Learning from the Titans

[TheRumGone]

6 minutes ago, lightsout said:

I'll agree. Tannehill doesn't have to do a ton. They're a remarkably unremarkable team in every category except for rushing offense really, but the fact that as a team they execute in the areas I mentioned that can go unnoticed in a league where QB stats and large point totals seem to be an indicator of success for the team is what I enjoy about them. They're not flashy, but they get it done. Plus everybody likes an underdog story.

Yeah I want the chiefs or the titans to win the Super Bowl. Don’t like any of these nfc teams really. I can’t stand Bosa, Green Bay and the Seahawks are annoying to play. 

[top dawg]

I remember when many Huddlers were saying Henry wasn't worth drafting in the first. 

I also remember people talking poo about DK Metcalf. Watch what he does today!

We had a birthday party lastnight, and my wife and I were the only ones that said Tennessee would win the game. She said so because they dispatched the Pats (and she hates the Pats & TB12). I told them that the Titans were severely underrated, but were perhaps the most balanced team in the postseason. They have a good defense and a well-balanced offense that revolves around a beast of an RB. I know Tannehill hasn't had to throw, and Corey Davis has been closer to bust this far than not, but he's still a solid receiver. A.J. Brown has been a revelation & makes a huge difference, as well as Tannehill who obviously was misused in Miami. And Jonnu Smith is not chopped liver. My family thought that I was crazy, but not so much now. 

Jackson's stat line did not tell the truth. The Titans' pesky line and their seemingly zone coverage kept Jackson off balance all night long. B-more's receiving corps (or lack thereof) was exposed. It was a beautifully coached game by Vrabel until he got too conservative in the fourth quarter. 

I think there are many ways to win, and I have a certain amount of disdain for a cookie cutter approach to team building. Just like on game days and adapting to your opponent, I love a coach that actually has the desire and expertise to adapt to his team. Vrabel looks to have figured that out. 

.

[WarHeel]

Said it once and I’ll say it a thousand times. 
You don’t need a “franchise” QB to go far. Be strong up front. Don’t turn the ball over. 1-2 playmakers on both sides of the ball. 

[run-run-pass-punt]

1 hour ago, The Huddler said:

sometimes it just comes down to chemistry and straight up momentum.  

 

and the timing of that is crucial for the playoffs

You see it happen all the time. Get it together and get hot at the right time and ride that wave.

[lightsout]

3 minutes ago, run-run-pass-punt said:

You see it happen all the time. Get it together and get hot at the right time and ride that wave.

I find this both accurate and misleading. It indicates randomness/luck to me that I don't think is necessarily fitting for football.

For sure, "getting it together" and "riding that wave" are the simple terms for explaining a team like the Titans, but I feel it doesn't appreciate the actual work the team does to influence that. "Football people" know what is meant when people say that, but the casual fan doesn't and it leads to really bad takes (not calling yours a bad take, mind you).

Teams that do things the right way tend to get lucky. I think by looking at a team like the Titans and discounting them as a team that struck hot late and capitalized, we're missing an opportunity to compare them to the Panthers and reflect on areas that they succeed in and we fail. Like being the most physical team on the field, like being fundamentally sound, etc.

[run-run-pass-punt]

1 minute ago, lightsout said:

I find this both accurate and misleading. It indicates randomness/luck to me that I don't think is necessarily fitting for football.

For sure, "getting it together" and "riding that wave" are the simple terms for explaining a team like the Titans, but I feel it doesn't appreciate the actual work the team does to influence that. "Football people" know what is meant when people say that, but the casual fan doesn't and it leads to really bad takes (not calling yours a bad take, mind you).

Teams that do things the right way tend to get lucky. I think by looking at a team like the Titans and discounting them as a team that struck hot late and capitalized, we're missing an opportunity to compare them to the Panthers and reflect on areas that they succeed in and we fail. Like being the most physical team on the field, like being fundamentally sound, etc.

Yeah, I understand what you mean. Although I do find timing and momentum, and "doing things the right way" to be kind of ethereal and impossible to hold onto for very long in most cases. Life, and football with all its aspects, are transient things.

But of course in a competitive endeavor, attempting to emulate the successful will always be a thing.

[Harbingers]

Holy poo, I just looked at the stat line. Tannerhill through 7/14 times for 88 yards?!?? 

Lamar Jackson 31/59 365 yards through the air 143 on the ground. Next closest Baltimore rusher... 22 yards.

The entire Tennessee team had less yards than Lamar Jackson passed for. Taking away the traditional run and turnover was the key for the titans. 

 

[bigdavis]

46 minutes ago, top dawg said:

I remember when many Huddlers were saying Henry wasn't worth drafting in the first. 

I also remember people talking poo about DK Metcalf. Watch what he does today!

We had a birthday party lastnight, and my wife and I were the only ones that said Tennessee would win the game. She said so because they dispatched the Pats (and she hates the Pats & TB12). I told them that the Titans were severely underrated, but were perhaps the most balanced team in the postseason. They have a good defense and a well-balanced offense that revolves around a beast of an RB. I know Tannehill hasn't had to throw, and Corey Davis has been closer to bust this far than not, but he's still a solid receiver. A.J. Brown has been a revelation & makes a huge difference, as well as Tannehill who obviously was misused in Miami. And Jonnu Smith is not chopped liver. My family thought that I was crazy, but not so much now. 

Jackson's stat line did not tell the truth. The Titans' pesky line and their seemingly zone coverage kept Jackson off balance all night long. B-more's receiving corps (or lack thereof) was exposed. It was a beautifully coached game by Vrabel until he got too conservative in the fourth quarter. 

I think there are many ways to win, and I have a certain amount of disdain for a cookie cutter approach to team building. Just like on game days and adapting to your opponent, I love a coach that actually has the desire and expertise to adapt to his team. Vrabel looks to have figured that out. 

.

(Psst...who's your wife like today?)

[TheRumGone]

9 minutes ago, stbugs said:

We got up early. We were up 17-0 at halftime. Had Baltimore score on their first drive, it may have been a completely different game.

They panicked. They should’ve kept sticking to their game plan. Even down 14 they were forcing and pressing. No need for that.

[davos]

What it shows is I would much prefer building a team that can consistently make the playoffs and not one that just shoots their wad once every 5 years.  You never know who ends up making a run and feeling it.  Saints get knocked out and Titans are steamrolling in the AFC.

If this shapes up to be a Titans-49ers SB, it will be the strangest damn SB in forever.

[davos]

Also, funny to note that Ryan Tannehill (An 8th overall pick) is the highest drafted remaining QB left. 

[Actionman0z]

They ran the ball and they stopped the run. 

[mc52beast]

2 hours ago, TheRumGone said:

They barely ran Henry against us for some extremely weird reason.

Decided not to run Henry against one of the worst against the run... sounds like a Rivera game plan 

[Wes21]

2 hours ago, TheRumGone said:

Yeah I want the chiefs or the titans to win the Super Bowl. Don’t like any of these nfc teams really. I can’t stand Bosa, Green Bay and the Seahawks are annoying to play. 

I just came to this realization this morning on my way back from the gym.  I am 100% pulling for the AFC to win it all this year, and have zero desire to see the 49ers, Packers and Seahawks hoisting the trophy in a few weeks.