How at fault is Kerry Collins for the 0-3 start?
So, where do you stand? I know you have an opinion. EVERYBODY does. Should the Titans keep starting Kerry Collins, or is it time to give troubled Quarterback of the future Vince Young another shot? To settle the issue, I think it would be important to contemplate another question: How at fault is Kerry Collins for this 0-3 start?
One thing that strikes me is how this run of recent years, starting in 2006, also mirrors the Titans earlier in the decade. The blueprint seems to be to build a world class defense and pair it with a young QB of the future and a great Running Game. As the QB matured and as the defense got older and slower and top players left for better contracts elsewhere, the coaching staff adjusts by relying more on their Offense. This worked earlier in the decade because Steve McNair developed into a world class Quarterback who protected the ball extremely well, was a killer in the Red Zone, and threw a gorgeous deep ball.
Whether we fans like it or not, the Titans are in the same situation now, except with no Steve McNair ready to take off as a top NFL Quarterback. The defense is older and slower and the top player left for greener pastures (literally). On the flip side, the offense has more potential playmakers than ever. 2 Runningbacks, 3 capable TEs, and 3 capable Receivers to go with an offensive line widely acknowledged as top 5 in the NFL. This adjustment of relying more heavily on the Offense has not gone well for the Titans this time around . Why? Several Reasons.
- New Defensive Coordinator that was too scared to deviate from the Jim Schwartz model despite the Titans defensive personnel not matching that model anymore. This problem seemed to be fixed in the Jets game. More blitzes, more man to man and just a more aggressive style. Cecil recovered and I was impressed.
- A special teams unit that went from one of the best in the league to the absolute worst. As I said before, it is easy to say that despite the Titans other troubles, if the Special Teams unit was competent, not even good, just competent, the Titans would be 2-1.
- An offense that despite the flux of new playmakers has absolutely no identity.
- Kerry Collins turning the ball over too much while also struggling mightily in late game situations.
The thing that is most frustrating is if any one of these four things had been fixed before the season began, the Titans would be 2-1. Now on to the point of this post.
The coaching staff deserves a lot of the blame for Collins’ bad play as Collins does himself. Just as I blame the organization for the mishandling of Vince Young which helped push him down the road he is at now, I blame the coaches for putting Collins in the situations he has been in this season. Mike Heimerdinger has not established an identity for this offense. Don’t be fooled by the 31 put up on the Texans either. 3 big plays from Chris Johnson which consisted of 2 draw plays going the distance on 3rd and 19+ and the Texans forgetting to cover him on one play accounted for 21 of the Titans 31 points. Against Pittsburgh baffling calls were consistently made. And against the Jets the offense as a whole seemed thoroughly caught off guard and confused by Rex Ryan’s all out blitzes late in the game. It also does not help that the Offensive line has hampered Collins in late game situations with several penalties and sacks.
However, none of this excuses Collins for turnovers, the fumble against the Texans, and inaccuracy on several key throws that have popped up in every game. For the same reason why declaring that the reason Vince did so bad in 2007 was his Wide Receivers sucked is ridiculous, it would be ridiculous to say “Collins is not at fault for what has happened this year”. So I go with a 60-40 split. 60% of the problems Collins has had have been his own fault and doing. 40% can be attributed to missed field goals, muffed punts that lead to the other team taking the lead TWICE in the same game, a defense giving up way to many points and yards because of ineffective Cornerback play and scheming, and an offense that the Offensive Coordinator has mismanaged and has established absolutely no identity whatsoever.
My personal verdict? 2 more starts. If Heimerdinger can find an identity and the special teams and defense finally get some semblance of consistency, Kerry deserves a shot to play under those circumstances. However, if the same problems persist with turnovers and a complete lack of ability to play well late in games, even if the other problems surrounding this team remains, it would be time to give Vince another shot.
Tags: Chuck Cecil, Fucked season, Jeff Fisher, jim schwartz, Kerry Collins, Mike Heimerdinger, Save Our Season!, Steve McNair, Tennessee Titans, Vince Young
I can't blame Collins, not yet at least. He was never put back as QB to win games he was put back there to not lose them. We had the defense/special teams to put us in great positions last year and he just had to control the clock and move methodically down the field.
This year certainly isnt the same as last year, he is being put into the spot where they are tied going for the lead, or just behind trying to play catch up. The team has the talent, my blame so far is going mostly on the coaches, every one of them has been detrimental during at least one of the games if not 2.
Still not giving up on the season, we can rattle off ten wins in a row if everyone gets their shit straight. We need a damn return man, we all agreed on that after the first 2 kicks we recieved during pitt. Mouton may be the answer in the future, but certainly not now. I know for sure his confidence is rattled and that cant happen with your return man.
So to answer the question ill go with Collins 20% – Mouton/Nick Harper 35% – Coaches 45%.
Dear Coaches: please put the right people in the right situations. that is all.
well, I meant it more in how much is Collins to blame for his own bad play, not for the whole team. If it's the whole team, I pretty much agree with your numbers there.
Then i would go with yes for his own play he is mostly at fault,. He has the time in the pocket. There have been a couple dropped balls, but there has been more over/poor throws than drops. Im not 100% on how their offense is run, but he is the QB and im pretty sure if he sees something he doesnt like he should have the option to audible or hot route. A couple more throws to the flats will keep the other teem from blitzing constantly. Well see this week, i still haven't given up on this season but a loss to JAX i guess im hoping for a high draft pick (possibly qb of the future, but im sure well draft at least 2 lineman in first 3 rounds).
also:
I don't want to get on Britt cuz i like him, but he needs to go after the ball harder either to keep a defender away from a poor pass, or to put himself in a better spot to catch the ball.
My friend points out that virtually all scores by opponents against the Titans have occurred when the Titans shifted to their "prevent defense"….which apparently is no defense at all. They would have been far better off just continuing to play regular defense. Without playing the blame game, the defensive coordinator needs to fix this, and until he does, the head coach needs to NEVER go to the prevent defense. As for Vince, he is ready, and that means he will generate excitement and possibilities if he starts playing. The defense will come alive because with Vince at QB the game ain't over until it's over.
I don't understand the prevent defense point. You only run the prevent defense with less than 2 minutes left in the game with a lead to keep from giving up the big play. The Titans have yet to be in that situation, and also have only given up a couple of late field goals. The Titans run a coverage style defense, but it certainly is anything but a prevent defense. The only time I recall them running anything resembling a prevent defense was in the Pittsburgh game after the Kearse sack when they rushed 3.
Collins is not blameless by a long shot, but 7 dropped passes by his receivers against the Jets didn't help.
7 dropped passes! That is unacceptable at any level.
And by the way, I heard that stat on The Zone this morning and I was floored. I was expecting 3 or 4. But not 7!
Holy crap. That's ridiculously high.