by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 20, 2011 8:17 AM CDT reply actions

we (hopefully) won't really know until week 5 @ Pitt

gotta pick up the gimmes against Denver and Cleveland first, but even if we are somewhere in between our previous 2 performances, that should be plenty against those teams. i hope we don’t screw them up, cuz 3-1 would be sweet.

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by hal41605 on Sep 20, 2011 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions

there are no gimmes in the NFL

remember Luke McCown?

Go Titans! Go Magic!

"Yeah, Becky... I got f***in Snapples"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBRL7D0wcXM

by madhjsp on Sep 20, 2011 8:46 AM CDT up reply actions

there are gimmes

but you still gotta take them. both of those would be terrible losses, but then again so was Jax. if we want the season to amount to anything, the next 2 are must wins

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by hal41605 on Sep 20, 2011 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't know if Cleveland would be a 'Terrible' loss

They have a solid team. But if we have playoff aspirations we have to have it, no doubt.

When you're 15 dooown, in the 4th quarter, who you gonna call? NOWITZKI

by AntiguanTitan on Sep 20, 2011 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

they lost to the bungles

and beat the colts, who suck worse. im sticking with terrible.

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by hal41605 on Sep 20, 2011 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions

It will be interesting to see how they react to this win...

I hope we’re not a team the plays down or up to our competition. It will be nice for once to have some consistency and to know what team is going to show up on Sundays.

by PA-Titan on Sep 20, 2011 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

3-1 would be sweet!!

The thing that is so positive about the Ravens win is the Titans are 1-1(obvious, but…). Prior to the JAX game, if you would have told me the Titans would be 1-1 after week 2, I would have been happy since the Ravens had so much pre-season hype. Well, now we are in fact 1-1 after week 2. 1-1 may have been via a tough loss in Jax and a huge win against the Ravens, but it’s exactely were we expected to be after week 2. Now 3-1 is at least a possibility!!!! GO TITANS!!!

by LBinTN on Sep 20, 2011 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

There's only one thing I'll disagree with you on

I’ll admit that the pressure wasn’t terrific, for all of their hard work, the Titans only managed three sacks

Um, did you watch the same game I did? Flacco may have only been sacked three times, but he was running for his life all day and was knocked to the ground often. It definitely affected him and forced a few bad throws, and some throw-aways out of bounds. The pass pressure was indeed terrific.

Go Titans! Go Magic!

"Yeah, Becky... I got f***in Snapples"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBRL7D0wcXM

by madhjsp on Sep 20, 2011 8:44 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I'm really trying hard to temper my enthusiasm.

But it’s so hard, after seeing how the team played last week.

Right now, I don’t see how either of the next two games are even going to be contests, but Jacksonville shouldn’t have been, either. If we can put together two good games going into the Pittsburgh game, we’re looking at having a chance at being one of the elite teams in the NFL after that game, if things go our away.

But it’s just so hard to imagine that after all the doom and gloom we’ve been expecting all offseason and after the first week.

This team has been a roller coaster so far, and it’s only 2 weeks in.

"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 Sep 20, 2011 8:52 AM CDT reply actions

Cat's out of the bag

Now that TN has played as well as they did against the Ravens, they have set the bar. I will disappointed if the regress. There is room for improvement, but they have already shown that they are capable of laying a beat down on a good team.

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by rothbard on Sep 20, 2011 9:06 AM CDT reply actions

It wasn't a beatdown!!!!111

Baltimore just had a letdown after giving their heart and soul to beating the Steelers, it wasn’t their fault the Titans came out and exposed their weakness and shut down their offense!!!1111

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by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 20, 2011 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions

was definitely a beat down

/did-i-fall-in-sarchasm?

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by rothbard on Sep 20, 2011 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Yup.

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by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Sep 20, 2011 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes, yes you did.

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by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 20, 2011 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I'm with rothbard on this.

They’ve shown their potential and there’s still room for improvement. A regression will be a real disappointment.

The Force is with you, young SkyLocker, but you are not a Jedi... yet!

by J3G77 on Sep 20, 2011 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think there will be a big regression if any at all...

The second have of the Jag game was a glimpse of the Baltimore game we saw on Sunday. We seemed to build off of that in this game and definitely had a game plan. I think Thor found something that works and will stick to it as long as the players are showing up (CJ).

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions

They sure seemed to.

And I’m holding out hope there won’t be much drop-off, if any. Although, we have seen flashes of brilliance followed by boneheadedness before, but I’m telling myself this is a whole new team now.

The Force is with you, young SkyLocker, but you are not a Jedi... yet!

by J3G77 on Sep 20, 2011 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah that boneheadedness was brought to you by the trifecta of boneheads: KC/VY/Fisher

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

I've never been happier to be wrong.

Maybe I should pick against the Titans every week…:-)…Sooooo glad to see the improvement from week one. I think our guys must of gotten fed up with us ragging on them. Whatever it was, I hope they do it again next week. If The Playmaker can stay healthy and keep out of trouble off the field, it’s going to be a looooong season for secondaries that have to face us. On another not, when a guy comes off the bench, he gets a chance, not only to show what he’s got, but actually to win a starting job. And that, my friends, does not bode well for Hope & Harris.

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by titansfan4ever on Sep 20, 2011 9:31 AM CDT reply actions

Yes, I'm hoping Hope is given all the time in the world to recover.

And by that I mean…the whole season.

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by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 20, 2011 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, with Fisher gone...

I think that whole “loyalty to veterans” thing is out the window. If you’re gonna be a starter on this team, by golly, you’re gonna have to EARN IT!!!!

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by titansfan4ever on Sep 20, 2011 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions

This is what

I expected week one oh well both the Titans and jags showed there true colors in week two!
I thought i liked what i saw in pre season. IMO we have a good thing going on here! Only gonna get better with a little time.
I hate the ratbirds! Go Titans 2011

by toysandprojects on Sep 20, 2011 9:36 AM CDT reply actions

Happy to see you wrote an entire post about how wrong you were :o)

and I am glad you were wrong. Never bet against your team.

I don’t think we will regress much at all, the team we saw on Sunday was the same team that started clicking in the second half of the Jags game. We started out extremely slow and rusty in that game, but built and adjusted throughout the game… Plus the addition of our best pass rushers sure helped. I am really hoping CJ finds his stride soon, because we need his talents more then ever now that we have an extremely solid passing game.

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 9:36 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

CJ has been playing like a guy who just got a big, fat contract.

Ringer, on the other hand, has been playing like a guy who WANTS a big, fat contract.

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by titansfan4ever on Sep 20, 2011 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Ringer is playing like a dude that just wants to be given a chance.

Same with Harper.

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

And I say give it to them

They’ve earned it!!

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by titansfan4ever on Sep 20, 2011 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions

meh, both are a dime a dozen

they get to profit off of the defense relaxing on the run because Cj is out of the game

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by hal41605 on Sep 20, 2011 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions

CJ gets his profit off of little to no production; apparently

and I’d say when Ringer gets going he’s a bit better then the average back… or at least our O-line makes him seem that way. He does have some good vision though.

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm going with "in the middle."

The Ravens game was awesome, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do. I still don’t think we’re better than Houston.

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by WinnipegTitanFan13 on Sep 20, 2011 9:44 AM CDT reply actions

Yeah, Houston has come out of the gate strong....

but it’s just soooo hard for me to believe that THIS is going to be their year. I guess it’s just cuz I’ve heard that for soooo many years now.

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by titansfan4ever on Sep 20, 2011 9:46 AM CDT up reply actions

texans have beaten 2 crap teams so far

let’s not crown them just yet

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by hal41605 on Sep 20, 2011 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Exactly; they have had decent games against shitty teams

and the Dolphins had a chance before Henne went stupid (no way?!)

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions

yeah that,

and they just sort of decided to let some big tall receiver of Houston’s wander into the end zone all by himself. pro tip: might want to cover him.

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by hal41605 on Sep 20, 2011 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions

That was ridiculous... no one was covering AJ in the endzone. They deserved to lose.

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

In fairness...Johnson sucker-punched the corner beforehand.

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by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 20, 2011 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 4 recs

bahahaha

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions

Little off-topic, but a quote from Munch post-game that I love:

That 3-5 (at home) wasn’t going to cut it anymore.

And he is absolutely right, no reason this team should not win more home games. LP (well..Adelphia back then) used to be one of the most intimidating places to play in and the Titans were extremely difficult to beat at home. In recent years, not so much. They need to get back to that if this turnaround is to happen, make LP a headache for opposing teams again.

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by ronburgundy7427 on Sep 20, 2011 9:58 AM CDT reply actions

I am there in Titans spirit

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 9:59 AM CDT up reply actions

You're right about that.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it also once one of the top places that caused the most penalties (false starts).

The Force is with you, young SkyLocker, but you are not a Jedi... yet!

by J3G77 on Sep 20, 2011 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

There is actually a chart in the game program that shows the number of false starts in the top stadiums

I will bring it to work tomorrow and post it on here

I think we are third

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by gramsey712 on Sep 20, 2011 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Cool.

I thought there was a list, but I’ve never even noticed it on the game programs. I just remembered reading it online a few years back.

The Force is with you, young SkyLocker, but you are not a Jedi... yet!

by J3G77 on Sep 20, 2011 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

I love that

Every single Titan fan thought we were gonna lose ( myself included) we looked like a totally different team! Hasselbeck the gem of the FA class!

Kenny Britt First and only WR

by Shibby Titan on Sep 20, 2011 10:48 AM CDT via iPhone app reply actions

Hey, I didn't think we were going to lose.

I made an internet bet with gramsey over it. :P

I had a signature here, but it got sacked by Karl Klug.

by fanoftheunderdogs on Sep 20, 2011 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions

You and rothbard both

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by gramsey712 on Sep 20, 2011 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Pffft! are you kidding me? YOU DON'T BET AGAINST YOUR OWN TEAM

I knew we had this one in the bag.

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 11:47 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't bet

But when I used to, I always bet against my team.

That way I always win. Either the game or the bet.

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by gramsey712 on Sep 20, 2011 12:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Game on then!

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey, I'm a blind optimist.

IT’S WHAT I DO! :D

I had a signature here, but it got sacked by Karl Klug.

by fanoftheunderdogs on Sep 20, 2011 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Same here... to a fault almost.

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, me too.

I’ve been in pick ‘em leagues for years, and I’ve never once picked against the Titans or Vols.

by TennesseeTyrants on Sep 20, 2011 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Can't do it.

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Every single

I wouldn’t have bet on the game I’ll give you that. But i do beleave i posted! you never know what this crazy team is gonna do, I wouldn’t be surprised if they won. Thats just how this team has been over the years. I feel we have some work todo still but i think we can do this. I’m so excited for football this year we have hope again.. GoTitans 2011

by toysandprojects on Sep 20, 2011 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Not me I predicted a win when all or most of the MCM contributors predicted a loss on the predictions post.

I was the first but certainly not the only one. i did think however it would be closer.

"Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat."

by MexicanTitanFreak on Sep 20, 2011 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Kenny Britt vs. Champ Bailey

Nate Washington better show up to play.

If CJ can’t put 100 yards on this Denver defense, especially with the way the O-Line is playing, then I will be disappointed.

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by ndnpride8806 on Sep 20, 2011 11:58 AM CDT reply actions

We were all worried about KBv2 vs. Ed Reed...

Kenny B will do what he does.

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by StPrattrick on Sep 20, 2011 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Champ Bailey? Maybe 5yrs ago....

They will double KB18, leaving the lanes wide open for CJ….pick your poison.

"Power corrupts. Absolute power is kind of neat."

by MexicanTitanFreak on Sep 20, 2011 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Don't forget about Hands one on one

by PA-Titan on Sep 20, 2011 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions

meh

I wouldn’t worry about KB vs Revis. It’d be more Hass vs Revis that would be the concern.

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by rothbard on Sep 20, 2011 12:10 PM CDT up reply actions