I remember a few years ago.  The Vikings had a young, electric Adrian Petersen, an excellent defense, a few decent skill players, and a total enigma at Quarterback in Tavaris Jackson and whoever his back-up was (EDIT: Gus Ferrote).  Bottom line, save for the QB, they had perhaps the best team in the League.  Went 10-6 a few times, reliably made the playoffs, and generally brought a lot of hope and frustration to Vikings fans everywhere.  I know this because one of my good friends at the time was a close Vikings fan, and I had to hear about it all the damn time.  I remember thinking, "Man, I'm glad as all Hell I'm not a Vikings fans.  That stupid Brad Childress is just killing them.  They're SO CLOSE! 

"But at least they're gonna make the playoffs.  I mean, they ARE a good team."

Why do I bring this up, you ask?

Because the Titans are the 2008 Vikings redux, only with a lot fewer excuses.  Consider:

 - Like the Vikings of yesteryear, the Titans have the best offensive player in the game, a dynamic running back that gets talked about on Sports Center every night..

 - Both teams also have an attacking, Top Ten Defense.

 - WRs and TE's? Justin Gage or Sidney Rice?  Bernard Berrian or Nate Washington?  Eh, that Vikings team has no answer for Kenny Britt if you ask me.  Or Bo Scaife.

 - QB: Gotta give the nod to Young over Jackson IMHO.  Though I think Jackson gets a bit of a bum rap at times.

So... can anybody guess the point of this exercise?

Yes, the point is to prove that Jeff Fisher is a worse coach than even Brad Childress, who I think anybody can tell you isn't a hero.  I say this because even with Tavaris Jackson, I mean, everybody KNEW that those Vikes were gonna go AT LEAST 10-6, make the playoffs, maybe even win a playoff game.  Meanwhile, these Titans have a BETTER team, and we'll be lucky to go 9-7... just because our coach hates our QB.

Can we PLEASE have a new coach now?  Any other coach in the League can make this roster into at least an 11-5 club with a strong expectation of not just a playoff berth but an actual playoff victory.  When was the last time we had one of THOSE in Tennessee?

Until the UFL gets its own space on SBNation, it seems like I’ve got little choice but to discuss my new favorite start-up League with you guys.  Why?  Because it’s the off-season, and without even VY-vs.-KC to debate, well… what else do we have to talk about?  I mean, if I have to listen to one more mindless AP apologist, I’m gonna lose my mind.

So.  Well, I’m just gonna go ahead and tell you that your new favorite UFL team is the Hartford Colonials.  The Colonials started life as the winless (and nigh unwatchable) New York Sentinels last season--under the rather inept leadership of Ted Cotrell, formerly DC of the San Diego Chargers.  Honestly, I was both surprised and dismayed when Cotrell was hired for the Sentinels, and in that regard, well, last year’s winless season was exactly what you’d expect out of a guy whose last tenure was also a colossal failure.  Honestly, last season for the Sentinels was so bad that I ended up canceling my plans to take my kids to one of the games because I didn’t want their first experience with live football to be a total blowout.

Thankfully, this season the Colonials have a new Head Coach and GM.  In the Spartan UFL, that’s dual position held by a single man, Chris Palmer, a CT native as well as a former Cleveland Browns HC and the former Giants’ QBs position Coach.  Eh.  I’ve never heard of anyone else from the staff besides Tony Sporano, the son of the Miami Dolphins’ HC.

Coaching Staff Link:

http://www.examiner.com/x-28793-Hartford-Sports-Examiner~y2010m3d20-Hartford-Colonials-announce-coaching-staff

As far as the players go, the Colonials just announced their “protected” list, the list of the 20 players with whom the team has some kind of initial exclusivity over contract extensions from last season.  The most famous looks to be Safety Tra Battle.   In looking through the news, I see that Battle visited the Titans recently, presumably as part of the team’s “emergency call” list collection.  A lot of the successful UFL players wound up getting called up last season that way. 

Anway, I’ve not heard of anyone else on the team, but it looks like there are a couple of former Texans.

http://articles.courant.com/2010-03-22/sports/hc-golfup0322.artmar22_1_protected-list-ufl

The Colonials play at UConn’s stadium, probably to around 5K spectators if last year’s attendance is any guide.  Season tickets are $100 for 5 games.  Since the stadium is about 45 minutes from my house, I may well buy some, but it depends on the schedule.  Fridays and Weekend nights I would do.  More Thursday night games I won’t. 

Games are televised on Versus and via the Internet on HDNet and the UFL’s official site.

Alright, so it's almost triathlon season which means that instead of getting into heavy training mode, I am once again trying to rehab and injury.  F&%^$k!  Seriously, I feel a little like the Jason Jones of the CT amateur triathlon scene, save that no one is paying me to sit on the bench.

In Fisher-speak, I have a "little groin".  Actually, what I have is a pretty bad pull in my lower back that agravated my groin, and when I tried to come back too early, I not only re-tweaked the back but pulled the groin muscle, too.  Days spent sitting chained to an office desk have not helped.

Anyway, here is my question, because I know that we have some runners on this board, particularly guys who run FAST, which is way different (and more injury-inducing) than is slow running like I do.  Question: How soon can I start running again?  Does the pain need to be totally gone, tightness totally gone, or is it more like no symptoms + two weeks?

Thanks for your thoughts.

I am sad.

The Titans are bad.

I thought they’d beat the Jags…

That would have made me glad.

But it wasn’t to be.

As you can see,

This Titans team…

They played terribly.

Titans tried to look past the season.

Thought last year was enough reason

To head through…

Straight to the post-season.

But the other teams don’t think the same.

They say you got to play each game.

And if these Titans won’t…

Then it’s a low-down dirty shame.

This loss, this one stung.

The Fat Lady, she done sung.

What the Hell…

Maybe we should play Vince Young.

Truth: I don’t think it matters.

This season’s already in tatters.

Memories of last year…

They already done went KA-SPLATTERS!

Jeff Fisher looks like an old man,

No rhyme, no reason, no plan,

After 15 good years… 

I think it’s time he gets the can.

I’m ready for a new one.

Bring the energy, bring the fun.

*le sigh*

This season’s just begun.

So tell me, who else should we see?

Don’t wanna flush the whole season, naturally…

So what other teams…

Should I put on my TV?

We couldn't keep Chris Simms because he'd never get on the field.  But KC is terrible in the Second Half, and VY is an enigma, wrapped in a mystery, topped with an interception and a tender hammy.

We also couldn't keep Chris Carr because he'd never make on the field with this secondary.  Except that suddenly Nick Harper looks like the oldest man in the NFL, and with V. Fuller's injury, we now have a rookie at Nickel.  So, bottom line, if Carr were still on the roster, at this point he'd be the #2 CB. 

This is so frustrating because this Defense looks like it's finally getting it's stuff together, but we can't even field punts--much less return them--and our QB can't complete a pass in the second half of games.  And this is with Kenny Britt, who's playing WELL and Justin Gage and, of all people, Alge Crumple, playing at least as well as last year!  I'm tempted to say that the book is finally out on Collins, but then again, it's been out for a decade.  The guy just can't seem to close out games.

The Titans are now worse than the Lions.  Welcome to our "Unfinished Business" season.

Argh.

Does anybody know how I can find out which markets are showing this weekend's preseason game on TV? 

I know there's a link for regular season games, but preseason is different, and I've no idea what the local stations (in Connecticut) are showing.  Anyone?

And now, for the rest of my 75 words, here is an unrelated haiku that I wrote myself:

Modern Internet

A million voices screaming

alone in a phone booth.

I don't know if you listen to ESPN Radio's Football Today podcast, but they are apparently looking for a new Titans' superfan.  I nominate you!  Now granted, host Jeremy Greene (Dennis Greene's son) seems to HATE the Titans, but still... they need a representative from TN.  Personally, I don't have time--and I doubt Jimmy does either--but I have no problem at all volunteering our resident stat geek for double-duty, especially when help is so desperately needed.

Come on!  I know they're not keeping you that busy at Harvard!  Get your head out of the keg and do your duty for Titans' fans everywhere!

...sucks!

Thank you, Alge Crumpler.

*sigh*  That is all.  You may all go back to your regularly scheduled sulking.

Crap.  I need 75 words.  Well...

1.  Am I the only one who's seen on the news that Jessica Simpson is now fat?

2.  Did you need another reason to hate Tony Romy?

3.  Is that one good enough?

4.  Did I mention that I'm still pissed off at ol' Alge?  If we get rid of Scaife and keep Crumpler, I'm gonna move to Mongolia.

... in reference to this morning's article, titled "Titans shouldn't turn to Young unless necessary."

Mr. Climer:

I don't understand why you think Collins is playing better than VY would have in the same spots. I grant you that he was better in the first half of the season than Young was for most of last season, but the numbers since the second Jags game tell a completely different story:

Collins since the 2nd Jaguars game: 61 of 113 (54%) for 706 yards with 3 touchdowns, 3 interceptions and 2 fumbles

Vince Young in weeks 12-15 last season: 69 of 109 (63%) for 806 yards with 4 touchdowns, 4 interceptions and 2 fumbles

And that's with Norm Chow calling the plays and the mighty Chris Brown in the backfield. And against MUCH tougher competition. And more to the point, I think Collins is about 6-for-60 on third down conversions in the last month and a half against any team that is not the Detroit Lions. More than anything, that's what has killed the Offense.

Look, seriously, I would ask that you consider the following: VY was successful until teams got enough tape to study. Then they developed a way to defend against him, and he struggled. And then Kerry Collins was successful--right up until teams, even bad defensive teams like the Texans--got enough tape to study him. And now he's struggling. So the problem isn't the quarterback. In fact, they are nearly identical in effectiveness. The problem is that the Offense is predictable to a ridiculous degree. But that is exacerbated by the fact that the QBs are both highly mediocre, and the wide receivers either cannot or will not get separation.

I personally think that the Titans won't win another game this season, but the idea that they shouldn't make some changes to at least TRY is not sound in any way.

Thanks to Jimmy for what passes for stats in this note.

My $.02 is that Climer is a uselessly negative guy whose negativity unfortunately infects the entire Tennessean staff, and I'm happy that I finally got a chance to take a shot at him.  And while I applaud his willingness to not cheer mindlessly for the home team, his inability to back his assertions with anything that even closely resembles research not only takes away from his talking points, it makes a mockery of his entire staff.  In short, he is my least favorite sports writer; I think he's the Justin McCariens of Southern sports coverage. 

It's the first Saturday in December, and that means that today is the Army/Navy Game.  The Middies have won six straight, but this year i think Army's gonna do it.  We've won three games (3-8, vs. Navy who is 7-4), so who knows?  I believe.

'Course Army's problem is at least in part in recruiting, and judging by those ugly-ass camouflage uniforms, they're gonna keep struggling there.  Argh.  With over 200 years of tradition, there's never, ever a need to try to keep up with styles.  Still, that's my team.

Go Army!  Beat Navy!

Hey 9'ers fans,

We're having a discussion over at Music City Miracles about Titans' Offensive Coordinator Mike Heimerdinger's offensive roots, and I made the argument that Heimerdinger, through Jeff Fisher, is essentially a disciple of the Ditka/Ryan school of thought, as perfected in the 1985 Bears.

Now obviously Mike Singletary was also on the 1985 team and is also now an NFL head coach.  So in looking for trends in this particular school of thought, I'm wondering what your observations have been since Singeltary has taken over?  Specifically, how has he forced Mike Martz to change the Offense?  It's a critical piece of the argument because Martz is a known quantity.  Any changes are therefore more than likely a direct reflection on the base offensivphilosophy.

Just FYI, I may well turn this information into an article somewhere down the line.  If I do, I'll let you know when and if it gets published.

 Here's the link if you want to see the original discussion: http://www.musiccitymiracles.com/2008/11/13/660320/the-heimerdinger-offense

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. 

Wild Card Round - Wild Card Rnd: Predicted Winners listed first.

Baltimore (6) @ San Diego

New England (5) @ NY Jets

Philly (5) @ Chicago

AZ Cardinals vs. Tampa Bay

Divisional Round:

Titans vs. Patriots

Ravens @ Steelers

NY Giants vs. Cardinals

Panthers vs. Eagles

Championship Round:

Titans vs. Ravens

NY Giants vs. Panthers

I've been known to criticize FO's rankings, mostly because I feel like sometimes their statistics miss the bigger, more obvious picture.  This is a simpler analysis, using P(Wins), which is a formula that I've no doubt many of you have seen.  That said, I went away from straight P(Wins) predictions for the playoffs to reflect the fact that there will be more drama if the Ravens come to Nashville for the AFC Championship as well as for the considerable home-field advantage that AZ possesses in their stadium.  Finally, I cannot bring myself to believe that the Jets can beat the Pats in the playoffs under any circumstances.

Comments are more than welcome.  Criticisms will be taken with a grain of salt.

The most amazing news I've ever heard is that QB Chris Simms got cut this afternoon to make room for an extra punter.

That sound you hear is me slapping my forehead repeatedly.

I guess this means that VY is healthy enough to play backup, which presumably means that he's also healthy enough to start.  Which is fine.  I mean, I'm on board with playing VY as the back-up for the rest of the year, and indeed, if Collins were to get injured, then I'd think having VY start would be better than having Simms try to start with a less-than-complete understanding of the playbook. 

But... I think a lot of us thought that the Titans' best move this off-season would be to let Collins go elsewhere in pursuit of another starting gig while hoping that VY can get his head and ass wired together again.  In which case, having a backup with some talent would seem to be a pretty good plan.  Indeed, Simms seemed ideal given everything we've seen this year.  But now, if VY implodes again, we're looking at hard times next year.

Anybody got a thought about this? 

I (obviously) more than a little disappointed.  I mean, my faith is VY is in the gutter.  I simply do not believe in him anymore.  And while I'll be more than happy to be proven wrong on this point, until that happens, I was pretty damned happy to have Chris Simms hanging around on the roster.  No?

Hey guys,

Okay, let me admit this up front: I am new to the sport of cycling in every way.  Last year I started biking to work (well, to the train station, which is about a mile from my house), and it quickly blew up into a whole full-blown thing.

So here's my problem: I did two triathlons this year (a sprint and a mini), which was great, but since I come from a swimming background, I was basically one of the first guys out of the water and then promptly spent the next hour-plus getting passed by, well, everyone.  I mean, I know I'm never gonna be Greg LeMonde or anything, but I would like to at least get in the neighborhood of my potential.  In my last race, my bike split averaged 19.4 mph.  That's probably not terrible, but that said, I'd bet everyone on this board can go faster than that for a comparable 14-mile jaunt.

Bottom line: how do I get faster without sacrificing the time I need for training in the other disciplines?  Should I just be riding longer at every pop, or should I do some kind of intervals?  Is there some really basic, basic guideline of which I'm just ignorant?

I'm a husband and father of two, so training time is at a premium, but I can make time for anything within reason, especially on weekends.

Thanks!

Hey guys,

First off, it is AWESOME to finally have a Chargers SBN Blog.  HUZZAH!

For the curious, I was born in San Diego and have been a Bolts fan for a VERY long time.  I still wear my #14 Dan Fouts jersey with extreme regularity.  It's a bit tattered now, but I'll die before I give that bastard up.  I remember crying after the Chargers lost to the Bengals in that sub-zero AFC Championship Game, and I remember being the ONLY guy in a Hoboken bar rooting for a very bad San Diego team to try to eke out some kind of respectability.  And I remember thinking, "Hey!  This guy Tomlinson can PLAY!"

With all of that said, am I the only one to think Merriman needed to have surgery this year?  I mean, yeah, he's a good player and all, but this particular decision on this particular season seems poorly thought out, both byhim and by the coaching staff.  The guys has too many years still in front of him IMHO to risk what he's risking, no?

So Brady's out, and it looks like VY may be out for a long time--for a variety of reasons.  Let's say you're Chris Simms or maybe D. Culpepper.  Where would you rather play, TN or NE?

Now, I think NE is the obvious answer, but let's face it: Brady will definitely get his job back... eventually.  However, if somebody comes in and literally saves the Offense, the Titans could very easily go in another direction at QB at this point.  And you know that both Culpepper and Simms think they can get the job done.

So... if you are one of these two guys, odds are that your agent is on the phone with M. Reinfield right now.  Where do you want to go?

Does anybody think Rex Grossman is the answer?  Kyle Orton?  But if not one of them, then who?

If you were the Bears, who would you be trying to sign right now?  I know Daunte Culpepper is available, and Chris Simms could be had, probably for a 4th round pick.  But are those guys really better than the guys already on the roster?  And don't forget, the Bears play the Titans this year.  This is IMPORTANT!

So... who should Chicago be targeting?

It's a sad day for Titans fans.  Perhaps not for the Titans themselves, but certainly for Titans fans.  To me, Kuharsky was the run-away BEST guy at the Tennessean, which probably explains why he's moving on.  I expect coverage quality will worsen any day now, perhaps offer the Nashville City Paper a real opportunity.

Anyway, with the Titans' former #1 reporter now moving up to ESPN, one wonders if Tennessee will become the new small-market Green Bay.  In the absence of Brett Favre, all the simple-minded, QB-obsessed drones need SOMEBODY to write about, and that somebody may well be VY (& Company).  If that's the plan, bringing in Kuharsky was a pretty good idea.

Hey guys,

Here's a pair of mock drafts.

Continue reading this post »

Hey guys,

In honor of my man, LenDale White, I want everybody to post their off-season workout program.  Because we all know that the average football fan gets WAY more exercise in the Spring and Summer than in the Fall and Winter--when Sundays must be devoted to one's couch and rooting for the Titans!

Continue reading this post »