Between the Titans' devastating front line and their young, talented secondary there lies another beast that covers for both of their mistakes: the linebackers.  

As the Titans' scheme has leaned more towards zone coveages this year the attacking style of the linebackers we've seen in the past has given way to more read and react plays.  This may mean less big plays from this unit, but it also means they're keeping guys in front of them and focusing more on being in better position.

The linebacking group is also the only position grouping that has seen a performance-based line-up change.  Ryan Fowler may have seemed blind sided by his demotion in favor of the speedier Tulloch, but everyone knew that when Tully was drafted 3 years ago it wasn't as a long term back up.  He was too gifted athleteically and too productive at NC State to not earn a shot to crack the starting line-up.

How has he done with his opportunity?  Read on and see...

Keith Bulluck is the leader of this group, this defense and in many ways the entire Titans team.  He's played more games as a Titan than anyone since the move to Nashville, and he's captain without question every year.  Bulluck has seen his tackle numbers drop ever since David Thorton joined the team, but that's largely because he's not being asked to do everything anymore.  Bulluck's sack numbers are down, but so are the entire units'; this is a testament to how little Schwartz has used the linebackers as blitzing pass rushers, opting instead to drop them in zone and let the front 4 collapse the pocket.  Still, we'd like to see a few INTs from Mr. Monday Night.

Grade: B

Follow us through the jump for grades on the rest of the starters...

Continue reading this post »

Mr. Monday Night is ready for the curtain to go up.  If Bulluck is half as good as he was against the Saints on MNF last year we're money.

 Boom King continues to nurse his groin injury, and he won't guarantee he will be healthy by Monday.  Let's hope he gets back and into form by game time because we're going to need the defensive line to be in full effect.

 In preparation for the Monday Night showdown, the Tennessean's David Climer brings us the 5 most memorable Titans-Colts meetings.

 Crazy Legs isn't happy about his $10,000 fine and plans to appeal it as excessive:

Johnson pointed out that Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco's touchdown celebration against the Titans last season — he got behind a television camera and pointed it at the field — resulted in a $7,500 fine.

"I'll just have to watch what I can do,'' Johnson said of future celebrations. "I know you can't use props or anything like that. But I feel if Chad only got fined $7,500 for using a camera, I shouldn't be fined $10,000. That's not right.''

I'm hoping that he'll see those celebrations just aren't worth the cost on the ledger or on the field.

 The Colts know their shot at another AFC South tiara is on the line Monday. You see, it becomes a crown when we win it.

 Paul Kuharsky discusses David Thorton, Nick Harper and Jake Scott, who all left the Colts to sign with the Titans over the past 3 years.  The battle between Peyton and Harper will definitely be fun to watch, because I'm betting Cortland teaches Manning really quickly why nobody has thrown his way very much in weeks.

 Gary Estwick shares some notes he picked-up while slyly looking over Ron Jaworski's shoulder in the film room, including the startling revelation that our WRs are trash:

2)  Titans receivers continue to make QB Kerry Collins’ job tougher by failing to get off the line and separating from cornerbacks. Route running was also a problem at Kansas City.

 BigW sends us this story, which asks just how good has the Titans pass defense been so far this year?  I'd say Epic Success:

In fact, six games into the season, Tennessee has surrendered just one TD pass (that's 1, for those of you keeping score at home), which puts the Titans on a pace to surrender just three TD passes all year. They've added 10 INTs to the total, for a 1-to-10 TD-to-INT ratio that's virtually unprecedented in NFL history.

 Enlightened reader JasonI send us this one of the more infuriating columns out there: Jason Whitlock continues to take shots at the Titans, but remember that this obese clown would write 2 fawning tomes a week if we had signed Jeff 'effing George.  Instead, he says our defense isn't good enough and takes shots at Collins and Young.

 Awesome-O commenter Hartley and I must have been reading this article at the same time: The Nashville Scene dives in to the Vince Young psychodrama.  There's not really anything new here, but it does tell the story of how VY got to this point pretty well, and why so many folks shouldn't write him off just yet.

There's a whole lot of internet out there, so if you have a link you'd like to submit for tomorrow's Morning Links, email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com!  (Be sure to include your commenting handle so I can give you semi-anonymous credit.)

Everybody is justifiably focused on Adrian Peterson coming in to town, but something tells me the Titans aren't overlooking studly MLB E.J. Henderson or this celebrated defensive line.

 In the good news department, Justin Gage returned to practice.  Nick Harper didn't, but perhaps that means more run for the impressive (so far) youngster Eric King.

 Titans back-up QB Chris Simms (that still hasn't sunk in... maybe because they didn't show him at all on TV Sunday) reached out to Packers CB Al Harris, who recently ruptured his spleen.  First question: what the heck is a spleen?

 First sign the Zombies have infiltrated the biological sciences, or a valuable study aimed at protecting future football players: former Titan great Frank Wycheck may agree to donate his brain to science after his death.  Either the scientists will study the effects of multiple concussions and lots of hits, or the zombies will eat it when their blood lust becomes unbearable.  (Contrary to what was reported by the New York Times, Wycheck has not made a final decision yet.)

 Vince Young is close to being healthy enough to practice, and Jeff Fisher says he'll be our no. 2 on the depth chart once he's there... cross your fingers and hope this works out.

 I may be a little late with the link, but the USA Today comes through with a good profile on Chris Crazy Legs Johnson, with one note that may make some of you tithe a little more:

• On his speed: "It is God-given, really. There are things people can do to make them a little faster, but no one can be that fast unless it's God-given."

Amen.

 Titans Tackle Michael Roos and linbacker David Throton talk about getting a kick out of watching Kerry Collins run and cracking on him for his gray beard.  Expect a letter from the AARP soon, boys.

 How do you know your team is starting to turn heads?  They get profiled by Canadian media.

If you have anything you'd like to pass along for the next day's links, email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com

Today is a day that most of us have been waiting for since the final seconds ticked off the clock in the playoff loss at San Diego.  The Titans will be on the field for their first training camp practice today at 3:30.  That means football season is upon us and hope springs eternal.  The opening of a new season gives us all hope that this could be the year the Tennessee Titans win the Super Bowl.

First things first however.  Jim Wyatt has an article full of camp information.  Here are the highlights:

• The Titans are continuing talks with first-round pick Chris Johnson.  Both sides are saying the expect to get something done soon.  Wyatt mentions in the article that Michael Griffin got his contract done right before camp started last season and sat out the first practice while it was being finalized.  I think we will see something similar with Johnson today.  I don't expect him to be on the field today, but I think he will be there before the weekend is over.
• The Albert Haynesworth watch is on.  Haynesworth's camp and the Titans are in negotiations to have an agreement in place that if he plays a certain percentage of the defensive snaps this season the Titans will agree not to franchise him next season.  (Not sure why The Tennessean decided to use that picture for the story)  I want to go on record right now saying that is a bad idea.  There is no way the Titans will be able to sign Fat Albert if he hits the opening market.  They should not give up the leverage they have to franchise him next season.
• Jevon Kearse and David Thornton will both miss this weekend's practices.  Kearse has been excused to attend the funeral for Samari Rolle's father.  Thornton has been excused because he is the best man in his brother's wedding this weekend.   
• It appears that Roydell Williams still isn't healed from his broken ankle and may start camp on the PUP list.

Happy Camp Opening Day!!