I am still a big Titan fan, no remorse from their departure from Houston. I thought they actually would come out on top of this one. Al Del Greco (and the special teams line) absolutely blew this game. 3 Field Goals missed and one returned for a TD won't win you many games in the NFL, much less a playoff game. But come on AL...get something done. You have chocked many a time this year, twice against the Ravens now. I hope you do not return with the Titans next year. You blew it buddy. But you have to give credit to the ravens defense. They played a stout game. Every play ran, Ray Lewis was there in the mix. That guy is amazing. I tip my hat to the Ravens, but Greco needs to be in another uniform next year. ------------------
You can't really blame the line because there wasn't much penetration, Del Greco just kicked it low. ------------------
Del Greco is probably packing his bags as we speak. The Titans need a new kicker in the worst way. He cost us both games against the Ravens this season. Plain and simple. ------------------ Titan's fanatic!!!! It was the first time the Titans sent an offense to the line of scrimmage with Eddie George in the backfield behind McNair to go with Wycheck at tight end and Carl Pickens, Kevin Dyson and Yancey Thigpen at wide receiver. So many choices, with a full season still ahead. "I think that might be scary for a defense," Dyson said.
Lewis got away with murder with that hit on McNair. I guess that's nothing new. ------------------ "I have to say I don't understand why the Rockets' fans are booing Scottie." -Calvin Murphy Drunk posters unite.
It's really quite simple. The Ravens' defense simply outclassed the Titans. They made Tennesee look like a girls high school team. It wasn't just the kicker's fault. It wasn't due to bad officiating. The Titans were, in a word, smothered. Go Ravens! ------------------ My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.
Ok, if you had any smarts you would know the titans outplayed them. The beat the Ravens on every offensive category. Special teams gave the Ravens a TD, and took away 9 points from the Titans. Final score is 19-17..Titans. Ravens didnt outplay the titans, they just made the big play. ------------------ The Titans are no ordinary football team. Their team is the best in football. Their kicker is the worst in football. Do we see another Janikowski situation brewing? Please do something, Greco is killing me, and the Titans. Change is needed NOW.
thefreak, when i first started reading your post i thought you were talking about last january. ------------------
Does anyone remember how Del Greco came to the Oilers? Not that it matters but you diehard Oiler fans can refresh my memory. I miss the good old days. If I remember it correctly, something happened to Tony Zendejas. Then we brought in Ian Howfield. Howfield was great but he choked when the game was on the line. In the middle of one season, we waived Howfield and had tryouts. Al Del Greco was cut by the Phoenix Cardinals and impressed the coaches by his workout. The rest has been history. I believe he is from the Jack Pardee era. Howfield went on to become a model but he will forever be remembered in the Washington and Denver collapses. ------------------ [This message has been edited by Smokey (edited January 07, 2001).]
I like the Titans because of Eddie George, but the Titan offense can not come from behind. McNair is a fine QB with the short passing game but they can't throw the ball downfield. Del Greco did horrible. Kickers are a dime a dozen so he will be gone. Special teams decided the game. Titans blocked 2 punts and come away with 3 points. Especially the second one, I believe it was 3rd and 4 and they run eddie up the guy. I love Eddie but at the goal line there is no room ro run the ball. Ravens block a FG and come away with 7, which was actually a 10 point swing (should have been 3, instead lost 7) and blocked a second FG, so there is 13 points.
Good to know that the Titans can still blow an important game Oilers-style when they have to! By the way, did you know that the Oilers/Titans franchise is now 0-2 in playoff games on Bud Adam's birthday(January 7th)? The first loss was the 41-38 debacle in Buffalo in 1993. So...if the Titans ever play a playoff game on January 7th...BET AGAINST THEM!!! ------------------ "Blues is a Healer" --John Lee Hooker [This message has been edited by RocketMan Tex (edited January 08, 2001).]
Del Greco should keep his job. I mean, who are you going to get to replace him anyway, some guy sitting in a bar like the Oilers did several years ago. Nope. He's still one of the best kickers and probably needs to stay. We win as a team. we lose as one. Although... you must look at Scott Norwood effect. Norwood was never the same. What will happen to Del Greco? If we do replace him, we need a great kicker, because our offense is designed to get FG's. Del definately lost the game, but it wasn't like the Ravens specials teams was awesome either. The Titans smothered the Ravens in that game. Sometimes the breaks just don't go your way. The titans clearly outplayed the Ravens. 5 first downs to 23. 300 yards to 100 yards. I'm sad we lost because we were so much better than the Raiders, Giants, and Ravens it was ridiculous. Only the Vikings should have given us a run for the money. The Ravens showed no class. I hope the Raiders smoke them. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
how EXACTLY did they show no class. This game was about Special Teams and Defense. Ravens Special Teams and Defense = 14 pts Titans Special Teams and Defense = 0 pts [They made some plays that allowed the Offense some GREAT opportunities.] The Titans Offense vs Raven was not good. The ravens were bending but not breaking. I thought After the 2 blocked kicks that the Titans would bust the game open. Their offense failed them. Raven's offense's job is not to win the game but to NOT LOSE the game. Rocket River ------------------
As far as the class issue...I think the slogan "*uck the Titans" says it all. And that came from the coach. From talking about the field to the fatigues, and many others, it seems they were little over the top. You know the others. They were the better team. They won the game. No doubt about it, but I'd like the other coach and his players to keep their comments to themselves. The Titans Offense played as well as could be expected against a very good defense. It should have been enough to win. They basically put up 19 points. The Raven defense won the overall battle against our offense, but that was to be expected. Our Defense annilated their offense and that should have been the factor that won the game. It really came down to Del Greco missing those field goals and those misses leading to points directly for the Ravens, and putting the titans into throwing mode. One thing that a lot of people haven't mentioned is that Derrick Mason did nothing on special teams. I think he tried to do to much, but at the same time, you can't expect big plays from a return man. You hope for it, but don't count on it. So who will be the WR's next year? Mason and Pickens? Dyson and Pickens? Mason and Dyson? Thigpen and Pickens? Thigpen and Dyson? My god, somebody has got to go... and we still have Chris Sanders as well. Funny thing is, they never get the ball anyway. ------------------ humble, but hungry.
Speaking of Ian Howfield....I found this stuck off in some cyber-closet somewhere... http://www.columbinealumni.com/chs84/Alumni/IanHowfield.htm ------------------
PhislammaJamma, You know I am still depressed about yesterdays Titans loss. I mean I watched every game this season and the Titans worked to get home-field. It is sad that the bounces did not go our way yesterday. I credit the Ravens for beating us now twice at home. Regarding the issue of the Ravens being jerks. I agree with you. I think they were running their mouths the whole week. The bottom line is they won the game so there is nothing we can do about it. I still think it will come back to bite them. The Ravens defense is great but their offense is not good enough to get them a Superbowl win. Yesterday the Ravens got all the right breaks and I credit them for the win. I just don't see them being able to do it for another two games. The Raiders should beat them. If not the Vikings will pass all over the Ravens top-notch defense. In reference to Del Greco. He has one year remaining on his contract. I just think the team may have lost confidence with him making a big kick. I know that Olindo Mare, the Dolphins field goal kicker is a free-agent and I would be more than happy to get him. He is very good. Other than him I know of no other field goal kickers that will be free-agents. I think the Titans may also look to the draft to get a field goal kicker. The other pressing need for the Titans is to be more aggressive. The Titans have to be more balanced and that means involving their receivers more in the flow of the game. I mean even in the fourth quarter when the Titans went down by 14 I only saw one pass play called for Carl Pickens. The Titans offense has to evolve (and I am not saying they have to become the Rams offense) but at least include more passing to the wide receivers. I think we have seen the last of Yancey Thigpen and Carl Pickens. The Titans will have to use the money they get by getting rid of those two to make any attempt at resigning Derreck Mason. Plus, this years draft is very deep at Wide Receiver. If Bruce Matthews does not come back than the Titans will also have to look at drafting some offensive lineman in the draft. Our defense is awesome and will be back in full form next year. I think our defense was the one that shut down the Ravens. The Ravens only scored 10 points on offense and we completely stuffed the Ravens running game. It will be long off-season but I will be following the Titans each day. I can't wait for Training Camp and the season to start next season. Our schedule will be very tough next year. We will have to play the Raiders, Vikings, Buc's, Dolphins, in addition to the Ravens and Jaguars next year. ------------------ Titan's fanatic!!!! It was the first time the Titans sent an offense to the line of scrimmage with Eddie George in the backfield behind McNair to go with Wycheck at tight end and Carl Pickens, Kevin Dyson and Yancey Thigpen at wide receiver. So many choices, with a full season still ahead. "I think that might be scary for a defense," Dyson said.
PSJ, That was my slogan for the Knicks in 1994. I don't think one had the opportunity to "outclass" the Knicks, because they had no class. In my book, same goes for the Titans (because I hate them). There are three ingredients to a football game: Offense, Defense, & Special Teams. The Titans lost two out of three (special teams and defense) and barely won offense (as far as putting points on the board and turnovers, they lost), and when you do that, you can't expect to win. Steve McNair 46 passing attempts 176 yds, nice..... RocketMan Tex said it, "Good to know that the Titans can still blow an important game Oilers-style when they have to!" It's so true.... Oh and about the Titans losing on January 7th, that just made it all that more pleasurable. Being born on 01-07-70, the Titans gave me my most enjoyable birthday present by losing at home in the playoffs. Man, I can't tell you how good it feels. ------------------ My Rocket Page
After watching this game, it's a great demonstration of how a team can outplay another team in nearly every facet of a game and still lose. The Raven's defense was not that amazing. Take away a Ray Lewis int and they weren't special at all. Del Greco really blew it. ------------------
I don't see how you can blame Del Greco for the blocks. His kicks may have been low, but the Raven line obviously had penetration. ------------------ "We don't have any plans. We just plan to win." Mack Brown
