National Football League

Titans hope bye week helps them remove losing ways

Published Oct. 24, 2009 5:03 a.m. ET

foxsports

Easing the pain of the worst NFL loss since 1976 usually involves playing again as quickly as possible. Thanks to the schedule, that's not an option for the woeful Tennessee Titans. Instead, they are stewing at their bye week, mired with an 0-6 record. Resting won't be easy for a team that can't quite pinpoint why it's all gone wrong after posting an NFL-best 13-3 mark just a year ago. The Titans deny talk they've quit or have tuned out coach Jeff Fisher, whose job security rests on how they rebound in the final 10 games. Their biggest enemy so far? Themselves. "We dug this hole ourselves, so we want to dig ourselves out," tight end Bo Scaife said. It's been a stunning turnaround for a team that was the last to lose a game in 2008 and now threatens to be the last to win this season. The AFC's No. 1 seed in 2008 can't even think playoffs now with all six losses inside the conference. The goal is simply win one game after eight straight losses dating back to Dec. 21. That's why they spent the bye week regrouping and worked on football basics: catching, running, blocking and tackling. Fisher also sees a mental break as crucial. "It couldn't come at a better time," running back LenDale White said. "We all get our minds right, come back and hopefully it'll all work out." Kerry Collins has worries of his own with fans eager to see if backup Vince Young can provide a spark, but Fisher keeps insisting the veteran isn't the problem. Collins, whose eight interceptions are one more than he had all of 2008, agrees this bye is well-timed. "It's going to give us a chance to kind of step back and gain some perspective on what's going on and what we need to do to right it," he said. Theories on the dramatic reversal abound. Ego with 20 starters back, expecting a repeat performance. Balls that bounced Tennessee's way a year ago when it intercepted 20 passes have gone the other way. The Titans' 18 giveaways lead the NFL. Young players such as safety Michael Griffin are struggling in what was expected to be a breakout season. Roster decisions haven't helped either. They kept nine rookies, and two had to start last week's 59-0 rout in New England with cornerbacks Cortland Finnegan (right hamstring) and Nick Harper (broken right arm) out. Fisher had veterans to turn to a year ago, but couldn't keep Eric King or Chris Carr, who left for more money and opportunities elsewhere. "We felt through drafting and planning for the future we could bring some young players along," Fisher said. "We didn't anticipate having to play them as early as we did, but that's the National Football League." All have contributed to the defense ranking last in the NFL in yards passing allowed (310.7 per game) and time spent on the field (34 minutes, 30 seconds). Fisher has defended Chuck Cecil, in his first year as defensive coordinator. So have the Titans, who ranked second in the NFL in points allowed in 2008. "Obviously, if we execute this defense properly, if we execute the offense properly, we would be winning games," defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch said. "That's what it comes down to. I don't think it's a lack of preparation, lack of emotion or lack of heart because this team has plenty of heart. Some of the mistakes we've had, there's lapses of focus. I don't know the reason for that. I think it's something we can correct and fix moving forward." Finnegan and Vincent Fuller, their fifth defensive back, are both expected back Nov. 1 when the Titans host Jacksonville (3-3). The only thing Tennessee has done well offensively is run with Chris Johnson. He ranks second in the NFL with 596 yards rushing, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. But the Titans haven't scored an offensive touchdown in eight quarters and have been outscored 127-26 in the past three games. One reason Fisher has been defending Collins is because the Titans have dropped 18 catchable balls, according to STATS LLC. Veteran Justin Gage has struggled, while rookie Kenny Britt leads the team with 19 catches and could be an option depending on any roster changes Fisher makes. Staying on the field longer would be a start. The Titans rank last in that category too, averaging a measly 25:30 in time of possession. "Keeping in rhythm and converting on third downs, staying on the field is a must when you talk about winning games," fullback Ahmard Hall said. Fisher called the loss in New England rock bottom, leaving Tennessee nowhere to go but up. The schedule that put the Titans on the road for four of the first six games has them at home for three of the next five. Pride is the new motivation. "We're going to come back and give it 10 more cracks and see what happens," linebacker Keith Bulluck said.