Star Performers: Tennessee Titans
Hello everyone. My name is Mack Rosenberg and I blogged here at TJB last spring. Freed up again, I’m thankful that Brian has welcomed me back here. I will be publishing a weekly column looking at a few of the players the Jets will be facing and the threats that they pose to Gang Green.
This Sunday, the Jets are faced with the difficult task of ending the Tennessee Titans undefeated run. The 10-0 Titans present many threats for the Jets, both offensively and defensively. The only undefeated team left in the NFL is third in the league in rushing attempts per game, as both LenDale White and Chris Johnson have played huge roles in this team’s success. However, with Kerry Collins being the latest guy at the center of the MVP discussion, the team is showing that they are more than just a one dimensional rushing attack. Here are some key players the Jets need to be aware of on Sunday:
WRs Justin Gage and Brandon Jones- Okay, these two may not level up with Boldin and Fitzgerald in Arizona, but both have made solid contributions to the Titans’ success lately through the air. Gage has been hot of late, catching the bulk of the passes that Collins throws. He has nearly 300 recieving yards in his last 4 games, and he has scored 3 touchdowns. This team was down 14-3 at halftime last week against Jacksonville. Gage quickly made sure that didn’t last long, catching two touchdowns in the second half. That second half for Tennessee could have been the best passing display put on by the Titans all year. Jones, a third round draft pick in 2005, also had a touchdown in that half, as he poses a possible redzone threat. Kris Jenkins and the rest of that defensive line better get physical in the redzone with Kerry Collins, because you know he’ll be looking for Gage and Jones, two hidden gems in the Titans’ 27th rankes passing attack.
CB Cortland Finnegan- The 24 year-old Finnegan, who started the season as Pacman Jones’ replacement, has developed as one of the premier pass defenders in the league. Finnegan is second in the league with four interceptions, and has been fitting in quite nicely in the Titans secondary. Cotchery and Coles physicality matches Finngan well. If the Titans corner is covering Cotchery on Sunday, look for Favre to utilize Leon Washington more as a checkdown. With Brett Favre’s completion rate near 70% percent on the year, it may be tougher for the Titans secondary to handle him, but as a secondary player, just one or two errant throws can make all the difference.
The Titans present problems on both sides of the ball. However, those few players can make splash performances against the Jets if Gang Green isn’t wokring to scheme against them.
4 Responses to Star Performers: Tennessee Titans
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Robert Mueller says:
As you know, the Packers’ game vs. the Titans was on the other network the same time as the Jets against the Chiefs. The Packers would have won that game if the Titans’ defenders were not so fast and so determined that they caught and stopped the Green Bay players in the open field on their way to the end zone. I remember Craig Jennings in particular in a run after the catch that I thought he would score on but was prevented by the player chasing him. The Packers were unable to convert the big gain for a TD. Favre is famous for scoring TDs and so one key may be whether he and the Jets offense (go O-Line!) can get those important touchdowns against a defense that is fast and relentless and won’t give in.
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mike says:
Don’t forget McDrops!
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Mack Rosenberg says:
ha ha yeah Mike I was looking at the Titans depth chart and completely forgot about him even being there. Not a playmaker at all. He’s played in eight games this season and has just over 200 recieving yards. I don’t figure him to play any role as he is questionable with a concussion. For me Jones, Gage, and Scaife will be the go to guys for Collins. JETSBLITZ, I’m not sure I agree with you on the Miami thing. The Titans are seventh in rushing yards per game, and the Phins are twelfth. I just think the fact that you have a yardage guy in Johnson, and an almost guarenteed redzone TD guy in White, it will make it harder for this Jets defense to deal. Plus, if the running game doesn’t work out, Kerry showed how reliable he can be when given the opportunity.
Another aspect of this team is their comeback attitude. I can’t stress enough the fact that this team gave up 14 points in the first half and zero in the second half. Plus, they scored 21 points. The Jets haven’t been too much of a victim of the comeback this year. The Oakland game was similar but they were really neck and neck the whole way through. But I can just picture this team in the same situation as the Jaguars were last Sunday at the half. And I can also see they giving it all away. That’s just the way the Jets played a lot of last season. You had the Baltimore game, the two Buffalo games, and even the Giants game. However, this is a completely different team so they should keep it close or if they’re up big at the half, sustain it.
But the Titans are 10-0 and can ideally beat any team. Robert, I like your comment about what the Packers couldn’t do. Yes, Favre can get those big TDs and hes been showing that in the last couple of weeks. But you have to also think back to that Chiefs game, one of the blemishes of Favre’s season so far. Hopefully, the Brett we’ll see on Sunday will be the one that led the Jets offense against the Pats and Bills in the last couple of weeks. This is the same type of game for Gang Green.
I watched the replay of the Titians/Jag game. The two players that stood out to me most were Haynesworth and Mawae. Both of them are playing at an all-pro level. But that’s it. Gage is ok but Revis ‘got em’. Kerry Collins is Kerry Collins, not much has changed since the Giant days he is still capable of laying an egg. The Jags threw to Carr’s side and he gives alot of cushin so I would like to see that J. Co’s patented skinny post about 15 yards down field. Bullock is active underneath but Keller can get a step on him. Johnson and White to me were just o.k. Put it this way, if we can stop Brown and Williams of MIA then we should have no problem with this tandem. Game on. I think we got this. If we EXECUTE EXECUTE EXECUTE!!!