A few film notes from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 38-14 Week 5 win over the Tennessee Titans…

Tennessee Titans

– Tennessee’s offensive line did an outstanding job of blocking the Steelers’ front seven and providing an escort for running back Chris Johnson, who rushed for 51 yards on just 14 carries. The Titans couldn’t keep the ground attack going because they fell behind, but that doesn’t negate the efforts of their line. They used slide protection to get the Steelers’ line going one way, and Johnson would then either hit the gap to that side or read the cutback and go opposite. Left guard Leroy Harris(notes) and center Eugene Amano(notes) are dynamic upfield blockers who know how to tag a linebacker and create extra space in the running game. Harris is also very good at pulling right and sealing the edge for Johnson and the Titans’ other running backs — he stoned LaMarr Woodley(notes) with one outstanding first-quarter pull-block, and that’s no small achievement.

The Titans’ line is best at establishing power at the point of attack, and then spreading its force to create other opportunities. You can definitely see the influence of head coach Mike Munchak, the team’s former O-line coach and a Hall of Fame offensive lineman himself.

– The Titans’ defensive linemen really seemed to struggle with certain assignments. When ends Derrick Morgan(notes) and Dave Ball(notes) were asked to flare out in coverage on zone blitzes, they weren’t able to do much but provide stationary targets for Ben Roethlisberger(notes) to avoid. And on Heath Miller’s(notes) first-quarter touchdown, tackle Karl Klug(notes) had Miller in his vicinity, but stayed home while Miller advanced to the goal line. Sending a bunch of zone blitzes at Roethlisberger might not be the best idea — Big Ben’s defensive coordinator is Dick LeBeau, who pretty much invented the concept. You imagine that he might see zone blitzes at a pretty high level through the week.

The Titans’ D-linemen didn’t do much better staying at home at times, either; Jonathan Dwyer’s(notes) long second-quarter run was a beautifully executed example of (take it away, Vince Lombardi): “A seal here, a seal here, and we run it IN THE ALLEY!” Left guard Doug Legursky(notes) (pulling right) and right tackle Marcus Gilbert(notes) did an incredible job of blocking out the lane for Dwyer’s first run of the season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

– Generally speaking, the Titans present an interesting set of defensive problems in that they’re multiple in their schemes, but they disguise their diversity very well by looking pretty vanilla (a lot of 4-3 or 4-2 nickel) and then, spreading out into different coverages after the snap. Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians put together a brilliant gameplan to counter this — he used a lot of pre-snap motion by receivers from side to side, sweeps and end-arounds to force the defense to pull one way, and quick throws in spread-style formations to get under what Tennessee was doing. The zone blitzes previously discussed aside, Roethlisberger also read Tennessee’s standard blitzes very well — it also helps that he’s conditioned himself to be unafraid of the blitz because his offensive lines have been so poor for so long.

The Steelers also used a lot of influence motion in their running plays — little half-motion sets by Hines Ward(notes) to draw a linebacker in and out. And as they generally are, the Steelers were very successful when they ran out of bunch formations — the formation/play they run more consistently than any other team. It’s important to note that with injuries on both sides of the ball, and facing a very good defense, Arians helped his team win as much as any player on the field.

– There were certain points where outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley absolutely took over this game — he certainly seemed to recognize the importance of his play with battery-mate James Harrison(notes) out with a fractured orbital bone (yikes). One play that really stood out was his sack of Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck(notes) with 9:39 left in the first quarter. The Titans had second-and-goal from the Pittsburgh 7-yard line, and Woodley rushed in from the defensive left side as tight end Daniel Graham(notes) released into the end zone. Fullback Ahmard Hall(notes) stayed in to block Woodley, but it didn’t matter, because Woodley just pushed Hall a good 2 yards back with his initial attack, and when Hall regained his footing, Woodley pushed Hall back into Hasselbeck and got the sack.

Woodley can do a number of things — tackle the run very well, cover in space as well as any 3-4 outside linebacker, and speed-rush around the edge — but his sheer power is the extra element that makes him a true force.

Related: , Doug Legursky, LaMarr Woodley, Ben Roethlisberger, James Harrison, Matt Hasselbeck, Hines Ward, Marcus Gilbert, Jonathan Dwyer, Derrick Morgan, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, What The Tape Saw

BEREA: The Browns were as healthy as they had been all season heading into their 31-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, but their prosperity didn’t last long.

Pro Bowl center Alex Mack reported to the team’s headquarters Monday with symptoms of appendicitis and had an appendectomy later in the day at the Cleveland Clinic, coach Pat Shurmur said. Doctors felt the surgery went well, and Mack was expected to spend the night in the hospital, Shurmur said.

Meanwhile, cornerback Joe Haden had an MRI on his left knee and was diagnosed with a sprain, Shurmur said. Haden attended team meetings Monday while wearing a brace on his leg. He is not expected to need surgery, Shurmur said.

The Browns (2-2) have a bye this coming week and won’t play again until they visit the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 16. Shurmur said he doesn’t know whether Mack or Haden will be able to face the Raiders.

If Mack can’t play after the bye, Steve Vallos and John Greco could compete to play center. If Haden must miss a game, Dimitri Patterson or rookie Buster Skrine could receive an expanded role.

Several other players also are dealing with injuries. Shurmur said wide receiver Josh Cribbs is day-to-day with a “slight knee sprain,” and wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi’s sprained shoulder is not believed to be a significant injury. Cornerback Sheldon Brown (groin) and offensive lineman Tony Pashos (ankle) did not exacerbate their injuries by playing through them Sunday, Shurmur said.

Mack was hooked up to IVs before the game against the Titans, because he wasn’t feeling well. Still, he did not miss any of the offense’s 87 plays.

“He’s tough as nails because he was feeling a little queasy during that game, too,” Pashos said of Mack. “The guy is tough. I don’t expect him to miss any time. He’s played with some injuries before, and I think he’ll be all right. I’m not a doctor, but I know Alex.”

Haden was hurt and examined by trainers on the sideline after the Titans punted with 8:38 left in the second quarter. He stayed in the game but limped off the field after catching wide receiver Nate Washington from behind and tackling him at the Browns’ 4-yard line with less than a minute left in the first half. Haden played in the second half until he left the game in the fourth quarter.

“He hurt it, and he just kept on playing,” Skrine said. “We didn’t even know he hurt it. Being the guy that he is and doing everything for the team, he stayed in the game.”

Voicing support

When Shurmur was asked Monday if he would diminish the role of running back Peyton Hillis because of the latter’s unresolved contract issues, Shurmur said: “Absolutely not. I think that’s a nonissue.”

Hillis, who’s in the final year of his rookie contract and set to make a base salary of $600,000 this season, had 10 carries for 46 yards (4.6 average) and five catches for 23 yards against the Titans. He shared the workload with running back Montario Hardesty, who had seven carries for 22 yards (3.1 average) and five receptions for 49 yards. Shurmur said he did not call more running plays, because the Browns fell behind by a large margin and needed to pass in an attempt to rally.

“I think Peyton Hillis fits extremely well [in the offense],” Shurmur said. “He played yesterday. He got the football. I’ll tell you what, I think it’s important he touches the ball and he did.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday that although Hillis said he was ill last week, some unnamed Browns players believe that Hillis’ unresolved contract situation may have contributed to his decision not to play in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins. Shurmur addressed the report Sunday after his team’s loss to the Titans and again Monday.

“The young man was sick, and he didn’t play,” Shurmur said. “OK. That’s the end of it. He played yesterday, and I think that’s where the important thing is. Two weeks ago, he didn’t play. We played the Miami Dolphins, and we won the game. Yesterday he did. All right. He was a significant contributor yesterday, and we didn’t win.”

Rookie wide receiver Greg Little, linebacker Titus Brown and Pashos defended Hillis on Monday.

“I don’t take those sources to be very credible,” Little said. “I just think that’s coming from very thin air. I think Peyton is a big enough competitor to want to come out and play every weekend.”

“He was sick,” Brown said. “You have to be at your best to play this game, and he wasn’t at his best. … If Peyton were able to play, he would have played. He loves this team just like everybody else on this team.”

Missed call?

Titans wide receiver Damian Williams knocked into Patterson near the line of scrimmage late in the second quarter, allowing Washington to break free for a 57-yard pass play. Patterson thought Williams should have been called for offensive pass interference.

“It was blatant,” Patterson said. “But they’re going to miss calls. Referees miss calls every game, every sport, so you can’t really go into a game trying to point the finger at the ref. You’ve got to continue to play, and play through those times.”

Shurmur declined to reveal whether he has asked the league office to review the play.

“[The Titans] did a nice job with that,” Shurmur said. “There’s rules for that, though. … You’re not allowed to rub, but they executed the play well.”

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at http://browns.ohio.com. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/browns.abj.

With a stifling defensive effort, the Baltimore Ravens made a statement
during their opening-weekend victory.

The Tennessee Titans are trying not to panic after failing to move the ball
with much consistency in Week 1.

Baltimore tries to open 2-0 for the third time in four seasons while
Tennessee hopes to regroup during Mike Munchak’s home coaching debut Sunday.

The Ravens, who were ousted in the playoffs last season by Pittsburgh,
opened 2011 with a bang, routing the Steelers 35-7 last Sunday.

“This is just a start,” said receiver Anquan Boldin(notes), who had four catches
for 74 yards and a touchdown. “We wanted to come out and make a statement, but
we think we can only get better from here.”

Baltimore recorded three interceptions and recovered four fumbles in a
performance that resembled that of the defensive unit which led the team during
its 2000 Super Bowl run. The Ravens also had four sacks – three from Terrell
Suggs(notes), who with 71 1/2 surpassed Peter Boulware for the most in franchise
history.

“Seems like every year he hits double-digits in sacks,” Ravens defensive end
Cory Redding(notes) said. “Dudes really have to look out for him. Quarterbacks really
have to find him on the field. They have to account for this guy, because if
they don’t he’s going to put the quarterback on his back.”

Tennessee quarterback Matt Hasselbeck(notes) knows all too well of Suggs’ defensive
prowess. Hasselbeck was sacked eight times in two games against Baltimore while
with Seattle, including twice by Suggs during a 44-41 Ravens overtime victory
Nov. 23, 2003.

In his first game with Tennessee, Hasselbeck completed 21 of 34 passes for
263 yards with two touchdowns and an interception last Sunday. However, Chris
Johnson, who joined the team roughly two weeks ago following a holdout, rushed
for just 24 yards on nine carries as the Titans fell 16-14 at Jacksonville.

“Don’t over-panic,” Munchak told the Titans’ official website. “We have a
very good opponent coming in. You have to believe in everything that you’ve
done. You don’t throw everything away after one game because certain things
didn’t work out the way you wanted.

“The NFL is a tricky thing because one week it changes so much. Football can
get very humbling real fast. It’s a brand new opportunity. We’ve got 15 more of
these and we still have an opportunity to do something special.”

On what was a quiet offensive day for the Titans, Kenny Britt(notes) shined,
hauling in five passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

While Britt will have to worry about going up against seven-time Pro Bowl
safety Ed Reed(notes), who is coming off the 12th multi-interception game of his
career, Ravens rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith(notes) is expected to miss a few weeks
with a high ankle sprain.

Tennessee, which surrendered an average of 133.0 rushing yards en route to
losing nine of 10 to close last season, surrendered 323 total yards during its
opener – 163 on the ground.

The Titans’ inability to stop the run could mean another big day for Ray
Rice(notes), who ran for 107 yards and caught four passes for another 42 against the
Steelers, scoring twice. Joe Flacco(notes) also impressed, throwing for 224 yards and
three TDs.

While Johnson struggled in the opener, he has averaged an NFL-best 114.2
rushing yards over the previous two seasons at home.

“He is what they call their home-run hitter,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis(notes)
said. “He is their offense, he’s their heartbeat. And if you look at what they
did last weekend … you’ve got to know that he’s definitely going to touch the
football a lot this week. And we’re prepared for it.

“It should be a great test for us. But when you talk about just skill and
talent, he is a special, special talent.”

Tennessee and Baltimore have split 16 meetings, with the Titans taking the
last matchup 13-10 on Oct. 5, 2008.

With a stifling defensive effort, the Baltimore Ravens made a statement
during their opening-weekend victory.

The Tennessee Titans are trying not to panic after failing to move the ball
with much consistency in Week 1.

Baltimore tries to open 2-0 for the third time in four seasons while
Tennessee hopes to regroup during Mike Munchak’s home coaching debut Sunday.

The Ravens, who were ousted in the playoffs last season by Pittsburgh,
opened 2011 with a bang, routing the Steelers 35-7 last Sunday.

“This is just a start,” said receiver Anquan Boldin(notes), who had four catches
for 74 yards and a touchdown. “We wanted to come out and make a statement, but
we think we can only get better from here.”

Baltimore recorded three interceptions and recovered four fumbles in a
performance that resembled that of the defensive unit which led the team during
its 2000 Super Bowl run. The Ravens also had four sacks – three from Terrell
Suggs(notes), who with 71 1/2 surpassed Peter Boulware for the most in franchise
history.

“Seems like every year he hits double-digits in sacks,” Ravens defensive end
Cory Redding(notes) said. “Dudes really have to look out for him. Quarterbacks really
have to find him on the field. They have to account for this guy, because if
they don’t he’s going to put the quarterback on his back.”

Tennessee quarterback Matt Hasselbeck(notes) knows all too well of Suggs’ defensive
prowess. Hasselbeck was sacked eight times in two games against Baltimore while
with Seattle, including twice by Suggs during a 44-41 Ravens overtime victory
Nov. 23, 2003.

In his first game with Tennessee, Hasselbeck completed 21 of 34 passes for
263 yards with two touchdowns and an interception last Sunday. However, Chris
Johnson, who joined the team roughly two weeks ago following a holdout, rushed
for just 24 yards on nine carries as the Titans fell 16-14 at Jacksonville.

“Don’t over-panic,” Munchak told the Titans’ official website. “We have a
very good opponent coming in. You have to believe in everything that you’ve
done. You don’t throw everything away after one game because certain things
didn’t work out the way you wanted.

“The NFL is a tricky thing because one week it changes so much. Football can
get very humbling real fast. It’s a brand new opportunity. We’ve got 15 more of
these and we still have an opportunity to do something special.”

On what was a quiet offensive day for the Titans, Kenny Britt(notes) shined,
hauling in five passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.

While Britt will have to worry about going up against seven-time Pro Bowl
safety Ed Reed(notes), who is coming off the 12th multi-interception game of his
career, Ravens rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith(notes) is expected to miss a few weeks
with a high ankle sprain.

Tennessee, which surrendered an average of 133.0 rushing yards en route to
losing nine of 10 to close last season, surrendered 323 total yards during its
opener – 163 on the ground.

The Titans’ inability to stop the run could mean another big day for Ray
Rice(notes), who ran for 107 yards and caught four passes for another 42 against the
Steelers, scoring twice. Joe Flacco(notes) also impressed, throwing for 224 yards and
three TDs.

While Johnson struggled in the opener, he has averaged an NFL-best 114.2
rushing yards over the previous two seasons at home.

“He is what they call their home-run hitter,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis(notes)
said. “He is their offense, he’s their heartbeat. And if you look at what they
did last weekend … you’ve got to know that he’s definitely going to touch the
football a lot this week. And we’re prepared for it.

“It should be a great test for us. But when you talk about just skill and
talent, he is a special, special talent.”

Tennessee and Baltimore have split 16 meetings, with the Titans taking the
last matchup 13-10 on Oct. 5, 2008.

Surprise move: Ahmard Hall was suspended for the first four games of the season for a violation of the NFL’s policy against performance enhancers. The Titans traded an undisclosed draft pick to the Packers for Quinn Johnson, a fifth-rounder out of LSU in 2009. Johnson will serve as lead blocker for Chris Johnson while Hall is out. So the Titans have a running back and a fullback learning the team’s offense in a little over a week. Undrafted rookie corner Chris Hawkins made the team.

No-brainers: Time had come for receiver Justin Gage, a nice guy with good size who could block and be in the right spot, but dropped too many balls and was not enough of a threat. The entire nine-man draft class stuck, and it’s hard to say any one of them is around simply because of that status.

What’s next: Six defensive tackles is a luxury the team may not be able to afford for long, though one of them, Malcolm Sheppard, has been working at end. With only four true ends on the roster and Derrick Morgan out for the opener, the team either has faith in Sheppard or plans a move. The Titans’ fourth and fifth corners — Tommie Campbell and Hawkins — are rookies who were judged beter than Frank Walker.

The NFL has suspended Titans fullback Ahmard Hall for the first four games of the season for a violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Hall said the violation occurred because of a stimulant he took in order to stay awake on a long drive from Nashville to Houston in February. A test soon thereafter came back positive, he said.

Despite two appeals, the NFL upheld its decision. Hall was informed earlier this week.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” Hall said. “I know the team counts on me a lot and I’m a leader in the locker room. I play a big part in what we do. I let my coaches and teammates down because this is a big season for (Coach Mike Munchak) going into his first season, and I’m supposed to be there with my team.”

Hall said he knows people usually suspect steroids when it comes to performance-enhancing substances.

“I’m saying now I never took steroids and I never will,” Hall said. “But it’s up to the fans to believe me on that. I feel like I’ve done enough in my career and throughout the community for people to know I’m an upstanding guy and wouldn’t cheat the game like that.

“I made a mistake and took a stimulant to stay up on the drive. There’s a number of things you can get suspended for under that banned substance list the NFL has. I’m paying for it right now.”

Hall’s suspension will begin with Week 1 of the regular season. He won’t be allowed to come to the team facility or have any contact with coaches.

In order to fill the roster void, the Titans acquired fullback Quinn Johnson in a trade with the Packers. Johnson played in 20 games over two seasons with Green Bay. He made four starts last year, totaling three catches for 26 yards.

“We have known that a suspension was a possibility for some time and we have used the preseason to identify players that would fit the mold of what we needed, if Ahmard had to miss games,” Titans General Manager Mike Reinfeldt said. “Johnson is a traditional, downhill, blocking fullback who we think will fill that need. He is a former fifth round pick, who has done a nice job over the last two years for Green Bay.”

Hall, a former Marine, said he’s already looking forward to returning prior for Week 5, when the Titans will travel to Pittsburgh. He will miss games against Jacksonville, Baltimore, Denver and Cleveland.

“I’ll sit out the four game suspension, then put it behind me, not make any more mistakes and have a good season,” Hall said. “I’ll finish the season off and go on with my career and life.”

This is the second straight season a Titans player has been suspended for the first four games because of a performance-enhancing violation. Linebacker Gerald McRath was suspended in 2010.

By Russ Oates

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Aug 27, 2011 – The Chicago Bears (1-1) received a humiliating loss at the hands of the New York Giants on Monday, 41-13. Jay Cutler and Caleb Hanie combined for 333 passing yards, but the Bears defense was sieve against the run, allowing 218 yards. Da’Rel Scott pulled off a 97-yard touchdown run against the Giants’ third-stringers in the fourth quarter.

One position battle to take note of in this game is at wide receiver. The Bears brought in Roy Williams to be a starter, but of late he has failed to provide a sufficient performance for his coaches. He is in danger of losing his starting job to Johnny Knox.

The Tennessee Titans (1-1) lost on a last-second field goal by the St. Louis Rams’ Josh Brown, 17-16. But the team survived an earlier scare when Matt Hasselbeck hit his head during the second quarter. It turned out that he bit his tongue. Jake Locker completed just 8-of-18 passes in relief of Hasselbeck, but he may not see much playing time in this game.

Still, the big concern with the Titans is over the absence of running back Chris Johnson. Johnson has been a holdout during training camp since Aug. 9 while he seeks a new contract with the team. He had a meeting with the team on Wednesday, but it appears that there was little progress on a new contract. On the bright side of things, Music City Miracles points out, the team has avoided major injuries so far.

Game Date/Time: Saturday, Aug. 27; 8:00 p.m. ET

Location: LP Field, Nashville, TN

TV Schedule:
Bears: WFLD Fox Chicago
Titans: WKRN ABC 2

TV Distribution Map: The506.com

Radio Schedule
Bears: WBBM Newsradio 780
Titans: WGFX 104.5 The Zone

For more on the Bears visit Windy City Gridiron and SB Nation Chicago. Check out Music City Miracles for more on the Titans. Visit SB Nation NFL for more on Week 3 of the preseason.

Read More: Matt Hasselbeck (QB – TEN), Jay Cutler (QB – CHI), Caleb Hanie (QB – CHI), Johnny Knox (WR – CHI), Jake Locker (QB – TEN), Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans

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If the Tennessee Titans were willing to meet star running back Chris Johnson halfway (I’d say agreeing to make him the NFL’s highest-paid RB counts), and showing up is half the battle… it stands to reason that the Johnson should have a new deal and the Titans should have their best player in camp by now.
Chris Johnson may not have a new contract yet, but Ryan Grant may not have a team by the start of the regular season.
(Morry Gash – AP)

Alas, that’s not the case.

Johnson — who has yet to report to training camp — met with team management on Wednesday but according to Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt, no deal was reached between the two sides. He expects a contract resolution in the “next day or so” despite saying in a statement that he’s unsure if any progress was made during the meeting.

At this point, if the Titans are willing to break the bank for their top tailback, as they claim, Johnson’s extended holdout should soon be over. Unless, of course, he’s simply pulling the ol’ Brett Favre routine of skipping training camp and jumping right into the fray in Week 1.

Maybe he’s watching running backs go down left and right and would rather preserve his body for the punishment of the regular season. Whatever the reason, you have to figure Johnson will be in uniform when the Titans take on Jacksonville on Sept. 11.

In other running back news from around the league, it sounds like Green Bay Packers veteran Ryan Grant may not make the team.

According to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Grant could be the odd man out if the Pack decide to keep only three halfbacks. Last year’s late-season starter James Starks, short-yardage specialist John Kuhn and rookie Alex Green are the only three backs who appear to have solidified their roles on the team while Grant and Dimitri Nance could be battling it out for the final spot — assuming there’s a fourth spot to be had.

Grant eclipsed 1,200 yards in both 2008 and 2009 but missed all of 2010 after fracturing his knee and tearing ankle ligaments in Week 1. With a base salary of $3.5 million, Grant would be an expensive fourth running back to keep in a year in which the Packers have several tough decisions to make about future free agents.

This seems like an appropriate time to remind you to adjust your pre-draft fantasy running back rankings accordingly.

SITE: Baptist Sports Park, Nashville, TN

CAMP OBJECTIVES: Change is the central theme in Tennessee, where the Titans
will have both a different head coach and quarterback to guide them into the
2011 season. Battle-tested vet Matt Hasselbeck takes over as the new leader of
the offense, and the free-agent signing of the longtime Seattle field general
serves the dual purpose of allowing the team to rid itself of malcontent Vince
Young and bring the franchise’s signal-caller of the future, rookie Jake
Locker, along at its own pace. While Locker still figures to see plenty of
preseason action, one youngster who may be immediately thrown into the fire is
fourth-round pick Colin McCarthy, a candidate to start at middle linebacker if
the Titans can’t retain free agent Stephen Tulloch. A defensive line that won’t
have leading sacker Jason Babin back is a spot to monitor as well, particularly
in 2010 first-rounder Derrick Morgan’s recovery from a torn ACL the promising
pass-rusher suffered in October. There’s also a budding crisis Mike Munchak’s
got on his hands on the eve of his first camp, with Pro Bowl running back Chris
Johnson set to stage a potentially prolonged holdout due to a contract dispute.
His expected absence will give the team an extended window to evaluate third-
year man Javon Ringer and rookie Jamie Harper, the two players vying to be
Johnson’s backup.

PRESEASON SCHEDULE (All Times Eastern):

Aug. 13 – vs. Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Aug. 20 – at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Aug. 27 – vs. Chicago, 8 p.m.
Sep. 1 – at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —
If you check the current roster, you’ll notice that the Titans are not totally devoid of quarterbacks, even with Kerry Collins’ surprising retirement announcement.

Second-year pro Rusty Smith is on the roster. So, too, is Brett Ratliff, who has been in the league three seasons but has yet to play a down.

And then there is Vince Young.

Continue reading at The Tennessean.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —
If you check the current roster, you’ll notice that the Titans are not totally devoid of quarterbacks, even with Kerry Collins’ surprising retirement announcement.

Second-year pro Rusty Smith is on the roster. So, too, is Brett Ratliff, who has been in the league three seasons but has yet to play a down.

And then there is Vince Young.

Continue reading at The Tennessean.