Audibles: AFC South Week 16 preview

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by NewsGrabber, Dec 19, 2008.

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  1. NewsGrabber

    NewsGrabber Guest

    <em>Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky</em> <p><strong><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=pit" shape="rect" target="_new">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> (11-3) at <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ten" shape="rect" target="_new">Tennessee Titans</a> (12-2), 1 p.m. ET<img align="right" alt="" height="80" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/pit.gif" width="80" /></strong><img align="right" alt="" height="80" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/ten.gif" width="80" /><br clear="none" /> The Titans have drifted away from their run-at-all-cost mindset while losing two of their last four. A game can unfold in a way that forces them out of it, but they are usually pretty stubborn, even if a good share of the carries are for minimal gains.</p> <p>Much has been made about how the offensive line will handle Pittsburgh's zone blitzing 3-4 front. Tennessee's is a cerebral line keyed by left tackle <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8455" shape="rect" target="_new">Michael Roos</a> and center <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=602" shape="rect" target="_new">Kevin Mawae</a>, and how they sort through the unexpected to block for <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11258" shape="rect" target="_new">Chris Johnson</a> and <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9631" shape="rect" target="_new">LenDale White</a> and to buy time for <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=734" shape="rect" target="_new">Kerry Collins</a> will be crucial.</p> <table align="right" border="0"><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> <table bgcolor="#c0c0c0" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> <table border="0" cellspacing="1" width="100%"><tr align="center"><td bgcolor="#000000" colspan="2" rowspan="1"><font color="#ffffff" face="Verdana" size="1"><strong> Fewest Yards/Play Allowed Since 1978</strong></font></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#e6e6e6" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1"><strong>Team</strong></font></td><td bgcolor="#e6e6e6" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1"><strong>Yds./Play</strong></font></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">'08 Steelers</font></td><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">3.88 (3347/863)</font></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">'79 Buccaneers</font></td><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">3.89 </font></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">'91 Eagles</font></td><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">3.92</font></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">'99 Ravens</font></td><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">4.06</font></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">'78 Rams</font></td><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">4.09</font></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">'89 Vikings</font></td><td bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="1" rowspan="1"><font face="Verdana" size="1">4.10</font></td></tr></table> </td></tr></table> </td></tr></table> <p>Another key piece is fullback <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10188" shape="rect" target="_new">Ahmard Hall</a>. He and the tight ends will be called on to help slow <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4433" shape="rect" target="_new">James Harrison</a> and crew.</p> <p>Collins has been starting especially slow and while the Titans don't panic, they don't want a bad first quarter to leave them with a hole to climb out of. Tight end <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8593" shape="rect" target="_new">Bo Scaife</a> hasn't been as involved in recent weeks as he was earlier in the season. It would seem the Titans could look to find some short Collins-to-Scaife connections early to create rhythm and get the offense started.</p> <p>Pittsburgh is the league's top scoring defense (13.7 a game) and the Titans are second (14.1). If it's a field-goal-at-the-end kind of game both teams have a clutch guy who's only missed three - <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=3564" shape="rect" target="_new">Josh Reed</a> is 26 of 29, with misses from 40, 45 and 51 yards while <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9235" shape="rect" target="_new">Rob Bironas</a> is 28 of 31 having missed from 43, 47 and 49 yards.</p> <p>I feel like the Titans will need a big play on defense or special teams that flips the field to help the offense get to the end zone.</p> <p>Of course since we all expect 13-10 we'll get a shootout.</p> <p><br clear="none" /> <strong><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=hou" shape="rect" target="_new">Houston Texans</a> (7-7) at <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=oak" shape="rect" target="_new">Oakland Raiders</a> (3-11), 4:05 p.m. ET<img align="right" alt="" height="80" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/hou.gif" width="80" /><img align="right" alt="" height="80" src="http://assets.espn.go.com/i/teamlogos/nfl/med/oak.gif" width="80" /><br clear="none" /> </strong>Once again the question is whether the Texans can sustain their quality play after an emotional win, and this time with a trip to the West Coast.</p> <p>If Oakland's stellar cornerback <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4489" shape="rect" target="_new">Nnamdi Asomugha</a> shadows <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4461" shape="rect" target="_new">Andre Johnson</a>, I suspect the Texans will be willing to look elsewhere and <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=4713" shape="rect" target="_new">Kevin Walter</a> and <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=9684" shape="rect" target="_new">Owen Daniels</a> could be in line for big days against the 26th pass defense in the NFL. Johnson, though, has averaged 17.7 yards against the Raiders in two games.</p> <p>Still, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=11323" shape="rect" target="_new">Steve Slaton</a> may be the key -- he has three 100-yard games in a row during which he's averaging almost five yards a carry. That could fit nicely against the Raiders run defense, which is used to allowing 4.7.</p> <p>Houston cannot afford to be undone on special teams, where it has had its share of gaffes this season and has not been a very good kick coverage unit. They will be on high alert with <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=8471" shape="rect" target="_new">Justin Miller</a> fielding kickoffs, as he has returns for touchdowns in consecutive games.</p>

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  2. jessestylex

    jessestylex DeadGirlsCantSayNo

    10,425
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    Sundays game will be an early preview of how we play in the playoffs.

    Lets go Titans!
     
  3. vyisgr8t

    vyisgr8t Guest

    I think Jeff is really gonna get the team hyped up for this one. The boys in blue always give a great effort against other physical teams. Lets hope Kerry is ready to play.

    IM READY 13-2
     
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