Sect309Fan
05-08-2009, 12:46 PM
The Titans were very successful in 1999 and 2000, and fan's expectations were very high going into the 2001 season. Here is my look back at that season, what went so wrong, and how the Titans can try to avoid a letdown like that this year.
First, it all started with a toe. Eddie George had turf toe all that year, which led to his lowest rushing output as a Titan (939 yards on 315 carries and 5 TDs).
Second, the defense fell apart both figuratively and literally. Blaine Bishop was lost after 4 games, and the most of the starters missed games due to injury during the year. The secondary was extremely hard hit, which led to their #31 ranking against the pass.
It was a frustrating year game-by-game. The Dolphins smacked the Titans around in the home opener 31-23 (3 INT by McNair, 1 for a TD).
Then 9-11 happened, so week 2 games were rescheduled. You could tell it had an effect, because the week new week 2 game in Jacksonville was a boring 16-13 loss (only 3 total points scored in 2nd half).
Then the Titans had a terrible time to get a bye in week 3. No rhythm at all, which led a 26-7 loss at Baltinore in week 4.
The Titans rebounded some by beating the Bucs and Lions in weeks 5 and 6. But then they had to travel to Pittsburgh, where they were killed 34-7.
In week 8, the Titans had a big comeback win over the Jags at home, and they were back to one game under .500. The season wasn't lost yet.
Unfortunately, week 9 was the MNF game against the Ravens at home. That game more than anything else killed the Titans hopes for the playoffs.
The Titans just could never get over .500. They kept winning one and losing the next. They did win 2 in a row to get to .500 with 2 weeks to go, but by that time the team was down to their scrubs. They lost the last two home games to Cleveland and Cincy, two teams they never would have lost to normally.
The good news is that the Titans are a bit younger than their 2001 counterparts. I do worry a little about KVB, but the rest are in pretty good shape. The running game should be a big strength this year, unlike the 2001 team. And the passing game has the potential to take off, like it also did in 2001.
The schedule does worry me, especially those road games. We might feel pretty good if the Titans are 3-3 going into the bye. And injuries are always a factor. The Titans were pretty lucky in 2008 with injuries, but they can strike at any time.
I really hope the Titans can make the playoffs 3 times in a row. I hope we can win the division for a 2nd time in a row. These are marks of the better teams in the NFL, and it is time for the Titans to join them.
First, it all started with a toe. Eddie George had turf toe all that year, which led to his lowest rushing output as a Titan (939 yards on 315 carries and 5 TDs).
Second, the defense fell apart both figuratively and literally. Blaine Bishop was lost after 4 games, and the most of the starters missed games due to injury during the year. The secondary was extremely hard hit, which led to their #31 ranking against the pass.
It was a frustrating year game-by-game. The Dolphins smacked the Titans around in the home opener 31-23 (3 INT by McNair, 1 for a TD).
Then 9-11 happened, so week 2 games were rescheduled. You could tell it had an effect, because the week new week 2 game in Jacksonville was a boring 16-13 loss (only 3 total points scored in 2nd half).
Then the Titans had a terrible time to get a bye in week 3. No rhythm at all, which led a 26-7 loss at Baltinore in week 4.
The Titans rebounded some by beating the Bucs and Lions in weeks 5 and 6. But then they had to travel to Pittsburgh, where they were killed 34-7.
In week 8, the Titans had a big comeback win over the Jags at home, and they were back to one game under .500. The season wasn't lost yet.
Unfortunately, week 9 was the MNF game against the Ravens at home. That game more than anything else killed the Titans hopes for the playoffs.
The Titans just could never get over .500. They kept winning one and losing the next. They did win 2 in a row to get to .500 with 2 weeks to go, but by that time the team was down to their scrubs. They lost the last two home games to Cleveland and Cincy, two teams they never would have lost to normally.
The good news is that the Titans are a bit younger than their 2001 counterparts. I do worry a little about KVB, but the rest are in pretty good shape. The running game should be a big strength this year, unlike the 2001 team. And the passing game has the potential to take off, like it also did in 2001.
The schedule does worry me, especially those road games. We might feel pretty good if the Titans are 3-3 going into the bye. And injuries are always a factor. The Titans were pretty lucky in 2008 with injuries, but they can strike at any time.
I really hope the Titans can make the playoffs 3 times in a row. I hope we can win the division for a 2nd time in a row. These are marks of the better teams in the NFL, and it is time for the Titans to join them.