Stop me if you have heard this one before. The Tennessee Titans traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to take on the Colts and left with their head between their legs.This time it was a 41-17 loss where the Titans played so badly it was never a ballgame. After bad games against Dallas and Cincinnati it was discouraging to see such ineptitude on the field. Here is our Titans At Colts recap.
This team is worse than last year’s team which went 7-9 but was at least competitive against some of the best teams in the league. The team that almost beat Kansas City, Seattle and Arizona looked like a backyard pickup team on the field against the Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts. To be sure that team also handed the Jaguars their first win but that team was still better than the current version.
Where do the Titans go from here? There are way too many problems to be corrected by a “quick fix.” Charlie Whitehurst played decently even good at times but was victimized by his wide receivers including Justin Hunter who tipped a pass right to a Colts defender for an interception. Delanie Walker is the only reliable receiver the Titans have right now.
After the game I asked Titans fans to weigh in on how this team can be fixed or if it can be.
What can be done to fix the Titans? Is this team fixable?
— SimplySharona (@SportsbySharona) September 28, 2014
Thanks to all who responded. Here are the best responses:
@SportsbySharona All the promise of that first win is fool's gold. Truth is the team isn't good at all.
— Ken C (@kencpdx) September 28, 2014
“@TennessyXO: @phycoT3 @SportsbySharona there isn't a starting QB on the roster. Probably won't be until January.”
— SimplySharona (@SportsbySharona) September 28, 2014
@SportsbySharona no…too many problems …esp. no db,s
— Paul Gilbert (@maintman54) September 28, 2014
@SportsbySharona The only thing is to let Wisenhunt do his job and draft his team. Need experienced QB and give time for Sankey to grow.
— Richard Hojnacki (@Hojo1414) September 28, 2014
@SportsbySharona draft smarter get a real qb .
— Brent (@cbrentv3) September 28, 2014
For one, bench Greene and start Sankey! "@SportsbySharona: What can be done to fix the Titans? Is this team fixable?"
— Carey Wood (@SportsandSwag) September 28, 2014
@SportsbySharona Sign a corner now, seriously evaluate LB starts and play time, hand drills for WR's in practice, and tell Roos the truth.
— Burch (@The_Irish_Titan) September 28, 2014
@SportsbySharona Start Sankey & Mettenberger let them get some experience, get some play makers on defense (linebackers), & Draft well
— TalkBack Live Sports (@TalkBackLive) September 28, 2014
Bishop Sankey could be good but the Titans are allergic to running the football. Charlie Whitehurst led the Titans in rushing today with five carries for 40 yards. Sankey carried the ball six times for 37 yards and a touchdown. Shonn Greene had three carries for ten yards and Dexter McCluster two carries for one yard.
The Titans pass/ run ratio this year is 129/76 which only includes designed run plays. I really like Leon Washington but wonder why he on the field so much on offense. It’s not like Sankey et. al. need a breather or anything. They are hardly getting carries at all.
Whitehurst isn’t bad but you have to think Locker gets the start next week if he is healthy. At least Locker and Whitehurst are mobile enough to help compensate for the terrible state of the offensive line. Zach Mettenberger did nothing to indicate he is close to ready and putting him behind this line seems unfair to a guy recovering from an ACL.
It will be interesting to see how many sacks Pro Football Focus credits to Michael Roos. At least three times a defender came around the left edge to get to the quarterback today. We previously wrote Lewan might be in line to get a start soon. The Titans offensive line continues to play poorly in pass protection and it is becoming a major concern.
Blidi Wreh-Wilson might be the worst cornerback in the league right now of all full time starters but what options do they have? Start rookie Marqueston Huff who played safety his last year in college? Move Sensabaugh to the outside? There aren’t any good solutions to that dilemma and someone off the streets isn’t likely to be any better.
The Titans are thin at talent at linebacker and Zaviar Gooden hasn’t quite filled the gap left by the season ending arm injury to Zach Brown. Rookie Avery Williamson played a lot today and made some nice plays. Wesley Woodyard has been a very good pickup but he had a missed tackle that led to a Colts score.
The Titans did not register a sack today and are not consistent getting pressure. There is plenty of blame to spread around for the woes on defense. The Titans run defense held up rather well with the exception of the Trent Richardson touchdown but the Titans pass defense 393 yards in the air.
At least Ryan Succop converted his only field goal try today a 36 yarder to put the Titans on the board in the second quarter. Brett Kern had a better day today but special teams units continue to struggle badly. The return game is nonexistent.
This is a bad football team and the coaching hasn’t inspired much confidence. The Titans return home next Sunday to face the Cleveland Browns. In their only other home game thus far Cowboys fans blanketed the stadium. Will fans stay away in droves after three straight weeks of football ineptitude? It’s reasonable to think they will.
Ken Whisenhunt absolutely deserves time to show what he can do but he surely knows his team can’t continue to play this poorly. He said after the game that perhaps the coaching staff had overestimated the team. I find that statement rather curious and wonder how it played inside the locker room. It doesn’t inspire confidence either.
Former Titans head coach Mike Munchak had a winning record his first season in 2011. There were calls for his job early on in 2012 and the calls got even louder last season which contributed to his termination. The Titans haven’t made the playoffs since 2008 and this team certainly doesn’t look playoff worthy.
The Titans lack depth and their 2014 draft class so far isn’t contributing in a big way though that can certainly change. The Titans did make a few significant changes so Whisenhunt certainly has made a mark on the roster. Their off-season acquisitions with the exception of Wesley Woodyard haven’t make much impact either.
If there are answers to be found the Titans better find them quickly.
