Tacks lose Sirmon

[aj.]

So says ESPN

[blockhead83]

Too bad about Sirmon, never like to see a player injured. The Titans are going to be a different team this year, they lost alot of starters and this will probably only make matters worse. Alot of analysts are still predicting the Titans to end up in 2nd behind the Colts, but with all the turn over in personnel I think it's going to make for an interesting battle for 2nd.

[titan21]

we really didnt lose much that hurt us, however even if we had lost nothing i think the texans proved last season that they are no easy team to beat, and with good blocking carr will make a great qb... our running game will be stronger without eddie, kearse never really played for us because he was always injured, wycheck was injured most of last season also, so were coming back with most of the same squad...the texans will improve this season no doubt about that and i do see them finishing better than the jags...

[aj.]

we really didnt lose much that hurt us

I guess we will find that out as the year progresses.

Kearse had 14 starts for you guys last year. I remember being all over the field when the Texans played in Nashville last year. Then there's some guy named Robaire Smith. Hall is good but your quality depth just got a lot shallower with all the rooks backing up on the DL. One or more may come through for you. Then there's Sirmon who was your starting OLB. I wouldn't say your running game got stronger without Eddie but between Brown and Smith, they should be able to match his production with no problem. Smith has never been a vocal leader (as was Eddie) so there's a few intangibles at work there as well.

[titan21]

Originally Posted by aj.

I guess we will find that out as the year progresses.

Kearse had 14 starts for you guys last year. I remember being all over the field when the Texans played in Nashville last year. Then there's some guy named Robaire Smith. Hall is good but your quality depth just got a lot shallower with all the rooks backing up on the DL. One or more may come through for you. Then there's Sirmon who was your starting OLB. I wouldn't say your running game got stronger without Eddie but between Brown and Smith, they should be able to match his production with no problem. Smith has never been a vocal leader (as was Eddie) so there's a few intangibles at work there as well.

kearse had 9 1/2 sacks last season, good but replaceable..as for smith i dont agree he is a loss at all...look at it, every year well let a good dt go fisk, thorton, ford to name a few and we always find replacing them fairly easily.. although i think robaire is a great dt i think in our system he will be replaced fairly easy. as far as kearse goes, i would be lying if i said he is no loss, however we have played a whole season and parts of two others without him and done great...kevin carter is going in the middle to replace smith, i would say that is an excellent replacement. eddies 3.3 ypc is not worth keeping him around regardless of leadership, their are plenty of veterans that can take over that leadership role.

[swisher]

This is how all Titan fans seem to think. They justify losing players by saying they really were not that good anyway. I'm sure if McNair broke his leg they would all say Volek was a better QB anyway because they came back and beat Atlanta with him.

The Titans have had 5 good to great seasons in a row. Even the non-playoff season was not bad. So it really must feek like that when you lose quality that they will just find someone else to replace him. Eventually that doesn't happen. I just wonder how Titan fans will handle a couple of losing seasons in a row. They have been some pretty blessed NFL fans...it doesn't work that way forever.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by titan21

we really didnt lose much that hurt us...

On the surface, I agree. Boiman was ready to challenge Sirmon for a starting spot and is a better pass rusher. The difference is that when an OLB goes down with an injury during the season, the replacement is now a rookie 5th round draft pick. Free agency has ravaged the depth of the Titans. If the Titans can't keep their regulars on the field for that brutal 3 game division road trip in late Nov.- early Dec. (@ Jax, @Hou, @IND), they may be in the unfamiliar position of watching the playoffs on the tube.

[titan21]

Originally Posted by Lucky

On the surface, I agree. Boiman was ready to challenge Sirmon for a starting spot and is a better pass rusher. The difference is that when an OLB goes down with an injury during the season, the replacement is now a rookie 5th round draft pick. Free agency has ravaged the depth of the Titans. If the Titans can't keep their regulars on the field for that brutal 3 game division road trip in late Nov.- early Dec. (@ Jax, @Hou, @IND), they may be in the unfamiliar position of watching the playoffs on the tube.

yes very true. but injuries will kill any teams season. i just say were not any worse off than we were last season, pending injuries which i should have mentioned... good luck this season, i think you guys will be much improved

[infantrycak]

we really didnt lose much that hurt us

Just to weigh in a little more on the same quote--Fisher will do a great job of minimizing the damage, but losing 3 of the starting front 7 from last year, one of whom was the undisputed best of the front 7, and none intentionally so they could be upgraded has to hurt the defense more than minimally even if everyone stays healthy and could turn into an absolute disaster if one of the replacements goes down. I doubt Tennessee matches its league best 27.7% 3rd down conversion rate allowed this year.