Two things come to mind whenever the Titans face the Bills — aside from Titans owner Bud Adams flipping a pair of birds toward the Buffalo sideline in 2009.

One brings back good memories for the Titans and their fans: the “Music City Miracle” sparked a Super Bowl run to conclude the 1999 season.

The other remains a nightmare for many, including Titans Coach Mike Munchak.

He was playing for the Oilers on Jan. 3, 1993, when they lost “The Comeback” to the Bills, who rallied from a 32-point deficit to win in overtime at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

“I try to forget,” said Munchak, who leads the Titans (6-5) to Buffalo (5-6) on Sunday. “But unfortunately they play the tape every year when the playoffs start. … That will never go away I guess.”

Three members of Munchak’s staff played in the game for the Oilers — Bruce Matthews, Jerry Gray and Marcus Robertson.

“A lot of good coaches got fired from here,” said Gray, who played cornerback and is now defensive coordinator. “Nothing against (the Bills), but we had a lot of good football players. We should have won that game and we knew it. I think at that time we were probably the best team in the NFL with the talent we had, but the best team doesn’t always win.”

Injuries: Tackle David Stewart (calf) was limited on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday’s practice. He’s on track to play Sunday, Munchak indicated.

Center Eugene Amano (hip), tight end Jared Cook (concussion), defensive end Jason Jones (knee), linebacker Colin McCarthy (knee) and defensive end Derrick Morgan (ankle) returned to practice.

Cornerback Tommie Campbell (shoulder) and linebacker Barrett Ruud (groin) did not practice. Campbell said he expects to practice today and play Sunday.

Wide receiver Donnie Avery was limited after tweaking his hamstring.

Turning heads: Gray is impressed with McCarthy and fellow rookie linebacker Akeem Ayers.

“A lot of guys don’t know that they come in at 5:30 in the morning. I know Colin does. I know Ayers comes in about 6 or 6:30,” Gray said.

“So those guys are getting a lot of tutor work because they want to be good. You have to give up your time if you want to be a good football player in this league, especially if you’re a rookie.”

At some point, Titans defensive end Derrick Morgan would love to know what it feels like to be healthy for an extended period of time, maybe even — gasp — for an entire season.

In the meantime, neither Morgan nor the Titans are willing to lower expectations for the 2010 first-round pick.

He’ll go into Sunday’s game at Buffalo with just two sacks in his 10 games, which are not the kind of numbers forecast for Morgan when the Titans made him the 16th overall selection last year.

“No doubt, (the pass rush) is why he was drafted here, and no doubt, we’d like to have more of that out of him,” defensive line coach Tracy Rocker said. “But the big goal here is winning, and I think he gives us a great chance to win here. He’s going to help us down the stretch.

“We all want everything right now, and a lot of times we don’t get things we want right now. But he’s working hard for us. So maybe we’ll just get out the voodoo dolls and try to get him well.”

Morgan, 22, might just be willing to consider radical forms of healing at this point.

He went on injured reserve just five games into his rookie season after tearing an ACL. He rehabbed throughout the lockout and training camp, but still didn’t feel right.

It turned out he needed follow-up arthroscopic surgery after a stitch came loose inside the knee. That procedure kept him out of the first game and left him at less than 100 percent the next week.

Morgan did feel good for a stretch of games — even totaling six of his team-leading 12 quarterback pressures during one two-week period — but then sprained an ankle Nov. 20 against Carolina.

That left the gimpy Morgan with the tough call of whether to play Sunday in a critical game against Tampa Bay.

“It’s a hard decision in those situations and you have to level with yourself: Am I going to make it worse or is it something I can push through,” Morgan said. “I didn’t practice until Friday, but I felt like it was something I could still push through.”

Unfortunately for Morgan, he didn’t make an impact on the stat sheet in the win over the Buccaneers, failing to post a tackle or quarterback pressure in a limited number of snaps.

“I was trying and doing what I can to make plays, but I probably shouldn’t have played last week,” Morgan said. “I was trying to push through it, but as the game went on, the ankle wasn’t doing so good.”

Morgan might have to play through some pain again this week, as he was limited in practice Wednesday. Assuming he’s healthy enough to play, however, the Titans will be looking for results.

“We have high expectations, so when we put anyone on the field, you don’t take health into consideration,” Coach Mike Munchak said. “You expect a high level of play from guys or otherwise we wouldn’t have them on the field.

“If we thought he was limited to where he couldn’t help us win, (we’d sit him). So we expect the most out of him. We expect him to make plays. That’s why he’s playing.”

Munchak does understand the Titans might not see the best of Morgan until next season, since at that point he will have had even more time to recover from the ACL as well as an entire offseason with the club in its conditioning program.

“I know it’s frustrating for him and he knows that, too,” Munchak said. “It’s not like he’s complaining about it, but I’m sure he’s not as healthy as he’d like to be. Usually they say that after an ACL injury, the third year, which would be next year for him, would be the year he’d feel most healthy.”

Until then, Morgan said he would do what he can to help a pass rush that has recorded just 21 sacks this season — the seventh-worst total in the NFL.

“I’m probably my own biggest critic. I’m doing what I can to make plays,” Morgan said. “But I have high expectations of myself. I’m doing everything I can to exceed those expectations.”

At some point, Titans defensive end Derrick Morgan would love to know what it feels like to be healthy for an extended period of time, maybe even — gasp — for an entire season.

In the meantime, neither Morgan nor the Titans are willing to lower expectations for the 2010 first-round pick.

He’ll go into Sunday’s game at Buffalo with just two sacks in his 10 games, which are not the kind of numbers forecast for Morgan when the Titans made him the 16th overall selection last year.

“No doubt, (the pass rush) is why he was drafted here, and no doubt, we’d like to have more of that out of him,” defensive line coach Tracy Rocker said. “But the big goal here is winning, and I think he gives us a great chance to win here. He’s going to help us down the stretch.

“We all want everything right now, and a lot of times we don’t get things we want right now. But he’s working hard for us. So maybe we’ll just get out the voodoo dolls and try to get him well.”

Morgan, 22, might just be willing to consider radical forms of healing at this point.

He went on injured reserve just five games into his rookie season after tearing an ACL. He rehabbed throughout the lockout and training camp, but still didn’t feel right.

It turned out he needed follow-up arthroscopic surgery after a stitch came loose inside the knee. That procedure kept him out of the first game and left him at less than 100 percent the next week.

Morgan did feel good for a stretch of games — even totaling six of his team-leading 12 quarterback pressures during one two-week period — but then sprained an ankle Nov. 20 against Carolina.

That left the gimpy Morgan with the tough call of whether to play Sunday in a critical game against Tampa Bay.

“It’s a hard decision in those situations and you have to level with yourself: Am I going to make it worse or is it something I can push through,” Morgan said. “I didn’t practice until Friday, but I felt like it was something I could still push through.”

Unfortunately for Morgan, he didn’t make an impact on the stat sheet in the win over the Buccaneers, failing to post a tackle or quarterback pressure in a limited number of snaps.

“I was trying and doing what I can to make plays, but I probably shouldn’t have played last week,” Morgan said. “I was trying to push through it, but as the game went on, the ankle wasn’t doing so good.”

Morgan might have to play through some pain again this week, as he was limited in practice Wednesday. Assuming he’s healthy enough to play, however, the Titans will be looking for results.

“We have high expectations, so when we put anyone on the field, you don’t take health into consideration,” Coach Mike Munchak said. “You expect a high level of play from guys or otherwise we wouldn’t have them on the field.

“If we thought he was limited to where he couldn’t help us win, (we’d sit him). So we expect the most out of him. We expect him to make plays. That’s why he’s playing.”

Munchak does understand the Titans might not see the best of Morgan until next season, since at that point he will have had even more time to recover from the ACL as well as an entire offseason with the club in its conditioning program.

“I know it’s frustrating for him and he knows that, too,” Munchak said. “It’s not like he’s complaining about it, but I’m sure he’s not as healthy as he’d like to be. Usually they say that after an ACL injury, the third year, which would be next year for him, would be the year he’d feel most healthy.”

Until then, Morgan said he would do what he can to help a pass rush that has recorded just 21 sacks this season — the seventh-worst total in the NFL.

“I’m probably my own biggest critic. I’m doing what I can to make plays,” Morgan said. “But I have high expectations of myself. I’m doing everything I can to exceed those expectations.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—When the Tennessee Titans went into the draft in
April, one of their main objectives was to improve the linebacker position. Even
the Titans are surprised at finding a solution so soon among this year’s draft
class.

Rookie linebackers Akeem Ayers(notes), a second-round pick from UCLA, and Colin
McCarthy(notes), a fourth-rounder from Miami, have stepped in and played so well for
Tennessee that they now rarely leave the field. They play not only in the base
defense, but in Tennessee’s nickel package.

Ayers was inserted into the lineup as a strongside linebacker from the
moment the Titans drafted him, while Tennessee signed free agent Barrett Ruud(notes) to
a one-year contract to man the middle until McCarthy got some experience.

Due to a groin injury Ruud suffered Nov. 6 against Cincinnati, McCarthy has
gotten his opportunity much earlier than anticipated. Ayers’ role has slowly
increased as he has learned the nuances of the defensive scheme.

“I think it’s real encouraging to see someone develop as quickly as all of
the sudden (McCarthy) is in a short period,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said.
“Akeem is the same way, and we are starting to try to use Akeem more on third
down. So he is getting more reps. … We are adding more to his plate because he
is ready for that now. It is exciting to watch your young players get better.”

Since getting regular playing time three weeks ago, McCarthy has been a key
factor in the defense’s success. In those three games, he has 33 tackles and
had his first career interception that preserved Sunday’s 23-17 win over Tampa
Bay. For the year has five tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

For McCarthy, it’s just part of the job description as a middle linebacker.

“We need to make impact plays throughout the game. There are a lot of plays
out there to be made, and playing middle linebacker, when you’ve got the
opportunity, then you’ve got to take advantage of them,” he said.

McCarthy has proven to a quick study, too, as his interception came from an
adjustment on a play the Bucs ran earlier on a pass to tight end Kellen Winslow(notes).

“It was a play we went through in practice. Earlier in the game, they kind
of did that 10-yard (pattern) and just kind of sat there, so it was just a
matter of time before they did the shake and tried to hit us deep,” he said.
“Coach (Jerry) Gray had a great game plan. We went over that this week, and
when they throw it at you, you’ve just got to catch it. That was my main
focus.”

Ayers’ main focus has been settling into one spot and learning the system on
the fly. At UCLA, he spent some time at defensive end, and played both inside
and outside linebacker. With the Titans, he can settle into the strongside spot
over the tight end and play.

“Akeem has kind of bounced around a little bit. He played some defensive
end in college, played some linebacker, played inside, played outside,” Titans
linebackers coach Frank Bush said. “He’s still learning to be a good solid
outside linebacker, and on top of that, we’ve started to give him nickel stuff.
There’s just a lot of learning, a lot of new stuff for him. He’s taken on the
stuff in our base package. He’s learned that, and he’s kind of owned that
information. Now he’s moving forward with our nickel stuff.”

The Titans moved Ayers into the nickel partly because they wanted to get
more from a guy they consider one of their better playmakers. It has paid off,
as Ayers now has 54 tackles, two sacks and six quarterback pressures.

“Since I’m able to stay in the game more, I’m able to get a feel for the
game. When you’re in and out, it’s hard for me personally to get a feel for the
game,” Ayers said. “But when you’re in on third down and you get the
opportunity to rush the quarterback or drop into coverage, you get the
opportunity to do more things. . I’ve always believed in myself, but it’s just
taken time to prove to them that I know the defense and that they can trust me
in the game.”

There are still the occasional rough moments, but the plays the rookies have
made have outweighed their mistakes.

“It’s a long way to go. Those guys are a work in progress,” Munchak said.
“It’s their rookie years and they are learning a lot and seeing a lot of things
for the first time. So it’s encouraging what we are seeing, but it is an
opportunity for the guys to make a lot more plays the more they play.”

Notes: Five Titans sat out Wednesday’s practice nursing injuries, while
three others were limited. Those out: center Eugene Amano(notes) (hip), cornerback
Tommie Campbell(notes) (left shoulder), McCarthy (knee), Barrett Ruud (groin) and
tackle David Stewart(notes) (calf). … Players who were limited were tight end Jared
Cook(notes) (concussion) and defensive ends Jason Jones(notes) (knee) and Derrick Morgan(notes)
(ankle). … All except Ruud are expected to return to practice soon and have a
chance to play Sunday at Buffalo.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – When the Tennessee Titans went into the draft in April, one of their main objectives was to improve the linebacker position. Even the Titans are surprised at finding a solution so soon among this year’s draft class.

Rookie linebackers Akeem Ayers, a second-round pick from UCLA, and Colin McCarthy, a fourth-rounder from Miami, have stepped in and played so well for Tennessee that they now rarely leave the field. They play not only in the base defence, but in Tennessee’s nickel package.

Ayers was inserted into the lineup as a strongside linebacker from the moment the Titans drafted him, while Tennessee signed free agent Barrett Ruud to a one-year contract to man the middle until McCarthy got some experience.

Due to a groin injury Ruud suffered Nov. 6 against Cincinnati, McCarthy has gotten his opportunity much earlier than anticipated. Ayers’ role has slowly increased as he has learned the nuances of the defensive scheme.

“I think it’s real encouraging to see someone develop as quickly as all of the sudden (McCarthy) is in a short period,” Titans coach Mike Munchak said. “Akeem is the same way, and we are starting to try to use Akeem more on third down. So he is getting more reps. … We are adding more to his plate because he is ready for that now. It is exciting to watch your young players get better.”

Since getting regular playing time three weeks ago, McCarthy has been a key factor in the defence’s success. In those three games, he has 33 tackles and had his first career interception that preserved Sunday’s 23-17 win over Tampa Bay. For the year has five tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

For McCarthy, it’s just part of the job description as a middle linebacker.

“We need to make impact plays throughout the game. There are a lot of plays out there to be made, and playing middle linebacker, when you’ve got the opportunity, then you’ve got to take advantage of them,” he said.

McCarthy has proven to a quick study, too, as his interception came from an adjustment on a play the Bucs ran earlier on a pass to tight end Kellen Winslow.

“It was a play we went through in practice. Earlier in the game, they kind of did that 10-yard (pattern) and just kind of sat there, so it was just a matter of time before they did the shake and tried to hit us deep,” he said. “Coach (Jerry) Gray had a great game plan. We went over that this week, and when they throw it at you, you’ve just got to catch it. That was my main focus.”

Ayers’ main focus has been settling into one spot and learning the system on the fly. At UCLA, he spent some time at defensive end, and played both inside and outside linebacker. With the Titans, he can settle into the strongside spot over the tight end and play.

“Akeem has kind of bounced around a little bit. He played some defensive end in college, played some linebacker, played inside, played outside,” Titans linebackers coach Frank Bush said. “He’s still learning to be a good solid outside linebacker, and on top of that, we’ve started to give him nickel stuff. There’s just a lot of learning, a lot of new stuff for him. He’s taken on the stuff in our base package. He’s learned that, and he’s kind of owned that information. Now he’s moving forward with our nickel stuff.”

The Titans moved Ayers into the nickel partly because they wanted to get more from a guy they consider one of their better playmakers. It has paid off, as Ayers now has 54 tackles, two sacks and six quarterback pressures.

“Since I’m able to stay in the game more, I’m able to get a feel for the game. When you’re in and out, it’s hard for me personally to get a feel for the game,” Ayers said. “But when you’re in on third down and you get the opportunity to rush the quarterback or drop into coverage, you get the opportunity to do more things. . I’ve always believed in myself, but it’s just taken time to prove to them that I know the defence and that they can trust me in the game.”

There are still the occasional rough moments, but the plays the rookies have made have outweighed their mistakes.

“It’s a long way to go. Those guys are a work in progress,” Munchak said. “It’s their rookie years and they are learning a lot and seeing a lot of things for the first time. So it’s encouraging what we are seeing, but it is an opportunity for the guys to make a lot more plays the more they play.”

Notes: Five Titans sat out Wednesday’s practice nursing injuries, while three others were limited. Those out: centre Eugene Amano (hip), cornerback Tommie Campbell (left shoulder), McCarthy (knee), Barrett Ruud (groin) and tackle David Stewart (calf). … Players who were limited were tight end Jared Cook (concussion) and defensive ends Jason Jones (knee) and Derrick Morgan (ankle). … All except Ruud are expected to return to practice soon and have a chance to play Sunday at Buffalo.