Good article on the D

[TTP77]

By Terry McCormick

Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn knew the inevitable Albert Haynesworth departure questions were coming last week at the Titans' organized team activities.

“We’re going to line up 11 guys the first game and somebody is going to be at right tackle,” Washburn said. “I’ve dreaded this since he left because every person is going to ask me about Albert being gone.

“I’m just going to coach the guys we’ve got, and we’re going to be fine. We lost [Travis] LaBoy and [Antwan] Odom, and everyone said, ‘What are you going to do about the pass rush?’ We had three less sacks at defensive end last season than we had the year before, because Albert got three as a defensive end. We didn’t miss a beat. I think we’ve got a chance to be just as good or better than we’ve ever been.”

One big reason Washburn is so confident the drop-off of Haynesworth won’t be devastating is the rotation of defensive tackles he has this season, led by Tony Brown, Jason Jones and second-round pick Sen’Derrick Marks. But another reason Washburn is so excited is simply that end Kyle Vanden Bosch, the defensive tone-setter, is healthy and active again.

How much does that help after Vanden Bosch’s 2008 season was ruined by a nagging groin injury?

“A bunch,” says Washburn. “We picked up his sacks by Jacob Ford and Dave Ball, but there’s not any way to put a price tag on him.”

More here...

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/content/sports/healthy-vanden-bosch-can-help-offset-haynesworth-departure

[gnarl]

good article.

i think everyone is going to underestimate our defensive line, and i think think they will play just as well if not better this upcoming year.

[OhioTitan]

good article.

i think everyone is going to underestimate our defensive line, and i think think they will play just as well if not better this upcoming year.

I strongly agree. Two years ago I'd think that we might be in trouble, but last season when Fat Albert was out of the games it wasn't as devastating because Jones and Brown and those guys stepped up.

With Sen'Derrick Marks and hopefully Mitch King in the lineup I think we're still gonna be a scary proposition for any O-Line we play against.

King may be getting more attention than he deserves but if he's as good as everyone says he is, then he'll be a solid contributor all year.

[NcTitans_fan]

anybody remember the 2000 superbowl they showed kearse holding the chain gang chain then and passing it around.....how long has the chain gang be going on?

[tyrant28]

now i am starving for the regular season to hurry the heck up and get here already!!! my man down town tony brown, and the gang, will crush their opponents and make their fans frown!!! i feel a flow session comin on!

[kytitansfan1]

I've got a feeling the D-line will playing to prove to everybody that Haynesworth was not the only force up front. The fire in KVB's eyes may not be from his contacts this season.

[devin]

Jacob Ford seems to go unmentioned but he was great for us last season and i expect him to be even better if he gets extended playing time.

[TitansGiantsBears]

I hope I'm wrong, but I expect the Titans D to slip this year. The loss of Haynesworth leaves the DL without its primary catalyst. It's hard to lose a DT who plays half the game in the opponent's backfield, consistently beats double teams, and applies pressure on every play. Everyone is putting so much stock into the Pittsburgh game. That was one game in which the Steelers surely didn't game plan for our young DL.

Things I expect from the defense this year -

A solid, if unspectacular, defensive line rotation. KVB's sack total should exceed last year's by default almost, but he won't be in the 10-13 range. I expect the Titans to finish with somewhere between 25-35 sacks.

The Titans finished last year at 7th in the league allowing 93.9 yards per game. I expect that to rise to about 115 yards per game this season.

The secondary will be the primary victim of the loss of Haynesworth. Haynesworth took on the double team and still got in the QB's face or allowed others to get there, resulting in poorly thrown balls that were often rushed or forced into coverage. That masked Cortland's deficiancies in coverage as he was able to rack up some INT's. Cortland is a fiesty player, a great tackler, and has a nose for the ball. He is NOT a great cover guy, at least at this point in his career. He was humiliated in the Pro Bowl numerous times. He was the NFC's whipping boy - the guy they picked on. I also believe Harper's lack of speed in coverage will be exposed. The pressure often allowed Harper to get himself into position to catch up and make plays. Take that away and he too will be exposed.

The X factor here is Chuck Cecil. I believe he's going to be a good one. His defense may attack more often than Scwartz's defenses. That could change the dynamic greatly if say, the defense blitzed more to get pressure, but I believe the days of an effective four man rush from the line are over.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

thank god for Washburn....i hope he NEVER EVER LEAVES...gotta be the best d-line coach in the industry

[Titanette]

I think our D-line is going to really step it up, I'm sure they are sick of hearing about Albert and what we will not be with him gone.

I can't wait for regular season!!!

[TTP77]

I think our D-line is going to really step it up, I'm sure they are sick of hearing about Albert and what we will not be with him gone.

I just said the same thing in another thread. :lol I agree. :thumbsup

[TTP77]

More comments from Cecil...


Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Quick hits with Titans coordinator Chuck Cecil on some key questions about the Tennessee's defense:

Losing Albert Haynesworth:

"Disappointing, but we'll be OK."

Sorting through defensive line depth:

"Great situation. Solid players. We're very good."

Third cornerback:

"A concern, definitely a concern. But again, I think we have a lot of candidates, including the three rookies."

Depth at outside linebacker:

"Again, I would say a concern. But I'm optimistic about Stanford Keglar, Josh Stamer, the whole gang. It is a concern, but I feel like we have some guys that can fill that role for us."

Maintaining the Pro Bowl play in the secondary (where Cortland Finnegan, Chris Hope and Michael Griffin all made the AFC squad):

"Expected. Those guys didn't luck into it last year, they are just good players and they played well. So I expect it to continue."

Expecting more points from the offense:

"Not my area. It'd be nice, absolutely. I'm all for it."

From PK's blog

[TTP77]

More from Teresa Walker...


NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans have heard all the talk that their ability to sack quarterbacks apparently went to Washington with Albert Haynesworth and his $100 million contract. To the bunch of misfits and discards on Tennessee's defensive line, it's just more motivation.

"We are going to miss Albert, but at the same time we have to worry about what we do collectively," defensive tackle Tony Brown said Tuesday.

"Other guys are going to step in, and we're going to keep rolling."

Oh, Haynesworth played a key role in the Titans' defense the past two years and was the guy no one wanted off the field last season. The only sign that he ever played here is left to the record books and the small photo taped inside his old locker, which Brown moved into this offseason.

The Titans planned ahead for the possibility of losing Haynesworth in free agency by drafting tackle Jason Jones in the second round last year. After Haynesworth signed his big deal, Tennessee signed Jovan Haye in March and drafted Sen'Derrick Marks in the second round last month.

They also return 10 starters from a defense that knocked the quarterback down more any other in the NFL and a line that ranked second in sacks in the league with 39½ of the Titans' 44 sacks.

"That doesn't seem to be good enough for some people," defensive line coach Jim Washburn said.

More here:

http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-1/titans-use-group-effort-to-replace-all-pro-tackle-/5fd3288b-4dce-4524-94e0-c8724fdb3ba3

[TTP77]

By Terry McCormick

Jason Jones says he and Albert Haynesworth are similar in play making, but he's he's lighter and shifty whereas Haynesworth was heavy and powerful.

The Tennessee Titans have conveyed an important message to defensive tackle Jason Jones. While he might be the heir apparent to Albert Haynesworth at right defensive tackle, the Titans aren’t expecting him replace the two-time All Pro.

It’s a message Jones, a second-year man from Eastern Michigan, said he has received loud and clear.

“I don’t feel any pressure. I don’t put any pressure on myself,” Jones said. “I just try to go out there and get coached well and listen to the veterans on the team. I feel I have the ability to be a starter in the league.”

What those coaches and veterans are telling Jones, who had five sacks, 31 tackles and three forced fumbles as a rookie, is to simply be the best player he can be. Jones need not concern himself with any comparisons to Haynesworth, who left for a $100 million deal with the Washington Redskins.

“The first question everybody asks is, ‘How do you replace him? How do you fill that void?’ I don’t think anybody is really worried about it,” defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. “I think we’re happy with, the guys we’ve got. You don’t go out there and try to find the next Albert Haynesworth, but you go out there and try to find guys that fit your system and plug in guys who can make plays.”

As for the compare and contrast between Jones and Haynesworth, their styles probably couldn’t be much more different.

Haynesworth had weight issues at times in his Titans career, but finally got it under control in his final seasons in Tennessee at between 330 and 340 pounds. Jones, on the other hand, played last season around 270 pounds, but has bulked up to 280 this off-season with a goal of 285 pounds by training camp.

“We’re similar as far as making plays in the backfield and being disruptive. But he’s a big human being,” Jones said. “He’s 330 pounds, so there are certain things he can do that I can’t. I’m more of a speed guy, a shifty guy who will surprise you with power, whereas he just comes at you and has all the power.”

But just as Haynesworth was versatile on the line, Vanden Bosch believes Jones can have a similar impact, albeit in a different way.

“Jason is a versatile player. For a defensive tackle, he’s really quick and athletic. He’s got enough speed to actually play defensive end, but he brings the strength of a defensive tackle,” Vanden Bosch said. “There’s a lot of different things we can do with him. I don’t think we’re going to plug him in, and he’s Albert. I think we’re going to play around and see what he can do best and how we can utilize it.”

Catch it all here...

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/content/sports/jasons-job-no-easy-task-make-fans-forget-albert

[tyrant28]

i really really like jason jones! i love his passion for the game, and his drive, his work ethic! i think that the sky is the limit for him! i also feel that we struck gold with him last year! i am so glad he is a titan! great football player with loads of potential , but also seems like a very great, and level headed person!

[OhioTitan]

This has been frustrating me to no end.


In the Pittsburgh game where our D-line performed admirably people keep discounting it because Pitt didn't "gameplan" for our Young Line.

If our line did great that means that teams would have to gameplan for them and possible leave an extra blocker or two which would be the same thing that would need to be done with Haynesworth in the lineup.

So, by saying that it meant nothing because they didn't gameplan is a self-defeating argument. Our line is talented and deep and when we lost Haynesworth, they kept up production because they are good all-around not because of a "gameplan". If they are disrupting an offense and causing them to account for them or pay special attention thats all you can ask for.

In regards to this season, we have a young, experienced D-Line that busts their butt, not because it is a contract year or because of some incentives, but because thats they way they play the game. Not only do we have the solid nucleus mostly in tact from last year, but we have added a second round pick with enormous potential if Washburn can work his magic, but we also have a mini-KVB in King that will get the job done.

So for those who believe our Defense is going to drop off because we lost a prima donna whose only good efforts came in contract years to me just seems like they watch ESPN too much and believe anything their told. The Titans are undervalued every year because analysts don't give much of a glance at our great team and just see that a big name has left and that we must be terrible now.

This defense was more than Haynesworth. We have 3, count them, 3 pro bowl DB's, an all-star linebacker (playing for a new contract) and great young talent. I honestly expect as much if not more from this year's defense, especially with Coach Cecil mixing things up a bit making us harder to gameplan for, especially early on in the season.

And honestly, does anyone think that Haynesworth would/will play as well after his big payday. I think the Titans knew better that he is lazy if theres nothing in it for him and I think that the Redskins will find that fact soon enough as well.

So for now, lets not soil ourselves that we lost one player and let the season unfold.

[TRUTitan]

The loss of Haynesworth leaves the DL without its primary catalyst. It's hard to lose a DT who plays half the game in the opponent's backfield, consistently beats double teams, and applies pressure on every play.

I got to disagree with you here TGB. Losing Hanesworth is going to be rough, but changing defensive coordinators could be what hurts this defense the most. Hanesworth was a hell of DT, but he openly admitted to taking plays off. And he was injured more than just the Pitt game. And the Dline adjusted and attacked just the same. If the Titans D adjust well to the different defensive play calling. Then we should still be a top 5 defesnse.:thumbsup

[TitansGiantsBears]

So for those who believe our Defense is going to drop off because we lost a prima donna whose only good efforts came in contract years to me just seems like they watch ESPN too much and believe anything their told.

This defense was more than Haynesworth. We have 3, count them, 3 pro bowl DB's, an all-star linebacker (playing for a new contract) and great young talent.

Actually, ESPN has nothing to do with my opinion. I rarely watch ESPN. My feeling is based on watching the games. Haynesworth was a dominant DT the last two years. If he was still here no one would be talking about the plays he took off or how he only plays in a contract year, etc.

It's my contention that those three Pro Bowl DB's wouldn't have been Pro Bowl DBs without Haynesworth getting the pressure on the passer that he did on just about every play. If he wasn't making the play, he was taking a double team and allowing someone else to make the play. Finnegan's cover skills were exposed in the Pro Bowl. Without intense pressure, he's an average corner at best. Harper's game of catch up will catch up to him sooner or later. The guy's a great tackler, as is Finnegan, but he's getting long in the tooth for a corner.

[Yvette]

Saw this on the front page feed (Kuharsky):

"If we started the season today, everybody healthy, I'm not so sure if I'm being honest to myself and to this football team that Dave Ball wouldn't be starting at end," defensive line coach Jim Washburn told me during a recent chat. "If you just want to be real honest with me, I'd swear on my father's grave."

and

As for Kevin Vickerson, the guy who's inevitably rated fifth among the defensive tackles by most observers, behind Tony Brown, Jason Jones, newcomer Jovan Haye and second-round pick Sen'Derrick Marks:

"He's like Wolverine, he's like Badger, he's cornered," Washburn said. "This is it for him. He's got to fish or cut bait. It's on. And he's highly motivated and he's highly athletic, people don't understand that."

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afcsouth/0-9-254/If-season-started-now--surprise-at-DE-for-Titans.html

[TTP77]

That was a good article. We have great depth and some tough decisions to make. It's a great problem to have. :thumbsup I continue to believe people are underestimating our Dline without Albert.

[ChrisJohnson'sdreads]

The Nashville City Paper considers the Titans unlikely to extend Jevon Kearse's contract, at least until they've locked up Kyle Vanden Bosch.

Kearse's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, recently Twittered that he made an extension offer to the Titans, but that's wishful thinking. Kearse turns 33 this summer and is coming off knee surgery. KVB is younger and far more valuable. Both of Tennessee's starting defensive ends are in contract years

rotoworld.com

[Aceonline]

love it