By: Chip Gallent
Well, it’s official. The Titans are bad. Possibly really bad. Oh boy. Sunday’s 38-10 loss in San Diego made the Chargers look like the team to beat in the AFC West. And let’s be honest, after their slugfest last Monday night against the Raiders, that’s clearly not the case.
And the Titans aren’t just struggling on one side of the ball. They are struggling in all facets of their game. Let’s start with the offense.
Coach Mike Munchak made the choice during the preseason to name Jake Locker the starter. While Locker didn’t out right win the job, the organization felt that it was time to commit to their 2011 first-round pick. And Locker has certainly struggled in his first two NFL starts. On Sunday he finished just 15 for 30 for 174 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Tennessee’s only touchdown came late in the third quarter on a Locker to Kendall Wright 15-yard play.
And let’s talk Chris Johnson. Yes, the same running back who said in the offseason he was faster than Usain Bolt
By: AJ Guel
in the 40. Yes, the same running back who barely finished above 1,000 yards last season. That guy. Johnson finished with only 17 yards off of 8 carries. 17 YARDS. And to make matters worse, he threw not only his offensive line, but his offensive coordinator under the bus after the game. He told the Tennessean, “The run game ain’t working. We just aren’t executing the plays. I don’t know why we’re not…People need to step up and do their job. They don’t need to let people beat them. It don’t matter who the opposing defense is.” Really Johnson, really? You think THIS is going to motivate your O-line to stand up for you? Think again.
Related: The LeBron of the NFL? Not quite
And now the defense. The woeful, woeful defense. Boy, do I miss Cortland Finnegan. In the first two games, the Titans have lost by a combined 72-23 to their opponents. On Sunday, Tennessee made Philip Rivers look like Aaron Rodgers. Two words: Donte Rosario. Who you might ask? Oh, the back-up tight end who had THREE TOUCHDOWNS against the Titans. Even without Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, the Titans let Jackie Battle, last season’s back-up in Kansas City, nab two touchdowns.
So, where do the Titans go from here? Only up I hope. But with the Lions next week and the division-leading Texans the week after, it’s going to be a long road. Oh boy.
