The moniker "Smash & Dash" has quickly faded this year in Tennessee. Chris Johnson self proclaimed "Every Coach's Dream" is having a fine season this year leading the NFL in rushing after 4 games.
Lendale White on the other hand has hardly been used at all. White has had a disappointing first quarter of the season statistically gaining only 82 yards, 1 TD on 23 carries. Compare that to 2008 where after 4 games he had 161 yds, 5 TD on 60 carries. Chris Johnson had 337 yards, 2 TD on 67 carries in '08.
Lets compare the two totals after 4 games
2008 - 127 carries 498 yards 7 TD
2009 - 92 carries 516 yards 3 TD
This above stat shows me a few things.
1. The Titans are running the ball quite well. Yes, a lot of those yards were Chris Johnson's on his career day vs the Texans, but he has been effective in every game.
2. The Titans are not running the ball enough! 35 less carries is too much of a difference. The only game they were out of it was the Jaguars game. The Jets game was played in terrible conditions, yet Kerry Collins had 37 pass attempts that game. Does this make sense to anyone?
In fact, through 4 games this season Collins has thrown for more passes (153) then everyone in the NFL other then Tom Brady (174). In Collins first 4 starts last year he only had 113 pass attempts. 40 more pass attempts this year then last season. Quite a difference.
I am sure you have heard the phrase, if it's not broke, don't fix it. Well the Titans offense did not need to be changed. They just needed some more playmakers on offense to help make those plays. They took care of this in the offseason by franchising TE Bo Scaife, signing FA WR Nate Washington, and drafting rookie WR Kenny Britt in the first round of the draft this year. What wasn't needed was changing this team from a smash mouth run the ball down your throat offense to a run & shoot offense like the old Oilers days.
Memo to Jeff Fisher & Mike Heimerdinger: You don't have Warren Moon or Steve McNair at QB. You have a 36 year old grizzled veteran who is being put in a situation where he clearly isn't comfortable being in.
Remember the days where you would sit and watch a Titans game with a friend of yours who wasn't a Titans fan, and you would hear comments like, "Wow, this is boring" or "This is like watching high school football with all this running" That is Titans football, not 3 consecutive incomplete passes and a punt.
What made the Titans such a great team over the years was their ability to play this brand of "Titans Football". Run, Run, Run....wear the defense down, control the clock, keep your defense fresh, and by the time the 4th qtr hit the opposing teams were waiving the white flag because they were just physically beaten.
The Titans need to be running the ball 30-35 times a game to win, not 20-25 times a game like this year. Lendale White has looked really good this year despite his pretty low ypc avg. His touchdown run vs the Jets was one of the best runs I have seen Lendale have in a long time. Use Lendale more in this offense. Be creative with Chris Johnson. Johnson has great hands, use him in a Reggie Bush kind of role with Lendale on the field at the same time. Find more ways to get Chris Johnson the ball. He is the most electrifying RB in the AFC hands down, and probably only 2nd in NFL behind Adrian Peterson. I would like to see a game plan like Johnson 20 carries, 6 receptions & Lendale 12 carries. If the Titans can get numbers like this, then beating the Colts might actually become a reality on Sunday night.
Lets get the ball into the hands of the players that can actually win a game for us this year, and that is not you Kerry Collins.
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