Okay, I am certainly not bumping this thread to say ‘I told you so’ or anything like that (just read my comments in it), but reading it today sure has been interesting. Could it be that we were all wrong about Smith all along? Are the players finally starting to ‘get it’ and is that the reason for the improvement? Is it just Dunta coming back? Or did Smith finally figure out that it’s okay to blitz every once in a while? It seem like just yesterday we were 3-7 and calling for Smith’s head. A decent high school team could convert a 3rd and long against us, and a Pop Warner team could convert on 3rd and short. Mario was the only guy getting within 10 yards of the QB, our CB’s were getting burned more often than a joint in a Cheech and Chong movie and our run defense was basically a sieve. Fast forward to today. We are coming off 2 of the biggest wins in franchise history and playing the best defense in…well, ever. Look at the opposing teams 3rd down conversions for the last 4 games: Cleveland – 2 for 9 Jacksonville – 4 for 11 Green Bay – 1 for 10 Memphis – 2 for 13 What gives???
I really have no idea how it changed so dramatically. This was a really, really bad defense. And now they look really, really good.
He still needs to be fired. Too much talent on this defense that he's just screwing up with. It seems like finally someone took away his playcalling and the players' chains are broken free.
If we can play defense like this next year an build on it then I wouldn't have a problem with Smith returning. But my biggest fear is not making a move and having the D return to the crapfest they were for the first half of the season.
Kerry Collins sucks as a QB.....when you only have to shut down the running game to win, it is much easier. DD
No, not necessarily a Titan's fan......I just think Collins sucks as a QB, he can manage a game, but if the running game is dead, then he is not great at getting his team going with his arm.... He is a below average QB......kind of like Rafer Alston at PG. And, he is their weak link to getting anywhere in the playoffs..... DD
Its not as if other teams don't know that. Their run game has been killing people. I'm not sure anymore I want Smith fired. I think I still may though. Any way you slice it, the D has played well. I'm especially interested in what happens with Wade Phillips. If he's fired, then I'd like to see the team go after him for D Coordinator.
He might suck as a QB, but he's led them to a 12-2 record. Plus, they didn't have much to go with....(Chris Simms and the NFL messiah Vince Young)
We've definitely been playing much better as of late but you really have to take in the season as a whole rather than just the good games IMO.
It's called the blitz. Smith finally started calling more blitzes and the result has been more pressure on the opposing QB. They still give up yards but now at least they have the defense to even things out whereas before, they weren't able to generate much heat on the opposing offense. Yesterday, they took away the run and dared Collins to beat them which is something he cannot do. From what I've heard, it was a good game to see. I would have loved to see them stick to Bud Adams. I'm afraid that we don't get much NFL football over here in Bangalore.
Its also called the Richard Smith cycle. He plays very vanilla until we lose our shot at the postseason. Then he turns up the heat and presses the blitz button. It happened in 2007, and probably in his first year, though I can't remember anymore.
It's my understanding that Kubiak became hands on with the defense and defensive game planning almost a month back, and that's when occasional blitzes were no longer taboo. If this streak is indicative of a permanent change that we will sustain going forward, I'm fine with it. I still believe that Smith is in over his head, unqualified, and inept, but if his authority has been reduced, someone else is making the decisions, or he's been enlightened by some undisclosed meeting with Jesus, I'll soften on my stance. We've got a high powered offense that needs the defense to be adequate and the QBs to protect our possession of the ball. I think it's important this offseason to draft a first-rate safety, find a 2nd CB that can hold his own, and probably get a better option at DT to make Travis Johnson expendable. We don't really need to hire a Gregg Williams if the "new" Richard Smith will do.
I've been wondering if this were the case, and if it is, I don't think it's a good argument for keeping Richard Smith around.
i think there've been a lot of different elements coming together: dunta getting healthy; they repalced an unproductive player (greenwood) with a more productive one (adibi); okoye and weaver have stepped up their games, and they're getting production out of bowman and robinson along the front; the safety play has been drastically improved; the CBs are playing better; ryans looks like he's healthier (though still hurting)... so i don't think its as easy as "they're blitzing more" - i think they've improved enough that blitzing has become more viable. they still need to increase talent on that side, but man - their draft needs are shrinking.
Its nice to finally know what pieces we need to fill, instead of a situation where there are too many holes too plug with one draft. This team is sooo close...
Where did Bulman and Robinson come from? Never heard of these guys until recently. Practice squad? They're both so young, it's encouraging to see them playing so well. Who knows.....maybe something just clicked with them and now we have a couple of rotation players seemingly out of thin air.
