bucs Report

By Tom Jones, Times Staff Writer

In Print: Sunday, November 27, 2011

---

The poll

What did you think of coach Raheem Morris’ decision to try an onside kick against the Packers with the Bucs down by two and 4:25 remaining in the game?

Total: 494 votes

By the numbers

0-6 Bucs’ record at Tennessee

3-2 Record of Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck against the Bucs (all while with the Seahawks)

77.3 Rushing yards per game for the Titans, worst in the NFL

133.5 Rushing yards per game allowed by the Bucs, 22nd in the NFL

95-68 Record of country singer Faith Hill in predicting the winner of NFL games this season for the Nashville Tennessean, including 5-9 last week; for today, she picks the Titans

What they’re saying

Against the Packers, LeGarrette Blount finally had a run reminiscent of his rookie season, breaking seven tackles on his way to a 54-yard TD run. The Bucs have underperformed this season but have a chance to get back on track … with games against the Titans, Panthers and Jaguars.

Brian Billick Fox Sports

With the continued slippage of Chris Johnson, who is on pace to rush for just 814 yards, the arrival of LeGarrette Blount as Tampa Bay’s featured back is noteworthy. Remember, the Titans signed the 6-foot, 247-pound Blount as an undrafted rookie prior to the 2010 season but later put him on waivers, hoping to move him to the practice squad only to have the Bucs grab him. Think Blount would be a nice alternative to Johnson now?

David Climer Nashville Tennessean

The picks

At some point if you’re Raheem Morris, you’ve benefited from GM Mark Dominik spending four top-55 picks in the last two drafts on defense, you’re a defensive guy yourself, you see your defense has allowed 102 more points than Houston this season and 75 more points than Cleveland … I mean, don’t you walk into your Saturday night meeting before this game and say to your D, “Fellas, are you kidding me?” Bucs, 24-16.

Peter King Sports Illustrated

It seems as though it is something of a moral victory for the Buccaneers — hanging with Green Bay to the bitter end. But moral victories don’t make four-game losing streaks disappear. Neither do defenses that allow 123 points during the streak. Titans, 24-23.

Gerry Dulac Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Fantasy owners who have stuck with maddening Chris Johnson could be rewarded here. The Bucs’ run defense has been the worst in the league the past four games, allowing 162 yards per. Titans, 24-20.

Greg Cote Miami Herald

Bucs vs. Titans

1 p.m., LP Field, Nashville

TV/radio: Ch. 13; 620-AM, 103.5-FM

Line/over-under: Titans by 3½; 43

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

Week 17

Lions Lions 27, Bucs 20 (0-1)

at Vikings Bucs 24, Vikings 20 (1-1)

Falcons Bucs 16, Falcons 13 (2-1)

Colts Bucs 24, Colts 17 (3-1)

at 49ers 49ers 48, Bucs 3 (3-2)

Saints Bucs 26, Saints 20 (4-2)

Bears Bears 24, Bucs 18 (4-3)

at Saints Saints 27, Bucs 16 (4-4)

Texans Texans 37, Bucs 9 (4-5)

at Packers Packers 35, Bucs 26 (4-6)

at Titans 1 p.m. today, Ch. 13

Panthers 1 p.m. Dec. 4, Ch. 13 *

at Jaguars 1 p.m. Dec. 11, Ch. 13

Cowboys 8:20 p.m. Dec. 17, NFL

at Panthers 1 p.m. Dec. 24, Ch. 13

at Falcons 1 p.m. Jan. 1, Ch. 13

Hated it: 75 percent

Loved it: 25 percent

[Last modified: Nov 26, 2011 05:20 PM]

Click here for reuse options!

Copyright 2011 St. Petersburg Times

You must enable javascript to view and add comments.

LOS ANGELES – Tennessee Titans [team stats] quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has spent much more of his NFL career under the radar than under the microscope.

In many ways he has enjoyed that, going from Seattle to Nashville and joking that sometimes feels like being enrolled in the witness protection program. But with the way Hasselbeck is playing, he can’t hide much longer.

Through the first four games, he’s looked like the smartest free-agent acquisition of the season. His Titans are 3-1 heading into Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh, and he’s second in the AFC to New England’s Tom Brady [stats] with a 104.7 passer rating. Hasselbeck has eight touchdowns, three interceptions, and has been sacked just four times.

“I’m not trying to do anything crazy, I’m just being myself,” he said in a phone interview this week. “When Coach (Mike) Munchak brought me here, he was like, ’Listen, we don’t need you to try to do anything that you’ve never done. We need you to be what you’ve been in Seattle the last 10 years. We’ve got all the other pieces.’

“There are signs around the building that just say, ’Be a pro.’ That’s all they’re looking for. I’m down with that.”

And the Titans are decidedly up. They’re coming off consecutive victories over Baltimore, Denver and Cleveland and now look to be getting star running back Chris Johnson going – he had his first 100-yard game of the season last Sunday – although they have lost top receiver Kenny Britt to a knee injury.

From the perspective of the 36-year-old Hasselbeck, everything starts with the Tennessee offensive line, which for 16 years was coached by Munchak, a Hall of Fame lineman. The line is now coached by Bruce Matthews, also among the elite linemen in Canton, and assistant Al Valero, who was with Hasselbeck in Seattle last season.

Over the past four seasons in Seattle, Hasselbeck was sacked 113 times and missed 13 games because of various injuries. The Seahawks made a lot of changes along their offensive line during that span, including using No. 1 picks on tackles the past two years. This is one quarterback who understands the value of a cohesive unit up front, and he knows his head coach feels the same way.

“This guy gets it,” Hasselbeck said of Munchak. “He gets that you can have whoever you want at wide receiver, but if you don’t have a good offensive line that’s been together, if you don’t start there, then so what?”

It doesn’t hurt Hasselbeck’s cause that Tennessee’s defense has allowed a league-low 14.0 points per game.

“Coming to Tennessee was a fantastic move for him,” NBC’s Cris Collinsworth said of Hasselbeck. “In the middle of that Ravens game, I started seeing some of the flair and the fun and the sidearm throws that have always been his trademark as a quarterback, and I was like, ’Uh oh.’ If you have this guy and he’s healthy and he’s getting protected, and Chris Johnson when he gets back up to speed … they’re going to be something.”

Hasselbeck concedes it wasn’t easy to leave Seattle – he liked playing for Coach Pete Carroll – but said the Seahawks made it clear they planned to move on without him.

“They were super honest with me when the lockout ended,” Hasselbeck said. “They called me and said, ’Hey, listen, there’s no easy way to say this: We’re going to go in a different direction.’ It was basically, we’re breaking up with you. … It’s never easy to hear that, but I appreciated the honesty. I didn’t have to read it on the ticker.”

His assumption was he’d stay in the NFC West, maybe landing in either Arizona or San Francisco. Instead, it was Tennessee that pursued him most aggressively, saying he would be more than a short-term bridge to rookie quarterback Jake Locker; someone who could start multiple seasons.

“We thought he had a lot left in the tank from watching him in the playoffs last year,” Munchak said. “We didn’t bring him in here to retire quietly. We brought him here to do exactly what he’s been doing.”

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans have reached a deal with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, according to a person familiar with the agreement.

Hasselbeck spent the past 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, and the Titans are hoping he can bring stability to the position and work with rookie Jake Locker, the No. 8 overall draft pick.

Veteran Kerry Collins retired three weeks ago, the Titans plan to trade or release Vince Young before training camp opens Friday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. ESPN.com first reported the agreement, which was reached Wednesday morning.

Free agents aren’t allowed to sign contracts until Friday, and terms of Hasselbeck’s agreement were not immediately available.

“I think it’s a good move,” Titans wide receiver Damien Williams said Wednesday. “Obviously, we’ve got a bunch of young guys with Jake and Rusty (Smith) and they’re not quite acclimated. We’ve got a brand new system, so to bring in a veteran that knows how to adapt quickly I think that’s a good move. Those guys can have someone to learn from.”

The Seahawks reached a deal Tuesday with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, a clear sign they were moving on without Hasselbeck. Back in January, coach Pete Carroll pronounced that re-signing Hasselbeck was Seattle’s No. 1 priority, but the two sides could not reach an agreement before the 4 1/2-month NFL lockout.

During the 2010 season, the 35-year-old Hasselbeck played in 14 games, throwing for 3,001 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing 59.9 per cent of his passes. Originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 draft, the three-time Pro Bowl selection has 29,579 yards passing, 176 touchdowns and 128 interceptions while completing 60.1 per cent of his passes in 12 seasons.

Hasselbeck comes to Tennessee already familiar with Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt, who worked in the Seahawks’ front office before joining the Titans in 2007, and Locker, who played for the Washington Huskies.

“From college to the NFL is a big adjustment,” tight end Jared Cook said. “To have somebody to learn under, especially somebody as experienced as Matt Hasselback, I think is going to benefit all our quarterbacks.”

In the post-lockout rush to complete rosters, the Titans needed to sign nine draft picks, including Locker, work to keep some of their own free agents and possibly add a veteran defensive tackle, linebacker and safety. They agreed to terms with 14 undrafted rookies Tuesday.

The challenges don’t end with signing players, either. The start of training camp will mark the first time players get to work out with coach Mike Munchak and a staff of new assistants.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—The Tennessee Titans have reached a deal with
quarterback Matt Hasselbeck(notes), according to a person familiar with the agreement.

Hasselbeck spent the past 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, and the
Titans are hoping he can bring stability to the position and work with rookie
Jake Locker(notes), the No. 8 overall draft pick.

Veteran Kerry Collins(notes) retired three weeks ago, the Titans plan to trade or
release Vince Young(notes) before training camp opens Friday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because
the deal had not been announced. ESPN.com first reported the agreement, which
was reached Wednesday morning.

Free agents aren’t allowed to sign contracts until Friday, and terms of
Hasselbeck’s agreement were not immediately available.

“I think it’s a good move,” Titans wide receiver Damien Williams said
Wednesday. “Obviously, we’ve got a bunch of young guys with Jake and Rusty
(Smith) and they’re not quite acclimated. We’ve got a brand new system, so to
bring in a veteran that knows how to adapt quickly I think that’s a good move.
Those guys can have someone to learn from.”

The Seahawks reached a deal Tuesday with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson(notes), a
clear sign they were moving on without Hasselbeck. Back in January, coach Pete
Carroll pronounced that re-signing Hasselbeck was Seattle’s No. 1 priority, but
the two sides could not reach an agreement before the 4 1/2 -month NFL lockout.

During the 2010 season, the 35-year-old Hasselbeck played in 14 games,
throwing for 3,001 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing
59.9 percent of his passes. Originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the
sixth round of the 1998 draft, the three-time Pro Bowl selection has 29,579
yards passing, 176 touchdowns and 128 interceptions while completing 60.1
percent of his passes in 12 seasons.

Hasselbeck comes to Tennessee already familiar with Titans general manager
Mike Reinfeldt, who worked in the Seahawks’ front office before joining the
Titans in 2007, and Locker, who played for the Washington Huskies.

“From college to the NFL is a big adjustment,” tight end Jared Cook(notes) said.
“To have somebody to learn under, especially somebody as experienced as Matt
Hasselback, I think is going to benefit all our quarterbacks.”

In the post-lockout rush to complete rosters, the Titans needed to sign nine
draft picks, including Locker, work to keep some of their own free agents and
possibly add a veteran defensive tackle, linebacker and safety. They agreed to
terms with 14 undrafted rookies Tuesday.

The challenges don’t end with signing players, either. The start of training
camp will mark the first time players get to work out with coach Mike Munchak
and a staff of new assistants.

Nashville, Tn – The Tennessee Titans have reached a deal with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, according to a person familiar with the agreement.

Hasselbeck spent the past 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, and the Titans are hoping he can bring stability to the position and work with rookie Jake Locker, the No. 8 overall draft pick.

Veteran Kerry Collins retired three weeks ago, the Titans plan to trade or release Vince Young before training camp opens Friday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. ESPN.com first reported the agreement, which was reached Wednesday morning.

Free agents aren’t allowed to sign contracts until Friday, and terms of Hasselbeck’s agreement were not immediately available.

The Seahawks reached a deal Tuesday with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, a clear sign they were moving on without Hasselbeck. Back in January, coach Pete Carroll pronounced that re-signing Hasselbeck was Seattle’s No. 1 priority, but the two sides could not reach an agreement before the 4 1/2-month NFL lockout.

During the 2010 season, the 35-year-old Hasselbeck played in 14 games, throwing for 3,001 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing 59.9 percent of his passes. Originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 draft, the three-time Pro Bowl selection has 29,579 yards passing, 176 touchdowns and 128 interceptions while completing 60.1 percent of his passes in 12 seasons.

Hasselbeck comes to Tennessee already familiar with Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt, who worked in the Seahawks’ front office before joining the Titans in 2007, and Locker, who played for the Washington Huskies.

In the post-lockout rush to complete rosters, the Titans needed to sign nine draft picks, including Locker, work to keep some of their own free agents and possibly add a veteran defensive tackle, linebacker and safety. They agreed to terms with 14 undrafted rookies Tuesday.

The challenges don’t end with signing players, either. The start of training camp will mark the first time players get to work out with coach Mike Munchak and a staff of new assistants.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)