Matchups To Watch on MNF - Jets at Titans

While the Titans are now eliminated from playoff contention, the Jets are still very much in the wildcard hunt for the playoffs in the AFC. The Jets are 6 and 7 (3-2 on the road) and have a 3 game win streak at LP Field. The Titans are a measly 2-4 at home this season but can play the spoiler role.

Quarterback Mark Sanchez is back under center, but the passing game still remains an issue for the Jets. While it doesn't appear Rex Ryan is going to insert Tim Tebow into the lineup, the circus atmosphere still very much surrounds the team. Ryan certainly deserves some criticism for some of the problems the Jets have faced, but you have to give him some credit for keeping the team focused enough to win 6 games and remain in the AFC playoff picture.

Speaking of circus, the Jets just brought back wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who recently criticized the team calling them "idiots" for the handing of Sanchez. Given that, the decision may or may not justify his words.

 In any event, Edwards, recently released by Seattle for non production, probably will not provide a big impact.

Sanchez does love him some Edwards though so the Titans would be well served to devote some attention to him. However, the main guy to watch and their leading wide receiver is slot receiver Jeremy Kerley. Linebackers Zach Brown, Akeem Ayers and cornerback Jason McCourty could have their hands full with  him.

In preparing for my radio spot to talk about the Jets game, I took a good look at the Jets and one of the bigger surprises I found was how well the offensive line was blocking particularly in the run game. Running back Shonn Greene has pretty amazing stats considering how poorly the passing game has gone.

The Jets feature two undrafted free agents on their offensive line in the form of Austin Howard and Brandon Moore and they are having really nice seasons. Center Nick Mangold keeps doing his thang and is having a great year as well.

Austin Howard

Brandon Moore

Nick Mangold

Greene does particularly well running off center, right guard and right tackle so one of the better matchups to watch will be Derrick Morgan versus that part of the run game. Morgan is assuredly the Titans best defensive end versus the run and he is quietly having a very solid season.

While the passing game has struggled left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson will test Titans defensive end Kamerion Wimbley who currently leads the Titans in sacks with 6. Wimbley has settled into his new role with the Titans and is very good at getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. A toe injury has slowed him but this is still a matchup that is sure to be exciting to watch.

On the flip side, Jets defensive end Muhammed Wilkerson is having a great year particularly against the run and the Titans run game has struggled in that department. Calvin Pace is also having a pretty solid year and the Titans are likely to have their hands full with those two guys.

Safety LaRon Landry leads the team in tackles with 68 with middle linebacker David Harris a hair behind him at 66. Certainly the Jets defense has struggled but they are still ranked 3rd in the league versus the pass and that is an area the Titans are definitely a work in progress so I expect the Titans to struggle passing the ball.

A 3-4 defense can be a nightmare for any quarterback and particularly so for a young quarterback and this will be a real test for Jake Locker. The Jets defense is ranked 29th against the run and I feel certain the Titans will attempt to get their running game back on track as Chris Johnson's carries and numbers have dropped substantially in the last two games.

Finally, this is a game that will test the mettle of two head coaches who are without question on the hot seat and under siege. Rex Ryan and Mike Munchak have quarterbacks who are struggling offensively. Their teams are largely considered to have underperformed. The difference is that Ryan is coaching for a playoff spot and Munchak is coaching for his job. It is hard to say who has more at stake as this situation plays out on the national stage.

On Mike Munchak's Job Security

Beat writer Jim Wyatt recently reported that Titans head coach Mike Munchak has two years remaining on his contract meaning he is signed through the 2014 season and not the 2013 season like his coaching staff. Munchak’s annual salary is reported to be between $2.75 million and $3 million. This means Munchak is safe for one more year at least right?

Not so fast. Regardless of whether Munchak makes changes to his lame duck coaching staff, his job is clearly not safe. I like Munchak he comes across as a very personable fella and a class act. Yet, no one watching the Titans thinks they are a well coached football team. People I respect who know football have privately told me the Titans are very poorly coached in most positions. Count me as one who certainly believes it is a good possibility that Titans owner Bud Adams will find a way to part ways with Munchak after a dismal 2012 season.

Adams is largely viewed as a tightwad but he is clearly willing to spend money when he believes the situation calls for it. It was largely reported Adams paid then head coach Jeff Fisher $8 million dollars to part ways with him. Further, a good case could certainly be made that Munchak's contract could be terminated "for cause." In any event, his contract certainly isn't prohibitive to moving on.

I also disagree that an extra year gives Munchak more flexibility in bringing in coaching staff. I just find it hard to believe a good coordinator or up and coming assistant would be willing to risk taking a flier on a one year deal when there are likely to be far more attractive options available. In fact, in my mind this makes it even more likely that Munchak could get the boot since obtaining quality staff is going to be an issue and there seems to be little justification to expend money delaying the inevitable.

 

Clearly Adams is the wild card here and what a wild card. Adams is pushing 90 and surely he understands his time is limited. While a good case can be made for "staying the course" an equally compelling argument can be made for going out and spending the money to get a proven winner in at the head coaching position and to make a push for a Superbowl while Adams is still around to celebrate it.

Big Zach Attack - Sharona's Shots on Defense - Titans vs Jaguars

As I mentioned in my blog on the Titans offense, head coach Mike Munchak relieved offensive coordinator Chris Palmer of his duties on Monday. He stated he was unlikely to make any further changes and I think that's true barring a serious meltdown on defense in the remaining games. However in truth, Munchak himself may not survive.

Does Jerry Gray survive the offseason? At one point I would have said no, but the Titans defense is playing better. Against the Jags, the Titans had 7 sacks for a loss of 40 yards. One can only view that as a positive even though ultimately the Titans lost this game. Jerry Gray does need to get his act together on his blitz packages as he keeps leaving a soft spot in the middle that opposing offenses keep exploiting.

Having said that, the Titans have been much better at getting pressure and getting takeaways. Alterraun Verner had an interception against the Jags created by pressure from Sen'Derrick Marks.

As I began preparing this blog, I promised myself I wouldn't make it about rookie linebacker Zach Brown, who is just playing phenomenally. As the tape continued to roll and I continued to watch, I ended up changing my mind. I mean why not? He deserves it for the hard work he has put in and the tremendous job he is doing as a rookie. So, welcome to my ode to how well he is playing.

Not only did Brown  have that sack, he led the Titans in tackles with 10 tackles including 1 tackle for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and 2 quarterback hits. Since taking over at OLB, the Titans have manned the middle of the field for the most part. One of the more impressive things about Brown, and Akeem Ayers as well, is their versatility. I note this in  my blog on the Colts game where I do a play by play on the last touchdown in regulation. Brown and Ayers interchange seamlessly at Sam and Will. This versatility has allowed the Titans to make great use of their speed and quickness. Brown has zoomed up the list of Titans defenders in terms of defensive stats.

Finally, I continue to be impressed with how instinctual a player Brown is in both coverage and run support. Despite pre-draft reports to the contrary, he does not shy away from contact and he isn't afraid to lay the smackdown. He is turning into exactly the type of impact player the Titans envisioned when they drafted him.

Another remarkable play here too.

I am excited to watch that guy develop and continue to be a playmaker for the Titans for years to come.

Final Notes:
The Titans defensive line played really well in terms of pressure; however, the defensive ends struggled mightily against the run. It was nice to see the team sack the Jaguars 7 times though. It is also nice to see Michael Griffin continue to improve as he added a sack of his own. One major downside I took away from this game is how much Colin McCarthy is struggling right now. He simply had a terrible game and at this point health has become a big issue.

Tennessee Defensive
	TACKLES				MISC
	TOT	SOLO	SACKS	TFL	PD	QB HTS	TD
Z. Brown	10	8	1.5	1	0	2	0
M. Griffin	6	6	1	1	0	2	0
J. Casey	4	4	1	1	0	1	0
A. Ayers	4	4	1	1	0	1	0
J. Babineaux	4	4	0	0	0	0	0
J. McCourty	4	3	0	0	0	0	0
C. Sensabaugh	3	3	0	0	0	0	0
C. McCarthy	2	2	0	0	0	0	0
D. Morgan	2	2	0	0	0	2	0
R. Mouton	2	2	0	0	0	0	0
S. Marks	2	2	0	0	1	1	0
K. Wimbley	2	1	1.5	1	0	2	0
K. Klug	1	1	1	1	0	1	0
K. Wright	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
R. Johnson	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
T. Shaw	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
J. Locker	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
A. Verner	1	1	0	0	2	0	0
T. Thompson	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
M. Martin	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
S. Solomon	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Team	53	49	7	6	3	13	0