SB Nation User Blog: August West

Kuharsky: If Lovie Smith gets 86ed, Mike Heimerdinger could be in the mix in Chicago

August West — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:41:01 -0000

Kuharsky: If Lovie Smith gets 86ed, Mike Heimerdinger could be in the mix in Chicago

If the Bears are in the market for a head coach to come in, fix Jay Cutler and get the Bears moving in the right direction, you’d have to expect Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger would be on their list.

Heimerdinger has not only helped resurrect Vince Young, a quarterback who many thought was incapable of playing effectively in the league, but he also has a good history with Cutler and ties to the area.

This could be a very interesting situation to watch in the off-season. 'Dinger left for ~~Denver~~ the Jets in the first place because the position was supposed to get him closer to a head coaching spot, and at 57 he won't get too many more looks for a head spot.

Losing 'Dinger could be a blow to Vince, who has thrived under the guru's tutelage, or it could be a boost if Reinfeldt/Fisher managed to snag a prodigy OC who knew how to better use VY (say what you will about the Chow hire, but it showed that Fisher would think outside the box).

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Pining For #53 Edition

August West — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:14:11 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

So do we give it to the fast guy or the faster guy?

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It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about the fact that even if we make it to the playoffs, Bulluck won't be out there. I can't even think about the idea that we may have seen the last of him as a Titans right now.

Much as I suspected, Jamie Winborn will mostly play special teams on Sunday, though he could contribute at linebacker if required. He'll probably get more run there next week, as it's almost impossible to pick-up an NFL system on this short of a week. Collin Allred will start along with Tulloch, and Keglar will be the first man off the bench. I'm still expecting to see more Vinny Fuller than usual though.

Here's the token Chris Johnson profile from a San Diego beat writer, but I did especially like this passage:

"A lot of guys come up to me right after the game and mention that," said Johnson yesterday via phone from Nashville. "They say they (weren’t) gonna let me break off any runs, not gonna let me beat them, that they were gonna make somebody else beat them."

So how’s that working out?

Follow us through the jump....

Sam Farmer of the LA Times looks at CJ's pursuit of the yards from scrimmage record, and talks to Marshall Faulk about our man.

5 Things Jim Wyatt wrote about the Titans.

Terry McCormick takes a look at the updated Titans playoff picture.

Mike Lombardi takes a look at the controversy over the timeouts at the end of regulation last week, and comes away appreciating both points of view. He makes another good point that I hadn't thought of either (but completely agree with): Dolphins kicker Dan Carpenter is a deadly long-range kicker, so a big play by the 'phins was even more of a danger.

Nope, still not saying anything good about the guy.

Share in the Festivus spirit by sending me some links to good Titans stories from around the web! mcmaugustwest@gmail.com

Maybe the Baby Chargers should take a clue from their governor. Please, Titans, for the love of...

August West — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:12:15 -0000

Maybe the Baby Chargers should take a clue from their governor.

Please, Titans, for the love of all things football shut these guys up on the field Friday.

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Gettin The Blood Pumping Edition

August West — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:07:10 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

Vince Young shows the rookie that revenge is a dish best served with full extension and overwhelming force.

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Jeff Fisher circled back around yesterday to explain why he opted not to use the timeouts right before the end of regulation on Sunday, and whatdaya know, his explanation sounds a lot like mine (ed.: That may be the greatest indicator yet that he should be fired):

He said his fear was that a tired defense that already blown an 18-point lead might give up a big play down the field. Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne had hit on a 57-yard pass to Brian Hartline on the game-tying drive, although Griffin should have intercepted the ball.

"Our defense had been on the field for two consecutive drives and didn’t stop them. We had a chance to end the game in regulation offensively," Fisher said. "At that point, I was not going to take a chance and force his hand and let him take an opportunity to throw the ball down the field."

Paul K's gets more good info from ESPN's mysterious stats guys on last Sunday's game, and perhaps shining brightest is this gem:

Young had a passer rating of 143.6 and two of his three touchdown throws against the Dolphins defense when it deployed five or more defensive backs.

Keith Bulluck is gone for the year, and nobody hates that more than the fine folks here at MCM. but it's time for the young guns to step-up and earn that paycheck because Jamie Winborn shouldn't be counted on for much considering he's only going to get a practice or two before the season is on the line on Friday.

Follow us through the jump for one more link, but it's a good one...

Here's the transcript from the Chargers' press conference yesterday where Norv Turner, Philip Rivers and Shaun Phillips discuss the Titans, and Shaun Phillips got the closest crying because he apparently wishes he played flag football instead to going off-script:

Does the dislike of the two teams from a few years ago still apply?

"They definitely took a cheap shot on Merriman (ed.: aww come on, it's not like we left his steroid needles out for everyone to see!). They're a physical team, though -- they thought they could punk us, and we obviously aren't going to get punked. We're going to do the same thing. They're a physical football team, and we like to believe we're a physical football team, so it's going to be one of those ones where we are going to punch them in the mouth and they're going to try to punch us back, and that's just how it's going to be. I personally know that Merriman definitely has to be a little heated because I believe that's when he originally hurt his woman part knee. He hurt his knee in that game....

Can you clarify what "Punked" means?

"Punked means basically to try and intimidate someone. They're trying to intimidate us. That's Jeff Fisher style of play, that's the type of football he plays. That's how he coaches. He wants tough guys. He wants guys that get out there and get physical and get nasty and get after it and try and intimidate the other opponent. You have to respect a guy for that.

On the physical nature of playing the Titans:

"For me, it's football. I don't even really care. You could cheap shot me all you want. I mean, I'm going to get you back, but I'm not one of those guys. It's football. We're supposed to be warriors; we're supposed to be gladiators. We have to understand that sometimes you're going to get hit in the face, or somebody's going to cheap shot you or do something out of line, but what can you do? You have to keep on playing. You can't cry about it, you can't go punch him in the face because you jeopardize the team. No, just keep on playing football and you'll get him back when you get a chance.

Man I'm looking forward to this game... I hope Vince jukes Roidiman right out of his Nandrolone-soaked shoes for a little payback on that cheapshot Merriman took on him after a hand-off in 2007. Then, VY can stand over him and do that profanely annoying 'lights-out dance'.

Have love, still need links: mcmaugustwest@gmail.com

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Time Outs To Spare Edition

August West — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:52:26 -0000

More photos » by John Russell - AP

Big Kick Rob, just doin' his job.

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So I'm hearing all of this anger over Fisher not using his time-outs (and here) at the end of the 4th quarter and letting time run out, and I'm just not getting it. Had you people seen the fourth quarter? Our defense was gassed and the offense couldn't put one foot in front of the other! What did you think was going to happen if we got the ball back on our own 35 with under a minute left? Three and out, and that's only if our swiss cheese defense had made the stops to force the punt in the first place... which they hadn't done all half. Once we didn't get the safety and they got it out past the 5, the right call was to give the defense a rest and steel yourselves for overtime, especially when the opposing QB is an INT vending machine!

Chris Johnson can kiss any talk of breaking Eric Dickerson's record good bye, but I still like his chances at getting to 2,000 yards since both the Chargers and Seahawks struggle mightily on defense.

However, CJ is only 253 yards away from breaking Marshall Faulk's single-season yards from scrimmage record. He's also leading the NFL in rushing by nearly 400 yards.

Vince Young continues to be a mentor and inspiring presence to Steve McNair's young sons, and yesterday they spent time in the locker room after the dramatic victory. I'm serious when I say that this whole situation is one of the best and most heart-warming thing I've seen from an NFL superstar in maybe my whole life.

Follow us through the jump because it hasn't done ya wrong yet, has it?

If you wanna kill Fisher, do it over the Harper-Hood debacle. Harper is still trash at defending the pass.

None less than Jimmy Johnson doubts that we make the playoffs this year, but loves what we've got to move forward with on offense.

Paul Kuharsky asks if Vince Young and Chris Johnson combine to make the most electric duo in football? After looking at he competition, you have to say VY-CJ is right there at the top, if not king of the hill.

Sucks to be a Dolphins fan today. I'm just hoping we're not feeling like that on Friday night...

Wow. Just wow. Peter King has Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets. on his MVP list and not Chris Johnson. Peter King had actually gotten a little better this year, but with that one he's right back to publishing digital litter-bix liner for the kitties at icanhazcheezburger.com. I mean Revis is good, be he's not that good.

Expect no mercy this Friday, as what these Chargers, lead by their mouth-breathing punk of a quarterback, did to the Bengals team mourning the loss of a family member was just cold-blooded.

Have love, need links: mcmaugustwest@gmail.com

A suggestion for Jeff Fisher's next product endorsement.

August West — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:27:58 -0000

A suggestion for Jeff Fisher's next product endorsement.

Titans inactives via The Tennessean's twitter

August West — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 16:56:10 -0000

Titans inactives via The Tennessean's twitter

WR Dominique Edison, RB Javon Ringer, CB Rod Hood, LB David Thornton, OL Troy Kropog, TE Craig Stevens, DE Jevon Kearse, DE Eric Bakhtiari.

Also, VY is the confirmed starter.

NFL: Tossing football in the stands = Cheap-shot to the kidney

August West — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:23:15 -0000

NFL: Tossing football in the stands = Cheap-shot to the kidney

Keith Bulluck got fined $10,000 for tossing two footballs leisurely into the stands last week. Oddly enough that's the same fine Texans cheap-shot artist Antonio Smith got after he gave Kevin Mawae a dirty elbow* to the gut after the play was over (an act many objective observers believed warranted an ejection).

/facepalm

[UPDATE: Richie Incognito racked-up $50,000 in fines for his dirty play against the Titans. That's a lot of cheddar for a no-talent mouthbreather.]

New information that doesn't change much in the investigation of Steve McNair's murder

August West — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 23:06:39 -0000

New information that doesn't change much in the investigation of Steve McNair's murder

The only mildly interesting parts here are:

• Vince Young was a regular at the fateful condo

• Police interviewed Quinton Ganther because he knew Kazemi as well

• Kazemi's former roommate told police that McNair fired his long-time right-hand man Robert Gaddy after $13,000 came up missing, There is no corroborating evidence that this actually happened, and Gaddy denies it.

Tennessee Titans Morning Links: He Sees You When You're Sleeping Edition

August West — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:50:43 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

Seeing lots of this is going to be key for getting the W this weekend.

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Terry McCormick brings the chuckles in his list of gift ideas for several Titans and the franchise's extended family:

For running backs Chris Johnson and LenDale White, a new nickname set to replace "Smash and Dash."

...since a Smash and Dash breakup appears inevitable, how about "Starting and Soon Departing?"

And, finally, for owner Bud Adams, one Red Ryder BB Gun, just like Ralphie got in The Christmas Story. After all, what else would you get for a man who enjoys shooting birds so much?

Not a big fan of Christmas music, but I always thought Da Boss did a great job with Santa Claus is Coming To Town.

The AP talks to CJ's blockers about how much it would mean to them to help CJ cross the 2,000 yard mark this year.

Follow us through the jump for a little insult added in injury for an aging Titan...

There's a remote chance that Jevon Kearse's record for sacks by a rookie may fall in the next few games to University of Texas product Brian Orakpo. Orakpo has 11, giving him three more games to try and top Kearse's 14.5 from the 1999 season. As if Kearse's season hasn't been enough of a downer for him...

Paul Kuharsky takes a look at the much-improved Randy Starks, but I'd really like to know what Fisher meant here:

" I know the reasons for his inconsistencies here and it looks like he’s got it behind him," Jeff Fisher aid cryptically.

More on the Chris Johnson/Ted Ginn race, whose teammate (Joey Porter) is trying to cover for Ginn's no-show this past off-season.

H/T to oilertitan for pointing us towards Will Carrol of Football Outsiders, who takes a look at the role Vince Young might be playing in the back injuries to Justin Gage and Kenny Britt (even though Britt hasn't been on a single injury report this week?):

The injuries to Justin Gage, who has returned from a fractured vertebrae after just a couple weeks off, and to Kenny Britt, who limped out of last week with a back injury of his own, have more to do with Vince Young than with them. Young has improved in many facets of the game, but he continues to throw a high ball, one we used to call a "medicine ball" in high school. Young doesn't seem to have the vision to predict when placing the ball is going to run a wide receiver into the path of danger and often makes his receiver extend for the ball. Young, according to a couple scouts, often makes the receiver turn or spin, leaving his back exposed for a hit. It's not intentional and there was some debate about whether it's even a learnable skill, but maybe the Titans might consider a bit more padding for their receivers if things don't change. Both are expected to play this week, with some limitations.

I've always been an unabashed Rick Williams fan (we all have demons, people), so I'm excited for the success and peace the guy seems to have found in Miami. This weekend though, I hope he feels the wrath of hellfire!

Gary Estwick continues to up his game, this time coming with some out-of-the-way nuggets about the Dolphins. Here are a few choice ones:

• Miami quarterback Chad Henne is one of the worst fourth-quarter quarterbacks in the NFL. He is completing just 49 percent of his passes during that span with three touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Have love, need links! Email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com