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Posts Tagged ‘Mike Heimerdinger’

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Posse Review: Titans vs. Colts Week 13

December 7th, 2009 by Rogersworthe | 2 Comments | Filed in Posse Review

And so it ends. The hope for a playoff spot. Peyton Manning proved to be a lot better than Nick Harper, and the Titans couldn’t find a way to disrupt him. It was a rough game to watch, and field goals proved to be the Titans response to touchdowns. That’s how this team has played against the Colts, and it’s a frustrating pattern. So without further adieu, I give you the review.

Peyton torched the Titans secondary and was upright all day

Peyton torched the Titans secondary and was upright all day

Why the Titans Lost

  • Questionable Offensive Playcalling: Heimerdinger reverted back to some tendencies from the first 6 games that infuriated me. On the first 4th and Goal the Titans went for it, the Colts called a timeout. This, obviously, gives extra time for them to think about the playcall. Apparently, that was a bad idea, because Heimerdinger got cute and called for a fade route to Kenny Britt in the corner of the end zone. Problems with this call are that 1) A fade route IN GENERAL is a LOW percentage playcall. Even if it is Manning to Wayne, Brady to Moss, Montana to Rice, Brees to Colston, IT’S STILL A LOW PERCENTAGE PLAY. I also understand the thought process. They threw a slant to Britt earlier, so the Colts defender would be jumping the slant. REGARDLESS, it’s a bad playcall. 2) Vince isn’t that strong on throwing the fade. It’s just the truth. He actually threw it decently well, but the problem is with a fade route you have to throw it PERFECTLY. No margin for error. Vince has not matured to that point yet. 3) Kenny Britt is a rookie. A good rookie? Yes. An exceptional rookie? No. He isn’t Moss, Wayne, or Rice yet, and I doubt he ever will be. Frankly the call just doesn’t make any sense the way you look at it. And that wasn’t all. Heimerdinger had several head scratchers for playcalls throughout this game, including a complete misuse of LenDale White AGAIN.
  • Nick Harper: The rest of the secondary played decently well. Not great by any means, but they did what they could considering it is Peyton Manning. Reggie Wayne was all but taken out of the game. BUT… Pierre Garcon continually torched the Titans secondary, and every time he seemed to get a big play, NICK HARPER was in on the coverage. It was painful to watch, and at SOME POINT Fisher has GOT to put Rod Hood in. Doesn’t he? Eventually? It is killing the Titans. The Fisher loyalty to veterans is starting to become a mockery.
  • Turnovers: It’s hard to chastise Vince too much for his interception. The game was getting out of hand, the Titans needed a play, and Kenny Britt broke off the route just as he threw. Now while I doubt that would’ve changed the outcome (it wasn’t a good throw), you never know. Maybe Britt breaks it up, maybe the defender doesn’t catch it, maybe Britt finds a way to catch it. Who knows? That one in that situation has happened to every Quarterback worth his salt. In the 1st Quarter tied at 0-0 or a close game, and Vince throws it away. He tried to make a play in a situation where nothing was developing but the Titans needed a play desperately. The fumble by Ahmard Hall was infuriating, but with Ahmard it’s a risk. It was a good play call, good execution, good run by Hall and then he put the ball on the ground. Unfortunately two very forgivable turnovers produced a very unforgivable situation  of losing the turnover battle to the Colts by 2. Very few, if any, teams would beat Indianapolis when down 2 in the turnover column.
  • (more…)

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Posse Review: Titans vs. Bills Week 10

November 16th, 2009 by Rogersworthe | 2 Comments | Filed in Posse Review

3 in a row. That’s right. The Tennessee Titans have proven to be a team of streaks. Last year, the Titans went 10-0. Then after the Steelers victory last year they lost 8 in a row. Now they have won 3 in a row. Lets hope it continues.

Washington. Washington. 620 scoring touchdowns for fun.

Washington. Washington. 6'20 scoring touchdowns for fun.

Reasons Why the Titans Won

  • Vince Young let it fly: It was obvious that early in the game the Bills were brining in 8-9 defenders into the box to try to stop Chris Johnson. While it didn’t work overall, it worked in forcing the Titans offense into some long down-and-distances. Instead of running a shotgun draw play with CJ, the Titans typical response to long down-and-distance situations, Heimerdinger let Vince throw it. And it worked. Vince converted several early 3rd downs, and then also hit Kenny Britt for a deep bomb. He also connected with Washington on a Touchdown pass. Vince ended up throwing one interception, but one is not disastrous, and he couldn’t remain perfect forever. He recovered well after that too, and continued to throw the ball with confidence. Of all three games, I am most impressed with this one from good ole Vince. With the way the defense was giving up chunks of yardage early, Vince’s play in the passing game kept the Titans ahead and kept the pressure on the Bills to keep scoring. Eventually, the Bills couldn’t keep up.
  • Monster Domination in the 4th Quarter: (more…)

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5 mailed in things we know about the Titans

November 11th, 2009 by Rogersworthe | 1 Comment | Filed in Media Failures

As always, the Tennessean has one of the Titans beat writers do a “5 things we know about the Titans” piece nearly every week. While I don’t hate the beat writers the Titans have, they do tend to mail it in on this one article (and a few others at times). This weeks version though had one little point that made me laugh out loud:

000000; padding: 0px;">HEIMERDINGER LOOKS LIKE HE’S HAVING FUN

He used to have a reputation for being a bit of a grouch, and he can still be cranky at times. But Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger doesn’t look like one these days, judging from his sideline interaction with quarterback Vince Young. Make no mistake: Heimerdinger and Kerry Collins get along great. But Heimerdinger seems to be enjoying the challenge of making things work with Young. It is showing on the field with some creative play-calling — and smiles — on Sundays.

Okay… I can’t help it. This makes me laugh. Just this idea that somebody would think, “Alright, what are the 5 things we definitely know to be true about the Tennessee Titans… Well… Mike Heimerdinger looks like he’s having fun!”

Also, the reasoning makes me laugh. This whole “Heimerdinger is really enjoying the challenge of making things work with Young.” Right. Because the challenge of making it work with Kerry was just too easy. They were doing so well it wasn’t even a challenge anymore. But Vince is just such a challenge that it has reignited Heimerdinger’s joy for football. In fact, he was tied for 3rd in the league last week for Coaches Smiles (a new Football Outsiders statistic). This is a huge turnaround for a coach who usually is near the bottom of the NFL in Coaches Smiles.

I really hate armchair psychology football analysis. The reason why the offense is working now is because Vince Young isn’t turning the ball over, Wide Receivers are holding on to their catches, the defense has forced some turnovers giving the offense a short field, and Chris Johnson is a monster on pace for 1,900 yards. It’s not because Heimerdinger is magically re-energized by the challenge of molding Vince Young into a good QB. It really is as simple as turnovers. Last year the Titans were 13-3 when Collins protected the football. They were 0-6 when he didn’t. With Vince, his QB rating is over 100 and he looks like the QB of the future when he doesn’t turn the ball over, and he looks like a disaster who is a huge draft bust when he does turn the ball over.

That’s it.

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Posse Review: Titans vs. 49ers Week 9

November 9th, 2009 by Rogersworthe | 4 Comments | Filed in Posse Review

2 wins in a row!! A winning streak feels good, and we’ll easily win the next game (Buffalo sucks). 3 wins in a row will feel mighty nice.

Cortland scoring TDs. A very good theme.

Alright, so lets Posse Review this baby.

Reasons Why the Titans Won

  • Turnover margin: 24 points off turnovers. That’s a damn good conversion rate. Also a lot of turnovers by the 49ers. And Vince once again avoids turnovers like a champ.
  • Chris Johnson: Another week, another over 5 yards a carry average for CJ. He is the biggest home run threat at RB since Barry Sanders. I still stand by that. One missed assignment and it’s at least 35 yards.
  • Defense playing high risk, high reward: The defense gave up 27 points. At times, it looked like the 49ers were going to do whatever they wanted on offense, which mainly meant Frank Gore would shove it down our ass and Vernon Davis would catch it for 20 yards a play. But they got to Smith a few times (another 4 sack week from the D-Line), and they forced some turnovers. Which segues into my next point.
  • Opportunistic on Offense: Turning 4 turnovers into 24 points is maximizing opportunities. The offense seized every chance they got.

Concerns for the Future

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Posse Review: Titans vs. Jaguars Week 8

November 2nd, 2009 by Rogersworthe | No Comments | Filed in Posse Review
Chris Johnso, you are my hero.

Chris Johnson, you are my hero.

So the Tennessee Titans get their first win of the season 8 weeks in. That’s rough. However, we won. That’s good. I actually didn’t even know how I should format this Posse Review because I realized all of my formatting is based off of games we lost. So.. here it goes.

How the Titans Won

  • Offensive Playcalling: Mike Heimerdinger finally got his head out of his ass and made play calls that made sense in the moment they happened. No 3rd and 1 bombs. No 3rd and 8 draw plays. He even used LenDale White to kill time late in the game. GOOD JOB COACH. YOU AREN’T A TOTAL MORON.
  • Chris Johnson – god of War: Chris Johnson played like a man possessed. I have now seen him do twice what no other Runningback in the league can do, except maybe Adrian Peterson. It isn’t just speed either. Reggie Bush is fast, he isn’t doing this. Darren McFadden can’t seem to get anything going in Oakland. Chris Johnson is the complete package. He can (although doesn’t often, but he can) run tough. He sees the hole and he hits it. HARD. He puts pressure on the defense to be in perfect position or else he will make them pay. Also, his ability to accelerate after breaking a tackle (like his 89 yard run yesterday) is amazing.
  • Vince Young played under control: I will be doing a whole post on his play and what the Titans should expect from him and such, so for this review all I will say is he did everything he was asked of him and more. His decision making was really, really impressive. He kept the offense on the field, even on drives that didn’t end in scoring he would get 2-3 first downs. This was huge for our defense.
  • Defense played better: Rod Hood – 7 year veteran from Philadelphia and Arizona – came in on short notice and played really, really well. Hood > Harper. Much better. Vandenbosch finally got a sack. Jason Jones looked fierce. Thornton was blowing plays up. At this point I would like to mention that THIS is what the Titans defense can do in spurts. The secret? Keeping them off the field. And the Titans did that. The defense was only on the field for 21 minutes. And it showed. Outside of the two runs by Maurice Jones-Drew which could serve as great examples on how NOT to tackle, the defense played well.
  • Titans scored more points than the Jaguars: The key to winning any game in the NFL.

Concerns for the future (more…)

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Posse Preview Week 8: Titans vs. Jaguars

October 30th, 2009 by Rogersworthe | No Comments | Filed in Posse Preview

So… round 2. Round 1 didn’t go so well for the Titans. This preview will be short because much that was written in the last one still applies, except it’s now Vince Young who needs to avoid turnovers.

Wouldn't mind seeing a little of this on Sunday

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An interesting fact for this game is how the Titans are actually favored by 3 points. Crazy, crazy world. As for a preview this week I will just highlight a few things the Titans will need to do to win:

  • Run early and often: This is Vince’s first start in a LONG time and it wasn’t like he was awesome before. So to avoid a confidence crushing early interception, running the ball and providing some balance for him would be nice. This means that Heimerdinger will probably open with 12 passes.
  • Defense HAS to be better: I don’t know how. I don’t know if it’s possible. But the Titans will need to if they want to win.
  • Run plays suited for Vince’s strength: No long developing multiple read passing plays over the middle, okay Heimerdinger? That’s a recipe for disaster.
  • Score more points than the Jagaurs: All the analysis in the world doesn’t explain the real reason the Titans are 0-6… they haven’t scored more points than the other team at the end of the game.

(more…)

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Posse Review: Titans vs. Colts Week 5

October 12th, 2009 by Rogersworthe | No Comments | Filed in Posse Review

Well…. at least this loss was expected. However, it was still frustrating and very disappointing. This team is very bad and not going anywhere.

Griffin has had this view of Receivers all freaking year

Griffin has had this view of Receivers all freaking year

Permanent Problems

  • Quarterback: I understood the loyalty to McNair back in the O’Donnell days, but I do not understand the loyalty to Collins now. He isn’t the QB of the future and he isn’t the QB of the present either. How many losses before Fisher figures the Titans have blown enough games to just play for next year?
  • Secondary: This was to be expected so I won’t say much on it. However, I still don’t understand what has happened to Michael Griffin.
  • Mike Heimerdinger: I still fail to see where he is taking this offense. Most talent ever yet way less production. He can’t seem to get in his head Lendale needs the ball more. All signs point to it. The Colts defense is fast, but has been proven to to give up big yards from punishing runningbacks who run North and South very well. THAT’S LENDALE WHITE YOU DOUCHE BAG!!!! FIGURE IT OUT!!! HOLY CRAP YOU ARE DUMB!!!!
  • Stupid play: It’s become a pattern. A bad, bad pattern. Every time the Titans get a chance to take a lead, tie a game, or even bring a game close, they get a turnover. How does this continually happen? At some point, it isn’t just bad luck anymore.

My Doghouse

  • Nobody makes my doghouse, because at this point, everything just feels like a permanent problem.
  • How the hell does Lendale not get the ball on 3rd and 1? How? HOW??? HOW!?!?!?! I WILL WATERBOARD HEIMERDINGER FOR ANSWERS IF I HAVE TO!!!!

A Few good things

  • Rob Bironas: At least he is back.

I think, as did many other Titans fans, that this game was going to be a loss after that Alge Crumpler fumble. The defense held Peyton Manning, the Titans get the ball, look crisp on offense, Collins is throwing good passes, then Crumpler fumbles and Peyton starts a few yards outside the Red Zone and does what he does there: scores a Touchdown. It killed the chances for the Titans to play downhill, run the ball, kill clock, and NOT PLAY FROM BEHIND. The Titans haven’t been able to play ahead this season due to the pass defense, but also due to untimely turnovers. At some point, when it happens over and over, it is more than luck. I don’t know what it is because it’s a different type of turnover every time. A fumble, a muffed kickoff, an Interception, muffed punt, fumble again, and probably something next week. I don’t know.  But whatever it is, the Titans need to get it under control, or winning a game will be a long time coming.

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Posse Review: Titans vs. Jaguars Week 4

October 5th, 2009 by Rogersworthe | 2 Comments | Filed in Posse Review
One of a few bright spots was Kenny Britt stepping up

One of a few bright spots was Kenny Britt stepping up

Well, this loss was not so much a gut punch. This loss was more of a prison rape. The Titans were down 27-3 at halftime. The Titans are 1-7 in their last 8 games. 1-7. You know who is 1-7 in their last 8 games? Detroit. Who else? The Rams. Then the Titans. I have come to a painful conclusion this week. The past few weeks I kept arguing the Titans were an adjustment or two away from returning to form and smacking teams down. I was wrong. The Titans are a bad football team. The Kansas City Chiefs played teams tough last year several times. Nobody claimed they were a few adjustments away from being a playoff team. Why are they this bad after being 10-0 last year? No idea. Quarterback play is a big part of it. The loss of Haynesworth also shows how tenuously balanced top units, offense or defense, can be. Take Drew Brees out of the Saints offense and Robert Meachem is no longer a decent 3rd Receiver. Consider Nick Harper our Robert Meachem. Time to retire, Nick.

Permanent Problems

  • Quarterback: Kerry Collins has been all kinds of bad, and this game takes the cake. The interceptions were unforced. Jacksonville didn’t get any sort of world class pressure either, but there was Collins under and overthrowing everything. Is Vince Young the answer? Doubtful. But it is time to find out once and for all. Time to bench Collins.
  • Secondary: Atrocious in every way. Michael Griffin is highly overrated as a safety. He plays too wildly and gambles too much. These look good when there is a lot of pressure on the QB and he has to go with his first read and never has time to set up pump fakes and looking the safety off, but now that QBs do, it has left Michael Griffin exposed. Chris Hope, I don’t know what happened to him, but he is not the same this year. He seems a step too late everywhere on the field.
  • Mike Heimerdinger: His offensive gameplans have been a joke. This past week alone yielded 48 passes to 18 runs. That is ridiculous. He is to blame as much for the offenses failure as Kerry Collins, if not more so.

My Doghouse (more…)

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Posse Preview Week 4: Titans vs. Jaguars

October 2nd, 2009 by Rogersworthe | No Comments | Filed in Posse Preview

This is a game that used to mean something outside of pride. Not so much this year. If the Titans beat the Jaguars it’s sort of a “Who cares?” from the rest of the league, and if they lose it just reiterates how much of a lost season this year has become. Very sad situation things have come to. That being said, as a Titans fan I still have a tiny morsel of hope and would also like to see a win. So, lets preview this bitch.

For the sake of my sanity, PLEASE complete a pass in the 4th Quarter on Sunday.

For the sake of my sanity, PLEASE complete a pass in the 4th Quarter on Sunday.

Strengths for the Titans

  • Running Game: I cannot stress this enough. Run, run, run, run, run and then run a little more. We’re really good at it and this whole “lets get our new playmakers the ball” crap is not working out. Run it.
  • Stopping the Running Game: Easy Peazy. They don’t have an offensive line. They literally might be holograms to fool the 68 year old referees the NFL employs just so they don’t get penalized or have to forfeit. I honestly think 8 college teams have a better Offensive line than the Jaguars.
  • Pass Rush: After the Jets performance, I feel confident putting this in the strengths category. Cecil recovered and so did the players. They found a recipe that works last week. CONTINUE IT.

Weaknesses for the Titans (more…)

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