Better Luck Next Year for Fisher and Titans

By Travis Pulver

Better Luck Next Year for Fisher and the Titans

Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans have been on one heck of a roller coaster ride this year. After beginning the year as Super Bowl contenders they became the joke of the NFL as they fell to 0-6 only to make one of the most impressive comebacks in NFL history, winning 7 of their next 8, to go into their Christmas Day match up in Week 16 with an outside chance of being able to make the playoffs.

Perhaps it was Santa dropping a pretty sizable chunk of coal in the stocking of Titan’s owner Bud Adams after he misbehaved in Buffalo this year, or perhaps it was reality rearing its ugly head. Either way the playoff dream came to a screeching halt as the Titans fell to the San Diego Chargers by a score of 17-42. Like 19 other teams that found their seasons ending with the conclusion of week 17, the Titans only have the promise of things yet to come to look forward to.

Vince Young appears to be coming into his own as an NFL quarterback. Young’s play had declined prior to his injury in 2008 and his desire to play had even come into question. With the need for change evident after the 0-6 start, the fourth year player was given the opportunity to take over for veteran Kerry Collins, who had replaced Young back in 2008.

Time to watch and learn must have been exactly what Young needed. He showed a pocket presence over the next five games, all wins, that he did not have prior to his injury in 2008. With his ability to run defenses could not drop as many guys back into coverage, making it easier to get the passing game going. While his play has not been statistically impressive in his return, Young has shown that his ability to manage a game has improved dramatically by earning the highest rating of his career, 82.8.

However, with the youth and talent on the field with him, Young had no need to be a one man show. Second year back Chris Johnson has proven to be the electrifying runner the team thought he would be when they drafted him out of East Carolina last year. Johnson has insured he will be the first pick of fantasy draft boards next year by becoming only the sixth player in NFL history to break the 2000 yard barrier. Bo Scaife, saw his production drop off at the beginning of this season, but saw it improve when Young took over behind center. Rookie wide receiver Kenny Britt had an impressive year with 42 catches and 702 yards.

Defensively, the Titans are much better than they appear to be. Injuries decimated the unit this year, especially in the secondary that saw shutdown corner Cortland Finnegan miss significant time and cornerback Nick Harper’s season end early due to a broken forearm. The once proud fell from 7^th overall in 2008 to 28^th in 2009 with the biggest drop being felt in pass defense as the unit fell from 9^th to 31^st.

With a young, healthy secondary back next year, Vince Young coming into his own, and the best young running back in the NFL the Titans will definitely be a teams to watch in 2010 and beyond.

Tags: Bud Adams, Chris Johnson, Jeff Fisher, Tennessee Titans, Vince Young