So in the past two weeks ESPN has featured multiple commentators asking if the Titans are a dirty team (though to be fair, most said hell no), and now they're calling gramsey's favorite coach a liar. ESPN says they "did not directly or indirectly ask the coaches to take a timeout during the game". Given what Fisher says here, I'm guessing what happened is ESPN made it clear that what they needed, and let their position as the gatekeepers of American sports do the talking. It's kind of like when the mob lets you know they need $3K a month to help keep your building from catching on fire. Here's Fisher speaking to Terry McCormick:
"At the two-minute warning in every game in the fourth quarter, there are conversations that go by. There's conversations that take place at the two-minute warning before the first half. But there's conversations that take place, and it's the official's responsibility to give the head coach a status of commercials and TV timeouts," Fisher said. "Yesterday, I was told that they were two short. And they looked at me and smiled, and I said, 'Sorry, I can't help you.' Mike Carey came across and said, 'Here's the deal. We're two short.' And I said, 'Mike, I can't help you. I'm trying to get a first down and I'm gonna kneel on it.'"
All that being said, when is the last time you can remember seeing time outs late in a game that were as nonsensical as those called by Jack Del Rio on Monday night? Doesn't that say it all?
Kevin Kolb is almost a lock to be the starter on Sunday, especially considering he's the one Reid wanted in the first place, but the Titans are preparing to face Vick as well. Preparations for facing ex-con Michael Vick include using linebackers to shadow and making sure everyone's dogs are locked-up and safe. The scout team will be scouring the area for strays in an effort to keep them safe as well.
Vince Young underwent medical evaluations yesterday and is still described as day-to-day with mild sprains to his knee and ankle after getting doubled backwards trying to make-up for Eugene Amano's short snap. I like Amano, and he was very good at guard last year, but he's approaching the level of unmitigated disaster at center right now. if you just go back and watch his play, it fluctuates from OK to about as bad as it gets. I know he had the ankle injury going into the game, and he certainly seemed to struggle even more with anchoring his blocks. His play is killing an offensive line unit that otherwise has improved mightily from the beginning of the season.
Follow us through the jump for the first ROY love for Verner!
If you're doing more than casually looking at raw, cumulative stats to make a Rookie of the Year list, then Alterraun Verner damned well better be on it. About the only thing holding him back is that he doesn't play one of the glamour positions (RB, QB, WR or rush end), but I challenge you to find a rookie who has meant much more to his unit through the first 6 weeks.
The Titans are sitting strong in the DVOA rankings, and the defense has climbed up to 2nd place. Not bad for a unit that was supposed to be the weaker one heading into the season. We're also now sitting atop the Football Outsiders' DVOA Playoff Odds Report for the AFC South!
If you want to know why yards given-up is a stupid way to judge offenses and defenses, just click here.
One of the biggest changes in the entire team this year has been a knack for creating turnovers, and preventing them on offense. Last season at this points we were -10, which had us tied with the Taco Bell around the corner, and now we're +4, which is tied for the best rate in the division.
This makes me smile, because it's a sign that we're back on top... also, if you're going to whine about our team at least be accurate and note that the Ravens, not the Steelers beat us in the playoffs and it had nothing to do with that damned dirty dish rag.
Drew Magary (aka Big Daddy Drew from KSK) previews the Titans vs. Eagles, but he sounds as uneducated about the Titans as most MSM folks are these days (bad pass defense? mediocre to bad receivers? wtf?).
What is it with the Colts and drunk punters/kickers?
James Harrison got popped for $75K for trying to paralyze Mohamed Massaquoi, yet still finds a way to play the victim. If I were him I'd stay away from Mike Vick because Harrison looks a lot like a bitch right now.
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