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Game 4...The Tacks...Tennessee Titans!

corry said:
Well Bortles did play better against the Texans than Mariota did if you judge their last games against the Texans.

Texans defense starts off slow every year under Vrabel/Rac. We have heard it 4 years in a row from other trolls who come in here. At the end of the day we were the number one defense without JJ Watt last year. Tom Brady just got sacked 5 times. That hasn't happened in the regular season since 2015.
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Agree the Texans D looked great last week against NE but I would remind you TN OL is a lot better than NE and Watt has not faced Conklin. Watt's damage came before Lewan and Conklin showed up. Mercelius had some success with Lewan but not much. I just heard Davis is out for this week so you won't have to worry about his speed or physical ability but there are a ton of weapons on this teams with a tough scheme to defend. Jax and Sea have excellent defenses. Houston does too but TN has not had trouble with them in the past. Jax D is a tougher match up for TN. The real problem for everyone in the AFCS is how to deal with Walker. So far he has been used pretty differently this year than in years passed because now TN has another fast TE in Jonnu Smith. He already has two TD's and he has shown the ability to block in the run scheme we employ. There is a lot to unpack with TN run game and they really stress the DE as this shows below. I think it is going to be a great game but I think Houston D is not what it was the last three years because of the LB and DB changes.
 
Mariota has only played Hou once and that was the first game last yr. He was hurt in the other 3 he could have played so I don't think Houston has had a dose of him just yet.
 
CTEisREAL said:
Agree the Texans D looked great last week against NE but I would remind you TN OL is a lot better than NE and Watt has not faced Conklin. Watt's damage came before Lewan and Conklin showed up. Mercelius had some success with Lewan but not much. I just heard Davis is out for this week so you won't have to worry about his speed or physical ability but there are a ton of weapons on this teams with a tough scheme to defend. Jax and Sea have excellent defenses. Houston does too but TN has not had trouble with them in the past. Jax D is a tougher match up for TN. The real problem for everyone in the AFCS is how to deal with Walker. So far he has been used pretty differently this year than in years passed because now TN has another fast TE in Jonnu Smith. He already has two TD's and he has shown the ability to block in the run scheme we employ. There is a lot to unpack with TN run game and they really stress the DE as this shows below. I think it is going to be a great game but I think Houston D is not what it was the last three years because of the LB and DB changes.
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This is what I don't understand.Titan fans have come over on this board all week to boast about beating up on Jacksonville and Seattle's defenses. Just to drop some facts on you, Seattle/Jaguars best position groups on defense is in their secondary. There is no disputing that. The Titans did not move the ball on Jacksonville until the second half when Bortles could not sustain a drive(first game without his top receiver, even then....it's Blake Bortles)and the defense got tired. The Texans defensive strength is Whitney Merciless, JD Clowney, JJ Watt, Bernardrick McKinney, DJ Reader, Christian Covington, Cunningham. It is our front 7.

Our LB changes? Cushing was replaced by an All American LB who has proven to be great in coverage and even the outside running game. It's helped our defense.

The NFL is matchup based. We match up very well against the Titans. Marcus Mariota had a solid 54 passer rating against the Texans last year. He's 3-6 in his last 9 against the AFC South. Remembering last years
Game, you were beat by a team that had Brock Osweiler at QB who could not keep the offense on the field nor sustain drives. The Texans didn't have JJ Watt.

The Titans have been nobodies for the last several years. A 2-1 record is great, but very beatable if the offense can stay on the field and the front 7 is playing well. The Texans are defending AFC South champs and if Watson plays similar to what he did against New England(we have no reason to think he won't against a defense who got torched last week)then the Texans will be 2-2 with the arrow pointing up.

Will eat crow if I am wrong, but we are a nightmare matchup for you.
 
CTEisREAL said:
Mariota has only played Hou once and that was the first game last yr. He was hurt in the other 3 he could have played so I don't think Houston has had a dose of him just yet.
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Mariota picked up garbage yards at the end of the game and could not move the ball in the air due to no running game. If the Titans want to win they will need him to have a great day with the arm.
 
Tennessee is playing some solid football both offensively and defensively. It's still early but this to me is a must win game. We can not get behind in our Division.

If our offensive line have a solid outing, we will win this game 30- 20.
 
Texansballer74 said:
Tennessee is playing some solid football both offensively and defensively. It's still early but this to me is a must win game. We can not get behind in our Division.

If our offensive line have a solid outing, we will win this game 30- 20.
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Yeah they are 28th in defense.Solid.
 
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corry said:
Mariota picked up garbage yards at the end of the game and could not move the ball in the air due to no running game. If the Titans want to win they will need him to have a great day with the arm.
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Not so sure on that. Titans are top 5 in rushing through three games averaging over 150 yards a game, and Texans run defense is middle of the pack. Might not need more than a game manager if they get to running well.
 
sandman said:
Not so sure on that. Titans are top 5 in rushing through three games averaging over 150 yards a game, and Texans run defense is middle of the pack. Might not need more than a game manager if they get to running well.
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95yds against Raiders.

Loss.

Coincidentally Mariotas worst game.

Seattle the week prior also gave up a 150 yard game to Carlos Hyde.
 
corry said:
Yeah they are 28th in defense.Solid.
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They practically shut the Jaguars down until garbage time. They have a better front 7 than the Patriots.

Seattle didn't get going until the end of the 3rd quarter when the game was out of reach. So they got garbage points in the 4th in which made it look like it was a good game.

I got a chance to watch both of those games. How about you?

Stat watching doesn't tell the entire story.
 
Texansballer74 said:
They practically shut the Jaguars down until garbage time. They have a better front 7 than the Patriots.

Seattle didn't get going until the end of the 3rd quarter when the game was out of reach. So they got garbage points in the 4th in which made it look like it was a good game.

I got a chance to watch both of those games. How about you?

Stat watching doesn't tell the entire story.
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I did watch the game. There secondary is bad. When the Seahawks got aggressive they moved the ball with ease. Russel Wilson was extremely inaccurate as well.
 
corry said:
I did watch the game. There secondary is bad. When the Seahawks got aggressive they moved the ball with ease. Russel Wilson was extremely inaccurate as well.
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And when was that? When the game was out of reach. In the 1st half and in part of the 3rd Seattle couldn't get going
 
Just 4 more days until the Texans and Tacks square off at NRG Sunday afternoon! Let's go Texans! Shut these noisy Tracks fans up that are talking like they already won the division and Super Bowl.
My prediction of the Texans handling the Titans by 17 points stands.
Our Texans will beat those cheesy Tacks!
 
corry said:
It was a one score game for a significant time in the 4th.
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Nightmare match up? Both teams were 9-7 last year and Mariota missed the last game and a back up QB beat you in week 17. TN DL ate the Hou OL for lunch that day.

Mariota and Watt have NEVER been on the field once at the same time. The match up nightmare is the Hou D now that TN has some weapons. You cannot just stack the box now. Jax commited to the run but TN is dedicated to it. No one.......no one has two backs that can sustain what TN can for 4 Q's. Houston LB and DB's are not even close to Sea or Jax. The best Hou has is the DL and it faces the best TN has in the best OT tandem in the league. We will see how this goes Sunday but I think Texan fans are in for rude awakening when they see the weapons and how they are being used in this offense now. I think TN is going to move the ball in the air a lot this week.
 
CTEisREAL said:
Nightmare match up? Both teams were 9-7 last year and Mariota missed the last game and a back up QB beat you in week 17. TN DL ate the Hou OL for lunch that day.

Mariota and Watt have NEVER been on the field once at the same time. The match up nightmare is the Hou D now that TN has some weapons. You cannot just stack the box now. Jax commited to the run but TN is dedicated to it. No one.......no one has two backs that can sustain what TN can for 4 Q's. Houston LB and DB's are not even close to Sea or Jax. The best Hou has is the DL and it faces the best TN has in the best OT tandem in the league. We will see how this goes Sunday but I think Texan fans are in for rude awakening when they see the weapons and how they are being used in this offense now. I think TN is going to move the ball in the air a lot this week.
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Are you seriously bragging about a Titans win when Houston rested their key starters because they had a PLAYOFF game the following week?
 
CTEisREAL said:
I like Watson a lot and I believed he should have been the first QB taken but he will be under duress this week and if he gets behind early this one might get wild. Good luck and I hope there is no injuries. I will be at the game.
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So we'll see.

There's no doubt Mariota benefited from a danm good run game & a healthy lead. We're going to try to take that run game away & see how he does. In the past, against us, he hadn't done too well.

I know things are different now... that's what we're going to find out, how different.
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
Mariota has looked good at times this year (better than last year), but last game he was pretty based on busted plays.
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Effective run game will make a QB look much better than he is. Dak looks pretty normal when the Cowboys can't run the ball. That's what separates the Manning,Rodgers,Brady's of the world.
 
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VondyP last season was last season. The last game wasn't important to us because we already locked up the Division and the playoffs.

Your boys are looking good right now for sure. But our Texans will be up for the challenge. Our defense will not be given up big play after big play this weekend bud. Best believe that.
 
VondyP said:
wrong again! he played both weeks 1 AND 2

you cow fans need to get better info
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I stand corrected..........must have been the fact that his performance during those games were forgettable.
VondyP said:
wrong again! he played both weeks 1 AND 2

you cow fans need to get better info
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You know, I have never minded being corrected, but your obvious troll approach has brought nothing constructive to the board. You started your thread Titans > Cows ... Deal With It in the appropriate section for smack, and when you couldn't get enough, you took it into a section where constructive football discussion is expected and welcomed, and from which even trolls usually have enough respect to stay away. The only thing that you have managed to accomplish on this board is to tarnish the good Titans fans that want to visit our board in good faith.
 
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For some reason, these Tacks fans believe their team is on the same level as the Patriots. Talk about delusional thinking.
First, the Tacks running game. Murray and Henry. They will run into Watt, Clowney, Mercilus, McKinney, Reader and Covington. That equals shut down. You'll be lucky to see the Tacks get even close to 100 yards total rushing. Even with Mariota running the ball to escape with his life.
Speaking of which, he will be running for his life constantly from his first offensive snap. Watt, Clowney and the boys will make his life miserable.
Once your team can't run and have to resort to passing, the Texans defense will pin their ears back and destroy Mariota every time he drops back. Count on it.
He is no Tom Brady. Who, by the way, Deshuan went toe to toe with and almost beat.
Speaking of Deshuan, he has almost all of his weapons back, but all he really needs is D Hop. Not really. Watson likes all if his weapons because he used all of them in the Patriots game. He went to 9 different receivers. Let's not forget Will Fuller. He ran back a punt for a touchdown and also caught a touchdown last year against your Tacks and it looks like he'll be back. Look out!
Your Tacks don't have a receiver that's even a pimple on Hopkins butt.
Go ahead. Count your chickens before they hatch and you'll find that as I predicted, the Texans will have 34 of them and your Tacks might get lucky enough to have 17.
 
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JamTex said:
For some reason, these Tacks fans believe their team is on the same level as the Patriots. Talk about delusional thinking.
First, the Tacks running game. Murray and Henry. They will run into Watt, Clowney, Mercilus, McKinney, Reader and Covington. That equals shut down. You'll be lucky to see the Tacks get even close to 100 yards total rushing. Even with Mariota running the ball to escape with his life.
Speaking of which, he will be running for his life constantly from his first offensive snap. Watt, Clowney and the boys will make his life miserable.
Once your team can't run and have to resort to passing, the Texans defense will pin their ears back and destroy Mariota every time he drops back. Count on it.
He is no Tom Brady. Who, by the way, Deshuan went toe to toe with and almost beat.
Speaking of Deshuan, he has almost all of his weapons back, but all he really needs is D Hop. Not really. Watson likes all if his weapons because he used all of them in the Patriots game. He went to 9 different receivers. Let's not forget Will Fuller. He ran back a punt for a touchdown and also caught a touchdown last year against your Tacks and it looks like he'll be back. Look out!
Your Tacks don't have a receiver that's even a pimple on Hopkins butt.
Go ahead. Count your chickens before they hatch and you'll find that as I predicted, the Texans will have 34 of them and your Tacks might get lucky enough to have 17.
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Well then...
 
JamTex said:
For some reason, these Tacks fans believe their team is on the same level as the Patriots. Talk about delusional thinking.
First, the Tacks running game. Murray and Henry. They will run into Watt, Clowney, Mercilus, McKinney, Reader and Covington. That equals shut down. You'll be lucky to see the Tacks get even close to 100 yards total rushing. Even with Mariota running the ball to escape with his life.
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That's what we expected to see against Fournette, but he took it to us instead... I know hurricane and all. I respect the Titans running game. Will make Mariota's job easier. Hate to say it, but the Tit's have a good team. Not sure about their defense or coaching. This will be another close division game, and means little more than any other week 3 division game.

Oh, when was the last time their WR's scared anyone?
 
CloakNNNdagger said:
I stand corrected..........must have been the fact that his performance during those games were forge

You know, I have never minded being corrected, but your obvious troll approach has brought nothing constructive to the board. You started your thread Titans > Cows ... Deal With It in the appropriate section for smack, and when you couldn't get enough, you took it into a section where constructive football discussion is expected and welcomed, and from which even trolls usually have enough respect to stay away. The only thing that you have managed to accomplish on this board is to tarnish the good Titans fans that want to visit our board in good faith.
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Go easy on him. It's hard being married to his own cousin.
 
JB said:
That's what we expected to see against Fournette, but he took it to us instead... I know hurricane and all. I respect the Titans running game. Will make Mariota's job easier. Hate to say it, but the Tit's have a good team. Not sure about their defense or coaching. This will be another close division game, and means little more than any other week 3 division game.

Oh, when was the last time their WR's scared anyone?
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And the Texans defense knows that. If you look at the last 3 years historically, the Texans defense has come out slow. By the 4th game they have been coming together as a unit and gotten much better. The running game, in particular, has always done well against our texas defense in the first few games. However, they always have tightened it up by the 3rd or 4th game and start getting stops in the team's running game. Just watch. Murray and Henry, by the way, are not Fournette. He's better then both of them combined. The Jaguars should definitely be taken more seriously then the Titans. The Titans are a good team, but they're not there yet. The defensive line is going to tame the Titans running game and force Mariota to start throwing the ball. That's when the Titans will get in trouble. JJ and the boys will go after him relentlessly.
On another note, the Texans defense is pissed about last weekend's loss that was snatched from them by the Patriots and Tom Brady. They will come out and play with vengeance in their hearts and on their minds. Unfortunately for the Titans, the Texans will take that out on their offense. Yes. The Texans defense will stop Murray and Henry. Force Mariota to try and beat them in the air, and with no real weapons that scare a defense, he'll find himself running for his life most of the game. It's going to be another epic beat down by our Texans. Just watch.
 
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I wouldn't be posting this here except for the fact that it is Delanie Walker and the Titans coming to our house this Sunday.

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Delanie Walker to fans who boycott NFL over protests: Bye
Posted by Charean Williams on September 27, 2017, 8:29 PM EDT


Some fans have threatened to boycott the NFL over players’ protests during the national anthem. Titans tight end Delanie Walker has a message for them: Bye.

“First off, I’m going to say this: We’re not disrespecting the military, the men and woman that serve in the Army. That’s not what it’s all about,” Walker said, via Jason Wolf of The Tennessean. “. . . I’ve been in the USO. I support the troops. This is not about that. It’s about equal rights, and that’s all everyone is trying to show, is that we all care about each other.

“And the fans that don’t want to come to the game? I mean, OK. Bye. I mean, if you feel that’s something, we’re disrespecting you, don’t come to the game. You don’t have to. No one’s telling you to come to the game. It’s your freedom of choice to do that.”

The Titans were among three teams that skipped the national anthem Sunday after President Donald Trump’s tweets. The President has predicted a backlash against the NFL in the wake of the protests, which included dozens of NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem in Week 3.

““That’s their choice [not to watch],” cornerback Logan Ryan said. “That’s the beauty of this country. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone’s opinion is equal. So right, wrong or indifferent, that’s the beauty of this country — that everyone should have equal rights and equal opinions on what they want. If they don’t want to watch, that’s their choice. That’s perfect.”

The Titans, per Wolf, have not decided how to handle the national anthem this week.
 
thunderkyss said:
1 injury kept him out of three games?

:thinking:
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Mariota suffered a high ankle sprain/fibula fracture (similar to Nick Martin's injury) . Had he sustained this injury early in the season, it would have been a 4 month recovery and he would have essentially missed the entire season. Many times, WHEN injuries occur, determines the true impact of the injury.
 
JamTex said:
For some reason, these Tacks fans believe their team is on the same level as the Patriots. Talk about delusional thinking.
First, the Tacks running game. Murray and Henry. They will run into Watt, Clowney, Mercilus, McKinney, Reader and Covington. That equals shut down. You'll be lucky to see the Tacks get even close to 100 yards total rushing. Even with Mariota running the ball to escape with his life.
Speaking of which, he will be running for his life constantly from his first offensive snap. Watt, Clowney and the boys will make his life miserable.
Once your team can't run and have to resort to passing, the Texans defense will pin their ears back and destroy Mariota every time he drops back. Count on it.
He is no Tom Brady. Who, by the way, Deshuan went toe to toe with and almost beat.
Speaking of Deshuan, he has almost all of his weapons back, but all he really needs is D Hop. Not really. Watson likes all if his weapons because he used all of them in the Patriots game. He went to 9 different receivers. Let's not forget Will Fuller. He ran back a punt for a touchdown and also caught a touchdown last year against your Tacks and it looks like he'll be back. Look out!
Your Tacks don't have a receiver that's even a pimple on Hopkins butt.
Go ahead. Count your chickens before they hatch and you'll find that as I predicted, the Texans will have 34 of them and your Tacks might get lucky enough to have 17.
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Uh, none of us Titans fans in Nashville are thinking that. Yes we are more optimistic about this season than in years past. The team certainly overachieved last season and was very close to replacing you guys as the AFC South champ. But we didn't get it done and so the team (and the fan base) is taking every game seriously. For last week, the conventional wisdom was that the game could go either way and we found a way to break the game open after a first half stalemate of multiple 3 and outs on both sides.

Your team is fortunate in that Watson seems to be settling in and performing well. It wasn't too long ago that the entire QB situation in Houston was a massive cluster**** and there was serious talk about having to go back to the well of the draft. Now that may not be necessary....we'll see. Watt is healthy again and normally he and Clowney strike fear in O-lines. But Lewan and Conklin are also the real deal and do a pretty nice job keeping Mariota upright. For all three games, he's operated with a pretty clean pocket. And speaking of Mariota, he has better weapons than before, especially from two years ago. The one big problem is that our 1st round draft pick rookie Corey Davis won't play again this week. But Matthews, Decker and Taylor have all been solid for us. Delanie Walker is extremely hard to stop and Jonnu Smith already has a couple of TD catches.

Many of us in Nashville were openly questioning whether Demarco Murray was ever going to be the same guy again...the guy that led the AFC in rushing last year. Oops, never mind! I guess that hammy isn't as bad as we feared. And when you're tired of getting pounded by that guy, then Derrick Henry comes in to finish the job. It's an enviable position to be in.

The defensive line is much the same as a year ago with Orakpo, Morgan and Casey as the threats. Their sack totals haven't been league leading so far but we've gotten them where it counts. The secondary got some much needed upgrades with the addition of Logan Ryan at corner and 1st round draft pick Adoree Jackson. A note to your punter....never kick to Adoree....he will burn you. We should have gotten a TD return from him last week were if not for a block in the back penalty that didn't even matter to the return. And the safety ranks are better now that Kevin Byard has come into his own (watch for him on the safety blitz) and we have Jonathan Cyprien now too (although he's been hurt of late).

Bottom line is that coming into Houston is always a tough game. But I like our chances better than previous years (and even last year).
 
Sevenfeet said:
Uh, none of us Titans fans in Nashville are thinking that. Yes we are more optimistic about this season than in years past. The team certainly overachieved last season and was very close to replacing you guys as the AFC South champ. But we didn't get it done and so the team (and the fan base) is taking every game seriously. For last week, the conventional wisdom was that the game could go either way and we found a way to break the game open after a first half stalemate of multiple 3 and outs on both sides.

Your team is fortunate in that Watson seems to be settling in and performing well. It wasn't too long ago that the entire QB situation in Houston was a massive cluster**** and there was serious talk about having to go back to the well of the draft. Now that may not be necessary....we'll see. Watt is healthy again and normally he and Clowney strike fear in O-lines. But Lewan and Conklin are also the real deal and do a pretty nice job keeping Mariota upright. For all three games, he's operated with a pretty clean pocket. And speaking of Mariota, he has better weapons than before, especially from two years ago. The one big problem is that our 1st round draft pick rookie Corey Davis won't play again this week. But Matthews, Decker and Taylor have all been solid for us. Delanie Walker is extremely hard to stop and Jonnu Smith already has a couple of TD catches.

Many of us in Nashville were openly questioning whether Demarco Murray was ever going to be the same guy again...the guy that led the AFC in rushing last year. Oops, never mind!
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Welcome to the board. Nice reasonable post. Thank you for not trolling like the others earlier in the thread here.

Most of us recognize these Titans are much improved and we expect a tough game. Should be a good game, looking forward to it.
 
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Sevenfeet said:
Your team is fortunate in that Watson seems to be settling in and performing well. It wasn't too long ago that the entire QB situation in Houston was a massive cluster**** and there was serious talk about having to go back to the well of the draft. Now that may not be necessary....we'll see.
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It wasn't that long ago (week 1 to be exact). But there was no talk about drafting another QB (the Texans don't even have a pick until round 3). Watson was always going to be the future. The question was, when does the future become the present. Answer? 2nd half of the opening game. We've seen enough to know Watson is the future. Most are pretty happy about it. One thing that has been constant the last 5 years of Texans QB turmoil? The Texans beating the Titans.
 
Lucky said:
It wasn't that long ago (week 1 to be exact). But there was no talk about drafting another QB (the Texans don't even have a pick until round 3). Watson was always going to be the future. The question was, when does the future become the present. Answer? 2nd half of the opening game. We've seen enough to know Watson is the future. Most are pretty happy about it. One thing that has been constant the last 5 years of Texans QB turmoil? The Texans beating the Titans.
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Point taken. I guess from the outside looking in, and especially after the QB musical chairs, the open question was whether that Watson was really going to elevate himself to be "The Guy". Looks like you might have that and just in time to play us. But I personally think the jury is still out. I mean, in JAX, few think that Bortles is going to be the long term solution anymore. Let he still turns in a good game every now and then to keep himself employed (like when we played him at the end of last season). Mariota still gets a fair amount of criticism in Nashville, even in year 3. And we suffered through the mediocrity of the Jake Locker era.

Fun stats: Since Week 3 or last year, the Titans O-line have are tied for 2nd in surrendering the fewest sacks. But the Titans haven't won in Houston since, I think 2011?
 
Sevenfeet said:
Point taken. I guess from the outside looking in, and especially after the QB musical chairs, the open question was whether that Watson was really going to elevate himself to be "The Guy". Looks like you might have that and just in time to play us. But I personally think the jury is still out. I mean, in JAX, few think that Bortles is going to be the long term solution anymore. Let he still turns in a good game every now and then to keep himself employed (like when we played him at the end of last season). Mariota still gets a fair amount of criticism in Nashville, even in year 3. And we suffered through the mediocrity of the Jake Locker era.

Fun stats: Since Week 3 or last year, the Titans O-line have are tied for 2nd in surrendering the fewest sacks. But the Titans haven't won in Houston since, I think 2011?
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Mariota is really tough to judge. The run game is so potent that he doesn't need to be anything more than a guy who hands the ball off and convert 3rd downs. Does Tenn's concepts stunt his overall growth as a QB as he relies on the run game too much? Again, not his fault but hes not asked to do a lot. Jury should be out until he proves he can consistently move the ball through the air when the run game isnt working. He struggled against the Raiders in that same scenario. The Tenn run game is a gift and a curse almost.
 
This game is gonna come down to the titans run game vs. our front 7. I like our chances there.

NFL network re-aired the Texans/Pats game last night and there are lots of things that are being overplayed about that game.

We had lots of coverage busts & big plays against us in the Pats game primarily b/c: #1, we had new starters in the secondary in Gilchrist and Moore..... #2 b/c Brandon Cooks is a monster & #3, b/c Tom Brady is......Tom Brady. The titans don't have any WR on the outside or elsewhere that scares us like Cooks, Mariota damn sure ain't TB12 & I'm sure in watching film Vrabes coached those guys up on the mistakes they made which led to Cooks & Hogan running wide open on 3 of TB12's 5 TDs....In other words Titans fans, don't plan on seeing anything close to mistakes like that being made in this game.

The 2nd thing is the JJ is washed up thing...dude was getting doubled and chipped all game....... & was still back there making plays all game. What folks are seeing is JJ coming down from the defensive GOD mode he was in for the last 5 years to just very very good....all while he's working himself back from being off for basically a year. He likely will never be that defensive cheat code he was prior to his injury again, but with each game this year he has looked better and better.

Finally.....this whole notion that NE's pass rush was nonexistent/defense is bad thing....... and that's why Watson looked so good - rewatching that game, they got plenty of pressure on Watson, he was just slippery enough to get out of negative plays & sacks. Did he get away with a few things that a better defense maybe would've capitalized on? Sure. The reality though is that their defense isn't really all that bad than in previous years its just that we largely avoided turning the ball over and our offense was able to match them in this game.........which are 2 things that plagued us and we couldn't do in previous match ups.

All in all it's going to be a knock down drag out game, but i think we come out on top b/c of the home field & b/c our defense has already seen the best offense its going to see in the Pats & I don't believe the Titans are anywhere close to that on offense despite what kind of numbers they've been putting up...that plus they haven't really been tested on the road.
 
Should be a good game. Hopefully the home crowd does it's thing & provide an advantage for them boys on Kirby.
 
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corry said:
Mariota is really tough to judge. The run game is so potent that he doesn't need to be anything more than a guy who hands the ball off and convert 3rd downs. Does Tenn's concepts stunt his overall growth as a QB as he relies on the run game too much? Again, not his fault but hes not asked to do a lot. Jury should be out until he proves he can consistently move the ball through the air when the run game isnt working. He struggled against the Raiders in that same scenario. The Tenn run game is a gift and a curse almost.
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The reason we rely on the run game is mainly coaching philosophy. Mularkey is pretty old school in that respect. And it's an age old axiom in the NFL that you still need the run in the modern pass-happy NFL in order not to be one dimensional. You can survive like that (sometimes) if you're Brady or Rodgers or Big Ben, but most other QBs need a balanced attack.

This is why we traded for Murray and drafted Henry shortly thereafter. And Mariota is built for the occasional designed run to keep the defense honest. We didn't get much on the ground in the first 20 minutes of the game last week. But by having a strong, dual-back running attack, the Seahawks were gassed later in the game allowing for some big plays.

The formula for a Titans victory is pretty basic. Mariota passes for about 28-32 attempts and Murray-Henry combine for about the same. If Mariota passes much more than that, we're probably behind and we lose. That's what happened in the Oakland game where he had 41 attempts.
 
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