NFL FanHouse

Pocket Presence: Russell Still Struggling

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Raiders, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Stubbornness sometimes pays off. The Carolina Panthers found this out on Sunday.

One week after giving up on the run way too easily in a loss to Buffalo, the Panthers mercilessly pounded Arizona's run defense into the ground, and their reward was an easy win. Of course, it doesn't mean Jake Delhomme has magically turned his season around. It just means the Panthers have found a way to hide him, while keeping him on the field. Delhomme is off our magical list for now, but other shaky starters aren't so lucky.

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Surely, Russell is hampered by a complete lack of playmakers. Darrius Heyward-Bey has been a disaster so far, and outside of tight end Zach Miller, Russell simply doesn't have anyone to throw to.

However, he's earned every bit of that 48.3 quarterback rating, a rating that is barely above the 39.6 that you'd get by throwing every pass into the ground. Russell makes bad decisions, surpassed only by the simply awful throws he's capable of.

Whomever is coaching the Raiders next year is likely to have Russell around, only that coach will be facing the challenge of getting him off all the bad habits he's picked up, along with restoring what has to be a non-existent confidence.

Russell is only 24, so there's no point in giving up. However, there's also no point in leaving him out there to further destroy the mental part of his game.

Status update: Very warm

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Surely, the Browns weren't planning on firing a general manager before his first season was over. That's exactly what happened this week, though, as the team's embarrassing slide towards another high draft pick continued with a 30-6 whomping by the Bears in Chicago.

First-year coach Eric Mangini should be shown the door once this disastrous season ends. So far, the only thing he's done to try to inject life into his team was switch quarterbacks. To the coach's chagrin, Anderson looks to be a worse fit for this offense than Quinn was. That's not saying much, because no quarterback could do much of anything positive with this team.

Now what do you do? The season is a lost cause, and Quinn won't approach his contractual incentives if he takes over now. Anderson obviously isn't the answer, so now it's simply a question of whether Quinn can show enough to justify keeping him around for the next regime.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young and Kerry Collins
Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Freeman gets his first start this weekend against Green Bay. It's not common for coaches to go back to a veteran once they start the rookie, so one has to assume this is Freeman's gig.

Young actually looked pretty good in helping the Titans get their first win. No way they go back to Collins now, even if the team starts losing again. Young's athleticism is perfect for this offense -- if he can stay healthy and throw with any kind of accuracy.

As for Delhomme, as mentioned above, the Panthers rode the running game, but Delhomme did throw for 90 yards in just seven completions, and Steve Smith got his first touchdown of the year. Odds are he sticks around.

Pocket Presence: Russell Still Struggling originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vince Young Takes a Step Forward, but Has a Long Way to Go

JJ Cooper — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:48:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, AFC South

Vince Young did everything he needed to do on Sunday to stake a claim to the Titans' starting job for the rest of the season, but did he really do anything to show he should be around in 2010 and beyond?

Young clearly gave the Titans a spark. In the most important stat of all, Young is 1-0 this season as a starter while Kerry Collins is 0-6. The inaccuracy that has plagued Young in the past wasn't visible. Young arguably had two bad passes all game, and only one of those -- a near interception on a deep ball to Justin Gage -- was a true mistake.

But before people start annointing Young as the Titans quarterback of the future again, it's worth noting that Young was 15-of-18 for only 125 yards, and almost all of his passes were of the dump-off variety.

He did show his arm strength with a back-foot pass on a sideline route to Kenny Britt, but he was more often checking down to tight end Bo Scaife. He also showed that he was just as comfortable taking off and running if no one was open downfield.

All of that was good, but Young playing like he did on Sunday wins games when Chris Johnson breaks long runs and the defense plays well. It's the kind of approach that can win a lot of games, but you do have to wonder if it's enough to get the Titans to the Super Bowl.

If this is just the start for Young, he could somehow resurrect his career in Tennessee. But if that was VY at his best, than his best just isn't good enough.

Vince Young Takes a Step Forward, but Has a Long Way to Go originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Titans Make Another Change

JJ Cooper — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:34:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, AFC South, NFL Injuries

Mark Jones lost the Titans' return job during the preseason because he couldn't stay healthy. Now he's lost it again because of yet another hamstring injury.

Tennessee put Jones on injured reserve with a hamstring injury and signed ex-Jaguars returner Alvin Pearman to replace him, a week after Jones' injured his hamstring again. The decision to put Jones on injured reserve is a pretty strong sign that the Titans aren't very concerned about losing him -- there was a chance Jones would be healthy in four to six weeks, but considering how often he's injured his hamstring this year, the Titans decided it was better not to wait on him to get healthy.

Don't expect Pearman to be much more than a fill-in himself -- he's returned three punts and kicks in the past two years -- but he should be able to catch the ball, which is better than Ryan Mouton was able to do when he tried ot handle the job against the Jets.

While Pearman isn't a signinficant signing, this is one of the things a struggling team should do. Tennessee can sort through waiver wire players week after week to see if any of them can contribute to the 2010 club.

Titans Make Another Change originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:34:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Titans' Timing for Vince Young Switch Is Pretty Good

JJ Cooper — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:55:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, AFC South

At 0-6, there are clearly no sure-thing wins for the Titans. But if you were going to pick a point in the schedule where new starter Vince Young could succeed, you could do a whole lot worse than this week: he gets to face the Jaguars, 49ers and Bills after a bye week.

None of those are sure-fire wins, but all three are winnable games (especially since the Jaguars and Bills passing games should help give the beleaguered Titans secondary a bit of a break). Win two of those games and Young all of a sudden looks like a spark, no matter what his passing stats look like.
What no one is discussing yet is what exactly will determine if Young's second chance as a starter is a success. It's almost impossible to expect Young to pile up 300-yard passing games, but if he can move the chains, show improved passing accuracy and avoid interceptions, maybe Tennessee can avoid going into next season looking for a young quarterback again.

If it happens, it means that Young learned a lot from sitting on the bench for the past season, but hey, at this point with the playoffs out of reach it's worth finding out what Young can do.

Titans' Timing for Vince Young Switch Is Pretty Good originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vince Young Regains Starting QB Job

R.J. White — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

In what is clearly a long overdue move, the Tennessee Titans are benching veteran Kerry Collins in favor of 26-year-old Vince Young, The Tennessean reports.

Owner Bud Adams reportedly pushed for Young this week. Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher deliberated on the decision, though, before finally agreeing with Adams and choosing Young as his starter against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Fisher announced the change after Tennessee's practice Thursday.

Collins has been the Titans' starter since Week 2 of 2008, but an 0-6 start to the 2009 season, coupled with a lack of explosiveness, necessitated a move under center. Collins, in his 15th year out of Penn State, has completed just 54.8 percent of his passes this year, while throwing more interceptions (eight) than touchdowns (five) en route to a 62.0 QB rating.

But is Young the answer?

In the midst of a lost season, there's no harm in seeing whether or not Young can captain the Titans' ship in 2010 and beyond. It's worth noting that while Young's career passing numbers aren't stellar (56.9 percent completion percentage, 67.8 QB rating), he has won 18 of his 29 starts dating back to his rookie season. Most rookies struggle to win games right out of the gate, and while Young doesn't deserve all the credit for those victories, a 62 percent winning percentage from a wet-behind-the-ears quarterback shouldn't just be dismissed.

With Wildcat football being all the rage, maybe people expected Young to be utilized in a form of the popular offense this year, but Fisher has stuck with a one-QB-under-center philosophy. Now that that QB is Young, the offense theoretically should be opened up, thanks to the danger of Young tucking the ball and picking up five or six yards at a time.

At 0-6, Tennessee's playoff hopes are over, and turning to Young at this stage gives Fisher and the front office a nice 10-game evaluation period with Young. If the third-year player out of Texas impresses, expect him under center in 2010. If not, the Titans will be forced to look for a young QB in next April's NFL Draft or in the off-season free agency market.

Young's trials and tribulations have been well-documented, and this is likely his last shot at securing a future as a starting quarterback in the NFL. We all love redemption stories, and I'm rooting for a happy ending to this saga as well.

Vince Young Regains Starting QB Job originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Teams Putting Quarterbacks in Position to Fail

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Raiders, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

Some teams are entirely too stubborn. Not only will they leave bad quarterbacks in to take mental and physical beatings, but they'll insist on running offensive plays that don't seem to take the team's strengths into account, oftentimes leaning way too much on a struggling quarterback to make plays. As the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns (among others) have now learned, this is a recipe for disaster.

More: Carolina Sticking With Delhomme | Freeman in for Tampa

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore

Delhomme has done a lot for the Carolina franchise, and loyalty is rarely a bad thing, even in a cutthroat industry like the NFL.

However, can anyone explain why Moore hasn't gotten a shot at saving the Panthers' season yet?

If Moore is so terrible that he can't be trusted to start, why is he serving as the primary backup to an aging veteran who melted down severely in the playoffs last year and has shown little life so far this season? It just doesn't make sense.

In Delhomme's defense, neither did Sunday's play-calling.

The Panthers ran for over 200 yards in a win over Tampa Bay. The response Sunday? Delhomme put the ball in the air 44 times, while star running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for 23 carries. That makes sense, right?

Didn't think so.

Status update: White hot

Cleveland Browns: Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn

Anderson was simply awful again Sunday, this time in a 31-3 home loss to Green Bay. While he failed to hit half his passes, throw for 100 yards, or lead his team into the end zone, it wasn't all his fault. For some reason, the Browns decided to use the wildcat with Josh Cribbs exactly once against Green Bay.

Maybe the Packers showed a wonderful ability to stop the wildcat on that one play. Perhaps there is something about the Dom Capers' 3-4 defense that lends itself to stopping that gimmick, because the Vikings didn't use it in their matchup with the Packers on Oct. 5. However, Cribbs is the Browns' best offensive player right now. It's not even close.

Why isn't the ball in his hands more often?

As long as the team continues this failing strategy, it probably doesn't matter who the quarterback is, though it would likely behoove Cleveland to go back to Quinn. Anderson threw 11 passes at either Mohamed Massaquoi or Brian Robiskie on Sunday. They combined for one catch.

Status update: Very warm

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith and Shaun Hill

While head coach Mike Singletary might have made up his mind quickly, the smart money is on this not being the last change he has to make.

Yes, Smith played well in a second-half stint Sunday at Houston. However, it's typically harder on guys like him when they have to actually start the game. Smith was the backup to Hill for a reason, and now he has to prove that he can do things he failed to do in training camp or preseason games, or in any of his other starts for the 49ers.

Smith is getting thrown right into the fire, as San Francisco has a Sunday date with unbeaten Indianapolis.

Status update: Very warm

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Russell has flat-out stunk all season. He's been terrible. Finally, head coach Tom Cable had enough. While replacing Russell with Gradkowski didn't do the Raiders any good on the scoreboard, it may be a message to Russell that he has to put in the time and make the commitment to get better now, or he will run out of chances.

No, Oakland isn't a playoff contender. But they have to do something to put a jolt into Russell. Otherwise, they'll never know for sure what they have in him.

Status update: Very warm

Tennessee Titans: Kerry Collins and Vince Young

Titans owner Bud Adams has come out and said he wants Young to be the starter. Meanwhile, it appears that Collins is going to keep the job for at least another week (though head coach Jeff Fisher hasn't really said).

While it's hard to blame everything that has gone wrong on Collins, he hasn't played well. Not only that, but the Titans owe it to themselves to give Young a shot at some point. It's not much different than Russell, really. They have to find out what they have.

Plus, the owner wants it to happen, and he's the owner. It's likely that Young starts sooner rather than later.

Status update: Very warm

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson

It was made official Wednesday that Freeman will get the nod out of Tampa's bye week. The Johnson experiment was an unmitigated disaster, as Tampa Bay did virtually nothing with him leading the way.

Now, it's up to Freeman, the rookie first-rounder out of Kansas State. While it's hard to predict what the result of this experiment will be, it probably doesn't matter in the end. Once you put the rookie out there, you typically don't switch back unless he gets hurt.

Status update: Lukewarm

Pocket Presence: Teams Putting Quarterbacks in Position to Fail originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeff Fisher Vague on QB Starter

JJ Cooper — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:11:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, AFC South

Whenever he's been asked before this week, Titans coach Jeff Fisher has made it clear that Kerry Collins is his quarterback.

Vince Young has played a little in mop-up duty of blowout losses (which is happening a lot), but Collins has been the undisputed starter.

But with his team sitting at 0-6 having already wrapped up the title of "NFL's most disappointing team of 2009," Fisher isn't ready to say who his quarterback this week. Instead, he's answering with what can best be termed as double talk.

"We've had a week to do some different things and considering the circumstances we're in right now with the record, there's things that you need to do differently,'' Fisher said on Monday. "Let's just say I am not going to be as specific and open-ended from a competitive standpoint.''

I've read fine print on credit card applications that were more clear than that. Reading between the lines, what Fisher seems to be trying to say is he's not telling anyone who is going to be the starting quarterback this weekend. Unlike Eric Mangini's attempts to gain a competitive advantage with his "Brady Quinn/Derek Anderson" debacle before the opener, Fisher's more likely leaving things vague so Young and Collins don't have to answer questions about it all week.

This would appear to be the logical week to give Young another chance to start--the team's going nowhere, Kerry Collins hasn't played well and the team needs to know what they have in Young before his $4 million bonus comes due this offseason.

Jeff Fisher Vague on QB Starter originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Steve McNair Reportedly Not Father of Mississippi Teenager

Matt Snyder — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:51:00 EST

Filed under: Titans

Last week, news broke that a Mississippi woman, Clover Lee, was claiming her 17-year-old daughter was actually fathered by the late Steve McNair. With McNair's estate in the process of being divided between his surviving family members, Lee and her attorney were attempting to throw their proverbial hats in the ring. In their statement, it was mentioned that a DNA test would conclusively answer some questions.

According to a report Saturday, it did.

Lee's 17-year-old daughter, according to The Tennessean, is not the daughter of McNair. In the nearly three months since the murder of McNair, it's pretty likely good news has been hard to come by for the surviving members of his family, but this has to qualify as relatively good news -- even if it's incredibly minor.

McNair's estate is worth $19.6 million. As things currently stand, it's being divided among his widow and four sons. Lou Taylor, a spokesman for McNair's estate, is still planning on handling more claims, though.

"Very early on it was apparent there would be additional heirs,'' Taylor said. "We took every precaution necessary to be able to provide accurate information for potential claims."

For now, if the report on the paternity test is accurate, it's still just those five immediate family members getting a piece of the estate.

Steve McNair Reportedly Not Father of Mississippi Teenager originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Coach Killers, Week 6: The Lions

Tom Mantzouranis — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:10:00 EST

Filed under: Titans

Every week, NFL FanHouse hits the lowlights from Sunday's action, looking at those players who did the most to move their head coaches that much closer to returning to the Bed and Breakfast business.

This has nothing to do with the 26-0 shutout the Packers laid on the Lions last Sunday.

Typically, this space is reserved for a player or players whose performance on a given week made his coach's week miserable or job status shaky. But we're going a little bit bigger picture this week.

In this instance, it was the Lions' brass playing the role of coach killer on a coach manning sidelines over 500 miles south.

There are a lot of problems with the Titans right now. It's been enough to send Jeff Fisher into the arms of the enemy. But the biggest isn't Fisher and it's not Kerry Collins. It's the fact that Jim Schwartz is no longer around.

Albert Haynesworth's departure was the one that got the most press, but it was Schwartz's that was the most impactful. A team can overcome the loss of a player, no matter how talented. What it can't overcome is the loss of heart, and that's exactly what Schwartz brought to the Titans' defense as its coordinator.

Here's a secret some of you may already be privy to: Kerry Collins has been a bad quarterback for a lot longer than this year. The Titans have been successful because they've surrounded him with a very good running game and, up until this point, a great defense. The defense kept things close enough to allow the Titans to rely on those backs and give Collins a reprieve.

They still have that very good running game, but the defense has fallen by the wayside. Seventh overall in total defense in 2008, the Titans are now ranking 31st, just ahead of the Browns. The 33 points per game they've allowed thus far ranks dead last in the league, though that number is skewed by the debacling they took at the hands of the Patriots last week. Injuries are to blame, as well, but Schwartz's departure has this team just looking like an emasculated unit, with none of the physicality or intensity that made the group so fearsome in recent years. Again, this is not a talent issue, it's a character issue.

So as a result, the run game has had to go it alone in trying to salvage the wreck, and we all know how that's turning out. With no defense and no passing game, opponents are keying in on the Titans' backfield. The team is the equivalent of one hand trying to wash itself.

In 2008 the Titans averaged 31.8 carries per game, good enough for fifth in the league. This year they're at 26.0, or 20th. They're relying more on Collins because they don't have a defense that is keeping them close. And that's their downfall.

I could argue that without the fire on defense, the offense doesn't have anything to feed off, to fuel its own passion, but that would just be a guess from an outsider. But it's clear from watching film that this isn't the same Titans defense, and that tumbling domino has started a chain reaction that is directly leading to the exposing of Collins and the negative passing days that go with it.

If I were Jeff Fisher, I'd want to wear a Peyton Manning jersey, too. Or at least call Detroit to see if Schwartz has an opening at coordinator.

Coach Killers, Week 6: The Lions originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeff Fisher Dons Peyton Manning Jersey At Nashville Fundraiser

Clay Travis — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:50:00 EST

Filed under: Colts, Titans, NFL Coaching, NFL Video

Jeff Fisher's Tennessee Titans are 0-6. This week the Titans are on a bye, and Fisher appeared at a Rocket Town fundraising event alongside former Colts head coach Tony Dungy. In so doing Fisher chose to make light of the Titans failure. How? By taking off his trench coat to reveal that he was wearing a Peyton Manning jersey underneath.

Seriously.

As if that weren't enough, he then said, "I just wanted to feel like a winner today."

Manning, oh by the way, recently swept into Nashville and stomped Fisher's winless Titans 31-9. I'm sure they're laughing in Indianapolis, but is this really the way to endear yourself to the local community? Even if it's at a fundraising appearance? Especially when people are already starting to question whether you deserve another season as head coach?

I think not.

Especially after your team just got beat 59-0, the worst defeat in the NFL in over thirty years.

And I don't think the people of Nashville are overreacting. Would this go over well in any city in America if the team was 0-6? Can you imagine if Jim Zorn showed up at a Washington fundraiser in an Eli Manning jersey?

Would it even go over very well if the Titans were 5-1 and had only lost to Peyton Manning?

Nope.

A joke like this is perhaps the best evidence yet that Jeff Fisher has lost touch with the average fan's frustrations over the collapse of his team. Either that or he truly feels that he's so bulletproof thanks to his relationship with owner Bud Adams that he can get away with anything.

Regardless, fan outrage is building rapidly. And this, wearing the jersey of a rival even if it is for a fundraiser, may have just been the tipping point for the Jeff Fisher era in Nashville. Look out below, Jeff, at least you've got that Manning jersey to cushion your fall.

Jeff Fisher Dons Peyton Manning Jersey At Nashville Fundraiser originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sahel Kazemi-Steve McNair Case Not How Police Described It

Michael David Smith — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:22:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, NFL Police Blotter

We may never know exactly what happened the day former NFL quarterback Steve McNair and his girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, died. But it's clear from a new report by Armen Keteyian of CBS News that things didn't transpire exactly the way the police claimed.

The latest revelation from Keteyian's three-month investigation is that police were wrong when they said Kazemi bought the gun she used to kill McNair and herself from a man who was basically a stranger. In reality, cell phone records obtained by CBS -- records overlooked by the police -- show that Kazemi and the man who allegedly sold her the gun, a convicted felon named Adrian Gilliam Jr., knew each other well and corresponded some 200 times.

Unfortunately, the CBS investigation ends there, and doesn't offer a satisfying conclusion about whether the facts overlooked by police contradict the conclusion that Kazemi killed McNair and then herself. Keteyian ended his report by noting that it's still an open question whether Kazemi killed McNair: "That's the big question," Keteyian says, "One I'd like to see a lot more answers about."

Perhaps the police can pick up where Keteyian left off.

Sahel Kazemi-Steve McNair Case Not How Police Described It originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CBS Report: Police Account of Steve McNair Death Doesn't Add Up

Michael David Smith — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, NFL Police Blotter

The law enforcement investigation of the deaths of Steve McNair and his girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, concluded that Kazemi shot and killed McNair before committing suicide. But a new investigation from CBS News raises serious questions about whether the police properly investigated the incident, and whether they may have reached the wrong conclusion.

On Monday's Early Show, correspondent Armen Keteyian reported that his own three-month investigation (video after the jump) found errors made by the police, including a major one about when Kazemi supposedly bought the murder weapon. Police claimed that they had pinpointed the time when Kazemi bought the murder weapon as during a two-hour period when she was absent from work. But Keteyian reported that the police were wrong about the date on which Kazemi was gone from work for two hours, and that there are major questions about whether she purchased the gun at all.

o. More Coverage o.
Police Release Text Messages Between McNair, Kazemi
Steve McNair's Other Girlfriend Revealed

And while police say Kazemi was distraught about being broke, CBS obtained her bank statement and other information about her finances and found that she had more money on hand than she owed in bills. Police also said Kazemi was angry about having been arrested for DUI, but CBS uncovered video footage showing Kazemi at the police station after her arrest, and she doesn't look distraught.

On Tuesday, CBS is promising to reveal a "big" mistake that the police department made in the investigation. Keteyian's reporting has already revealed enough to make me think the police have a lot of explaining to do.

CBS Report: Police Account of Steve McNair Death Doesn't Add Up originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:58:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Going Down With the Ship: A Fan's Perspective of Tennessee's Titanic Crash

Clay Travis — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Patriots, Titans

Jeff Fisher's frozen mustache passed for more yards than the Tennessee Titans did on Sunday. So did you. So did I. In the end, the Titans passed for -7 yards, lost 59-0, and left anyone with a pulse in Nashville wondering why Fisher is making $5 million a year. Eventually, Sunday made history, as the Patriots delivered the worst beating in an NFL game since 1976. And for those of us who watched every snap, the game wasn't even as close as the final score. Nope, 59-0 was as generous as Bill Belichick and the Patriots could have been in defeating the Titans.

But merely reading about this game does the contest a disservice. To truly experience the defeat you had to be sitting on your couch, in a Titans t-shirt, jaw agape, amazed at what you were seeing. I've been alive for 30 football seasons now and never been so astounded at my team's incompetence. In fact, in my entire life as a sports fan, I've never seen a beating this bad in any sport. Here we go with 16 observations from the game.

1. The entire game had a dreamlike quality to it. Snow in mid-October? An icy field? The way points only materialized on one side of the scoreboard?

You felt like you were watching a Madden game between someone who had been playing for two decades and a novice gamer. What's more, everyone saw it because it was the national game on CBS.

I guarantee you that Fisher kept repeating to himself, "This is really happening, this is really happening" -- although he never seemed to raise his voice or react at all on the sideline. He looked like a mustachioed scientist who suddenly realized that a heretofore unimaginable theory, time travel for instance, was actually possible. And not just possible, happening right before his eyes.

I guarantee you that in 20 years, when NFL Films does a retrospective on this game, Fisher will admit that he found the beating obscenely transcendent, like Balloon Boy meets football.

2. The Patriots scored their second touchdown on a 40-yard flea flicker.

Let me repeat that, they scored on a flea flicker!

I'm asking this question honestly, has there ever been a greater divide between quarterback statistics in the history of the league -- for one quarterback to throw for 387 yards more than another? For six touchdowns to none?
If you've ever sought play-calling evidence that one team doesn't respect the talent level of another, calling this play was the perfect example. It's snowing and players have been losing their footing the entire game. Yet the Patriots hand the ball off in the snow, run a man into the line of scrimmage, have him pause with defenders all around him, turn away from the defense, toss a wet football back to their quarterback, have the quarterback field the wet toss, reposition the ball, survey the field still without a defender near him, and throw a laser to a wide-open Randy Moss.

Oh, and the Patriots are driving into the wind when they score.

Think about all the ways the Titans could have stopped this play from succeeding. Then think about all the things that have to go right for the Patriots to succeed with this play call.

The best part of this play was how Phil Simms criticized Titans' safety Chris Hope for not staying behind the receiver. Evidently he expects Hope to expect the flea flicker in this situation. On the sideline Hope had to be sitting around thinking, "What the f... Why'd I ever leave Pittsburgh?"

3. The Titans' "defense" of Randy Moss when they blitzed down 17-0.

Moss threw up his hand about two yards into the route to signify that he was wide open. At no point was he actually covered by a defender. Think about how hard this is to manage on a football field. The Titans didn't jam him at the line and get beat, they didn't throw a safety over the top and get beat off the line with hope that they'd have him covered deep. Nope, they allowed him to run unmolested down the field, beat two men, who were offering token resistance, and catch a ball in the end zone without touching him.

It's inexplicable.

Truly.

If you've ever wondered what you'd look like trying to cover Randy Moss in an NFL game, watch this play from beginning to end. It's like the Titans suddenly lined up your Aunt Irene on the most explosive wideout in the history of the game. And then told her to cover him.

Alone.

Wearing her dress and heels.

Not surprisingly, Moss scored from 28 yards out to make it 24-0.

4. At this point in the game, my wife left the room because she said I was too upset.

But I really wasn't. Why not? Because I started to believe we might truly witness something unbelievable. And isn't that why many of us watch sports to begin with? Because at some moment there might be something we've never seen before? And we can't stomach if we missed that happening.

Well, I didn't miss it.

5. Wes Welker scored to put New England up 38-0 on the Titans and there was no one within 20 yards of him when he caught the ball.

Again, true question: If you took seven average high school players, told them the defense, had them line up and play that pass defense, is there any way they could be in worse position than the Titans were on this touchdown pass?

I'm not saying the high school players need to make a tackle or do something incredible. All I'm asking is whether they could have been closer to Welker when the pass was competed. And, be still my heart, could they have touched him before he scored?

Just a grazing of the fingertip as he ran down the sideline.

They could, right?

Better question, what if you and six of your buddies that could all run 100 yards without needing an oxygen tank, lined up against the Patriots on that play. And the entire purpose of your defense was only to be close to the receivers if they happened to catch a pass.

Then, to your benefit, you only have to cover 30 yards on the field. Because that's how much the Titans had to cover on that play.

How pissed would you be if you gave up the Welker score and no one even touched him?

Pissed, right?

Now you know how Keith Bulluck felt as he walked off the field.

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Tennessee Titans Photos

Tennessee Titans quarterback Kerry Collins (5) fumbles the ball during the second half of their NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. The Patriots defeated the Titans 59-0. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Tennessee Titans Photos

New England Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) hauls down Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young (10) during the fourth quarter of their 59-0 win in a NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, left, is brought down by Tennessee Titans cornerback Cary Williams, right, in the second half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. The Patriots beat the Titans 59-0. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) talks to New England Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss, left, in the third quarter of their NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday afternoon, Oct. 18, 2009. Brady was 29 of 34 for 380 yards and six touchdowns in less than three full quarters of play as the Patriots defeated the Titans 59-0. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, center, and quarterback Kerry Collins (5) leave the field after their 59-0 loss to the New England Patriots in a NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher walks along the sidelines in the third quarter of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. The Patriots defeated the Titans 59-0. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

New England Patriots head coach Bill Bill Belichick listens to the referees during their 59-0 win over the Tennessee Titans in a NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws a pass wide receiver Sam Aiken as running back Laurence Maroney (39) and Patriots offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer (76) block during the third quarter of their NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday afternoon, Oct. 18, 2009. Brady was 29 of 34 for 380 yards and six touchdowns in less than three quarters of play as the Patriots defeated the Titans 59-0. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FOXBORO - OCTOBER 18: Cheerleaders of the New England Patriots dance on the field during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on October 18, 2009 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 59-0. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Getty Images

FOXBORO - OCTOBER 18: Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans leaves the field in the fourth quarter during a game against the New England Patriots converse at Gillette Stadium on October 18, 2009 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 59-0. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vince Young

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FOXBORO - OCTOBER 18: Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans hands the ball off to teammate Javon Ringer #21during a game against the Tennesee Titans at Gillette Stadium on October 18, 2009 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriots won 59-0. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vince Young;Javon Ringer

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6. Has there ever been a more disappointing football performance from a team in a season?

Keep in mind that the Titans had the best record in football last year. They returned 20 of 22 starters. Vegas had them as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. In fact, I bet on the TItans back in August at 20-1 odds just because I always want to bet on my team when I'm in Vegas.

And now we're 0-6.

Again, if we'd known we were going to suck, we could have handled it. But this entire season has been the equivalent of the scene in "Old School" when Mitch came home and found out his live-in girlfriend liked threesomes when he was out of town.

I really want nominations for a greater variety between a season's expectations and their reality. I think the Titans might be setting a new benchmark.

7. What's the most amazing thing about the five touchdowns in a single quarter?

Think about how hard it is to get five possessions in a quarter. Then think about how hard it is to get five possessions in a quarter when the other team has possession of the football to begin the quarter, meaning you actually have to score five touchdowns in under ten minutes of playing time. Then think about how hard it is to score on five consecutive possessions. Then think about how hard it is to score five touchdowns. Then think about how hard it is to score five touchdowns all by passes.

Seriously, if you think about this for too long it's the football equivalent of trying to determine what happens if a snake starts to eat its own tail.

Yep, the end result makes you dizzy.

8. Tom Brady's numbers on the day: 29-of-34 for 380 yards, six touchdowns. Kerry Collins's numbers on the day: 2-of-12, -7 yards, 1 interception.

I'm asking this question honestly, has there ever been a greater divide between quarterback statistics in the history of the league -- for one quarterback to throw for 387 yards more than another? For six touchdowns to none?

When was the last time a quarterback threw for negative yardage? Plumbing the intricacies of this game's statistics is going to break several computers. You already got that sense. For instance, it took over an hour for CBS to confirm that 45-0 was the greatest halftime deficit in NFL history.

9. Combining Brady and Brian Hoyer, the Patriots' quarterbacks were 38-for-45 for 432 yards.

People who didn't watch this weather won't even understand how remarkable this performance was. Even completing 85 percent of the passes in this game without a defense against you would have been pretty decent. A wet ball, the windy conditions, the snow, the wet field, wet hands -- all of these things should have led to a less than sterling passing game.

Instead, the Patriots dropped back to pass 45 times, and the Titans only managed to stop them from completing a pass seven times.

The Titans are making a run at worst pass defense in NFL history. Every quarterback but Mark Sanchez has thrown for over 300 yards against them this season.

If Chuck Cecil's job was in question before today, after today he should be packing up his desk at the Titans' facility.

10. LenDale White's fumble and then leaving the field on a cart.

I think White is going to be back on Tequila after tonight. If I was him, while I was in the locker room, I would have bought an entire case of Patron and had it delivered to my house in Nashville.

11. My friend Tardio texted me at halftime to ask if we could get a running clock for the second half.

12. If the flea-flicker play represented offensive perfection, the default best example of the Patriots' brilliance on the day, then the Titans' 4th-and-10 play call on the first drive of the second half has to be the exact opposite result, perfect evidence of futility.

A reverse?

Really?

On 4th and 10? Somehow, Collins completed a pass to Nate Washington that lost 22 yards. And ended in a fumble.

13. In fact, let's review the Titans' turnovers today. Because seeing them makes you feel even worse about the effort.

a. LenDale White fumbles
b. Kerry Collins fumbles the quarterback-center exchange on the next play
c. Kerry Collins intercepted on an awful throw (at this point the Titans have three turovers in five plays)
d. Vince Young intercepted on an awful throw, the second offensive play for him in the game.
e. Ahmard Hall, perhaps troubled over the 'r' in his name, fumbles on a fourth-down conversion.

My point? All five of these are awful, awful turnovers. They aren't effort plays, where your team is trying so hard to make a great play that they fail. Similarly, they aren't spectacular defensive plays. They were just awful offensive errors.

14. How many years does Jeff Fisher really get?

I need to do a column on this instead of just tossing it in as an observation, but Jeff Fisher hasn't won a playoff game since 2003. Moreover he's won just two playoff games this decade. He's been to the Super Bowl once in 16 seasons -- counting this one -- with the Oilers/Titans. His career record is now 128-108.

During Fisher's tenure at Tennessee, Brian Billick, Jon Gruden and Mike Shanahan have won four combined Super Bowls and been fired from their head coaching jobs.

Don't the Titans really seriously have to think about keeping Fisher around? Especially when, as now, this team is apparently riddled with holes on defense and in need of a new quarterback and a new start. What has Fisher really done in 16 years that makes you believe he can win a championship? Or, for that matter, a playoff game?

What's more, the team quit today. They also quit against Jacksonville and against the Colts. That's three quitting efforts in a row. Most coaches don't get that luxury.

15. Finally, even the refs were just ready for this game to end. They didn't call an obvious safety on Vince Young after, you guessed it, a mishandled snap that rolled into the Titans' end zone.

In fact, as bad as it was, the Patriots left 12 points on the field. The Titans stopped one drive at their own 2, the Patriots missed a 39 yard field goal, and the safety should have been called.

The more accurate final score in this game was 71-0.

What's more, the Patriots didn't score for the entire fourth quarter, it was 59-0 at the end of the third. Honest question, how many points could the Patriots have scored if they'd left Brady in for the entire game? 80? 90?

Ouch.

16. I'll even admit it. A part of me was disappointed that Belichick didn't challenge the Vince Young safety.

I've watched football my entire life, and never seen such a mismatched performance. The safety to end the game, and give a final score of 61-0, had a certain measure of beauty, like the world's ugliest dog. But, sadly, on this day, the Titans just claimed the title for world's ugliest football team.

Going Down With the Ship: A Fan's Perspective of Tennessee's Titanic Crash originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tom Brady Sets NFL Record With 5 Second-Quarter Touchdowns

Will Brinson — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Patriots, Titans, NFL Coaching, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Record

It started out innocently enough: the winless Titans were holding the Patriots relatively in-check through the first quarter during a heavy nor'easter. It replicated perfectly the attitude that Jeff Fisher discussed about his 0-fer team (i.e. they still managed to have some semblance of heart).

Then all of a sudden, things took a turn for the worse -- or better if you're a Pats fan -- as Tom Brady caught fire and began dismantling the Titans with five (!!!!) touchdown passes ... in the second quarter! (Update: Brady added a sixth touchdown before being pulled; seven is the record for most in one game.)

That is an NFL record. Also records, via the Pats' official Twitter account: 35 points in the second quarter, a New England record for points scored in any quarter, and 45 points scored in a half, which is what the Pats put up on the Titans before intermission. New England won the game, 59-0.

The entire process was equal parts Patriots domination and Titan-fail; Kerry Collins was abysmal and Tennessee looked overmatched every second of the entire quarter.

But that shouldn't take anything away from what Dreamboat did; as MDS pointed out via Twitter, "Tom Brady had two more TD passes in the second quarter today than Brady Quinn has in his NFL career." So, yeah, that's not embarrassing for Quinn at all.

Tom Brady Sets NFL Record With 5 Second-Quarter Touchdowns originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeff Fisher: Kerry Collins Is Still My QB

JJ Cooper — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:26:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, AFC South

Jeff Fisher isn't promising that Kerry Collins will be his quarterback all season, but he is the quarterback for this week's Patriots game.

When asked if would consider making a change to Vince Young, Fisher made it clear that he doesn't think Collins is any more to blame than anyone else in the starting lineup. And because of that, he still thinks that Collins gives the team the best chance to win.

"We have to improve as a team and that is what we are working on," Fisher said. "Kerry is not the reason. Our football team is the reason we're at where we're at, not the quarterback position.''

Collins has been pretty awful at times recently -- his 67.4 quarterback rating is 29th among the 36 qualified quarterbacks. But it's hard to say that he's any more responsible for the Titans problems than the receivers problems catching the ball or the secondary's complete collapse. So with the Titans sitting at 0-5, there's some argument for keeping Collins on the field.

But after a loss or two, there's not really any reason to keep Collins on the field. At 0-5, there's still an unrealistic chance that Tennessee could turn things around and earn a playoff spot. But the season is a loss or two away from becoming a complete failure, and at that point it's time to play Young and get an idea if Young has any chance of being the team's long-term answer at quarterback.

Jeff Fisher: Kerry Collins Is Still My QB originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nick Harper's Broken Arm Adds to 0-5 Titans' Woes

JJ Cooper — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:27:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, NFL Injuries

Cornerback Nick Harper will miss four to six weeks because of the broken forearm he suffered during Sunday night's loss to the Colts. By the time he returns, it's fair to wonder if it will be worth starting him.

Because of the injuries to Harper and Vincent Fuller (who also has a broken forearm) and Courtland Finnegan (hamstring), rookies Ryan Mouton and Jason McCourty are getting much more playing time than the Titans had expected when the season began. That may be bad news for a pass defense that has been one of the worse in the league, but with the season quickly heading towards "wait til next year" it's actually pretty useful to get the rookies some playing time in the hopes of getting them ready to contribute in 2010.

Relying on a pair of rookie corners with Tom Brady and Randy Moss next on the schedule isn't exactly good news. But with Harper in the final year of his three-year deal as a 34-year-old. If McCourty and Mouton show anything over the next month, they will paving the way for Harper to head out of town after the season.

Nick Harper's Broken Arm Adds to 0-5 Titans' Woes originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Titans' Pass Defense Still a Disaster

JJ Cooper — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:40:00 EST

Filed under: Titans

As the Titans' 2009 season continues to circle the drain, we'll hear a lot in the next couple of weeks about whether Vince Young should start at quarterback. But the biggest decision the Titans need to make is figuring out who to blame for the team's complete collapse on defense.

Last year, the Titans allowed two 300-yard passers all season. This year, rookie Mark Sanchez is the only quarterback in the first five games who hasn't thrown for 300 yards. The Titans are now 31st in the league in passing yards allowed per game, something that is extremely uncharacteristic for a Jeff Fisher coached team.

It's easy, and somewhat fair, to blame part of the problem on losing defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. Without the league's baddest defensive tackle soaking up double teams, the Titans defensive ends have struggled to generate a pass rush (the Titans were fifth in the NFL in sacks last year and are tied for 19th this year).

But when Haynesworth was out last year, Tennessee didn't have the problems they are having this year. The biggest problem this year has been the secondary. Last year Tennessee's back four was one of the better groups in the league--three members of the Titans secondary made it to the Pro Bowl. This year safety Michael Griffin seems to have taken a big step backwards while Tennessee has struggled to get consistent cornerback play.

eff Fisher has been adamant that new defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil isn't the problem, but at this point it's hard to believe that. With the exception of the loss of Haynesworth, this is largely the same group of players that were one of the best defenses in the league last year. Now, they're one of the worst, and now they have 11 games to figure out how to fix that. If not, it's hard to see how Cecil's not a one-year coordinator.

Titans' Pass Defense Still a Disaster originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sunday Night Football Live Chat: Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans

Adam Gretz — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Colts, Titans, NFL Live Blogging

A season ago, the Tennessee Titans finished with the best record in the AFC. They enter Sunday nights game against the Indianapolis Colts riding a six-game losing streak dating back to Week 17 of the 2008 season. If they want to end that streak, they're going to have their hands full with an unbeaten Colts team that looks to be one of the best in the NFL through the first four games.

We'll be discussing all of the action in our weekly Sunday night live chat, so please stop on by. Fun starts at 8:15 PM ET.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot;http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=c1240701a0&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;quot; &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Sunday Night Football Live Chat&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Sunday Night Football Live Chat: Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL's VP of Officiating: Refs Blew Touchdown Call in Jags-Titans Game

Chris Burke — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:15:00 EST

Filed under: Jaguars, Titans, NFL Referees

It's hard to blame one play for the Titans' embarrassing 37-17 loss at Jacksonville in Week 4 -- a loss that dropped Tennessee to 0-4. But that doesn't mean Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher is ready to let the game's referee crew off the hook for a botched call that gave Jacksonville a touchdown.

With less than 30 seconds to play in the first half, Jaguars quarterback David Garrard threw a pass to Mike Sims-Walker in the end zone. Sims-Walker initially hauled the pass in, but Titans cornerback Jason McCourty batted the ball out as the two players fell to the ground. It was ruled an incompletion on the field.

But the replay booth buzzed head referee Alberto Riveron -- per protocol in the final two minutes of a half -- to take a second look. Riveron then reversed the call on the field, giving the Jags a touchdown and a 27-3 halftime lead.

Fisher was livid at the time, and remained incensed about the play days later, according to The Tennessean.

"It was an incomplete pass, it should have never gone to review," Fisher said. "And I don't believe there is any excuse for that. It wasn't the difference in the ball game but it was an error in judgment on behalf of the replay system and I believe it was an error in judgment on behalf of the referee.''

The NFL's vice president of officiating, Mike Pereira, agreed with Fisher. On NFL Network's Total Access, Pereira said that the wrong call was made after the replay, and that Sims-Walker should not have been awarded a touchdown.

FanHouse's resident referee Matt Snyder touched on the topic in this week's Zebra Report, reminding us all about the rule in question -- which states that a player making a catch while going to the ground must maintain possession after hitting the ground. The same rule came into play during Oakland's Week 1 loss to San Diego. In that game, Raiders receiver Louis Murphy made a grab in the end zone for an apparent score, but lost control of the ball after making contact with the ground. In that case, Murphy was awarded a touchdown initially, then had it overturned after.

Here's Sims-Walker's "touchdown" from Week 4:

It's a tricky call, no doubt, but by the letter of the law, it definitely looks like an incompletion. McCourty is tackling Sims-Walker as he attempts the catch, Sims-Walker lands on McCourty so he's not down, and in the process McCourty punches the ball out.

And if you still believe it's a touchdown ... well, you can take it up with Pereira.

NFL's VP of Officiating: Refs Blew Touchdown Call in Jags-Titans Game originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Titans Should Think About Turning to Vince Young

JJ Cooper — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:40:00 EST

Filed under: Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

Jeff Fisher says Kerry Collins is still his quarterback, and the Titans players are steering clear of the subject. But if you're Vince Young, you have to think that your second chance isn't too far away.

Tennessee is 0-4 with the Colts and the Patriots coming up next on the schedule. Considering that Matt Schaub, Ben Roethlisberger and David Garrard have all thrown for more than 300 yards against Tennessee, how many yards will Peyton Manning and Tom Brady combine for through the air? 800? 900?

The Titans' 0-4 start can be blamed more on their pass defense and special teams mistakes than Collins, but a quarterback with a 68.9 quarterback rating and more interceptions (6) than touchdowns (5) will have to take some of the blame if Tennessee falls to 0-6.

SI.com: Tennessee Needs Drastic Changes on Both Sides of Ball

More than that, Collins will turn 37 at the end of this season. If Tennessee isn't going to be a playoff team (and at 0-4 with the Colts and Patriots next, the window is closing before their eyes) it makes no sense to keep giving snaps to the quarterback of the present. Vince Young's cap hit for 2010 on his current contract makes it unlikely he'll be back in Tennessee without a renegotiated contract, but by giving him playing time, Tennessee would be able to make a much more informed decision on whether to bring him back in 2010.

Tennessee's not there yet, but with another loss or two, it would be time to see what No. 10 can do -- which is a sentence I never thought I'd write before the season began.

Titans Should Think About Turning to Vince Young originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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