Friday, November 12, 1999
Titans look to get back to scoring
SCOUTING REPORT
Offense
QUARTERBACKS: In his second game back since back surgery, Steve McNair suffered his first three-interception outing last week when Miami shut out Tennessee. But it looks like the only way the Bengals will see former QB Neil O'Donnell is if McNair's back goes out or he's outright awful.
Don't count on the latter. In six games against the Bengals, he has 11 touchdown passes and one interception with a passing rating of 110.3, 33 points higher than his career rating.
RUNNING BACKS: Eddie George is having a curious season. He's just sixth in AFC rushing with 565 yards on a mere 3.6 yards per carry. Compare that to Corey Dillon's 621 yards on seven fewer carries.
Unlike Dillon, George has become a force on screen passes and swing passes. He's averaging 104.5 combined yards per game and has 271 receiving yards. Still, he has four 100-yard rushing games this season, and has three in his career against the Bengals, who have allowed a back 100 or more rushing yards in three of the last four games.
RECEIVERS: Yancey Thigpen and Kevin Dyson are the only ones producing, but that could be enough against the Bengals depleted secondary. They are just seventh and ninth, respectively, in AFC receiving, yet have had big days against Cincinnati.
Dyson set career highs in the opener against the Bengals with nine catches, 162 yards and two touchdowns. Thigpen, probable for Sunday after injuring a hamstring, is averaging 17.8 yards in 36 career catches against the Bengals. Tight end Frank Wycheck has been limited with a brace on his left knee, but his 30 catches trail only San Diego's Freddie Jones among NFL tight ends. Jackie Harris has been playing more and led the team with five catches last week.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Bruce Matthews moved back to left guard from center Oct. 10. Does it matter? He's been to the Pro Bowl seven times as a guard and four as a center, and is closing in on Jackie Slater's record of 259 games played by an offensive lineman. This will be the 257th game for Matthews, and his 193rd straight.
The switch apparently was made to help left tackle Brad Hopkins, and it's working. The line allows the third fewest sacks in the league with 13. They're a bit dinged on the right side with tackle Jon Runyan (shoulder) and guard Benji Olson (calf) injured.
Defense
DEFENSIVE LINE: Repeat after me: Jevon Kearse, Jevon Kearse, Jevon Kearse. The Titans' No.1 pick in the 1999 draft is destined to dominate the AFC Central for the next decade and is a lock for Rookie Defensive Player of the Year.
Kearse, a left end, leads the team with 4.5 sacks and is second with 10 quarterback pressures. He stung Browns veteran tackle Orlando Brown for three sacks and induced Fred Miller of the Rams into five false starts and a holding penalty.
LINEBACKERS: Nothing fancy here, just three guys who are quick and have a knack for big plays. Outside backer Joe Bowden forced a fumble and recovered another against the Rams, middle backer Barron Wortham recovered two fumbles that led to touchdowns against the Rams and outside backer Eddie Robinson forced a fumble last week against Miami.
SECONDARY: Here is another group of young cornerbacks, but they are thriving behind a front seven supplying 19 sacks. Third-year player Denard Walker and second-year player Samari Rolle are helping hold foes to a passing rating of 82. But they have only an interception each. Safeties Blaine Bishop and Marcus Robertson are aggressive and smart. When they play together, the Titans are 18-11, but are 4-8 when one or both are out with injury.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Kicker Al Del Greco racked up his 13th winning field goal, connecting with eight seconds left against the Bengals in the opener. He had his streak of scoring in 73 straight games snapped when he missed a 33-yarder last week. He doesn't seem to be as consistent as years past, going 4-for-7 between the 30- and 49-yard lines, but is still clutch.
Punter Craig Hentrich has 18 punts inside the 20, second best in the AFC. How big is punting? Against Baltimore, Hentrich neutralized dangerous Jermaine Lewis with three fair catches and three kicks inside the 20. Returner Derrick Mason has yet to break a kickoff (long of 32 yards) or punt (long 15).
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