Tom: Tell Us About These Weird TITANS!!

[Brown Warrior]

So I think Chris "I'm Rich, Bitch" Johnson has like 46 carries for 95 yards on the season now... but Hasselbeck is playing really, really well.

Their defense has been good all year, right? What's their deal? I really didn't expect a lot from this team in 2011.

[Sez.EJ]

One of the best running teams in football for several decades now. Arguably the best back in football in Chris Johnson. A smart veteran QB in Hasselback with playoff/superbowl experience. He's healthy right now which has been his problem recently. They have up and coming dangerous WR in Kenny Britt.... good complimentary WR's and TE. Solid D..

Johnson likely is just getting his football legs (endurance+timing) under him since he missed all of camp with his holdout.

This game will be very tough.. Although Britt injured a knee today..not sure if minor or serious at this point...but he left the game and did not return. I think those who discounted them before the season don't really know this team.. They had a great system in place for years and years..That did not change with the new coach.

This will be another very difficult game this week. We will have to play better on offense than today to win. We will need 21-24 points to win. I think our D should be able to keep them under 20...provided they do better against the run..seems to be our weak spot. (as always)

[Brown Warrior]

Weird that we'd struggle to stop the run with Rubin, Taylor, and DQJ playing so damn well. ARE we struggling against the run? I know we're one of the top sacking teams, which is just bizarre.

That's why they play the games, as they say.

[OzDawg]

The little bit I've actually seen is more the run to the outside (linebackers and safeties job yes?) although the dolphins rook looked like a punishing straight ahead runner.

[Brown Warrior]

You, forget Henne's scrambles, and the Dolphins backs averaged about 3.4 yards a carry. They ran a lot... but not all that well. Henne threw for a lot of yards but also got sacked a lot.

I like Jauron sending linebackers. Gocong is explosive playing forward... I'd send him more.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

So I think Chris "I'm Rich, Bitch" Johnson has like 46 carries for 95 yards on the season now... but Hasselbeck is playing really, really well.

Their defense has been good all year, right? What's their deal? I really didn't expect a lot from this team in 2011.

I'll do my best. Hasselbeck always seems to do his best work when he has the highest paid RB in the conference (Shaun Alexander and now Chris Johnson). His favorite big play target has been the 6'4" Kenny Britt who just blew out a knee yesterday. It looks like WRs Nate Washington and Lavelle Hawkins will have to pick up the slack while they'd like to get TE Jared Cook to play up to potential.

Last week, they were already counting Cleveland as a win on the radio. That might turn out to be a really good thing for us. In any event, they seemingly have a refreshed attitude that's rallied around their new head coach Mike Munchack. This was displayed on a 4th and 1 decision to go for it vrs Baltimore that translated into a fake handoff inside and option pitch left to Javon Ringer for a TD. Nothing like a Head Coach showing his team "I BELIEVE IN YOU" so their actions replied with "WE BELIEVE IN YOU." The OC that made this playcall was none other than former Browns' Head Coach Chris Palmer. The STRENGTH of their offense is in the OT positions with Mike Roos and Dave Stewart, who have been the bookends here since 2006. This will be a major test for our young DEs.

They're still waiting for Chris Johnson to arrive on gameday as you mentioned. I'm really hoping it's not this week though. It is still a wonderful perk for play action from the QB side of it all. Other important additions in 2011 are Barrett Ruud playing fantastic inside and the 2010 1st round pick DE Derrick Morgan bouncing back from major knee surgery and playing well the last 2 weeks. Their secondary is much improved as well.

[Brown Warrior]

They have a pretty expensive group of linebackers for a 4-3. Didn't realize they have Akeem Ayers, too.

Forgot about Morgan. We nearly drafted that dude!

[Thaid_Up]

Never like to hear about a season ending injury for anyone but espn reporting Britt out for the year with torn ACL. Benefit for us but if Johnson has had a couple weeks to get in football shape we'll more than likely see a major dose of him. That run defense needs to step it up in practice and game time.

[Brown Warrior]

Yeah, just saw Britt is out. Browns have always been the team losing top players and high picks... maybe karma is evening out? We face Colts without Manning, Titans without Britt?

Agreed: Never wanna celebrate a kid blowing his knee out, but injuries and schedule mean more to the Ws and Ls than anybody wants to think about because it's so mundane. Peter King did a big article on it and it's pretty stunning.

[hammertime]

well, we are looking for excuses on our wins.

[DeadWombat]

Originally Posted by Brown Warrior

Weird that we'd struggle to stop the run with Rubin, Taylor, and DQJ playing so damn well. ARE we struggling against the run? I know we're one of the top sacking teams, which is just bizarre.

That's why they play the games, as they say.

I find it funny to see everyone praising Taylor and Rubin when all last game they got pushed back constantly by Miami's running game. Its been the same thing the previous too games, too. I'm not saying they AREN'T playing well.... it just that they're not playing well in all areas. Our pass rush is certainly looking pretty nice, but our run D? Thomas averaged 4.2 yard a carry last game. Our Dline got pushed back and abused repeatedly on the ground.

Guys, we are 29th in the league against the run, if you go by rushing yards per game.

And I think Chris Johnson is gonna run all over us next week.... even if his stats suggest otherwise.

[Brown Warrior]

We're 15th in YPC against us, Wombat. Top half at 4.0 even. A little above average. I think it's a more meaningful stat.

Dolphins RBs averaged like 3.5 YPC. They just had the ball a lot, but bad shit happens when you move the chains that slowly. And did happen, like sacks, penalties, and interceptions.

Which is why they had field goals instead of touchdowns and only 16 points... the bottom line.