After skipping a game my weekly exchange of five questions with the Panthers opposing blogger is back. I’ve traded questions with Jimmy over at Music City Miracles.com, SB Nations Tennessee Titan blogger. Be sure to check out my answers to his questions over at his site.
Here we go:
Question 1: It doesn't take a lot of research to determine the Titan defense has carried the team the last few weeks. What's been the key to the Titans stingy run defense this season?
MCM:The key to the Titans' stingy run defense this season has been the play of the front four. Most Titans' fans, myself included, thought that defensive line was one of the weaker spots on the team. They are proving all of us wrong. Albert Haynesworth is playing like the Titans hoped he would when they drafted him in the 1st round. Kyle Vanden Bosch is a guy the Titans picked up off the scrap heap, and he has turned in to one of the best defensive ends in the league. Tony Brown plays a solid defensive tackle, and the combination of Antwan Odom and Travis LaBoy both being healthy opposite KVB has worked very well.
Our offensive line better be ready for a battle like they have not seen this year. Let’s hope Jeff Davidson can keep them guessing and off balance. We will need to run plenty of screens to keep the pass rush down and Jeff King better be ready for those outlet passes.
Question 2: Even with the loss of Pacman Jones the Titan pass defense is second in the NFL in INT's with 11. Will the Titan secondary do anything special to try and contain Steve Smith?
MCM:I doubt the Titans will do anything to special against Steve Smith. The Titans mostly play zone, so they won't have to adjust much there. If anything I would imagine they would move the corner up to jam him a little bit and make sure there is safety help over the top.
Let’s hope we can get Smith the damn ball this week.
Question 3: I saw Chris Brown was running well early and now Lendale White had a good game. Who is the Titans best RB and what should the Panthers do to contain him?
MCM: The Titans best running back currently is LenDale White. He has really emerged as the feature back, especially since Chris Brown has been hurt. If the Titans stay true to form LenDale will get 18-25 carries, and Chris Henry will spell him as needed. Henry has scored in each of the last 2 weeks.
The best way to contain LenDale is to get him running sideways. He is a power back that wants to go north south. If you can stuff those holes and make him bounce outside, it will be a long day for the Titans running game.
Power backs can give the Panthers trouble when they don’t wrap up their tackles. The linebackers better come ready to play and lets hope we run some run blitzes.
Question 4: What's your gut feeling on Vince Young being ready to go this weekend? If he can't, then it looks like the Panthers will be facing the franchise's former first pick ever QB Kerry Collins. I'm sure I can round up an opinion or two on Collins over here in the Carolina's. How has Kerry behaved himself in Nashville? Any late night paparazzi fiasco's?
MCM: Vince will be ready to go. He went through the full practice on Wednesday. The leg is bothering him a little, but it isn't anything he won't be able to play through.
Collins has actually been a great asset to this team since he has been here. I think he is too old for the shenanigans he pulled earlier in his career.
Collins a "great asset"? Wow, I’m surprised by that one. I’m not surprised Vince will play since he played a little last week. Yet with a leg injury he won’t be the threat I had originally feared.
Question 5: How will the Titan's game plan the Panthers on both sides of the ball? What score do you predict for the game?
MCM: On offense the Titans will play this game like they have pretty much every game since Jeff Fisher has been the coach. They will come out and try to establish the run game early. If the run game works Fisher will ride it for the entire game. Vince will only drop back to throw out of necessity or to try and keep the Panthers' defense honest.
On defense the Titans will come after whichever QB the Panthers put back there. They are familiar with Carr, and they have a bone to pick with Vinny, so I expect whichever one of them that plays to spend a lot of time on the ground. They won't put an extra guy in the box unless the Panthers make them. They haven't had to yet this season.
Score Titans 20 Panthers 10
Hmmm... two pretty good defenses and two struggling offenses. It makes for a good game if you like low scoring, defensive battles. I bet one or two plays decide this one at the end.