- Messages
- 79,281
- Reaction score
- 45,639
Offense hampered on Sunday with three turnovers, face challenges in upcoming games
By Teresa M. Walker (The Associated Press)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth put it best: Close only counts in the loss column.
So what if Tennessee showed improvement in a 13-10 loss Sunday at Miami? The Titans are 0-3 for the first time since 2001 and only the second time under coach Jeff Fisher. The skid now is six straight going back to last season, and they are 9-26 since their last playoff appearance.
"I'm just kind of sick of losing," Haynesworth said.
"People say, 'You're only 0-3.' No. You look at the last time we won a game last year. I don't honestly remember. Is it seven or eight? Something crazy. It's just too long. We just need to get back on track."
That may be difficult because Dallas comes next. One more loss turns this into Tennessee's longest winless start to a season since going 0-10 in 1984 as the then-Houston Oilers.
This is only the third time the franchise has started 0-3. After the then-Oilers opened 0-3 in 1994, they won their next game against Cincinnati, then lost the next 11 in a stretch that resulted in Fisher being named interim head coach for the final six games of that season.
During Fisher's tenure, he rebounded from 0-3 in 2001 by winning the next two games and finishing 7-9. That team was coming off a 13-3 record that was the NFL's best in 2000.
The Titans are a young, rebuilding team, and Fisher's trying to stay patient, nurse them through the growing pains while correcting mistakes. He said Monday he liked how they bounced back from a 40-7 loss at San Diego and that he sees reason for hope and optimism despite the Miami loss.
"You have to compliment them on their work ethic last week and their effort, yet still scrutinize them on their missed opportunities, but put it behind you and move on. It's the only chance you have to pull out. This is a group that understands that," Fisher said.
The positives?
Bo Scaife's amazing one-handed grab of a 27-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter gave the Titans a 7-3 lead - their first since being up 3-0 at Miami on Dec. 24. They outgained Miami 316 yards to 289 yards despite having possession nearly 11 fewer minutes than the Dolphins.
Kerry Collins, whose 1.3 passer rating a week ago prompted talk of starting rookie Vince Young, started with three incompletions and an interception. He rebounded by completing 19 of his final 29 for 269 yards and a 68.9 passer rating that Fisher said will keep him the starter against Dallas.
The Titans also came up with five sacks and one turnover.
The negatives?
Three turnovers, including Collins' pass to Drew Bennett that was tipped twice before being intercepted by Travis Daniels with 1:54 left. That was after Tennessee went three-and-out on its first two possessions in the fourth quarter.
Fisher, who traded disgruntled quarterback Billy Volek last week, threatened more changes. He said safety Lamont Thompson, who allowed Marty Booker to slip by him for a 25-yard gain, and others are on notice.
"You get a guy in a situation to make a play, he's got to make the play. If it happens again, then you've got to find someone else to make that play. It's pretty simple," Fisher said.
The challenge now is the schedule.
The Cowboys (1-1) come in Sunday after their bye and may have Terrell Owens playing despite a broken finger. Then the Titans visit Indianapolis (3-0) and Washington (1-2) before their bye on Oct. 22.
Only victories, not the morale pick-me-ups of losing close, can help now.
"I don't even like horseshoes," linebacker Keith Bulluck said.
Pacman Says: "He (rookie Guinton Ganther) shouldn't even have to hit that guy," on Jones' 76-yard punt return that was nullified due to a block in the back.
Fisher agreed with Jones but defended Ganther by saying he doubted the running back ever played on the punt return team while at Utah.
LINK
By Teresa M. Walker (The Associated Press)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth put it best: Close only counts in the loss column.
So what if Tennessee showed improvement in a 13-10 loss Sunday at Miami? The Titans are 0-3 for the first time since 2001 and only the second time under coach Jeff Fisher. The skid now is six straight going back to last season, and they are 9-26 since their last playoff appearance.
"I'm just kind of sick of losing," Haynesworth said.
"People say, 'You're only 0-3.' No. You look at the last time we won a game last year. I don't honestly remember. Is it seven or eight? Something crazy. It's just too long. We just need to get back on track."
That may be difficult because Dallas comes next. One more loss turns this into Tennessee's longest winless start to a season since going 0-10 in 1984 as the then-Houston Oilers.
This is only the third time the franchise has started 0-3. After the then-Oilers opened 0-3 in 1994, they won their next game against Cincinnati, then lost the next 11 in a stretch that resulted in Fisher being named interim head coach for the final six games of that season.
During Fisher's tenure, he rebounded from 0-3 in 2001 by winning the next two games and finishing 7-9. That team was coming off a 13-3 record that was the NFL's best in 2000.
The Titans are a young, rebuilding team, and Fisher's trying to stay patient, nurse them through the growing pains while correcting mistakes. He said Monday he liked how they bounced back from a 40-7 loss at San Diego and that he sees reason for hope and optimism despite the Miami loss.
"You have to compliment them on their work ethic last week and their effort, yet still scrutinize them on their missed opportunities, but put it behind you and move on. It's the only chance you have to pull out. This is a group that understands that," Fisher said.
The positives?
Bo Scaife's amazing one-handed grab of a 27-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter gave the Titans a 7-3 lead - their first since being up 3-0 at Miami on Dec. 24. They outgained Miami 316 yards to 289 yards despite having possession nearly 11 fewer minutes than the Dolphins.
Kerry Collins, whose 1.3 passer rating a week ago prompted talk of starting rookie Vince Young, started with three incompletions and an interception. He rebounded by completing 19 of his final 29 for 269 yards and a 68.9 passer rating that Fisher said will keep him the starter against Dallas.
The Titans also came up with five sacks and one turnover.
The negatives?
Three turnovers, including Collins' pass to Drew Bennett that was tipped twice before being intercepted by Travis Daniels with 1:54 left. That was after Tennessee went three-and-out on its first two possessions in the fourth quarter.
Fisher, who traded disgruntled quarterback Billy Volek last week, threatened more changes. He said safety Lamont Thompson, who allowed Marty Booker to slip by him for a 25-yard gain, and others are on notice.
"You get a guy in a situation to make a play, he's got to make the play. If it happens again, then you've got to find someone else to make that play. It's pretty simple," Fisher said.
The challenge now is the schedule.
The Cowboys (1-1) come in Sunday after their bye and may have Terrell Owens playing despite a broken finger. Then the Titans visit Indianapolis (3-0) and Washington (1-2) before their bye on Oct. 22.
Only victories, not the morale pick-me-ups of losing close, can help now.
"I don't even like horseshoes," linebacker Keith Bulluck said.
Pacman Says: "He (rookie Guinton Ganther) shouldn't even have to hit that guy," on Jones' 76-yard punt return that was nullified due to a block in the back.
Fisher agreed with Jones but defended Ganther by saying he doubted the running back ever played on the punt return team while at Utah.
LINK
