Houston...err...Tennessee, we've got a problem!

A moderate mucher...

Here's the deal...

I understand playing a 'vanilla' gameplan is not ideal. However, we were way beyond gameplanning issues in getting totally ripped by Denver's O.

There are fundamental problems with the Titans D irrespective of talent. When I see vet players like Bulluck over run running plays because they aren't shuffling their feet as the backside LB, that is a MAJOR problem. When I see several secondary players running up to make a play but taking bad angles so the RB can run around them to the corner, that is a MAJOR problem. Take a good hard look at that Reggie Bush run to the left that he broke back to the right for a big gainer. There were no LESS than 4 guys who should have stopped that play for either a loss, no gain or short gain. Since those players range in talent and experience, the common factor is coaching. I know Bush is an extremely talent player, but he wasn't putting on Barry Sanders fakes out there. We saw more of the same vs Denver. And it's an easy excuse to say that Denver is a top AFC team so they SHOULD beat us like dogs, but that's not the point. The point is, against a superior running teams, they basic problems are severely exposed (and repeatedly)!

Even HS teams practice these simple techniques so we're not talking...it's too hard for our guys! This is HS stuff!!!

I think everyone agrees that Bulluck is an All Pro player so talent is NOT an issue. But when even HE is making these mistakes and it is repeated by both vets and youngsters alike...THAT is a coaching problem - plain and simple.

I don't care if we win a pre-season game or not. It's not about winning or losing, but how they play. I don't care if we play vanilla so they can run the same defenses and offenses to compare players. But when I see basic technique mistakes, that is what REALLY irks me because you could have any D's talent and still stink if you don't play the correct techniques, take bad angles and don't tackle well!

Too give an illustration, the tops defenses have similarities regardless of player talent. They play good technique, they take good angles, and they tackle well. I'm not seeing this on the Titans right now.

And if you think it's only a talent issue, here's a few thoughts on that...

First, if a lack of talent is the problem, we are doomed to a bad season and the entire coaching staff being cut at season's end. The only bright spot in that dark tunnell would be seeing Vince Young play early and often.

Second, even in our transition years (going from Houston to Ten prior to Eddie and Steve) we had a knock your block off D with a handful or less of 'pro-bowl caliber' players. Is there LESS talent on this team?

Third, where is the lack of talent on D? KVB went to the Pro Bowl, Haynesworth is Pro-bowl caliber, Starks is decent at worst and LaBow is avg at worst. At LB Bulluck is Pro Bowler, Thornton is above avg at worst, and Sirmon is no worse than avg. In the secondary Pac Man should be Pro Bowl caliber this year, Hope is above avg or better, Lamont is avg or better and Hill is no worse than avg. Where is the lack of talent???

In my opinion (being conservative), we have 4 Pro Bowl caliber players and 3 guys just above avg. By my count, that's 7 out of 11 above avg players or better and none of the rest are worse than avg. Can someone explain why we shoundn't be a top 16 D or tell me how you disagree with my player rankings? And BTW, you could easily make the case for some of the players as being rated more highly.

And don't tell me it's because a few guys were out. Everyone has a few guys out but I'm not seeing even mediocre teams getting carved up like we did. And Denver does NOT play smashmouth football in the run game. They don't just line up and knock everyone on their butts. They scheme with people pulling and chipping so the LB's...arguably the strength of our D...are what need to have their run fits work. LB's are taught what the line is SUPPOSED to do (like you have the weak A gap and I have the strong A), but they are supposed to react to what happens TO the DL. If a DT gets blocked into the wrong gap, the LB has to fill the other one. Again, this is HS and college LB play 101. But when you take bad angles and use the wrong technique, you get caught in the trash and are out of the play.

And if you can't stop the run game, then the bootleg is going to happen over and over and over. Against a team like Denver, the DE is in a bind, the tackle will block down leaving the DE free (most of the time). The DE has to shuffle down the line to close the gap but in most D's he also has bootleg responsibility. It's not schocking to see our DE's getting caught when we are getting carved up in the run game. Wait til Vick starts rolling out next week!

Lastly, this is not the first time I've seen these mistakes. They have happened a lot during Schwartz's tenure. Prior to Schwartz, we used to pride ourselves on not giving up a 100 yard rusher and having a top run D. Apparently Schwartz can't get that done without awesome talent. And THAT, is not good enough!

Conclusion - What should we do? Fire Schwartz and have Fisher run the D this season. Pure and simple. We had a good D under Fisher many years ago and we used to thump people. I haven't seen that since Schwartz took over and we went to a soft D.

All this soft D has gotten us is L's, a few losing seasons, and some high draft choices. Whoopie...I want to win a Super Bowl, not go 7-9 and call it good!

Gut

 

And BTW, yes Fisher has responsibility in this whole Schwartz debacle but you can't fire Fisher right before the season starts without losing the whole season. You can fire Schwartz and have Fisher run the D.

Not giving Fisher a total pass, but the reality is we don't want to kill the season before it starts and if things don't drastically improve, I think the whole staff gets the ax at season's end.

Gut