49ers-Titans: 5 Questions with Music City Miracles

by Fooch on Nov 6, 2009 11:00 AM PST in Preview Comment 16 comments

As always, there is plenty of value to be had in hearing about the 49ers upcoming opponent straight from the horses mouth. Jimmy over at Music City Miracles, was kind enough to take a few minutes to answer some questions I had of him. I also answered five questions for him and if you feel like offering your own take on his questions, head on over.

Fooch: Can you nail down what caused the Titans early season losing streak, or was it a combination of factors?

MCM: It has been a combination of a lot of things. It starts on the defensive side of the ball. New defensive Chuck Cecil seemed to be having trouble making the in game adjustments that needed to be made early on. The secondary wasn't playing well and then they got banged up.

On offense Kerry Collins seemed to regress from last season. The receivers couldn't catch when he was actually on the mark, and the offensive line wasn't playing as well as they did last season.

On special teams the Titans didn't have anyone that could catch a punt or return a kickoff. So you can see that it was a combination of a lot of things working against them.

We continue with a few more questions after the jump...

Fooch: I didn't see the game live, but it seems like Vince Young didn't look to bad last week against Jacksonville. Will we see an expanded role for Young or will this team be riding Chris Johnson all the way on Sunday?

MCM: The only way Vince's role gets expanded is if the run game isn't working. They may come out and throw it around a little early because the 49ers will probably be stacking the box, but anytime a Jeff Fisher football team takes the field the plan is to ride the run game.

Fooch: is Jeff Fisher on the hot seat, or is he so entrenched that it would be pretty stunning to see a change any time soon?

MCM: His seat is definitely warm. It came out after the embarrassment in New England that Titans owner Bud Adams had called Fisher to Houston for a meeting the Monday before that game. I think Fisher needs 4 more wins to save his job. That is by no means a sure thing with the way this team has played this season.

Fooch: It seems like losing Albert Haynesworth has been a big problem for the defense. Would you agree? Either way, how is the team compensating, or hoping to compensate for the loss?

MCM: It has been a big problem, but it hasn't been the biggest problem. The place they miss Albert the most is on 3rd down. He had the ability to collapse the pocket from the middle so quarterbacks couldn't step up and throw.

This season the front four has been pretty good against the rush, but they haven't been nearly as good rushing the passer. They have had to compensate for this by bringing more blitzes than they did in the pas

Fooch: The Jaguars don't exactly provide the greatest litmus test, so where do you think the Titans are right now? A team looking at maybe 4 or 5 wins, or a team that can actually turn this thing around?

MCM: I think they are a team looking at 4 or 5 wins. The biggest thing the Jacksonville game proved was that this team hasn't quit, and that was something everyone was questioning after the New England game. There is still a good amount of talent on this team, so anything is possible, but I still believe that 5-5 after the 0-6 start is about best case scenario.

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Scary Game

I’m a bit nervous about Sunday. This is must win for us. The Titans are far superior than 1-6 indicates. This is the type of organization that can peel off 10 consecutive victories, while the Niners have not had three consecutive victories in a long time. Two very different clubs. That said the Niners are passed due for a win at this point. I believe in them to get a W, but another gut wrenching loss will not surprise me. One thing that would restore my confidence is a huge victory. I’m predicting a close, low-scoring game, whatever the outcome.

49ers and TOOL live, my personal Heaven!!!

by CW30 on Nov 6, 2009 11:41 AM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Also...

Bottling up “Dash” is a tall order. On the bright side, I think we can. This game will come down to VY-Jekyl or Hyde.

49ers and TOOL live, my personal Heaven!!!

by CW30 on Nov 6, 2009 11:51 AM PST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

I’m too lazy to sign up for other blogs, but I don’t think Fooch’s prediction of CJ being held to 80 yards in 20-25 carries is unlikely at all. If anything, it’s giving Johnson a little too much credit. Some Titans fans seemed to think that he was way off with these numbers, and mentioned that Fooch may have not been paying attention to CJ’s performance this year.

The only defense CJ’s played against this year that has a rushing defense as good as the 49ers are the Steelers, and they held Johnson to only 57 yards in 15 carries. In the next six games, the Titans went on to play teams with rushing defenses that aren’t even in the same tier as the 49ers, and CJ only broke 100 yards in only three of those six games. Granted, he had a breakout game last week against the Jags, but when the Titans lost to Jacksonville earlier this year he had only 83 yards with 16 carries.

Even still, I actually think this game will be won by the team that passes better. The 49ers have a slight advantage over the Titans in both its ability to pass and defend against the pass. We’re finally beginning to spot the shores of the “Smith-VD-Crabtree” promised land, and I am confident that we’ll be able to pull out a win here.

by Chimneyfish on Nov 6, 2009 11:54 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Also, the AccuScore computers forecast Chris Johnson having 16.5 attempts for 80.3 yards on Sunday.

by Chimneyfish on Nov 6, 2009 12:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Is .5 attempts like a direct snap or something?

Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!

by FaStRmAn on Nov 6, 2009 12:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

it's an average.

Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl

by Viliphied on Nov 6, 2009 12:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I can see the shore but it is still pretty far away...

I think the Niners are a better team than the Titans at this point. The Niners, despite losing 3 straight, have been in every game they have played this year (except Atlanta). I think the passing game with Smith/VD/Craby/and Morgan will get better and better every week. Unfortunatly the offensive line seems to be getting worse and worse every week. Losing Joe Staley is a big time loss for a unit that hasnt played very well to begin with. Our offensive line is the definition of a patchwork line. So that really limits what kind of passes Smith can make. He is limited to passes that take 3 seconds or less to develop because that is all the time that the OL is going to give him. But if Smith can make some good Mid Range passes in the 10-15 yard range, and Gore can keep the defense honest and not have them pinning their ears back to come after Smith, I think the Niners can still succeed. Hopefully Raye will mix in some roll outs and screen plays to Gore to help slow down the pass rush. The Titans do not have the greatest pass defense or pass rush. Niners need to take advantage of that any way they can. They need to get the ball into Crabtree’s hands and let him make something happen (other than fumble the ball…) VD will be a great asset in this game as a hot read when the Titans decide to blitz. I hope Gore has a very good game because that will force the Titans to play both the pass AND the run. I think the Niners can move the ball against the Titans.

The Niners defense is our strongest unit. I think they can contain CJ. All they have to do is limit the big gains of 20+ yards. Force VY to throw the ball on obvious passing downs and let our secondary get a few opportunities at getting picks. VY will not be able to win the game on his own. Lets hope the Niner’s defense comes out with a lot of energy early and gives VY a lot of different looks and confuses him. He hasn’t played a lot recently and so he will be a little rusty reading defenses and he might take a sack or 2 due to coverage. It would be great if Justin Smith can get a coupla sacks and the secondary gets a pick or 2!! I think playing at home will help the Niners a lot. I know me and my son will be yelling our heads off when the Niners are on defense. It should be a fun game to watch.

I have a streak going that I dont want to break. Every game I have gone to (usually once a year) the Niners have won! I am going on Sunday so I will be rooting very loudly to keep the streak alive!! GO NINERS !!

Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!

by FaStRmAn on Nov 6, 2009 12:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and the fact that they havent won a road game all year really helps.

You would think they would win at least one road game this year, but lets hope their streak continues!!

Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!

by FaStRmAn on Nov 6, 2009 12:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Titans

I went over and commented. Obviously Chris Johnson could end up with a big game, but I also think it’s reasonable to argue the 49ers have a very good chance at containing him.

by Fooch on Nov 6, 2009 1:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

according to DVOA

He’d have to have an approximately average day running (80-100 yds on 20-25 carries, less on less) to maintain his ranking. He’s at about 22% above average, and the 9ers D is about 21% above average. If Titans fans are expecting much more than that, they’re probably in for a disappointment.

Sharlon Schoop - de favoriete Nederlandse honkbalspeler van McCovey Chronicles.
You always have to be one step ahead of your drunk friends
--Daisy Owl

by Viliphied on Nov 6, 2009 5:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh this game can’t come fast enough. I’m ready to see a win for a change!! There’s a formidable team wanting to come out, they just need to make it happen! I don’t think I’m wrong in saying they haven’t been this close in the last seven years to being a truly respectable team. This is the year they can get back there.

by Mangoman1 on Nov 6, 2009 1:13 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

This is the year....

they do get back to respectable and all starts on Sunday. GO NINERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by N.Y.C. Niner on Nov 6, 2009 1:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I found this interesting tidbit from Football Outsiders regarding a strength the 49ers have that may be under-appreciated:

“San Francisco’s punting has been worth 8.4 estimated points’ worth of field position, best in the NFL; Tennessee’s punt returns have been worth an estimated minus-7.3 points worth of field position, dead last in the NFL.”

by Chimneyfish on Nov 6, 2009 2:30 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

So that means even if the Niners end up punting the ball away a good amount of the time, Tennesee still likely won’t be able to drive the ball too far downfield. Could be a low scoring day for the Titans then! Works for me!

by Mangoman1 on Nov 6, 2009 2:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs