Takeaways from Glennon and Climer

INDIANAPOLIS Some takeaways on the Titans after their loss to the Colts:

GLENNON

Casey’s chaos. The loss overshadowed yet another disruptive performance from Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, who was credited with five tackles (two for loss), one sack and three quarterback hits. Casey now has eight sacks, which is just half a sack behind Albert Haynesworth’s total of 8.5 in his All-Pro season of 2008. Casey was of several Titans who pressured quarterback Andrew Luck into a late first-half fumble, a play that ended a drive.

Missing momentum-changers. The Titans were left wondering what might have been had they been able to capitalize on several potential turnovers. Luck fumbled twice within three plays following sacks in the second quarter. He recovered one of the fumbles and running back Donald Brown recovered the other. Colts punt returner Bobby Rainey muffed a catch early in the fourth quarter, but teammate Sergio Brown scooped the ball up on the bounce. Then there was Titans safety George Wilson, who dropped an easy interception early in the fourth quarter. The Titans wound up minus-three on the turnover front.

The Donald delivers. For almost all of the game, the Titans held nemesis Donald Brown in check, limiting the Colts running back to just eight yards on his first eight carries. But Brown, who’d averaged 107 yards in his previous three games against the Titans, looked more like his Titan-killing self on the final drive. He carried six times for 46 yards and a touchdown. In two games against the Titans this season, Brown has 134 yards. In his 10 other games, Brown has 244.

CLIMER

Coach’s future. Since the death of franchise founder Bud Adams, there has been considerable speculation about the job security of Titans coach Mike Munchak. It’s probably a toss-up. Tommy Smith, now the team’s president, may take the high road and let Munchak coach into the final year of his contract in 2014, but it’s hard to justify supporting a coach whose team has lost six of its last eight games. A strong finish by the Titans would fortify Munchak’s case.

Late fade — again. Entering Indianapolis’ final possession, the Titans defense had held the Colts to just 162 yards. That’s what makes it so hard to understand how the Colts drove 92 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown that extended the lead to eight points. During the drive, the Titans sometimes appeared out of sync and slow to adjust personnel and get into the proper alignments. It’s not the first time the defense has been unable to close the deal, including in an earlier loss to the Colts.

Divisional woes. If you’re judged by the company you keep, the Titans don’t deserve the benefit of the doubt. With the loss to the Colts, they are now 0-4 in the AFC South — arguably the worst division in the NFL. And their struggles within the division are nothing new. The Titans were 1-5 in the division last season and are 4-12 in three seasons under Munchak. They close the season with a road game at Jacksonville on Dec. 22 and a home game against Houston on Dec. 29.

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Posted In: Analysis, Commentary, Team News

Source: Titans Insider