Monday, August 23, 2010
High School Football
Well folks, this past Friday was the start of the high school football season. I was privileged to be at Tullahoma with Davey for the Tullahoma v Blackman game. From the start of the game it was all Blackman. Actually, it was all I'Tavius Mathers. This running back/kick returner for Blackman has skills like nothing I have seen before. He can break tackles, run like the wind, and just flat get at it when the ball is in his hands. Over four hundred general purpose yards and four touchdowns (two kick return touchdowns) on the night. This was just the first game of the season. I can only imagine what he might be like when he really gets going this season. As a junior, I am sure he has several scouts keeping an eye on him and I plan on talking with his coach to get some more information on this young man. Seeing this kind of performance on the first night of the season gets me very excited for what is to come. I truly look forward to seeing the talent that is out there in Middle Tennessee over the rest of the season.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Early prospects for the Titans in 2010
It's August 2, and the NFL Preseason begins this Sunday with the annual Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio between the Dallas Cowboys and the Cincinnati Bengals, whom, of course, just got one Terrell Owens. Both of these teams could be factor big in the postseason.
I can't believe it's already been six months since the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, a result that I loved, by the way.
But here we are, another NFL season on the horizon. Enjoy it, because thanks to the impending labor dispute, there might not be one next year.
However, I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to give my early predictions on the Tennessee Titans' 2010 season.
It's been a bit of an unusual offseason for Tennessee's NFL franchise. Chris Johnson got a new contract he held out for (he deserves it, in my book). But that's pretty much been it. In a year with no salary cap, the Titans, with their billionaire owner, Mr. Bud Adams, did what they usually do in the offseason for new players: nothing. They lost Kyle Vanden Bosch to the Detroit Lions, and Keith Bulluck to the New York Giants. No question those are huge losses on the defensive line.
The offensive line pretty much looks the same, except that longtime center Kevin Mawae is gone now. Vince Young's still at QB, CJ in the backfield with Ahmard Hall. Bo Scaife remains a tight end, and Nate Washington and Justin Gage remain at wide receiver, along with sophomore Kenny Britt.
A lot of people are thinking VY might have a career year. He just might, if he keeps up his play from last season.
Fans' expectations of the Titans are varying. Some diehards see a Lombardi Trophy coming to the Music City in early February 2011. Some might be thinking a playoff appearance.
But those like myself who know this team just a bit better never know what to expect. I had no idea the Titans would go 13-3 two seasons ago, winning their first 10 games. Sadly, their Divisional Round playoff loss to Baltimore didn't surprise me at all, no matter how much I was thinking about a parade down Broadway.
I actually wasn't surprised to see them struggle so badly at the start of last season. Thank God they recovered to finish 8-8.
But how about this year? How do I think the Titans will do in 2010? Let's see.
The Titans should start the new season 2-0. Should. They open on September 12 against the Oakland Raiders at home. The Raiders, of course, cast away Jamarcus Russell after the former LSU QB turned out to be a bust, and picked up Jason Campbell, sent away by the Washington Redskins after they got Donovan McNabb. Expectations for the Raiders are, again, low.
September 19, the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town. We all know what happened the last time they were here. December 21, 2008. The Titans clobbered the Steelers 31-14 to seal the #1 seed in the AFC for the playoffs, which, of course, they wasted. But the victory was, as you know, overshadowed by Chris Johnson and Keith Bulluck stomping on a Terrible Towel, which sent Pittsburgh into an angry frenzy. It might've been a bad omen for the Titans, whom, as previously noted, was kicked out the door by the Ravens in the postseason, and the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa over the Arizona Cardinals.
The Titans and the Steelers opened the 2009 regular season with the annual NFL Kickoff Game. The Steelers won 13-10 in overtime, but neither team made the playoffs. The Titans, though, didn't know how slippery the slope was about to get.
The Steelers are considerably different for 2010, however. They lost Santonio Holmes to the Jets, and Willie Parker's gone, too. Hines Ward is returning, and the team has brought back Antwaan Randle El, who played with the Steelers when they won Super Bowl XL over my NFC team, the Seattle Seahawks (a loss, that, by the way, still doesn't sit well with me). Ben Roethlisberger is suspended for the first six games for, basically, not using his head off the field, and expectations for the Steelers went from low to real low.
The Titans should open the season 2-0, and I say they will. But it's all up to them. They're the ones who play the game for dough.
On September 26, the Titans make their first visit to New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey to play the Giants. This obviously means Mr. Bulluck gets an early showdown with the team that let him go without a fight.
The Giants went 8-8 last year, and don't want that to happen again this year. I think this could be a tricky one for the Titans, and will result in their first loss of the season.
On October 3, the Titans return home to host the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have two questions for 2010: Tim Tebow? Or Kyle Orton? Gonna be a bad year for the Broncos. I have the Titans at 3-1 after this game.
For Week 5, the Titans head to Cowboys Stadium to take on the resurgent 'Boys, whom a lot of people think might be playing for the Lombardi in their own house come February. Of course, the two teams' preseason clash last year saw debate ignited over the insanely large JumboTron over the field, after a couple of Titans punts hit it on the uptake. I think the Titans will really struggle against Dallas, as Tony Romo greatly matured at the end of last season. Jason Witten is as dangerous as he's ever been, Miles Austin looks like he might have a great year, and if he's healthy, I think Dez Bryant will make a big impact. The Titans will be 3-2 after this game.
The Titans' first game against a divisional opponent comes on Monday, October 18. The Titans will be in Jacksonville, taking on the Jaguars under the Monday Night lights. The Jags came into the NFL in 1995, going 4-12 in their first season. The next four seasons, though, were great. The Jaguars got to the playoffs in all four of them, including two AFC Championship Game appearances, where they were beaten by the New England Patriots (January 1997), and, of course, the Titans (January 2000). But since the turn of the century, the Jags have fallen apart. Since the 1999 season, the Jaguars have only made two playoff appearances. It's gotten so bad, people are wondering if NFL football is still viable in Jacksonville (all they need is to start winning again; chill out, people). Jacksonville will put up a fight, but the Titans will be 4-2.
Six days later, the Titans will head back home to host the now-Donovan McNabb-less Philadelphia Eagles. I think bad times await the City of Brotherly Love. Kevin Kolb might not be able to handle the pressure. Titans will be 5-2.
The Titans' last game before the bye week is a trip to San Diego, to take on Philip Rivers and the Chargers, who have gotten under the Titans' skin these last few years. I don't think it'll get much better. Make it 5-3.
So, Halloween will mark the Titans' bye week, and they'll be halfway through the season. Things should be looking good, but the road's about to get bumpier...
The Titans' first post-bye game will be at Miami on November 14. Since nearly going winless a few seasons back, the Dolphins have really picked themselves up, though they went 7-9 last season. The Dolphins picked up Brandon Marshall during the draft, but lost Ted Ginn, Jr. and defensive big man Jason Taylor. I don't know what to expect from the Dolphins, but I think a surprise is in store for Tennessee. The Titans will be 5-4 after Week 10.
Week 11 brings the Washington Redskins, now with Mike Shanahan at head coach, and, as previously noted, Donovan McNabb at QB. Whether ex-Titan Albert Haynesworth will be in the lineup remains to be seen. I think this could be the start of something good for the 'Skins. McNabb, even without a ring, has a Hall of Fame resume, and Shanahan's got Super Bowl rings. I think McNabb's veteran leadership will outshine Young, and the Titans will drop back to 5-5.
November 28 sees the Titans head to Houston to take on Kevin Whitmire's beloved Texans. I've noticed something with the Titans these past few years: They've never, ever shown the Texans ANY respect. They think they're gonna beat 'em down, just like that. But it's bitten the Titans in the aft end twice the last two seasons, and, to be honest, it should be a lot more. Remember the Titans' game against the Texans in December '08, the week before they beat down Pittsburgh? The Titans put up a horrible effort, and lost to a team that I've always taken seriously. It started the snowball that led to the Titans' playoff collapse. It'll be the case here, too. The Titans will waltz in, like the Texans don't belong on the same field, and it will bite them. Again. 5-6.
December 5 sees the Titans' second matchup with the Jags, this time at LP. The Jags will be struggling again, and the Titans will get back to .500.
December 9 is the big game. The Indianapolis Colts come to town to take on the Titans in the Thursday Night NFL Network clash. Those close to me know I am not a Colts fan or a Peyton Manning fan, and I reveled, reveled in their Super Bowl loss to the Saints. But the truth is, despite a few victories over them in the last few seasons, the Titans are afraid of the Colts. And Indy knows it. And the Titans will be 6-7 when this clash is done.
10 days later, the Titans host the Texans in their second matchup. The Titans will barely escape with a win, and get back to .500.
On Boxing Day, or the Day After Christmas, the Titans visit the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. I'm hearing the Chiefs are a couple of years away from being good again, with free agency and trades. But this is now, and the Chiefs will stink again. The Titans will be 8-7, and barely in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.
But the season ends in Indy. And it won't end well. The Titans will end up 8-8. Again.
Now before you go all "Ye of Little Faith" on me, this is what I think will happen. These are predictions. As I've said, it's up to the Titans to prove me wrong, and they might. But I don't expect them to.
I don't see a Super Bowl-caliber team when I look at the Titans. VY might have a good career, CJ's a great player, and I'm expecting great things about Kenny Britt. But the coaching is inferior (Jeff Fisher must have something in his contract about a raise for every 8-8 season), and the defense just isn't there. Which means this team isn't there. Will they ever be there? I'm really not sure.
GO TITANS! Please.
-Michael Hackney
I can't believe it's already been six months since the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami, a result that I loved, by the way.
But here we are, another NFL season on the horizon. Enjoy it, because thanks to the impending labor dispute, there might not be one next year.
However, I'm not here to talk about that. I'm here to give my early predictions on the Tennessee Titans' 2010 season.
It's been a bit of an unusual offseason for Tennessee's NFL franchise. Chris Johnson got a new contract he held out for (he deserves it, in my book). But that's pretty much been it. In a year with no salary cap, the Titans, with their billionaire owner, Mr. Bud Adams, did what they usually do in the offseason for new players: nothing. They lost Kyle Vanden Bosch to the Detroit Lions, and Keith Bulluck to the New York Giants. No question those are huge losses on the defensive line.
The offensive line pretty much looks the same, except that longtime center Kevin Mawae is gone now. Vince Young's still at QB, CJ in the backfield with Ahmard Hall. Bo Scaife remains a tight end, and Nate Washington and Justin Gage remain at wide receiver, along with sophomore Kenny Britt.
A lot of people are thinking VY might have a career year. He just might, if he keeps up his play from last season.
Fans' expectations of the Titans are varying. Some diehards see a Lombardi Trophy coming to the Music City in early February 2011. Some might be thinking a playoff appearance.
But those like myself who know this team just a bit better never know what to expect. I had no idea the Titans would go 13-3 two seasons ago, winning their first 10 games. Sadly, their Divisional Round playoff loss to Baltimore didn't surprise me at all, no matter how much I was thinking about a parade down Broadway.
I actually wasn't surprised to see them struggle so badly at the start of last season. Thank God they recovered to finish 8-8.
But how about this year? How do I think the Titans will do in 2010? Let's see.
The Titans should start the new season 2-0. Should. They open on September 12 against the Oakland Raiders at home. The Raiders, of course, cast away Jamarcus Russell after the former LSU QB turned out to be a bust, and picked up Jason Campbell, sent away by the Washington Redskins after they got Donovan McNabb. Expectations for the Raiders are, again, low.
September 19, the Pittsburgh Steelers come to town. We all know what happened the last time they were here. December 21, 2008. The Titans clobbered the Steelers 31-14 to seal the #1 seed in the AFC for the playoffs, which, of course, they wasted. But the victory was, as you know, overshadowed by Chris Johnson and Keith Bulluck stomping on a Terrible Towel, which sent Pittsburgh into an angry frenzy. It might've been a bad omen for the Titans, whom, as previously noted, was kicked out the door by the Ravens in the postseason, and the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa over the Arizona Cardinals.
The Titans and the Steelers opened the 2009 regular season with the annual NFL Kickoff Game. The Steelers won 13-10 in overtime, but neither team made the playoffs. The Titans, though, didn't know how slippery the slope was about to get.
The Steelers are considerably different for 2010, however. They lost Santonio Holmes to the Jets, and Willie Parker's gone, too. Hines Ward is returning, and the team has brought back Antwaan Randle El, who played with the Steelers when they won Super Bowl XL over my NFC team, the Seattle Seahawks (a loss, that, by the way, still doesn't sit well with me). Ben Roethlisberger is suspended for the first six games for, basically, not using his head off the field, and expectations for the Steelers went from low to real low.
The Titans should open the season 2-0, and I say they will. But it's all up to them. They're the ones who play the game for dough.
On September 26, the Titans make their first visit to New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey to play the Giants. This obviously means Mr. Bulluck gets an early showdown with the team that let him go without a fight.
The Giants went 8-8 last year, and don't want that to happen again this year. I think this could be a tricky one for the Titans, and will result in their first loss of the season.
On October 3, the Titans return home to host the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have two questions for 2010: Tim Tebow? Or Kyle Orton? Gonna be a bad year for the Broncos. I have the Titans at 3-1 after this game.
For Week 5, the Titans head to Cowboys Stadium to take on the resurgent 'Boys, whom a lot of people think might be playing for the Lombardi in their own house come February. Of course, the two teams' preseason clash last year saw debate ignited over the insanely large JumboTron over the field, after a couple of Titans punts hit it on the uptake. I think the Titans will really struggle against Dallas, as Tony Romo greatly matured at the end of last season. Jason Witten is as dangerous as he's ever been, Miles Austin looks like he might have a great year, and if he's healthy, I think Dez Bryant will make a big impact. The Titans will be 3-2 after this game.
The Titans' first game against a divisional opponent comes on Monday, October 18. The Titans will be in Jacksonville, taking on the Jaguars under the Monday Night lights. The Jags came into the NFL in 1995, going 4-12 in their first season. The next four seasons, though, were great. The Jaguars got to the playoffs in all four of them, including two AFC Championship Game appearances, where they were beaten by the New England Patriots (January 1997), and, of course, the Titans (January 2000). But since the turn of the century, the Jags have fallen apart. Since the 1999 season, the Jaguars have only made two playoff appearances. It's gotten so bad, people are wondering if NFL football is still viable in Jacksonville (all they need is to start winning again; chill out, people). Jacksonville will put up a fight, but the Titans will be 4-2.
Six days later, the Titans will head back home to host the now-Donovan McNabb-less Philadelphia Eagles. I think bad times await the City of Brotherly Love. Kevin Kolb might not be able to handle the pressure. Titans will be 5-2.
The Titans' last game before the bye week is a trip to San Diego, to take on Philip Rivers and the Chargers, who have gotten under the Titans' skin these last few years. I don't think it'll get much better. Make it 5-3.
So, Halloween will mark the Titans' bye week, and they'll be halfway through the season. Things should be looking good, but the road's about to get bumpier...
The Titans' first post-bye game will be at Miami on November 14. Since nearly going winless a few seasons back, the Dolphins have really picked themselves up, though they went 7-9 last season. The Dolphins picked up Brandon Marshall during the draft, but lost Ted Ginn, Jr. and defensive big man Jason Taylor. I don't know what to expect from the Dolphins, but I think a surprise is in store for Tennessee. The Titans will be 5-4 after Week 10.
Week 11 brings the Washington Redskins, now with Mike Shanahan at head coach, and, as previously noted, Donovan McNabb at QB. Whether ex-Titan Albert Haynesworth will be in the lineup remains to be seen. I think this could be the start of something good for the 'Skins. McNabb, even without a ring, has a Hall of Fame resume, and Shanahan's got Super Bowl rings. I think McNabb's veteran leadership will outshine Young, and the Titans will drop back to 5-5.
November 28 sees the Titans head to Houston to take on Kevin Whitmire's beloved Texans. I've noticed something with the Titans these past few years: They've never, ever shown the Texans ANY respect. They think they're gonna beat 'em down, just like that. But it's bitten the Titans in the aft end twice the last two seasons, and, to be honest, it should be a lot more. Remember the Titans' game against the Texans in December '08, the week before they beat down Pittsburgh? The Titans put up a horrible effort, and lost to a team that I've always taken seriously. It started the snowball that led to the Titans' playoff collapse. It'll be the case here, too. The Titans will waltz in, like the Texans don't belong on the same field, and it will bite them. Again. 5-6.
December 5 sees the Titans' second matchup with the Jags, this time at LP. The Jags will be struggling again, and the Titans will get back to .500.
December 9 is the big game. The Indianapolis Colts come to town to take on the Titans in the Thursday Night NFL Network clash. Those close to me know I am not a Colts fan or a Peyton Manning fan, and I reveled, reveled in their Super Bowl loss to the Saints. But the truth is, despite a few victories over them in the last few seasons, the Titans are afraid of the Colts. And Indy knows it. And the Titans will be 6-7 when this clash is done.
10 days later, the Titans host the Texans in their second matchup. The Titans will barely escape with a win, and get back to .500.
On Boxing Day, or the Day After Christmas, the Titans visit the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. I'm hearing the Chiefs are a couple of years away from being good again, with free agency and trades. But this is now, and the Chiefs will stink again. The Titans will be 8-7, and barely in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.
But the season ends in Indy. And it won't end well. The Titans will end up 8-8. Again.
Now before you go all "Ye of Little Faith" on me, this is what I think will happen. These are predictions. As I've said, it's up to the Titans to prove me wrong, and they might. But I don't expect them to.
I don't see a Super Bowl-caliber team when I look at the Titans. VY might have a good career, CJ's a great player, and I'm expecting great things about Kenny Britt. But the coaching is inferior (Jeff Fisher must have something in his contract about a raise for every 8-8 season), and the defense just isn't there. Which means this team isn't there. Will they ever be there? I'm really not sure.
GO TITANS! Please.
-Michael Hackney
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