Monday thoughts from the past football weekend in our area:
As a Georgia beat writer of years ago, I remember the aftermath of a deflating blowout defeat at South Carolina in which former Bulldogs coach Mark Richt dryly explained the bright side was that no one could blame anyone else in the locker room. Because no one played well.
I'd apply the same to the Tennessee Titans after an opening 23-10 drubbing by the New York Jets on Sept. 13 that was worse than the score and somehow far worse than even modest expectations for this team entering this season.
"It was not good in any facet," Titans coach Robert Saleh said, "in any phase of the football game."
Let's sort through the rummage before fearfully thinking about Week 2 and the Philadelphia Eagles:
- The Titans drove for a field goal on their first offensive possession and a touchdown on their final possession. In the eight possessions between, they totaled four first downs and 79 net yards, punting seven times and fumbling a kickoff return. Woof.
- The Jets held an edge in time of possession during every quarter, including a gap of 13:21 to 1:39 in the second.
- Jeffery Simmons' 50 defensive snaps (75%) was still nine more than any other D-lineman, though Simmons didn't record a sack, TFL or QB hit. The Titans only had 1 QB hit as a team (Jacob Martin).
- At least rookie receiver Carnell Tate caught a pass. He caught four, actually. That's a lot better than in the preseason games. Tate had the most offensive snaps (88%) of any receiver, just ahead of Wan'Dale Robinson (82%). Calvin Ridley was out there for 32 offensive snaps (64%) and yet wasn't credited with a single target.
- Chimere Dike played only four offensive snaps (8%), and that tells you that he'd better cut out fumbling on kickoff returns. Because he's on this roster pretty much to return kicks.
- Rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., a rare bright spot while filling in for Cedric Gray, played every defensive snap and had a whopping 16 tackles, though 14 of those were assisted tackles. The team leader in solo tackles was Amani Hooker with six.
- It was a near-even split at running back between Tony Pollard (26 plays, 52%) and Tyjae Spears (25, 50%). Neither made much of an impact, though Pollard had a 13-yard run that was the Titans' second-longest offensive gain.
- Tight end Gunner Helm had four catches for 28 yards, an indication that the absence of tight ends this preseason was overstated.
- Titans defensive lineman Nazir Stackhouse, who was claimed off waivers (from the Packers) after cut day this preseason, played 26 defensive snaps (39%). That was more than Jordan Elliott (31%), Femi Oladejo (31%), Solomon Thomas (30%) and first-round draft pick Keldric Faulk (28%).
- And new Titans punter Tommy Townsend had a net average of 33.9 yards on seven attempts. Not great. The Jets' punter was at 48.
As for the SEC teams
Look, I'm not going to keep writing each week how Jared Curtis should be Vanderbilt's lone No. 1 quarterback.
But I could after the Commodores made beating Delaware more difficult than it needed to be. Perhaps that started with indecisiveness at quarterback, but it's more than just the quarterback. Vandy's run game hasn't been as impactful as hoped. Tackling issues showed up defensively against Delaware, and the team's best receiver (Junior Sherrill) suddenly has the dropsies.
This program is undeniably more talented than it has been in the past, but the margin of error is still not wide enough for the Dores to continue to underperform without consequence, beginning with the next game. Vandy needs to play a good bit better than it has so far to beat NC State.
(And if you missed it, I wrote about Faizon Brandon and the Vols after their sturdy win at Georgia Tech.)
I see you, MTSU
Is that legit progress we're seeing from MTSU football in Derek Mason's third season as coach?
After handling Murray State to open the season, the Blue Raiders went to Marshall and had a chance at an upset victory before letting a lead slip away late in a 28-26 defeat.
MTSU, a 13.5-point underdog, led 20-14 entering the fourth quarter and outgained Marshall by 352 yards to 310.Quarterback Roman Gagliano threw for 243 yards and ran for a team-high 58 yards. He capped a 75-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass in the final minute. A two-point conversion would've likely sent the game into overtime, but that pass fell incomplete.No one brags about moral victories, but for an MTSU program coming off consecutive 3-9 seasons, that's exactly what this resembled.
Reach Tennessean sports columnist Gentry Estes at gestes@tennessean.com and hang out with him on Bluesky @gentryestes.bsky.social
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Rummaging through Titans' wreckage; Vandy needs better play; Progress at MTSU
