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Fisher not worried
Fisher not
worried early bye will slow Titans' momentum
By TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer
The Tennessee Titans now get to enjoy their earliest bye since 2001, a
break that could threaten to slow the momentum of a team that has started
2-1 and won 10 of its last 14 games.
Coach Jeff Fisher isn't worried.
"There's a lot of things that we need to work on," Fisher said Tuesday
hours after a 31-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
"There's things we need to take advantage of. We're going to need the
rest. We've played three physical ballgames coming out of the preseason,
and so that comes at a good time for us. I think some of the players will
take advantage of that."
In 2001, the Titans had their bye during Week 3 in a season that included
a break after the season opener because of 9/11. They had the bye on Week
7 in 2002 followed by Week 9 in both 2003 and 2004. It was Week 10 in 2005
and Week 7 in 2006.
"You like to have it toward the middle of the year or end of the year so
you can get some injuries back," receiver Brandon Jones said. "But we
thank God that we don't have any injuries and we've stayed healthy. We'll
just correct things that we're doing wrong and get better."
Fisher gave his Titans a copy of their bye week schedule last week so they
could plan for their time off before preparing for the Saints. They
practice for 75 minutes Wednesday and Thursday before taking off Friday
through Monday.
The Titans rank second running the ball on offense and second in stopping
the run through three games. But Fisher wants to work on eliminating
special teams penalties that nearly wiped out a strong punt return by
Chris Davis, and he also wants to score more.
The offense scored only 10 points on four of the five turnovers with
Vincent Fuller scoring his first career TD on a ball he picked off.
"You've got to take advantage of that and score points," Fisher said. "We
didn't."
The Titans also could score more points period offensively. They have five
TDs and settled for five field goals on 13 trips inside an opponent's 20.
NOT MISSING PACMAN:@ The Titans have found a way to replace Adam "Pacman"
Jones during his suspension on defense with cornerbacks Nick Harper and
Cortland Finnegan playing well. They're not missing Jones on the return
teams either thanks to a pair of rookies.
Chris Davis ranks fourth in the AFC averaging 11.7 yards on punt returns
with a career-long of 28 yards in the first quarter of the victory over
New Orleans. It should have been a 56-yard return to the New Orleans 17
except for a holding penalty.
Rookie Michael Griffin is 11th in the AFC averaging 26.1 yards on kickoff
returns. But he turned in his best return of 48 yards in the third quarter
after New Orleans had taken a 14-10 lead, putting the ball at the Titans
43. The Titans scored nine plays later and never trailed again.
"I got a little nervous when he returned the ball inside the 5," coach
Jeff Fisher said of Davis returning a punt he caught at the Titans 2. "He
got to the 17. He understood there was some distance on the kick, and of
course he's shown he's got run skills."
Fisher said Griffin was very close to breaking a long kickoff return.
"We're good there," Fisher said.
CALL HIM MR. MONDAY NIGHT:@ Vince Young is among those who isn't that
upset that linebacker Keith Bulluck didn't get into the end zone on one of
his three interceptions.
"If he would have scored, I probably would have had to do some things for
him. I'm still going to do something for him, but it's good to see it.
Every time he gets the ball in his hands, he's looking to score, and that
was a good thing to see," Young said.
Bulluck became the first linebacker in franchise history with three
interceptions in the same game.
"Keith, he calls himself Mr. Monday Night, but he backs it up," linebacker
David Thornton said.
"It's one thing to say it, but you have to back it up. (Monday night) he
just displayed the type of potential he has as a linebacker. He had a
tremendous game, and it will definitely go down in the history books."
FLY THE FLAG:@ The Titans are offering up a unique souvenir for fans to
bid on: The American flag that flew over LP Field at their home opener on
Sept. 16. The 6-feet by 4-feet flag will come with a certificate of
authenticity, and coach Jeff Fisher and one player selected by the high
bidder can sign the flag before delivery.
The high bid was $725 with five days left in the bidding. Fans can bid on
the flag at http://www.titansonline.com or http://www.nflauction.nfl.com
with the bidding ending Monday. |
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