SB Nation User Blog: Jimmy

Tony Brown Fined $10K for Sunday's Actions

Jimmy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:17:05 -0000

Tony Brown Fined $10K for Sunday's Actions

Vince Young Leaves Practice with a Knee Injury

Jimmy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:18:05 -0000

More photos » by John Russell - AP

The Tennessean is reporting via Twitter that Vince Young left practice early today with a knee injury. They say that Kerry Collins finished practice, but they do not say how serious the knee injury was.

I am sure there will be plenty more news about the injury this afternoon. Stay tuned.

[UPDATE]- The Tennessean is reporting that this is the same knee that he injured in the game this past Sunday, good call by me, and that he as been trying to push through it. Fisher said this after practice:

“He has been trying to push through practice and he just had a setback so we shut him down,’’ Fisher said. “We’ll tend to him inside and see how he is tomorrow.’’

That Tennessean article also includes this gem:

Asked if Collins would be ready in the event Young doesn’t feel better, Fisher joked: “He has been deer hunting every day. He doesn’t come to practice or meetings, so I don’t know.’’

The Top Ten Best Tennessee Titans Draft Picks of the Decade

Jimmy — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:56:31 -0000

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP

Cortland Finnegan celebrates being named by MCM as the Titans top draft pick of the decade. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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With the decade coming to an end in a few weeks, we here at MCM decided it would be a good time to do a top 10 list or two- because who doesn't love a top 10 list?

Today we start with the top 10 draft picks of the decade. Here is how this list was compiled- August, gramsey and I all came up with our own list. They sent their lists to me, actually shared it with me via google docs (which are awesome), and I averaged the three lists together to come up with what I am posting here. After the jump I have added a link that lists all of the picks the Titans made in the decade.

So without further adieu I present the top 10 draft picks of the decade:

1. Cortland Finnegan, CB, Samford (2006, Round 7, pick #215 overall)

Obviously this pick came down to Finny and Chris Johnson, but when you look at the fact that the Titans were able to draft and franchise corner, or as gramsey puts it "The best corner to ever wear Titan blue, and that includes Samari Rolle," in the seventh round, Finnegan gets the nod.

2. Chris Johnson, RB, East Carolina (2008, Round 1, pick #24 overall)

He is the best running back in the league. ‘Nuff said.

3. Keith Bulluck, LB, Syracuse (2000, Round 1, pick #30 overall)

You obviously expect big things out of every first round pick, and KBull has provided those big things and so much more. He has been the heart and soul of this defense for a long time. Interesting story on this pick is that the Titans had planned on taking Deon Grant here because they never dreamed Bulluck would fall to them. Looks like they ended up on the better side of that one.

T-4. Robaire Smith, DE/DT, Michigan State (2000, Round 6, pick #197 overall)

August thinks Robaire is overrated. That may be the case, but the Titans got waaay more than they ever could have expected out of a guy they took at #197. This was another testament to pretty much the only thing Floyd Reese was good at besides backloading contracts and early round busts (more on that tomorrow), finding diamonds in the rough.

T-4. David Stewart, OT, Mississippi State (2005, Round 4, pick #113 overall)

The credit here goes to Mike Munchak as much as anyone, but that doesn't change the fact that the Titans got book-end offensive tackles in the same draft. The only thing that gets Big Country the nod over the next guy on the list is that he was selected two rounds and 72 picks later.

6. Michael Roos, OT, Eastern Washigton (2005, Round 2, pick #41 overall)

Roos is a Pro Bowl left tackle. That is a win no matter where they are selected, but it is even more impressive to get one in the second round.

7. Bo Scaife, TE, Texas (2005, Round 6, pick #179 overall)

2005 was a good draft for the Titans. I have been critical of Scaife in the past, but that by no means takes away the successes he has had in this league after waiting until the 6^th round to come off the board. I wonder how many sixth round picks have ever been given the franchise tag..

8. Stephen Tulloch, LB, NC State (2006 Round 4, pick #116 overall)

The Titans drafted three linebackers in the 2006 draft, and Tulloch has been the only one to stick. Tulloch has proved to be a vital member of this defense as he is currently the starting middle linebacker but has also played both outside linebacker positions in his tenure with the Titans.

9. Eugene Amano, C, SE Missouri State (2004, Round 7, pick #239 overall)

We had a little trouble forgiving Pinoy's boy for his transgression on Sunday to add him to this list, but it is impossible to ignore a guy that is a starting offensive lineman selected in the seventh round. Amano highlights two things about the draft strengths of the Titans- 1. they are good at picking offensive lineman and 2. they are good at finding good players from small schools.

10. Vincent Fuller, DB, Virginia Tech (2005, Round 4, pick #108 overall)

Vinny is yet another gem from the 2005 class. Fuller has held down the nickel back job for a couple of years now, and we all saw how valuable he was when he missed a few weeks earlier this year with a broken forearm.

Others receiving votes: William Hayes (2008, round 4, #103), Albert Haynesworth (2002, round 1, #15), and Justin Hartwig (2002, round 6, #187).

Click here to see the complete list of draft picks.

And there you have it. We would love to hear your comments on our list, or even your own list in the comments.

You said before the season you didn’t anticipate getting a deal to be back. Still feel the s...

Jimmy — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:49:32 -0000

You said before the season you didn’t anticipate getting a deal to be back. Still feel the same?

"Yeah, I feel that, unfortunately I do. There might be some indications that I might be back, but I don’t know. I don’t lean one way or the other."

From Kuharsky's chat with Bulluck. Go read the whole thing, but warning, it will depress you.

Tennessee Titans Place Defensive Tackle Jason Jones on IR

Jimmy — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:57:01 -0000

More photos » by John Russell - AP

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Unfortunately this is a move that we have seen coming for about a week. The Titans went ahead and made it official today by placing DT Jason Jones on injured reserve according to @titansradio.

Jones has showed flashes of being really good when he has been out there, but he has been hampered by injuries in both of his seasons with the Titans. He is supposed to have shoulder surgery today, so hopefully he will be ready to go when the OTAs start this spring.

The only bright spot here is that 2009 2nd round pick Sen'Derrick Marks should be able to get plenty of reps down the stretch.

St. Louis Rams vs. Tennessee Titans Series at a Glance

Jimmy — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:18:52 -0000

The Rams lead the all-time series between these two teams 7-3. The last meeting was back in 2005 with the Rams winning 31-27. The last time the Rams came to Nashville was in 1999 in the game that I referenced in this post. There was obviously a famous game between these two teams that none of us really want to talk about.

For the second time in two weeks the game will be on FOX because an NFC team is visiting Nashville. The broadcast will be handled by Chris Rose and Trent Green. Green is a pretty famous Ram considering it was his preseason injury that paved the way for Kurt Warner to be the starting quarterback in 1999.

Info from the NFL after the jump.

	RAMS	TITANS
SERIES LEADER	6-3
STREAKS	3 of past 4
COACHES VS. OPP.	Spagnuolo: 0-0	Fisher: 1-2
LAST WEEK	L 17-9 at Bears	L 27-17 at Colts
LAST GAME	9/25/05: Titans 27 at Rams 31. St. Louis QB Marc Bulger passes for 3 TDs as Rams outlast Tennessee. Rams WR Torry Holt catches 9 passes for 163 yards, incl. 32-yard TD.
LAST GAME AT SITE	10/31/99: Titans 24, Rams 21. In preview of SB XXXIV, Titans QB Steve McNair throws 2 TDs & rushes for another as Tennessee improves to 6-1.
BROADCAST	FOX (3:05 PM CT): Chris Rose, Trent Green. Westwood One Radio: Howard David, Dan Reeves. SIRIUS: 151 (St.L.). XM: 113 (St.L.).

STATS

PASSING	Boller: 94-164-876-3-6-63.0	Young: 107-175-1,251-6-3-87.1
RUSHING	Jackson: 266-1,232 (1C)-4.6-4	Johnson: 244-1,509 (1L)-6.2-9 (T2C)
RECEIVING	Jackson (RB): 44-267-6.1-0	Johnson (RB): 39-322-8.3-1
OFFENSE	303.8	353.3
TAKE/GIVE	-6	-7
DEFENSE	363.7	367.3
SACKS	Little: 6.5	3 tied: 4
INTs	J. Butler: 3	Finnegan, Hood: 3
PUNTING	D. Jones: 46.4	Kern: 45.1
KICKING	Jo. Brown: 55 (13/13 PAT; 14/18 FG)	Bironas: 82 (25/25 PAT; 19/23 FG)

NOTES

GAME FEATURES NFL’s 2 leading rushers: Titans RB CHRIS JOHNSON (1,509) & Rams RB STEVEN JACKSON (1,232)…RAMS: Defeated Ten. in SB XXXIV (StL 23, Ten. 16)…QB KYLE BOLLER has 48 career TD passes & needs 2 to reach 50 for career…RB Jackson leads NFC with 1,232 rush yards. Had 112 rush yards last week & has 100+ yards in 5 of past 6. Has topped 1,000 yards for 5th season in row, passing HOFer ERIC DICKERSON for most in team annals. Has averaged 125.5 scrimmage yards per game since 2006, tops in NFL (6,527 yards, 52 games). In past 3 Dec. games, has 455 scrimmage yards (151.7 per game) & 2 TDs. Has rush TD in 4 of past 5…WR DONNIE AVERY has 5 TDs in past 8. KR-PR-WR DANNY AMENDOLA had 176 total yards (108 KR, 60 PR, 8 rush) last week…Rookie LB JAMES LAURINAITIS had 12 tackles last week. S OSHIOMOGHO ATOGWE had 2 FFs & FR last week. Has 15 INTs since 2007, tied for 4th most in NFL. DE LEONARD LITTLE has 6.5 sacks in past 10. Had sack in last meeting. DE CHRIS LONG has sack in 4 of past 5…TITANS: Club seeks 8th consecutive win vs. NFC…Aim for 4th win in row at home…Team ranks 2nd in NFL w/165.8 rush yards per game…QB VINCE YOUNG is 8-2 as starter against NFC. Young aims for 5th consecutive game w/TD pass…RB Johnson (1,509) needs 1 rush yard to surpass EDDIE GEORGE (1,509 in 2000) for 3rd-most rushing yards in season in franchise history. Johnson aims for 8th consecutive game w/100+ rush yards. Johnson averages 138 rush yards per game in past 3 against NFC (414 total). Johnson needs 1 rush TD to surpass career high of 9 as rookie in ’08…Rookie WR KENNY BRITT (Round 1, Rutgers) leads AFC rookies & ranks 4th among NFL rookies w/567 receiving yards. Britt aims for 4th consecutive game w/TD rec…TE BO SCAIFE (1,968 yards) needs 32 receiving yards to become 3rd TE in club history to reach 2,000 (FRANK WYCHECK, 4,958; ALVIN REED, 2,818). Scaife posted 1st TD of season last week…DE KYLE VANDEN BOSCH posted 2 sacks in last meeting vs. St.L.

C.J. Spiller = Chris Johnson; Spiller will be a 1st round pick and be just as explosive as Johnson...

Jimmy — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:33:23 -0000

C.J. Spiller = Chris Johnson; Spiller will be a 1st round pick and be just as explosive as Johnson is with the Titans.

via @chrissteuber

Just when I link to this guy's big board he comes back with this crap. One of the top 5 most ridiculous statements of all time. Yeah, I said it.

Who Loves Big Boards?

Jimmy — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:17:53 -0000

Who Loves Big Boards?

Chris Steuber over at Scout has put out an updated big board. Don't worry Tennessee fans, the only reason Eric Berry isn't there is because he hasn't declared yet.

Chris Johnson Success Rate Against the Colts

Jimmy — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:26:23 -0000

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

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Explanation:

Each individual rush is considered on it's own, and measured by it's "success." A run is considered successful if it gets 40% of the yardage needed to move the chains on first down, 60% of the yardage needed on second down, and 100% of the yardage needed on third or fourth down. This is a much more accurate overall picture of how well a running back does in a game than just the total yardage or ypc averages because it ignores big run outliers that can skew those kinds of stats

Stats after the jump.

vs IND / 12.6.09	Rushing				Receiving
	Rush	Yards	Avg	TD	Rec	Yards	Avg	TD
Chris Johnson	27	113	4.2	0	6	28	4.7	0

While he didn't get the number we wanted him to get to keep the pace for 2,150 or even 2,000, he did have one of his more successful games by this metric. Plus he put up good enough numbers that a huge game against the Rams puts him right back on pace.

The Titans Free Agent Wide Receiver Woes

Jimmy — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:55:03 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

Catch or drop? (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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The Titans should be banned from ever signing free agent wide receivers. Here are the numbers on the biggest three they have signed since the franchise moved to Tennessee:

And this doesn't even address all of the failed draft picks before Kenny Britt came along..

The sad thing when you look at that is Nate Washington is going to easily have the best season of all (just think what his numbers would be if he could actually catch), but there is always some big if with the guys the Titans sign.

No real point to this post other than to depress you.