FOF07 - Tennessee Titans Dynasty

[DrTeeth]

This is my first attempt at anything like this, but I am excited about the challenge. I have enjoyed this game now for about 3 weeks. Having just started the 2019 season, I have decided to report on how the Titans are doing with an aging Vince Young.

I certainly welcome and encourage some feedback, criticisms, etc from anyone who reads. For example, the first two drafts I've written are quite long. Too long? See any holes in my strategies? Let me know what you think. I am especially hurting in trying to get a good CB in the draft. Hmm....

If anyone is interested in a quick recap of seasons 2006-2018, let me know. They have been very exciting and Vince Young turned out very well.

Anyway, without further delay, I present the start of the 2019 preseason...

[DrTeeth]

The Tennessee Titans come out of training camp 2019 the reigning world champions for the second year in a row. In fact, they are the team of the decade, winning 6 of the 9 Bowls since 2010. They also appeared in the 2009 Bowl but lost to the New York Giants. Incredibly, 4 of the Bowl victories have been won against the Green Bay Packers, including last year's.

Vince Young is a sure hall-of-famer as he has been named the player of the year 8 times, including the past 5 years in a row. This is only a glimpse of the huge wall of awards that decorates his home. His passing (and rushing!) records may stand the test of time.

After a "B" reviewed 2019 draft, a successful training camp and a lot of pep-talks and speculation in the media, it is time to start the 2019 exhibition games. The Titans have sold 77,000 of the 78,500 seats in their recently-renovated stadium already to season ticket holders and the fans are ready to see some games.

The Titans play the season opener this year at home against the San Fransisco 49ers. 49ers QB Alex Smith comes into town with a scouted rating of 70. This guy can read defenses with the best of them (he may BE the best of them) and the Titans may have trouble stopping his passing attack. The past decade has not been good for the Titan's secondary, having most of its stars retire in the past 3 or 4 years. After a series of disappointing first-round DB picks, it seems like deja vu all over again. We'll see how they stack up tonight.

The good news is that the secondary of the 49ers seems just as sad. Vince Young's grip seems to be getting weaker when he runs the ball in his 14th season as the fumbles keep piling up. As long as his receivers can get open, he should have no problem gaining some yards through the air. This might be a bit difficult, however, as one of their two star receivers of past years has retired during the past off-season, keeping all-time receiving TD record-holder Troy Kempa in charge of the mostly young and inexperienced receiving squad. His leadership will be helpful in getting these guys to come into their own for when he decides to retire.

San Francisco is predicted to lose this one by a safety -- only two points -- tonight in front of this crowd of 77,000. The weather is cool by Tennessee August standards, coming in at a very nice 74 degrees with a wind of 11 mph. Tennessee won the toss and have elected to receive. Let's get this game underway...

On the first play from scrimmage on the TEN 25, veteran Vince Young, obviously rusty from the months of playing Madden instead of real football, threw a 4-yard pass intended for starting running back Adrian Leisure that was interecepted by 49ers CB Kyle Morris. Luckily Leisure was right there to catch him before he returned it more than 1 yard. This certainly results in the 49ers having good field position.

After a tough 7-play defensive stand, allowing just 11 yards, the Titans force the 49ers to settle for a 34 yard field goal.

The rest of the first quarter was a series of unexciting trading of punts until the last play of the first quarter. Vince Young and the Titans took over on their own 28 yard line, threw 3 complete passes in a row, and brought the team to the TEN 46. Rookie Marc Lowe took over the drive (and the game) from there, completing 4 of the first 6 passes of his professional career to get second-year receiver Rex Chaplin in the endzone with a very nice 9 yard pass, throwing into the double coverage of a defense expecting the pass.

After the PAT, the Titans are up 7-3 with 11:31 to go in the 2nd quarter.

Late in the 2nd, The Titans capitalize on a 49ers fumble at the TEN 43, going 57 yards on 7 plays led by the dual-rushing attack of Leisure and third-year backup Matt Herndon. The drive ended with Herndon scoring on a 4 yard stretch around the right-end.

Titans 14, 49ers 3 with 2:28 left in quarter 2.

The third quarter was played poorly by both sides of the ball having Lowe throw his first interception, veteran kicker Bryce Graham missing a 43-yard field goal though scoring on a 42-yard boot, capping off a drive that starting from yet another 49ers turnover. Thankfully, the 49ers were not able to make points out of the mistakes of the Titans.

The fourth quarter was yet another hard-fought battle but the 49ers were finally able to put more points on the board on a 45-yard field goal.

Titans 17, 49ers 6 with 11:05 left in the game.

San Francisco still had life in them yet. After holding the Titans offense, the 49ers went on an 11-play, 66-yard drive. On 1st and 10 on the TEN 14, Backup QB Earl Gildon threw an interception right to Titans CB Devin Ramirez. Ramirez, the 6 year player out of Georgia, wisely knelt the ball in the endzone, resulting in a touchback.

The Titans time-killing playbook was opened and they successfully ran down the clock until the 49ers got their hands on it once more with 1:09 left in the game. After 4 tries from their own 5 yard line, the ball went over own downs and rookie Marc Lowe knelt the ball from the victory formation to seal the victory.

The standout performances of the game were 3rd year backup RB Matt Herndon averaging 5.9 yards per carry on 10 touches for 59 yards and a touchdown. The rushing leader of the day was Adrian Leisure going a very good 85 yards on a mere 10 carries, 3 times for 10 yards or more. Rookie QB Marc Lowe came to play completing 21 of his first 26 NFL passes for 160 yards, a TD and a pick for a rating of 89.1. Not bad when the veteran Young went only 6-9 for 45 yards and a pick (rating of 38.9). Fifth-year MLB R.J. Gaines received player of the game honors by racking up 9 tackles, 3 assists and 2 sacks in the game.

In the end, the Titans controlled the field, keeping San Francisco limited to a total of 165 yards while Tennessee came up with 365. It was obviously the first game of the season as the two teams combined for 17 penalties in the game, the Titans claiming 11 of those.

Next week, Tennessee travels to their old rivals Green Bay for a Super Bowl 2018 rematch. We'll see you there!

[DrTeeth]

The Tennessee Titans are the visiting team this week as they travel to Green Bay to battle their perennial NFC rivals. In the 7 times the teams have met on the field, the Titans have walked away with victory 5 of those. The last time they met, Tennessee comfortably put them behind them in a 27-14 win in the Super Bowl.

The Packers are led by 15-year veteran Aaron Rodgers. He is protected very well on the left side of the line and well enough on his right. Rodgers currently is #1 in the all-time passing attempts and all-time passing yards record spots. Rodgers's arch-rival, Vince Young of the Titans, holds spots #2 and #3 of those records, respectively, as well as #1 in all-time QB rating, all-time pass completions, all-time completion percentage and all-time touchdown passes. Though they are rivals on the field, they are actually very good friends off the field, often talking to each other on the phone after every game. In fact, after last year's Super Bowl, the two families vacationed together in Mediterranean.

On defense, 5-year strong safety Jimmy Valencia out of Northwestern is the man to watch from the Packers, especially after being named All-League 2nd Team Safety in 2018. His Man-to-Man defense, play diagnosis and punishing hitter skills are top-notch. It seems he is a bit injury prone, however, as he was placed on injury reserve after week 17 of the 2016 season and after week 1 of the 2017 season. I'm sure that the Packers are hoping to keep him healthy throughout this season, so I don't expect much playing time from him during this exhibition game.

Tennessee is expected to win this matchup by 13, though no team is immune to the Green Bay home-field advantage. It is going to be hard to find a seat here as the official attendance is pegged at 62,800 out of a 63,200 capacity stadium. The temp tonight is a very nice 68 degrees. Green Bay has won the toss and wants the ball. Let's get started...

With the first drive starting on their own 20 yard line, the Packers' QB Aaron Rodgers completed all 4 of his passes for a staggering 64 yards and a touchdown to WR Quentin Nichols on an 18-yard toss. After only 4 minutes of play, the Packers are on the scoreboard.

Titans 0, Packers 7

After two bad passes from Vince Young and a sack, the Titans have no choice but to punt the ball into the waiting hands of the Packer's offense. Each of Green Bay's defensive ends are credited with a hurry, and OLB Jimmie Wellstone got by T Ray Hanspard and sacked Young for 5 yards on 3rd and 10.

The Packers take the opportunity given to them and march down the field for 76 yards, being stopped only on 3rd and goal from the 3 for a 2 yard gain. After a Mike Nugent field goal, the Packers are up by 10.

Titans 0, Packers 10 (3:08 left in Q1)

On the sidelines during the last drive, Young must have shaken out the cobwebs as the next drive was classic Young. Starting at his own 20, he sequentially completes passes for 16 yards, 10 yards and a 10 yard pass that WR Rex Chaplin turns into 54 yards and a touchdown. Three plays, 80 yards and the Titans are in business.

Titans 7, Packers 10 (1:30 left in Q1)

However, the Packers weren't through with playing Rodgers. Not yet satisfied with his performance on the day, they keep him in the game where he leads his team right back down the field. Their 70 yard drive was capped off by another Aaron Rodgers TD pass to Quentin Nichols, this time for 13 yards.

Titans 7, Packers 17 (13:20 left in Q2)

The Titans put together a miserable "drive" that was another 3 and out. The highlight was another sack allowed by T Ray Hanspard for ILB Jerome Fletcher for a loss of 6. Punt.

Aaron Rodgers was in for one more pass for the Packers and then was relieved by backup Jamie Tanner. After driving 32 yards on 8 plays, Tanner had his pass to WR Peter Hardy intercepted at the TEN 16 by Titans CB Devin Ramirez, who had an interception in exhibition week 1 as well. Ramirez was definitely the defenseive player of the drive, making two tackles and one interception.

The next drive for the Titans saw Young take his final snaps of the game and Rookie Marc Lowe take over the offense. After a long drive took them back to the Packer's 4 yard line, RB Matt Herndon ran outside the right tackle for 4 yards and a touchdown. However, the penalty-prone Titans were in true form tonight as the play was called back due to Offensive Holding. Three plays later, Green Bay would get the ball back at their 15 after a 4 yard scramble by Lowe resulted in a fumble.

They couldn't do anything with the ball and with 47 seconds left in the second half, punted the ball back to Tennessee. QB Lowe marched galantly on the field, head held high after his fumble, took his place under center, barked out his calls, dropped back into the pocket and tossed a long one to WR Rex Chaplin where he was picked off. Green Bay wisely knelt the ball and ended the second quarter.

Titans 7, Packers 17 at half

The Titans got the ball first in the second half, but couldn't do anything after a 22 yard completion to Chaplin for a first down. After an incomplete pass, T Ray Hanspard allowed two more sacks on 2nd and 3rd downs. Hanspard is a 13-year veteran who is ranked 3rd on the team record of pancake blocks. It appears that his time has come to say goodbye to Tennessee. That is 4 sacks allowed already and we just started the second half.

A 4 and out by Green Bay led into another moderately long drive by Tennessee that resulted in a 42-yard field goal by Bryce Graham.

Titans 10, Packers 17 (5:16 left in Q3)

After another stalled drive by Green Bay, Tennessee had yet another good, long drive. Unfortunately, the rookie Lowe threw another interception, this time at the Green Bay 19.

Green Bay couldn't do anything with that takeaway, so back to the Titans. This drive starts at their own 43 yard line and ends after only 1 play as Lowe throws a third interception, which is returned to the Tennessee 49.

Green Bay wouldn't let this opportunity pass them by, however. The key play here was on 3rd and 15 after a DE Kenneth McMahon sack, QB Tanner completed a 46 yard pass to WR Peter Hardy in double coverage. Three plays later, they are in the endzone on a 1 yard toss to Hardy.

Titans 10, Packers 24 (9:56 left in Q4)

It's looking bad for the Titans, so they head onto the field with just a sliver of hope. The drive takes 6 minutes, but they manage to get to the Green Bay 28 to kick a 45 yard field goal, getting them just a little closer to their goal.

Titans 13, Packers 24 (3:57 left in Q4)

The Packers held the ball very well and ran out the clock and the game draws to a close. Both teams are now 1-1 in exhibition play.

Looking at the stats, the teams looked close on paper -- for awhile. Tennessee had 294 total yards while Green Bay had 341, the entire difference being made up in rushing yards. The killers for Tennessee were 4 turnovers (3 interceptions and a fumble from Lowe), 11 penalties for 64 yards and an average third down yards to go of 11.1 yards. Certainly not a pretty sight.

Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers earned the player of the game honors and with good reason. He ended his day completing 15 out of 17 tries for 201 yards and 2 TDs, earning him a rate of 155.1! On the other side of the ball, the rookie Lowe received an abysmal rate of 34.6 while Young received a 132.7 from his 11 attempts. On the receiving end, Titans 2016 first-round pick WR Rex Chaplin certainly made his presence known, catching 5 of the 9 passes sent his way (dropping 0) for 108 yards, half of those after the catch, and a touchdown. Noteworthy also is T Ray Hanspard who allowed a total of 5 sacks on the day.

On defense, DE Kenneth McMahon had 2 sacks while DTs James Farmer and Drew Tavares each had one. Tavares also tied for the most tackles in the game at 6 with OLB Wesley Pozy, ILB R.J. Gaines (who had a phenomenal game last week) and S Nicky Lustyk.

After the game, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers called Young to congrulate him on a good game and playfully gloat about his victory. The two friends won't play each other again in the regular season, but they may meet yet again in a Super Bowl challenge.

Next week the Titans travel to Arizona where they will can't seem to win. The 3 times the teams have met, the Cardinals have won each. In the 13 year history of the league, the Cardinals are the only team Tennessee has never beaten. It should be an interesting one...