SB Nation User Blog: Thunder Jones

Bromance

Thunder Jones — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:12:17 -0000

Can someone please explain to me Jeff Fisher's love affair with Nick Harper?

When I watch Harper play, I think that he's a rich man's Renaldo Hill. He makes coverage errors, gets picked on my opposing QBs, and is the weak link in the secondary. I understand that he can tackle in run defense, but so what?!?

Ron Hood, the guy in the secondary that was involved in the second half resurgence, played great and has been largely INACTIVE while Harper has been a starter. What does Fisher see in Harper that I'm missing?

What's Going On In The Locker Room?

Thunder Jones — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:58:50 -0000

My big fear for this Titans season is that the players don't seem to have an urgency to right the ship.

I follow Keith Bulluck's twitter feed and he seems pretty la-de-da about this losing streak. I know we all believe that he'll be out of here next year because we won't pony up for his salary demands, but it seems like he would play his guts out for a contract year. I wonder if Mawae is in the same boat. We have so many guys that won't be here next year and I'm shocked that they aren't in contract year mode and out there fighting for a big payoff next year.

If the locker room has quit or has lost a sense of urgency, all the coaching in the world won't be able to re-ignite them. I don't know if it was Albert that kept them fired up last year or just the momentum of the great start, but this year, I don't see the players pissed that they're losing and determined to push each other into becoming a winning team.

Is it possible that the team has collectively quit and the chemistry on this team is toxic?

Is Our Problems the Linebackers?

Thunder Jones — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:30:31 -0000

Last night, I sat and watched our team get throttled. Peyton Manning was super-efficient on passes over 10 yards and I think I might know why...

I noticed last night that whenever the offense snapped the ball, all three linebackers would stand still for 2-3 seconds reading what was going on before they began to move and react. I know that we use our linebackers in coverage and want to make sure that they take up their running lane or man their zone for coverage, but the delay is stunning. It seems to me that they should at least get up on a receiver and bump him in the 5 yards zone to throw off the routes, but they never did it. It allowed receivers to run free and then the Titans had to chase the receiver that they had let dictate the route.

I know that Fischer is a fan of rushing the four linemen, but it seems to be that the linebackers should be playing more aggressively and for all three of them play hesitantly tells me that they are being coached to be overly cautious rather than attacking.

Can anyone tell me if that was the way things were ran last year or is this an effect of the Cecil regime?

Justin Miller

Thunder Jones — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:08:31 -0000

What is taking so long with claiming Justin Miller?

It is obvious that we need a CB and a KR; Miller fills both holes. Cut a CB and grab Miller. Even pay him if you have to. The lack of a serious KR threat is a deficit that the Titians need to address. Coach up his CB skills and hopefully he can become a serviceable backup.

Seriously, what is the hold up on this thing?

The Price for Boldin is Falling

Thunder Jones — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:47:03 -0000

The Price for Boldin is Falling

He just moved into a must-have piece of the Titans' draft.

Bring Me Braylon Edwards!

Thunder Jones — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:45:29 -0000

Okay. I know that 104.5 is essentially cheerleading an attempt to get Anquan Boldin, but they apparently want a 1st and 3rd for him.

Why not Braylon Edwards? it looks like the Giants are the only ones going after him and they've come to a stalemate because the Giants only want to give a 2nd and 5th. I'd do a 1st and a 5th for Braylon Edwards.

Let me lay out my argument. First, Edwards is two years younger than Boldin and has put up numbers in a much more difficult division. Secondly, I know people are down on Edwards because he has a history of some drops, but who else were the subpar QBs in Cleveland throwing to?

Boldin laid out a 4.7 40 time at the combine and is a strictly possession guy, but Edwards had a 4.5 40 and is 2" taller than Boldin.

I just don't want the Titans (or their enthusiasts) to be myopic when it comes to WR options. This appears to be a buyer's market for WRs and we all know that the Titans haven't managed to draft a decent receiver in a while.

Titans, pass on a CB and shop your 30th pick for a WR. I don't care which one, but you can go get one with a 1st and a 4th.

Out.

Ray Ray?

Thunder Jones — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 16:24:07 -0000

Am I alone in thinking that this team ought to make a run at Ray Ray? I know that it would certainly make the Titans' color analyst freak out, but the truth of the matter is that the Titans have lost Haynesworth and he was a vocal presence and always an example of busting it on the field. Ray Ray might be a little long in the tooth, but he'd certainly be an upgrade over Tullock. Certainly anything like this would have to be run by the veterans in the lockroom (primarily Bullock) since it could be a little inflammatory, but I think Ray Ray's presence on the field and the leadership by example that he'd bring would be a huge asset for Tennessee next year.

I wouldn't overpay, but I'd make a legit run at him.

The Heimerdinger Offense

Thunder Jones — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:50:10 -0000

Where does the Heimerdinger offense come from?

We've all seen the trees that link Bill Walsh to George Seifert to Mike Holmgren to Jon Gruden and what not, but I don't know where Heimerdinger's offense comes from? Is it a variation of Denver's or does it have roots in something like the Paul Brown regime? The two things we can say with certainty is that it has nothing to do with the West Coast offense and that it is working well.

If anyone can illuminate this for me, I'd appreciate it.

Inbred?

Thunder Jones — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:59:57 -0000

The Chris Johnson pick is simply inexcusable. They could have traded down into the early-mid second round and still got this douchebag. It wasn't a wise use of the pick and hearing Wycheck laud this pick makes him look like a companyman.

If they were hellbent on a RB, they should have traded up a little to ensure that they got one. Now, it looks like the were determined to get a running back regardless of who fell to them.

If he is a bust, Reinfeld and whoever else pushed for this pick need to be fired.

On a more serious note, is the Titans staff too inbred? Reinfeld is a former Titans, Fisher has been their forever, and Dinger is a re-tred. I don't know much about their scouting staff, but I'm assuming that Mr. Adams has hired folks that he is comfortable with and his pattern tells me that they are also former Titans.

Is there enough diversity in this front office to get a good argument over who to draft or are they all so alike that they all want the same guy/position? A lack of diversity creates the inability to be critical of dumb decisions (i.e. Chris Henry).

Need For Outside Linebacker?

Thunder Jones — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:13:17 -0000

I just read the latest mock draft by Sports Illustrated's Don Banks and he has the Tennessee Titans taking Mayo because he fills their "need for an outside linebacker"

Huh?

Bullock and Thornton do a fine job of filling that need. Thornton has shown himself to be a steal from Indy and Bullock is solid.

It always seems strange to me when "draft experts" pull stones out of their hats. Kiper had Tennessee taking Mayo at one point as well. I can see the Titans taking a DE or DT, but I imagine that they'd take a CB before they even began to think about drafting an OLB, even if he's athletic and sure-fire fan favorite.

At the end of the day, the offense needs help. If the Titans can't get a WR they like with their first-round pick, I say they shop it and see what they can get via trade. It's obvious that the WR needs help very badly and it must be addressed. If it comes down to drafting Mayo or trading for a solid #2 receiver from another team, I say take the receiver.