Titans Game Thoughts

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Fonz the Boss

Well I hope they get off their high horses quick because the defense stunk. We got another one of the top RBs in the league next week in Maurice Jones Drew to worry about. I know I dont want him slashing and dashing through our defense like a JV game.

High Horse? Everything I heard said that nobody on the team was celebrating this win. Kubiak supposedly wouldn't even break a smile with the media after.

Definitely no high horse here. Just a win in a league that doesn't care about syle points either way.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by barrett

High Horse? Everything I heard said that nobody on the team was celebrating this win. Kubiak supposedly wouldn't even break a smile with the media after.

Definitely no high horse here. Just a win in a league that doesn't care about syle points either way.

I 2nd that, huh, what are you talking about?

After the game, Kubiak didn't sound a whole lot different than he did last week. "Very concerned" was the key point of his interview response. Hell, from what I heard on the radio, they didn't even get the day off today.

Regarding the game, save for a couple of bonehead plays, I thought the defense actually faired decent. I think that Britt kid could give us some fits in the years to come, and there is really not too much else to say about C Johnson. Man, that dude is quick. We have GOT to get the 3rd down thing fixed, that is madening.
Offense - A+++, nice air job, + they should them enough in the running game to give them something to think about. It wasn't working, but they kept plugging at it, and it opened up the play action. As Roy said earlier, throwing to set up the pass may not be a bad direction, especially since we are now 1 starting guard down for the next 4-6 weeks.

Games like this make me look forward to Sunday! 6 days to go!

[HPF Bob]

You guys called for a more aggressive defense and that's what happens - more big plays in both directions. Too bad we don't have a Polamalu or Dawkins to clean up the garbage at the back end. That's why we had 60-yd, 70-yd TDs scored against us rather than 20-yd gains given up.

What I liked best was that the Texans were down 21-7 and could have easily wimped out like last week but, when they got punched in the mouth, they hit back for once.

As for Jacoby Jones, he's never dull. He's either a big play or epic fail on every touch. The refs bailed him out on that punt muff but, under normal circumstances, it would have been Titans' ball and could have swung the game.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

You guys called for a more aggressive defense and that's what happens - more big plays in both directions. Too bad we don't have a Polamalu or Dawkins to clean up the garbage at the back end.

Yeah, still waiting for that elusive big-time Safety to be drafted onto the roster.

[Joe Joe]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

As for Jacoby Jones, he's never dull. He's either a big play or epic fail on every touch. The refs bailed him out on that punt muff but, under normal circumstances, it would have been Titans' ball and could have swung the game.

The refs didn't bail him out unless they completely whiffed on the rule. The rule bailed him out that gives him the right to catch the ball till it hits the ground unless the rule was explained wrong in the telecast. If the Titans would have respected his right to catch the ball until it hits the ground, he probably would have caught it on the bounce, but then again he is Jacoby.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by Joe Joe

The refs didn't bail him out unless they completely whiffed on the rule. The rule bailed him out that gives him the right to catch the ball till it hits the ground unless the rule was explained wrong in the telecast. If the Titans would have respected his right to catch the ball until it hits the ground, he probably would have caught it on the bounce, but then again he is Jacoby.

Allow me to clarify. 90% of the time when a punt is muffed an a defender is standing right there in front of the return man, the kick team winds up with the football. One could argue the defender, not the refs, bailed Jones out by catching the ball in the air but the refs did take a rather obscure rule out of the rule book to give the ball back to the Texans (and tack on a 15-yard interference penalty on the defender).

Tasker, being a kick returner and gunner much of his NFL career, probably knew that rule but I'm betting most of the players and coaches didn't. It's a good thing at least one of the refs knew the rule and was also in a position to see that the ball didn't hit the ground.

The defender was simply reacting as just about any player would if a muffed catch hopped into their lap.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Allow me to clarify. 90% of the time when a punt is muffed an a defender is standing right there in front of the return man, the kick team winds up with the football. One could argue the defender, not the refs, bailed Jones out by catching the ball in the air but the refs did take a rather obscure rule out of the rule book to give the ball back to the Texans (and tack on a 15-yard interference penalty on the defender).

Tasker, being a kick returner and gunner much of his NFL career, probably knew that rule but I'm betting most of the players and coaches didn't. It's a good thing at least one of the refs knew the rule and was also in a position to see that the ball didn't hit the ground.

The defender was simply reacting as just about any player would if a muffed catch hopped into their lap.

Hey I was screaming interference before the muff. JJ has a the right to the ball and a 2 yd cushion, the defended was in his face as the ball was coming down, the flag should have been thrown at that moment.

I was not aware of the ball hitting the ground is the trigger for the cover team, I just knew the cover guy did not allow JJ the chance to field the punt.

[Nconroe]

Just in case it wasn't mentioned, Jeff Fischer, Titans coach and on the rules committee, in his postgame comments said the refs made the right call.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by painekiller

Hey I was screaming interference before the muff. JJ has a the right to the ball and a 2 yd cushion, the defended was in his face as the ball was coming down, the flag should have been thrown at that moment.

I'm almost positive they got rid of the 2 yard "halo" around the punt returner. As long as you don't physically interfere with the return man you are OK.

[idymoe]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

It's a good thing at least one of the refs knew the rule and was also in a position to see that the ball didn't hit the ground.

.

Yeah, it's not like it's their job or anything to know all the rules. How lucky.

[HPF Bob]

Originally Posted by idymoe

Yeah, it's not like it's their job or anything to know all the rules. How lucky.

Well, it's their part-time job. These guys are insurance salesmen and high school principals and such in real life.

And given how often these guys get it wrong, we were lucky that this time they got it right.

[Roy P]

Thinking creatively is something that I liked seeing on both sides of the ball. On offense, putting Slaton out wide and leaving an empty backfield was nice. Having AJ, JJ, DA, and both TE's on the field was a nice look. Some of the best ways to run the ball is by spreading out the defense and having numerous targets to unload the ball to if they blitz.

On defense, we were dropping Barwin and blitzing Cushing. Zac Diles got a hit on Collins when he blitzed. If we can keep the offense guessing where the pressure is coming from, the Secondary will benefit. Eugene Wilson's INT was because Collins was getting people in his face. Moving Mario from Right to Left also kept them guessing. Now, if we want an attacking defense, we have to be better at gap responsibility and tackling. Too many times, over pursuit allowed huge gaps for the RB to take advantage of.

Still not sure about some of the calls. The Jacoby Jones TD was an incomplete pass since he went to the ground and lost the ball on the ground. Will be waiting to hear what Mike Pereira has to say about that one. I was scared about the muff/fumble but Steve Tasker did a good job of convincing me that was the right call.

[edo783]

Originally Posted by Roy P

The Jacoby Jones TD was an incomplete pass since he went to the ground and lost the ball on the ground. Will be waiting to hear what Mike Pereira has to say about that one.

Would have been incomplete IF he had received it in the end zone then he MUST complete the play with full control, but he had control of it in the field of play, so all he needed to do was break the plane. IMO, he actually should have been down at the 1 yard line as it looked like his knee was down, but I will take the TD.

[Fonz the Boss]

Originally Posted by Roy P

The Jacoby Jones TD was an incomplete pass since he went to the ground and lost the ball on the ground. Will be waiting to hear what Mike Pereira has to say about that one.

It all started with the overruled TD that the Raiders had against the Chargers that could have been a game winner..... The NFL reviewed that play and I think from now until the end of the season once the catch is made in the end zone and possession is established then that is the end of the play. Another way to see this type of play is when a receiver catches and establishes possession of the ball at the 5 yard line then dives to the pylon and loses the ball when he knocks the pylon with the ball. The pylon play ends once you score the TD. Similarly, when you catch a ball in the end zone and establish possession then that should end that play.... Thats why the play wasnt overruled.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by Fonz the Boss

Similarly, when you catch a ball in the end zone and establish possession then that should end that play.... Thats why the play wasnt overruled.

In the endzone the rule is that the WR has to maintain possession through contact with the ground.His knee had already hit the ground but in the endzone you have to have possession all the way to the ground...a knee isn't enough in other words. The contact with the ground stipulation was fulfilled when Jacoby landed on the DB. He lost the ball after he "bounced" off the DB and went to the ground a second time.

[Fonz the Boss]

Originally Posted by papabear

In the endzone the rule is that the WR has to maintain possession through contact with the ground.His knee had already hit the ground but in the endzone you have to have possession all the way to the ground...a knee isn't enough in other words. The contact with the ground stipulation was fulfilled when Jacoby landed on the DB. He lost the ball after he "bounced" off the DB and went to the ground a second time.

I replayed this catch again and if thats the case then the ball had broken the plane when his knee had hit the ground before he was spun and landed in the endzone. That means it was determined by the refs that possession was established outside the endzone, his knee hit the ground but the ball was already crossing the plane so that ended the play as a TD.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by barrett

High Horse? Everything I heard said that nobody on the team was celebrating this win. Kubiak supposedly wouldn't even break a smile with the media after.

Definitely no high horse here. Just a win in a league that doesn't care about syle points either way.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gamecen...090920_HOU@TEN

The celebration inside the Texans' locker room easily could be heard outside before the doors opened. Schaub said there will always be questions from outsiders.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gamecen...090920_HOU@TEN

I think they should be proud of their effort and mental toughness. Being on the road and being down 21-7 after giving up an easy TD, was enough for most of us fans to throw our hands in the air and say, "here we go again" and simply give up. This team had plenty of execution errors, that need to be addressed. However, they did not bow down to the like of VandenBosch or Finnegan. They stood their ground and fought, literally, for a victory. While this game shouldn't go down in the text book for how to win a game, there is a bit of an intangible element that this team showed that should be celebrated.

[NBT]

Dominique Barber blew the coverage when Chris Johnson was lined up out wide. By the time he figured out what happened Johnson was galloping for the endzone. We have two rookies starting on defense which further confused things. Cushing was out of position on one of Johnson's rush TD's, and Glover Quin was playing nickle back. DeMeco was trying to pull it all together, but by the time he did Johnson had done all of his damage. The defense has been doing this all pre-season and by now should be getting it figured out. We will see next week against JAX.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by Roy P

I think they should be proud of their effort and mental toughness. Being on the road and being down 21-7 after giving up an easy TD, was enough for most of us fans to throw our hands in the air and say, "here we go again" and simply give up. This team had plenty of execution errors, that need to be addressed. However, they did not bow down to the like of VandenBosch or Finnegan. They stood their ground and fought, literally, for a victory. While this game shouldn't go down in the text book for how to win a game, there is a bit of an intangible element that this team showed that should be celebrated.

Agreed. The team had every right to celebrate such a hard fought victory, despite the number of mistakes made in the game.