The Tennessee Titans Have Arrived

This week’s game against the packers was a huge test. Say what you want about the Packers’ struggles this season, this is a perennial playoff team with a future hall of fame quarterback in Aaron Rodgers who has the ability to win any game for the packers. The Titans came in to this game intending to make a statement, and a statement they made. Alright, the first attempt to make a statement kind of failed, an onside kick to start the game which unsurprisingly didn’t going according to plan, but after that little miss-hap there was no looking back. Even afterwards I do think attempting an onside kick to start the game was a good idea by Mularkey, although the likelihood of it coming off was slim; it showed that intent to attack the game. The best part about it failing was the Packers coming out for their first drive with great field position and going 3 and out. What better way to demoralise a team, and from there it only got better. The next play from scrimmage after the punt, DeMarco Murray, acquired in what must officially now be the greatest ever trade in NFL history, ran untouched for 75 yards for the touchdown. What a start to the game for the Titans, from that moment on the team took full control of this game and never let Rodgers and the Pack get anywhere near them.

Now let’s get one thing out of the way right here. Marcus Mariota IS this teams franchise quarterback and anyone who thinks otherwise after that showing needs to have their head tested. This kid is special and will lead this franchise to the Superbowl, multiple times. I said that when he was first drafted and I’ve never once doubted it and now it’s time for everyone else to stop doubting it. However, do not expect him to not make any more mistakes either, he’s young, he’s still learning, and there’ll be more interceptions, and fumbles, to come before this season is over and in the future. Please refrain from calling for his head when this happens and give the lad a break. As he develops and gains experience, performances like the Packers game will become more and more the norm. In fact his performances over the past 3 weeks (barring the mistakes) have been spectacular. His passing, his poise and his athleticism have been just brilliant and he’s only going to get better. Give him a break and let’s just all enjoy the ride.

I think it’s now all time to finally unite behind Mularkey and co. also. After a promising pre-season we were all expecting the team to fly out of the blocks and that just didn’t happen. There was stuttering, poor performances and just barely scraping wins and because of this, a large number of the fan base, me included, started questioning Mularkey’s position. Half the fan base didn’t want him hired anyway and so for a lot of people it was just an excuse, but I think we all need to agree now that this was all very premature. Around the NFL everyone has been giggling at the “exotic Smashmouth” label inadvertently given to the offense by Mularkey (Mularkey didn’t actually make up the Label Exotic Smashmouth, he just said once that it was a term used by someone else to describe the old Steelers offense he worked with and the media have grabbed hold tight and run away with it). Over the last few weeks however, this team has shown exactly what exotic smashmouth is. We’ve seen the smashmouth style running be effective all season, but more and more we’re seeing the exotic part of the offense come alive and be more effective. In recent weeks we’ve seen Taylor Lewan catch a TD pass, yesterday we saw Murray throw a TD pass, but along with these trick plays we’ve seen Mariota spray the ball around the entire offense, as well as running for big gains and TDs himself. Last week against San Diego 4 different receivers had more receiving yards than both Walker and Murray and Rishard Matthews has been a revelation lately with 6 TDs in 6 games. This offense has so many different ways to attack a team now and defences are just not going to know how to stop it and it’s shown with an emphatic 118 points scored over the past 3 weeks. If that isn’t exotic I don’t know what is. Mularkey and Robiski are doing an excellent job right now and no one can deny them of that. No matter what happens during the remainder of this season I for one am excited to see this offense grow and improve over the next few years.

Now we must acknowledge the bad along with all the good, and the bad, once again, as it usually is, was the pass coverage. Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson both had 100+ receiving games (156 & 126 respectively) and that is just unacceptable. For a while everyone was 50/50 on what area needs to be improved upon the most in the next offseason in CB and WR. It is without a doubt the cornerback position now. In my opinion this team needs to pick up 2 first team calibre CBs in the next offseason, a true shutdown corner is needed to play opposite J-Mac and then a second corner can compete with Cox for the Nickel slot. Perrish Cox is just not a starting CB, yes he got an interception and I won’t take that away from him but the guy doesn’t have the speed to keep up with top WRs, cannot tackle to save his life and cannot cover anyone (Please Perrish, Please for the love of football, please turn and at least try to locate the ball when the receiver is, I mean at least just attempt to prevent the guy from catching it, if you can’t see it you can’t block it. All you can do is to try your best, but to do that you first have to try). Also on the negative, Taylor Lewan, please try to keep your hands off officials. Just stay out of it. When something is going on, just keep your mouth shut and stay away from it, can you try that? Thank you.

Congratulations to Tajae Sharpe on catching his first NFL career touchdown, after a few weeks of struggling he seems to be finding his feet (and hands) again although he needs to brush up on what you can and can’t do during a celebration, going to the ground? A big no no. Also congratulations to DeMarco Murray on his first passing TD, threw it like a pro. Another player showing up big in recent games is Kevin Byard. He’s showing up time and time again with brilliant tackles as well as getting a Sack against the Packers. Byard is another that is going to develop in to a great player in this league, definitely a huge bargain with a 3^rd round pick.

Finally I must finish with a plea to the whole Titans squad. Next week is the return game against the Colts. This team needs a victory over the Colts in the worst way and we all need revenge for the game in week 7. This win over the Packers is a huge win and is a big statement but an even bigger statement would be back to back victories over Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck 2 of the NFLs darling QBs. I will make a prediction now that if the Titans beat the Colts next week then they will win the division and make the playoffs this season. So please, all you guys, let’s end the streak, beat the Colts and break out of their shadow once and for all.

“We still have a long way to go, but I’m enthused about our offense” – Steve McNair

#TITANUP