ESPN.com - NFL - Take 2: Titans vs. Texans Friday, November 26, 2004
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Titans and Texans. Now they're back with a
second look.
In the first matchup between the Texans and Titans six weeks ago,
Tennessee struggled matching up to the Texans' three-receiver formations.
When Houston lined up with three receivers, the Titans matched up their
best corner, Samari Rolle, against Andre Johnson, regardless of where
Johnson lined up in the formation.
It was evident breaking down the film that the Titans did not want their
third corner, Andre Woolfolk, matched against Johnson. This week, the
matchups are less favorable for Tennessee. With Woolfolk out for the
season, the Titans' third corner will be either Michael Waddell or Rich
Gardner. Expect to see the Texans employ a high percentage of
three-receiver formations.
The NFL is a game of matchups, especially in the passing game, and that
was particularly evident in the first matchup between the Texans and the
Titans. On a second-quarter touchdown drive by the Texans, QB David Carr
hit WR Jabar Gaffney twice for big plays, the second a 20-yard touchdown.
Both times, Gaffney was split wide left, instead of being aligned in his
normal slot position, and both times he beat Andre Woolfolk.
Each time, the Titans blitzed and played man coverage on the outside
against the Texans' three-receiver set. The key question in the rematch is
whether the Titans will play as much man coverage with their secondary
decimated by injuries. Keep in mind from a mental standpoint, man coverage
is easier to play; it limits the interpretative element of secondary play.
There is no route reading involved, it's just assignment football.
Carr is a mobile quarterback – he can beat you with his arm as well as
with his legs. He's big and powerful as a runner, and you must account for
his movement within your defensive schemes. It would not be surprising to
see the Titans use a spy on Carr at times, depending on the down and
distance and the coverage called. Look for it particularly on third down
and 3-6 yard situations, when man coverage is the predominant defensive
call.
The Texans' inability to run the ball with any consistency is putting Carr
and the offense in too many long-yardage situations. In studying the
Texans' offense on film, it is evident that they remain committed to
running the ball, and not becoming one-dimensional. What also stands out
breaking down the film is that the failure to generate any consistency
running the ball is more a function of their backs than their offensive
line.
Carr has a great ability when he's on the move to stop, set his feet and
get on balance. He has a quick compact delivery, and the ball comes out in
a hurry. When you study Carr on film, the area he needs to continue to
improve is the quickness of his decision making. He must be faster
processing information after the snap of the ball.
In studying the Titans' defense on film, you see significant improvement
from their young DTs, rookie Randy Starks and second-year player Rien
Long. This will allow Kevin Carter to remain almost exclusively at
defensive end, where he is one of the best in the NFL at using his hands,
a lost art among defensive ends.
In breaking down the Titans' defense on film, we believe the loss
of SS Tank Williams will be significant, and limit what the Titans can do
with their sub-packages and blitz schemes. Williams was not only a strong
physical presence with his size and relentlessness, but he had developed
into a solid blitzer who forced offenses to account for him in their
protection schemes, especially in the Titans nickel and dime packages.
Scott McGarrahan and Donnie Nickey will both play in Williams' place, but
it would surprise us if the Titans can be as multiple with their coverage
schemes and blitz packages against the Texans.
The Titans are a base-personnel offense; they line up with one back and
two tight ends, or two backs and one tight end in almost all normal down
and distance situations. Their offense is based on execution, not design
and scheme. They do not utilize much shifting and motion, and they don't
dictate matchups with personnel and movement. From a schematic standpoint,
they are an easy offense to match up to.
In studying the Texans' defense on film, the first thing you notice is how
fast it is to the football. The Texans mix their blitz packages and
coverage schemes effectively, they are extremely multiple with their
blitzes out of their 3-4 look, and in long-yardage situations they align
with 2 down linemen, four linebackers and five defensive backs.
The biggest problem the Texans' defense has had this season has been
mental breakdowns that have produced an inordinate number of big plays.
Look for the Texans to play well defensively against Tennessee since the
Titans do not force the defense to have to interpret and decipher very
much after the snap of the ball.
One player who really stands out on the Texans' defense is rookie
outside LB Jason Babin. Babin first came to our attention early in the
season; he showed great burst and explosiveness as a pass rusher right
from the start. What you see when you focus on him now is a great athlete,
a player with outstanding agility and movement.
Against the Packers last week, Babin demonstrated the kind of ability in
space that was questioned when he came out of college as a down pass
rusher. In addition, inside LBs Jamie Sharper and Jay Foreman are playing
at a high level. Expect the Titans to struggle to run the ball with
sustaining consistency against the Texans' defense.
Special Teams
The Texans' kicking game has been getting good production from PT Chad
Stanley, but PK Kris Brown missed a field goal for the third straight game
last week. He did make two from 40 and 46 yards during the game. The
Texans cannot afford to give points away or give up good field position if
they want to gain a game in the division. The Titans are racked by
injuries across their roster and are using every healthy body they can
find on special teams.
Texans head coach Dom Capers and special teams coordinator Joe Marciano
had a nationally televised argument Monday night after the Texans were
flagged for 12 men on the field when receiving a punt from the Packers.
The penalty gave Packers a first down, but all was well after the Texans
intercepted Favre on the next play.
Prediction: Texans 14, Titans 13
Scouts Inc.
Tuesday, our scouts filed their advance advance scouting report on this
week's matchup between the Titans and Texans. Now they're back with a
second look.
In the first matchup between the Texans and Titans six weeks ago,
Tennessee struggled matching up to the Texans' three-receiver formations.
When Houston lined up with three receivers, the Titans matched up their
best corner, Samari Rolle, against Andre Johnson, regardless of where
Johnson lined up in the formation.
It was evident breaking down the film that the Titans did not want their
third corner, Andre Woolfolk, matched against Johnson. This week, the
matchups are less favorable for Tennessee. With Woolfolk out for the
season, the Titans' third corner will be either Michael Waddell or Rich
Gardner. Expect to see the Texans employ a high percentage of
three-receiver formations.
The NFL is a game of matchups, especially in the passing game, and that
was particularly evident in the first matchup between the Texans and the
Titans. On a second-quarter touchdown drive by the Texans, QB David Carr
hit WR Jabar Gaffney twice for big plays, the second a 20-yard touchdown.
Both times, Gaffney was split wide left, instead of being aligned in his
normal slot position, and both times he beat Andre Woolfolk.
Each time, the Titans blitzed and played man coverage on the outside
against the Texans' three-receiver set. The key question in the rematch is
whether the Titans will play as much man coverage with their secondary
decimated by injuries. Keep in mind from a mental standpoint, man coverage
is easier to play; it limits the interpretative element of secondary play.
There is no route reading involved, it's just assignment football.
Carr is a mobile quarterback – he can beat you with his arm as well as
with his legs. He's big and powerful as a runner, and you must account for
his movement within your defensive schemes. It would not be surprising to
see the Titans use a spy on Carr at times, depending on the down and
distance and the coverage called. Look for it particularly on third down
and 3-6 yard situations, when man coverage is the predominant defensive
call.
The Texans' inability to run the ball with any consistency is putting Carr
and the offense in too many long-yardage situations. In studying the
Texans' offense on film, it is evident that they remain committed to
running the ball, and not becoming one-dimensional. What also stands out
breaking down the film is that the failure to generate any consistency
running the ball is more a function of their backs than their offensive
line.
Carr has a great ability when he's on the move to stop, set his feet and
get on balance. He has a quick compact delivery, and the ball comes out in
a hurry. When you study Carr on film, the area he needs to continue to
improve is the quickness of his decision making. He must be faster
processing information after the snap of the ball.
In studying the Titans' defense on film, you see significant improvement
from their young DTs, rookie Randy Starks and second-year player Rien
Long. This will allow Kevin Carter to remain almost exclusively at
defensive end, where he is one of the best in the NFL at using his hands,
a lost art among defensive ends.
In breaking down the Titans' defense on film, we believe the loss
of SS Tank Williams will be significant, and limit what the Titans can do
with their sub-packages and blitz schemes. Williams was not only a strong
physical presence with his size and relentlessness, but he had developed
into a solid blitzer who forced offenses to account for him in their
protection schemes, especially in the Titans nickel and dime packages.
Scott McGarrahan and Donnie Nickey will both play in Williams' place, but
it would surprise us if the Titans can be as multiple with their coverage
schemes and blitz packages against the Texans.
The Titans are a base-personnel offense; they line up with one back and
two tight ends, or two backs and one tight end in almost all normal down
and distance situations. Their offense is based on execution, not design
and scheme. They do not utilize much shifting and motion, and they don't
dictate matchups with personnel and movement. From a schematic standpoint,
they are an easy offense to match up to.
In studying the Texans' defense on film, the first thing you notice is how
fast it is to the football. The Texans mix their blitz packages and
coverage schemes effectively, they are extremely multiple with their
blitzes out of their 3-4 look, and in long-yardage situations they align
with 2 down linemen, four linebackers and five defensive backs.
The biggest problem the Texans' defense has had this season has been
mental breakdowns that have produced an inordinate number of big plays.
Look for the Texans to play well defensively against Tennessee since the
Titans do not force the defense to have to interpret and decipher very
much after the snap of the ball.
One player who really stands out on the Texans' defense is rookie
outside LB Jason Babin. Babin first came to our attention early in the
season; he showed great burst and explosiveness as a pass rusher right
from the start. What you see when you focus on him now is a great athlete,
a player with outstanding agility and movement.
Against the Packers last week, Babin demonstrated the kind of ability in
space that was questioned when he came out of college as a down pass
rusher. In addition, inside LBs Jamie Sharper and Jay Foreman are playing
at a high level. Expect the Titans to struggle to run the ball with
sustaining consistency against the Texans' defense.
Special Teams
The Texans' kicking game has been getting good production from PT Chad
Stanley, but PK Kris Brown missed a field goal for the third straight game
last week. He did make two from 40 and 46 yards during the game. The
Texans cannot afford to give points away or give up good field position if
they want to gain a game in the division. The Titans are racked by
injuries across their roster and are using every healthy body they can
find on special teams.
Texans head coach Dom Capers and special teams coordinator Joe Marciano
had a nationally televised argument Monday night after the Texans were
flagged for 12 men on the field when receiving a punt from the Packers.
The penalty gave Packers a first down, but all was well after the Texans
intercepted Favre on the next play.
Prediction: Texans 14, Titans 13
