subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Fri, Mar 19 2010 
Breaking News:  Rep. Ellsworth to support health overhaul  March 19, 2010 05:39 pm

Resources

print this story   Print this story
  Post to del.icio.us

Published October 07, 2009 12:07 am - Jeff Fisher tried to joke when asked if his Tennessee Titans had trouble fixing the mistakes that cost them their first three games.

Blame Titans’ 0-4 start on Curse of the Towel?


By Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn.

Jeff Fisher tried to joke when asked if his Tennessee Titans had trouble fixing the mistakes that cost them their first three games.

“No, we went through the list, and I don’t think there’s anything else that can happen now,” Fisher said.

Oops.

His Titans found a new way to blow a game, the latest by coming out flat with no sense of desperation or urgency in a 37-17 loss to Jacksonville last weekend that was never really close.

The team that posted an NFL-best 13-3 record in 2008 with 10 straight wins to start that season has flopped out the gate in 2009 as one of the league’s last winless teams. A franchise whose expectations a month ago included a Super Bowl berth is 0-4 and with goals set considerably lower.

Safety Michael Griffin said the team once called the Houston Oilers could be the Tennessee Spoilers. Linebacker Keith Bulluck noted New England missed last year’s playoffs at 11-5 and that it’s almost looking like the NCAA championship at one and done.

“We still have faith,” Bulluck said. “Definitely, it’s not about playoffs. It’s about just getting a win and getting some wins. ... It’s the NFL. You’ve got to love it. Each year you have to prove yourself. Each week you have to prove yourself.”

These Titans have proven only that they can’t finish a game, having blown second-half leads in their first three games.

There’s plenty of blame to go around.

Personnel decisions range from letting two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth leave rather than break the bank to keeping nine rookies. Fisher released a veteran returner only to bring Mark Jones back a month later after two bobbles led to a loss to the Jets. Fisher also chose youth over experience in hiring his new defensive coordinator.

Balls have not bounced the Titans’ way. Or it just might be the Curse of the Terrible Towel. Tennessee’s last win was Dec. 21 when Bulluck and running back LenDale White stomped on a couple towels that reached the field at the end of the Titans’ romp over Pittsburgh — six straight losses ago.

A Steelers’ fan tweeted to both Monday, reminding them of those stomps and the losses. Bulluck tweeted back: “u may be on2 something. To be continued...”

Once Washington won the bidding war for Haynesworth, the Titans insisted they could play without the man who collapsed offensive lines and freed up teammates to hit and sack quarterbacks. Well, they haven’t yet. Tennessee has only nine sacks and six interceptions now, down from 15 and eight at this point in 2008.

“We play the defenses that are called,” Bulluck said.

When Jim Schwartz left for Detroit this offseason, Fisher chose to promote Chuck Cecil from secondary assistant instead of linebackers coach Dave McGinnis, a former coordinator. The defense is giving up 27 points a game, up from 14.6 last season. Fisher denies there’s any learning curve for Cecil.



print this story    email this story   
Click here to load this Caspio Bridge DataPage.
Click here to load this Caspio Bridge DataPage.






autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Sign up for Herald Bulletin
Email & Text Alerts






Premier Guide
Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index