Category Archives: Tennessee Titans
Titans rookie Kendall Wright says Baylor had no playbook
Tennessee Titans rookie receiver Kendall Wright will be learning to do something that he never learned in college. Reading a playbook. Not that he has a learning disability or anything like that, it’s just that he never had to read on while he was at Baylor.
2012 NFL draft: Dre Kirkpatrick could be a steal for the Titans
Looking at the depth chart of the Tennessee Titans corners Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner should be starting two and Ryan Mouton could be a difference maker, but is coming off an Achilles injury.
After losing Cortland Finnegan to the St. Louis Rams the Titans could pick when Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick is still on the board.
Dre Kirkpatrick is a bit of a wildcard in the 2012 NFL draft.
Remember the Titans: Tennessee a good fit for Manning?
As Peyton Manning continues his tour throughout the NFL cities that would love to have the four-time MVP behind center for their team in 2012, Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams threw his two cents in to the equation. Adams has officially thrown his hat into the ring of teams bidding to sign the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback and future Hall of Famer. Adams doesn’t just want Manning, he wants him bad.
2012 NFL draft: Possible selections for the Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans we all knew disappeared in 2011 along with Jeff Fisher. Even Chris Johnson couldn’t decide if he wanted to come back and when he did it took him a good amount of time to get things going once again.
2012 Mock Draft: AFC South edition
The mock draft journey in the NFL lands us in the AFC South today where things took a turn that nobody saw coming. The Indianapolis Colts have dominated the AFC South for a long time but thanks to Peyton Manning’s neck, found themselves almost going 0-16 before turning it around and finishing 2-14. Not only did the Colts finish 2-14, but they also cleaned house as they fired Bill Polian and Head Coach Jim Caldwell. They are now ready to go in a new direction under new General Manager Ryan Grigson and new Head Coach Chuck Pagano, all led by Andrew Luck. The Jacksonville Jaguars had a ok season but they got a new Owner during the season which is leaving some to speculate if they are going to move to Los Angeles. The Tennessee Titans under first year coach Mike Munchak had a pretty good year finishing 9-7 and coming close to a playoff spot. The big winner of it all, the Houston Texans finished 10-6, and not only hosted a playoff game but also won their first playoff game before losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. How can each team look to build or rebuild off last season?
Indianapolis Colts
Round 1, Pick 1: Andrew Luck QB Stanford: The Colts did their best this past season, it sure had to be tough beating the Titans & Texans late in the season but hey they lost to Jacksonville and secured the # 1 pick in the 2012 Draft. Just how ironic is this, last year Peyton Manning advised Luck to stay at Stanford for another year and what do you know, Luck is about to be drafted by the Colts. Luck is the best QB prospect to come out since well, Peyton Manning and no doubt will be replacing Manning as the Colts look to start a new era in Indy. Out of all the times for the Colts to struggle, it just happens when Peyton has neck surgery, maybe Peyton should have advised Luck to stay in school for another year once again.
Jacksonville Jaguars:
Round 1, Pick 7: Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois: The Jaguars love drafting defensive lineman, in fact they have drafted defensive lineman every other year in the first round since 2008. So since they took Blaine Gabbert last year, it’s time for another defensive lineman. Whitney Mercilus will be this year’s Aldon Smith and shoot up the draft boards by April. Whitney led the nation in sacks and forced fumbles last season with 16 and had 22.5 tackles for loss, and that will upgrade the Jaguars pass rush and improve the defensive line.
Tennessee Titans
Round 1, Pick 20: Devon Still DT Penn State: Still is currently BPA for the Titans at the moment as they get lucky he falls to them. The Titans haven’t had a real force on their defensive line since Albert Haynesworth. Still ended the season with 55 tackles and 4.5 sacks as he was a true dominant force on Penn State’s defensive line. Standing at 6’5, Still has amazing power and speed to be a true play maker in the NFL and the Titans are lucky he drops to 20 in my mock.
Houston Texans
Round 1, Pick 26: Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina: There were so many concerns about Jeffery heading into the combine that he was one of the players guaranteed to have a draft night fall. His slide ends at 26 as he gets to go play opposite of Andre Johnson in Houston. Jeffery had a down year compared to his 2010 season but is ready to show teams that he can be a number one receiver in the NFL. The Texans offense gets much better with the pick of Jeffery at the bottom of round one and should make Matt Schaub one happy quarterback.
Sign up for TPF’s Daily Newsletter and enter to win a TPF T-Shirt
Mike Presley is a NFL Featured Journalist for The Penalty Flag. He is a graduate of the Carolina School of Broadcasting and hosts a weekly NFL show on the schools radio station 89.3 The Storm entitled “The Front Seven.” Mike also writes for the racing website www.hardcoreracefans.com. Follow him on Twitter @mikepresley64.
Related articles
- 2012 Mock Draft: NFC North edition (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- 2012 Mock Draft: AFC North edition (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- 2012 Mock Draft: AFC East edition (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
Peyton Manning: 5 Teams That Should Take a Chance to Win it All
While Peyton Manning’s future continues to be a dominant topic there is no doubt that each NFL team, owner and fan base is taking a look at their current situation and asking themselves could we win with Peyton?
Teams like the Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and even the Tennessee Titans have to be wondering what it would like to have the future Hall of Fame quarterback in a number 18 jersey.
Peyton Manning refuses to retire and because of that the Indianapolis Colts are stuck in a predicament with the number one pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
According to Newsday.com Manning stated when asked about retirement, “I have no plans on doing that,” Manning said Tuesday after a promotional appearance. “All the other talk, it is what it is. But my plan hasn’t changed. I’m on track with what the doctors have told me to do. I’m rehabbing hard and I’m enjoying this week.”
Argue all you want, but Peyton Manning is one of the greatest quarterbacks to play the game. With his skills and the book of knowledge he provides, he is invaluable to any organization.
Adam Schefter suggested on ESPN’s The Insiders program that Manning is destined to become the most decorated and high-profile free agent in NFL history, but who are the teams that will trade it all to win the Super Bowl in 2013.
1. Houston Texans
No this isn’t Madden or fantasy football and Houston can’t afford Peyton’s skyrocketing salary, but if Peyton wants to win he might need to look no further than his own division.
A pay cut might be worth a chance at Indianapolis and Jim Irsay twice a year. Not to mention, he also would have wide receiver Andre Johnson and one of the premier defenses in all the NFL.
Houston fans might not like it after watching year after year of Peyton dominating the Texans, but is Matt Schaub or T.J. Yates going to take you to a Super Bowl?
The Texans would dominate a weak division with an excellent run game and Gary Kubiak who has a strong offense mind.
It’s a match made in heaven if Peyton wants to win another Super Bowl.
2. Tennessee Titans
Let’s not forget what Peyton Manning did for the University of Tennessee during his college years.
Sure the Titans would have to part ways with Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker would have to sit on the bench but who better to learn and grow behind than Peyton?
The Titans have a strong offense line that could protect a more fragile Manning and with a healthy Kenny Britt and explosive running game featuring Chris Johnson the offense takes a major step forward.
3. Denver Broncos
Peyton could instantly take the heat off John Elway and “Tebow-Mania.” After all, no one in their right mind would start Tebow over Peyton Manning?
The Broncos wouldn’t need to release Tebow and could still send him in to run every now and then, but Denver would give Peyton something he has never had…defense.
Taking it a step further and signing free agent Reggie Wayne to Denver’s young receiver class would add familiarity and instantly the Broncos become a legitimate force.
4. San Francisco 49ers
Ask anyone in the NFL and they will tell you that almost doesn’t count. Alex Smith may have had his best season as a pro but what about the other six years he struggled?
No one knows what to expect from Smith in 2013, but if Peyton is healthy then we know what to expect and that would instantly make the 49ers the best team in the NFL.
The 49ers might be the sleeper pick for the Manning sweepstakes, but one thing that Manning does well is make average receivers seem or look good.
A stingy defense and a dependable Frank Gore could give him all he needs to win another Super Bowl.
5. Seattle Seahawks
Might not be able to take the Seahawks to the Super Bowl in the first year but an ideal location to play and a weak division would help his chances.
Head coach Pete Carroll would be exactly the type of coach he would flourish under because of his enthusiasm and willingness to listen.
Seattle has some free agents to take care of, notably Marshawn Lynch who would take pressure off Manning, but with over $60 million of free cap space the Seahawks could not only sign Manning they also could work on the defense and make a splash with Mario Williams.
Sign up for TPF’s Daily Newsletter and enter to win a TPF T-Shirt
Click Here to SubscribeRelated articles
- Enough Already: Eli Manning asked Repeatedly About Peyton (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- Broncos Columnist Wants Denver to Think Manning (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- Peyton Manning has Emotional Meeting with Polian (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- Could Jim Irsay’s Antics Cost Indy Andrew Luck? (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- CSU’s College Hottie of the Week: Nicole Alexis (College-Sports-University.com)
Titans Holding on to Playoff Hopes, Will Beat Texans
The Tennessee Titans are not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs just yet. To even have a fighting chance they must beat the Houston Texans Sunday, and then hope the win’s and losses in the rest of Sunday’s games go their way.
The playoff breakdown that sends Tennessee to the postseason involves at least five games, most of which are scheduled for the afternoon. Not to say it’s going to be miraculous if Tennessee gains a playoff berth, but a little luck wouldn’t be a bad thing.
The Titans have a few advantages heading into Sunday. One, they have the momentum of a win, while Houston is coming off two embarrassing losses to the Carolina Panthers and inferior Indianapolis Colts, who also beat the Titans.
The matchup is slightly lopsided stats wise. Houston has the second best rushing offense in the NFL, and are third in passing defense and fourth in rushing defense. Which is bad news for the Titans, who are ranked twelfth in passing and thirty-first in rushing offense.
Matt Hasselbeck was mediocre in the Titans 23-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. The aging play-caller was 24-for-40 on passing attempts for 342 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Not horrible against the seventh best passing defense Jaguars, but Hasselbeck will have to step it up a notch against Houston.
Tennessee’s ground game show signs of improvement. Chris Johnson was their biggest handler, rushing for 56 yards on 15 carries, which has been his average yards for the year. Considering he averaged over 100 yards a game last year and ended the 2009 season with over 2,000 rushing yards, this year’s numbers are insufficient for his talent.
The most optimistic factor for the Titans offense was the increasing number of passing targets for Hasselbeck. The big tight end Jared Cook could be one of Tennessee’s best weapons in the future. In the win over Jacksonville, Cook racked up 169 yards on 8 receptions and one touchdown, for not only his best game of the season, but the best game of his three-year NFL career.
Along with Cook, Damian Williams racked up 83 yards on 8 receptions and Nate Washington picked up 71 yards on 4 receptions in the win over the Jaguars. To have a chance at beating one of the best defenses in the league this year, Tennessee and Hasselbeck will need to constantly switch up the offensive schemes, in order to throw-off the Houston defense.
If they take full advantage of all their offensive weapons (much in the same way the Green Bay Packers do), they have a good chance at beating the Texans. In their loss to the Colts last week, Houston allowed 16 passing first downs, and 244 yards of passing offense, a good stat for Tennessee.
Another big key for Tennessee will be shutting down Arian Foster. The University of Tennessee alum has over 3,000 rushing yards this season and in the last two losses put up over 100 yards rushing.
A win against Houston does send the Titans to the playoff’s, but without it they don’t even have a chance after the debilitating loss to the Colts in week 15. A lot relies on how effectively they will be able to use what they have. The talent is there. The experience is there. They can beat the Texan’s and exact retribution for the 41-7 loss in October. It’s all a matter of whether they show up Sunday or not.
Joshua Peacock is a freelance writer and sports journalist based out of Savannah, Georgia. Original from Tennessee, he follows the Tennessee Titans in the AFC and the New Orleans Saints in the AFC. He is also an accomplished playwright, published poet and exuberant musician. He can be contacted at jpeacock@thepenaltyflagblog.com
Related articles
- Tennessee Titans’ Future is Bright (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- Locker’s Time Will Have to Wait for the Titans (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- Peyton’s Place no More as Yates, Texans Clinch AFC South (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- The Colts Win: Almost Too Good to be True (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
Tennessee Titans’ Future is Bright
For the first time since 2008, the Tennessee Titans have a chance at a playoff spot as they battle the AFC South in the last three games of the regular season. Regardless if they garner the wild-card slot or not, Tennessee is on the rebound.
Head coach Mike Munchak does not have preconceptions about how important a spot in the playoffs will mean to his team this year. However, earlier in the season when facing divisional games, the Titans only went 1-2, with losses coming at the hands of the now playoff bound Houston Texans and the faltering Jacksonville Jaguars.
With 13-year veteran Matt Hasselbeck scheduled to start this week against the Indianapolis Colts, his injury (calf) could mean rookie Jake Locker sees more time, however Munchak is for the first time considering dressing three quarterbacks, due to Locker’s status as questionable (sore chest). That means Rusty Smith could see some time behind center.
The future of the franchise will be weighed heavily in the these last three games. A win against the Colts is favorable and could set a record for Indy that they want to avoid (worst regular season record in franchise history, 0-14).
The Jaguars beat the Titans by two points, 16-14, at the beginning of the season, after which Jacksonville dropped off with five straight losses. And despite a 4-10 record still have the fifth best passing defense. Tennessee needs a healthy Hasselbeck and Nate Washington for this game. But, the final game of the season might prove to be the Titans Zeus. (See greek mythology for that reference!).
Houston clinched the division last week and are poised for a Super Bowl run. They beat the Titans 42-7 in their first meeting. A repeat of that is plausible. If the Titans season ends without a playoff berth it is doubtful that anyone will lose their job.
This is a Tennessee team that despite injuries and a new coaching staff is still fighting for a chance at the playoffs at 7-6, the seventh ranked team in the AFC. With offensive weapons like Chris Johnson, Washington, Kenny Britt and Damian Williams this is a team that when healthy, has the potential to take the AFC title next year.
The key for Tennessee’s off-season will be improving the mediocre defense. A defense that allowed Houston 41 points and the Pittsburgh Steelers 38, but held all other teams under 31. Ranked 21st in passing and 20th in rushing an improvement here would build the most competitive Titans team since 1999′s AFC Champs.
No matter how the last three games play out, the Titans would be better off in 2012 if Locker gets at least one start. With Hasselbeck’s age and questionable health, Locker could be Tennessee’s Tim Tebow next year. All things considered, the future for the Titans is positive.
Joshua Peacock is and NFL team writer for The Penalty Flag. He can be contacted at JPeacock@thepenaltyflagblog.com.
Related articles
- Tennessee Titans: No Britt, No Problem…For Now (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- Matt Leinart’s Injury Ends Texans Playoff Hopes (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- TPF’s Hottie of the Week: Halloween NFL Cheerleaders (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- CSU’s Hottie of the Week: Erin Andrews (college-sports-university.com)
Chris Johnson Sick, Compared to Michael Jordan
Chris Johnson refused to give up on his Tennessee Titans and lost up to 10 pounds before the crucial game against the Buffalo Bills.
Johnson told Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean that he’s been so sick that he hadn’t eaten a full meal in a week and had lost 10 pounds.
“I can’t lie, I felt weak out there. It was pretty hard to practice all week,” Johnson said. “It was the flu or something, I don’t know, but it was bad. I just had to push through it because we have to continue to win if we want to make the playoffs.”
Titans receiver Damian Williams compared Johnson to Michael Jordan, who in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals scored 38 points in 44 minutes while battling a serious case of the flu.
“Michael Jordan put up 50 points when he was sick,” Williams said. “What C.J. did, that’s a testament to him, to come out and keep working. We are definitely proud of him. People have been on him all year about not having the production they think he should have, but he’s pushed through it, and he kept fighting.”
Johnson has finally shown signs of life this season as he has a total of 486 yards in his last four games after only gaining 366 yards his first eight games of the season.
Unfortunately for Chris Johnson he can’t play Buffalo, Carolina, and Tampa Bay every week.
Related articles
- Crash of the Titan: Is Chris Johnson’s NFL Career Over? (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- An Open Letter to Ralph Wilson Regarding Fred Jackson (thepenaltyflagblog.com)
- Titans trounce Panthers behind Chris Johnson, Damian Williams (footballrelativity.wordpress.com)
Kenny Britt: Staying out of trouble, in the endzone
Move aside local law enforcement, NFL secondaries now have the most to fear from Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kenny Britt. He isn’t exactly viewed as a “Poster Boy” for the NFL, to say the least; he has had run-ins with the law three times since January 2010, most recently in June for resisting arrest. But the biggest crime involving Kenny Britt may be keeping him off of your All-Pro watch list.
Hear me out here: It may be a bit premature and tough to swallow for you NFL traditionalists out there, but Britt is surely emerging as one of the NFL’s elite wide receivers. In just his third year out of Rutgers, Kenny leads the AFC in receiving yards (271), receiving yards per game (135.5), and is tied atop the AFC in receiving touchdowns (3).
With former 2009 All-Pro running back Chris Johnson still getting his conditioning back after a training camp holdout, the Titans have looked for Britt as their go-to playmaker. At 6’3″ and 215 pounds, Britt has proven to be not just an endzone target but a third down machine as well. He ranks second among AFC receivers with 13 third down conversions, just one behind speedy Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Wallace.
Don’t count on Kenny Britt slowing down anytime soon, either. Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck seems to have been chugging from the “Fountain of Youth”, completing 67.1% of his passes and averaging 310 passing yards per game. As soon as Chris Johnson gets back on his feet, you can expect the passing game to open up even more.
Watch out AFC South, there may be a new sheriff in town. But seriously, Kenny, stay away from the real sheriffs.
The NFL draft is like a box of chocolates
The 2011 NFL Draft is a box of chocolates and each team just received a gift-wrapped box.
NFL lockout is a slap in the face to the hard working American
NFL owners and players have left the most popular sport in jeopardy as they were unable how to divide nine billion dollars a year and broke off labor negotiations hours before their collective bargaining agreement expired.
