The Best of Titans Talk Back: Week 8

"Titans Talk Back" is a post game show on 104.5 the zone that takes place every week after Titans games and is driven by fans.  It has become very entertaining this season.  Since the season has gone downhill, crazy, drunk fans love to call in and give Kevin, Mark, and Blaine their best stuff.  Their best is not very good, but it's ridiculously entertaining.

Here are some of the notes taken from Titans Talk Back after the loss to the Texans Sunday.  Read them as though your listening to the drunkest, most southern person you know.  Enjoy.

• Kevin Dyson starts the show by comparing Zach Mettenberger to a brand new Bently that breaks down driving off the lot.
• After Kevin's Bently comments, callers run with the metaphor and we begin to wonder if the show is about the Tennessee Titans or cars.
• Caller talks about his morning trips to the grocery store, convenient store on Sunday and how positive those trips were this morning. Now blames Mark Howard for bringing negative vibe to Zach Mettenberger's first start (and his sunny day).  Says the Titans aren't trying save the game, or season, they're trying to save the "DECADE" with Mett. I believe the caller was the famous "Phillip", who is also accused of having two identities by Chad Withrow.
• Caller blames Titans for passing on Colin Kaepernick, Teddy Bridgewater, and Johnny Manziel in the draft.  I wish this guy was in my fantasy league.
• *Token Dexter McCluster call*. Every week.
• Caller makes a reasonable and intelligent call.  Fun sucker.
• Tons of other calls that transcripts wouldn't do justice for because of how hammered they were. 
• Caller claims that Florida State quarterback Jamious Winston will be the Titans savior next season.
• Fan calls and begs other fans not to sell their tickets and allow other teams fans to come in and take over the stadium.  It's too late for that, buddy.  Steelers will be playing a home game.
• Caller contrasts Titans ownership to Muhamad Ali.  Seriously.
• Caller drunkenly bashes food at LP field.  Mark explains that it was a point of interest in the offseason and the team tried to make it better.  I've had the Chilli Pesto or whatever it's called.  It was cold an awful.

That will do it for this week's "Titans Talk Back".  The callers brought the heat today.  We'll do another edition in two weeks.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
@t_frisbeysports

Here Comes the Mett show

The Titans have a new starting quarterback on Sunday.  Here are the best plays of his career at LSU.

 You're an absolute clown, Mett, but please bring some of this to Tennessee with you.  We need a leader, and we need one now.  It's time to show these NFL clowns what the real clown is made of.  You're a diva, we know, but show us that the NFL quarterback can be a diva.  Show us what you have.  You have nine games.  Ready, set, go.

Titans Schedule to be Released Tomorrow

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They've announced the announcement, and finally the announcement announced the time when the 2014 NFL schedule will be released.  We don't know much about it yet, but we do know which teams will be facing the Titans in the upcoming season.

Home Opponents:
Browns
Cowboys
Giants
Jets
Steelers
Texans
Jaguars
Colts

Away Opponents:
Ravens
Bengals
Chiefs
Eagles
Redskins
Texans
Jaguars
Colts

The question every year is how many games will we have that aren't played at 12:00 p.m. central time? Judging from the opponents that aren't in the division, there won't be many (maybe 0) games played at 3:05 or 3:15 this season.  they aren't playing any west coast teams (home or away) and should stay at the 12:00 time-slot unless they get flexed late in the season.

Another question asked is when the BYE week will be.  I always thought there was a formula to figure out when a team's bye week will be.  I've done some research, and I can't find anything to support this theory.  A good bye week for NFL teams is somewhere in between weeks 6 and 8. That gives them a good midway point break from the start of the preseason to the end of the season.  The bye week will be unveiled tomorrow.

The ultimate question everyone has about the NFL schedule is when their team will be playing in prime time.  The Titans had a 7-9 record last season and are a small market team, which doesn't fare well with the league in terms of highlight games.  They are playing some well-recognized teams such as the Ravens, Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, Jets, Steelers, and Giants which will give them a better chance of playing under the lights more than once in 2014.  Expect no more than two games in prime time, though.  Don't be surprised if both of them are away games.

We are all excited about tomorrow night's big announcements.  Titans fans, don't get too excited.  Like every other mediocre year, expect mediocre to bad scheduled games.  Don't expect to be respected by the league in a small market.  Not to mentioned, the Titans lost any star power they held when they released Chris Johnson earlier this month.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
4/22/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Ripple Effect of Dexter McCluster's Signing

No one expected the Titans to make a big splash in free agency this year.  Still, I was anxiously awaiting three o'clock to hit and see what news the NFL had to bring on their equivalent of college football's signing day.  Sure enough, the clock hit three, like it always does, and the Titans surprised us, like they always do.  They signed former Chiefs WR and PR Dexter McCluster.  The reaction to the signing has been mixed, but mostly positive.  It's a high middle class free agency signing, but it seems like a big splash.  He's going to provide diversity to a good group of receivers. Along with the positives of the signing, though, there will be a fallout.

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Pump the Breaks, Leon

Along with the signing of McCluster this afternoon, the Titans also signed KR/PR Leon Washington.  He did a solid job for the Titans at the end of the season last year being a reliable return man and even breaking loose a few times.  I wouldn't call the veteran Washington explosive, though.  He was just solid, and McCluster brings another dynamic to the return game.  Teams are afraid to kick to McCluster.  That can be a huge advantage for the Titans.  Washington may have just been given false hope from the Titans.  His job is not secure.

Goodbye, Marc Mariani?

I put a question mark there because I'm not sure I believe this statement just quite yet.  Is the writing on the wall for the beloved Titans WR? Yes. I'm just not sure if he'll be cut.  He's found a way to survive the cuts before, mostly due to injury.  The fans love him though, and he's a hard worker.  I can see the Titans keeping him if they cut Nate Washington, Damian Williams, and Leon Washington due to McCluster's signing. Mariani is a cheap, reliable (if healthy) alternative to the receivers and returns.  Don't count him out just yet.

We Still Love You Nate

Nate Washington, you've been nothing but great for the Titans, and don't forget that.  We here at Boy Meets Sports want you to stay in Tennnessee, I just don't know if it's going to happen.  The signing of McCluster may be the writing on the wall.  I'm not sure if this helps, but I am of the opinion that Washington, McCluster, Hunter, and Wright could make up one of the most dangerous receiving corps in the league. I'm on your side, Nate.  I just don't know if the Titans can make it happen.

Goodbye, For Sure, Chris Johnson

Sorry CJ, you're out.


Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
3/11/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports 

Pay That Man: Alteraaun Verner

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With free agency beginning soon and the draft just around the corner, the 53 man roster for the 2014 football season will begin to be molded in the next few months.  The current status of the Titans organization is largely unknown.  There is a new coach,  a new staff, and new players that may be coming soon.  We are all anxiously waiting to see how the roster will shake out.  There are a number of players who will either be cut or their contracts will run out this off season.  These players will hit the unknown world of free agency.  Players like Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt will quickly find out their worth on the open market.  It won't be much.  Some players, however, will find a flowing waterfall of cash being thrown at their doorstep.

Alterraun Verner, corner back for the Titans, is one player that will be making a large sum of money somewhere next season.  It's been well documented that the Titans are expected to allow him to test the waters of free agency.  That's a mistake.  Verner was arguably the Titans best defensive player 2013.  He was the lone Titan on the pro bowl roster.  He's also a good teammate and well liked by the community (an underrated quality in today's NFL).  The defense last year wasn't great.  Verner and Bernard Pollard (another free agent) are two of the few bright spots in the defense last year. 

Akeem Ayers, Zach Brown, and Moise Fokou underperformed for a large portion of the season.  They were part of a line backing corp that was supposed to work magic for the Titans last season. It was the secondary, though, that surprised us.  They played outstanding ball all season.  Bernard Pollard was a leader, Michael Griffin played how he was expected to play after the new contract, and Verner and Jason McCourty became one of the best corner back duos in the league.  Taking that tandem away would set the defense back.  This defense doesn't have room to go backwards.  It needs to go forwards.

At the beginning of training camp, Verner was battling with Tommie Campbell for the cornerback slot opposite of McCourty.  Verner earned that spot.  He earned it for last year and many years to come.  The Titans finally have a position on the roster that is taken care of.  They have two corner backs.  Don't take that step back.  Sign Verner and work on other areas.  McCourty and Verner will be fine.  The Titans need to work on their defensive line and line backing corp.  If they can keep the secondary the same, that would be considered a win for the organization.  Pay that man:  Alterraun Verner.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/13/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Make Me Want to Buy A Ticket, LP Field

Much has been made of LP field and the Titans tickets prices rising next year.  It seems weird, to most of us, that prices are rising given the product that has been put on the field in the past few years.  In reality, though, the tickets have been very reasonable considering comparable markets like Charlotte and Indianapolis.  In return of rising ticket prices, fans want to see improvement.  Improvement of the game day experience and improvement in the win/loss record.  The stadium recently received a jumbo tron upgrade, but many of us would gladly trade that for better convenience and a better overall atmosphere.  here are five simple, but effective ways to provide a better game-day atmosphere in Nashville.

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Cheaper Food

The subtitle speaks for itself.  I can't find one person who is excited about going to a football game and spending eight dollars on a hot dog.  We're attending football games in the south, not a five star restaurant in Belize.  I'm pretty sure you would still make money on a ballpark frank charging three bucks a pop.

Better Parking

Quite frankly, I'm sick of paying 20 bucks to park across the river and have to walk a mile and half over a bridge to get to the stadium's campus (yes I know that there are other places to park, but not everyone reading this does).  There is plenty of room around LP Field.  If they can't make the parking work how it is now, then change it!  There is plenty of space. Buy more space if you need to.  Traffic and parking is a huge issue on game-day. There is no reason not to make this a priority.

Better Cell Phone Service

You know, sometimes at half time and TV breaks I don't want to watch Kia give away a car or root for the bunny bread bunny to win a race that's going to get me a free loaf of bread.  I want to check twitter! I want to look at my phone and see what Jim Wyatt has to say about injuries. I want to see what kind of negative spin Paul Kuharsky can put on the game even if we're up 30 to 0.  I want to see scores around the league and how my fantasy team is doing.  You know what I can't do at LP Field?  Any of those things.  Make cell phones work in your stadium, LP.

Redefine the Pro Shop
 
The first three were fairly obvious ways to improve the game-day experience, but this one isn't spouted off too much.  The jersey and gear prices are ridiculously expensive.  I can go to Ross or TJ Maxx and get Titans gear for a quarter of the pro shop asks.  I know it's not reasonable to ask for a huge price drop, but they're selling to a market that is incredibly small.  The high class and first-time game goers are the target group of people who buy gear from the pro shop.  With a reasonable price drop, and some marketing, they could sell a lot of gear.  I'd buy a hat at the game for 15 dollars, not for 30, though.

Just Win

The message of this subtitle goes out to the Titans organization.  If you really want to put butts in the seats, win games.  What we really want is to see a higher number in the left column of the win/loss chart.  Make me want to buy seats, Titans.  Win some games and see Nashville rock like it did in 1999 and the early 2000's.  Go Titans!

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/6/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

5 NFL Teams Who Need a Little 'Johnny Me'

The most polarizing figure in college sports will have a new place to call home in May. He's exciting, he's lucky, and he's a little bit bad.  Johnny Manziel would electrify any NFL stadium with his on and off the field antics. He's not afraid to ruffle the feathers.  Some organizations need that fire.  Some need an athlete that will put butts in the seats.  Here are five (pretty bad) teams that could use a little Johnny Football under center.

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5. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags passed up on a golden opportunity to fill up their stadium when they passed on Tim Tebow.  They could have saved that franchise for Florida, instead they're likely to be the first one's to bolt when LA opens their new stadium.  Manziel could change that, though. Come on Kahn, make a move that someone will actually care about.  Unless, of course, you want out of Jacksonville.

4. New York Jets

The Jets past few quarterback experiments have been disastrous.  It may be safe to say that their best quarterback last year was Matt Simms, yes, Matt Simms.  That's pathetic.  Geno Smith is awful and is probably going to stay awful. There was nothing that made me think any positive thoughts about him last season.  Start fresh with Johnny Manziel, Rex Ryan.

3. Minnesota Vikings

I wish I could think of a Vikings quarterbacks over the last several years, but I can't.  They've all sucked.  Go get Johnny Football. Imagine the Adrian Peterson and Johnny Manziel tandem in that backfield.  That would be a force to be reckoned with.  That place can get loud, too.  The Vikings are only a quarterback away from being good.  Unless you want to see AP out the door soon, Minnesota, then go get Johnny Football.

2. Dallas Cowboys

I'm not sure if I agree with this choice, but I'm not sure I don't.  Romo has been a hell of a quarterback, like him or not, but he just can't win that game.  That game that needs to be won to get into the playoffs or advance in the playoffs.  It's fair to wonder if he has reached his ceiling.  His ceiling may be 1st round playoff out.  Jerry Jones would pull the trigger on Manziel, no doubt.  It's a long shot, and I don't think it's going to happen unless Johnny falls to a later round, but damn would it be exciting.

1. Houston Texans

This is where the real hype is.  This is where the fans want Johnny.  This is the perfect situation.  Matt Schaub is done in Houston and Case Keenum didn't necessarily light it up last year.  Johnny could bring the Texans right back to prominence in the AFC South, one of football's weakest division.  The Texans could be looking at the perfect storm, just like the Colts when they got Andrew Luck.  Do it, Houston.  Draft the biggest star in the short history of your franchise.  With all of the high picks you've had, this could be the biggest.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/5/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Titans: Welcome, 2014 Football Season

First, let us properly congratulate the Seattle Seahawks on their absolute demolishing performance against the Broncos in the big game. No, we didn't see it coming either.

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Now that we have that out of the way, let us focus of the 2014 football season that will be here in the blink of an eye.  The excitement will build slowly throughout free agency, the draft, mini camps, and training camps. Like the 31 other teams in the league, The Titans are 0-0 starting now and the anticipation and hope will rise slowly.

Here are five things the Titans need to do before they kick off their season on that hot summer day in September:

Release CJ, Britt 

I know many of you think Chris Johnson is still an "elite" running back in the NFL and that the Titans would be making a mistake by releasing him. In reality, though, CJ had three really good years that were followed by a mostly unproductive, average career.  Is he fast? Yes.  Can he be exciting? Yes. I just haven't seen much of either of those in the past three years. What once was is no more. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is insanity. As for Kenny Britt, well.... HA.

Draft a Running Back, Quarterback

There are are going to be a few holes on this team going into the season.  If they pull the trigger, one of the biggest will be at running back.  Look for them to take a running back in the 2nd or 3rd round of the draft.  Who will it be? I'm not sure, you tell me.  At the QB position, Jake Locker will get one more shot and he deserves it, but they need to start developing a young quarterback just in case.  We'll see if its Tyler Wilson or a QB from the draft.

Re-Sign Bernard Pollard

Pollard became a staple of the defense as soon as he walked into camp last year.  He's a leader that has been much needed on this team.  He brought a fire that we haven't seen in quite some time. Letting him go would be taking a huge step back.  Bring him back, make a few defensive additions (especially on the line) and strive to be like that swarming Seattle defense we saw tonight.

Pick Up A Good Cornerback

Unfortunately, it's looking like Alterann Verner will not be wearing two toned blue next season.  If they do bring him back, we should all be ecstatic, but since I don't expect it to happen, they need to bring someone in to bring the production he brought.  Please, please don't give us the Tommie Campbell treatment again.  Really... Please.

Focus, Work, And Be Consistant

Being tough and having the right mindset should be a huge focus for Ken Wisenhunt and the new coaching staff.  We saw a lot of games slip through our hands last year.  We need a team that is hungry. We need a team that will finish.  We need a team with the heart of a champion.  No more soft play or soft minds.  The eye of the tiger is what they call it, I believe.

So here's to the 2014 season.   May it bring us bountiful gifts.  It's time to see two toned blue nation rise up and bring that trophy to Nashville.  Go Titans!

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/2/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Polarizing Peyton: The Love And Hate Of The Greatest Ever

As a Tennessee Vol and Tennessee Titan fan, I have never loved and hated the same person at once in such extremes.  Peyton is a Knoxville legend. He was the hero in orange.  He never won a national championship at the University of Tennessee, but that didn't matter.  He was the best quarterback to ever touch the field at Neyland. I loved Peyton when he wore orange. As much as I loved him then, though, I hated that much in a Colts uniform.  He's one of the rare athletes that are loved and hated based on the team he plays for.  If your with him, you love him, if you're not, you hate him.  He's not a polarizing figure off the field, his presence and fame have come in between the lines, and there is a certain respect that comes with that.

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Unlike other athletes, Peyton is never questioned about his mechanics, work ethic, and "kick your butt" attitude. Everyone knows he has it all (other than the fact that he couldn't outrun my mother). That's what makes him interesting.  There are still people that hate Peyton.  People say he's too boring. He's hard to root for because he does the same thing over and over.  That's right folks, Peyton is ridiculed for being the best NFL quarterback ever and doing it every week.  He's hated because he's a legend who hasn't even retired yet. 

Unlike other athletes, there are no questions about his production or skill level.  People question LeBron James' heart, Tim Tebow's arm, and Kobe Bryant's team work. Those are all reasonable questions and great reasons to hate those players. No one hates Peyton because of reasons on the field, they hate him because he is good. Really good.  The best NFL player we've ever seen and will see for a very long time.  He has no weakness (other than his speed).
 

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As I was writing this story my younger brother saw a commercial with Manning in, and he said "you don't know nothing, Peyton".  People just hate him.  There's no reason for it.  They just hate him.  I'm sorry Peyton, you are the best.  There's no question about it.  I know you didn't get there by having thin skin.  Just remember this Sunday, while your playing on the biggest stage in the world, that you want this.  You've done almost everything you can do as professional quarterback.  Just go win one more, baby.  Do it for Knoxville, do it for Denver, but most of all, do it for yourself.  You're the best, cement it.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
2/2/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

The Six Cancerous Players In The Titans Locker Room

Most Titans fans have heard TE Delanie Walker's comments about the "cancerous" players in the Titans locker room last season.  Walker mentioned the cancer earlier in the year after a crucial loss.  Many of us are pretty sure of two players that may have been unhappy with the organization and ready to get out of Tennessee, but who are the other four?  It's hard to speculate, but I'm going to because it makes for interesting content.

http://www.examiner.com/article/titans-2010-preview-receivers

1. Kenny Britt- Britt is the most obvious player on the 53 man roster that was completely out of it last year.  His lack of work and concentration sent his career into a downward spiral.  He believes he's better than he is and never quite figured out how to separate his personal life from his football career.  It's sad because his potential was sky high.  Potential only gets a try-out, though.

2. Chris Johnson- CJ is never slow to point the finger at other players.  Like Britt, he thinks he's better than he actually is.  I could have hit some of the holes he's missed the past few years.  He's fast, but guess what? Everyone in the NFL is fast.  He's said he won't take a pay-cut to stay in Tennessee.  See ya!

3. Akeem Ayers-  Ayers hasn't lived up to the hype coming out of college, and claims he played through a key injury all of last season.  When I see a guy talking about his college team on twitter more than the team he plays on to make money, a red flag goes up.  That's the basis for a few of the players I've chosen.  You're in the NFL now. Take pride in your team.

4. Tommy Campbell- A guy that's not heard from much in the media, mostly because he's never lived up to his "athletic" expectations.  He was given every opportunity to beat out Alterraun Verner at the CB position this year and he couldn't do it.  He's a hell of an athlete, but he doesn't have the mental capacity to be a star. He may not have the will either.

5. Kevin Matthews- Not too sure if the guys attitude was a cancer to the team, but the fact that he kept resigning with the squad after a number of cuts seems a bit off.  His dad was the offensive line after all.  He may or may not be a good guy, but I don't know how well the whole deal sat with the players.

6. Jerry Gray- May not have been a direct cancer to the players, but the way he coached the latter part of the season brought a lot of people down with him.  There were rumblings of him changing the defensive plan midway through the season.  I wonder if it was out of spite? He knew Gregg Williams was going to be the defensive coordinator regardless.  Did he want to prove that his way was the right way? My guess is yes.

The Titans 2013 season was a huge disappointment.  Training camp was filled with so much hope and promise.  The talent was there but something was just off.  Speculation will continue into the 2014 season. We'll see if the new regime can turn things around.  I'm tired of watching scrubs in Tennessee on Saturdays and Sundays.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
1/30/2014
Twitter: @boymeetsports

Brady V. Manning: Where's the Edge?

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are facing off in the playoffs for the first time since 2007 today at Mile High.  The two have a storied history and will be going down as the best two quarterbacks in the current NFL era, and maybe of all time.  Who would you take in one game? Brady or Manning?  Here are a few categories and the quarterback who has the edge.

Playoff Record

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Brady: 18-7

Manning: 10-11

THE EDGE: BRADY

Peyton may go down as the best regular season quarterback of all-time, but Tom Brady may go down as "Mr. Clutch", when the stage gets big, Brady gets bigger, and so do his teammates. Well, except for Wes Welker

Playing In the Elements (BELOW FREEZING)

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Brady: 24-5 Record

Manning: 2-8 Record

THE EDGE: BRADY

Yes, Brady has had more opportunities to show off his talent in freezing cold weather, but he has a pretty damn good record in those games.  Manning's 2-8 is awful.  Playing in that dome in Indy for years hurt Peyton in this crucial playoff statistic.

All-Time Statistics

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Brady: 63.4% Completion Percentage, 359 Touchdowns, 95.7 Rating

Manning: 65.5% Completion Percentage,  491 Touchdowns, 97.2 Rating

THE EDGE: MANNING

This one is very close in every category except touchdowns.  Last time I checked, touchdowns win games.  Manning is a machine in the regular season.  Every time he plays your team, it's hard to be optimistic about a win. 

Head to Head

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Brady: 9 Wins, 23 TD's 12 INT's

Manning: 4 Wins, 27 TD's 19 INT's

THE EDGE: BRADY

Neither one of them play particularly well against each other.  The interception numbers are abnormally high for both.  I'm not sure if it's because of the stage, the expectation, or pressure, but they just don't perform extremely well against each other.  It doesn't mean the games aren't good, though. 

THE FINAL EDGE: BRADY

Take it for what it's worth. These are just numbers.  We all know that when Brady and Manning show down, anything can happen.  Comebacks, domination, and close games are never out of the realm of possibilities. Chances are, 3 hours after kickoff, you'll be mentally exhausted from the twists and turns in the Brady-Manning bowl.

Trey Frisbey

Boy Meets Sports 

1/19/2014

Twitter: @boymeetsports

The Case to Keep Munchak

After browsing twitter for the past month or so, it's obvious where the fans stand on their opinion of Mike Munchak and his return for the 2014 NFL season.  It's hard to find many supporters for him and that's understandable considering the record his teams have held over the past two seasons.  You are only as good as your record says, yes, but the way this team plays and leaves their hearts on the field should be a factor in his job future as well.  He's made mistakes, yes, but he deserves just one more year, and here is why.

Team Chemistry

Coach Munchak's team have had problems closing games this season, but I have yet to see a game where they quite on each other or the coach.  This group really seems to love each other.  While the wins haven't come, I have a hard time believing they won't in the near future.  hypothetically, if we gave this team five or six mulligan plays this season, they could very well be 9-5 or better.  They love each other and they love their coach.  The wins will follow.  They just haven't gotten over that hump yet.

Improvement From 2012

Sure, the record may not indicate any improvement from last year to this year, but the play on the field has definitely said otherwise.  Other than two games, the Titans have been in every game this season going into the fourth quarter.  I know fans want wins, and rightfully so.  Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades, but the improvement does need to be acknowledged.  Accept it people.  I know you love the mob mentallity, but it's not as bad as you make it out to be.

One More Offseason of Improvements

Justin Hunter, Delanie Walker, and Bernard Pollard are three names on the 2013 roster that we didn't hear last year.  They were off season pick ups that have really helped this team improve and move forward.  If Munch can have the courage to fire Bruce Matthews and have one more successful draft and free agent class, this team should get over the hump in 2014.  The quarterback position is still a big question mark, but next season could be a perfect storm for this team.  The division is anyone's to win in the next few seasons.

Trey Frisbey
Boy Meets Sports
12/15/2013
Twitter: (@boymeetsports)

With What We Know Now: NFL Playoff Predictions

This is the first post of my periodic installment on Boy Meets Sports called "With What We Know Now".  In this column, I will make future predictions on outcomes of games or seasons, based on recent developments in the sport.  Today, I will pick the playoff teams in each conference based on what we know now, but didn't know at the beginning of the season. The Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and New England Patriots are some of the favorites to make it to New York this year.  Who will be playing in January? Who will be on vacation?  There are many bad teams in the AFC trying to get that sixth seed, but only one can take it.

AFC

1 seed- Denver Broncos

2 seed- New England Patriots

3 seed- Indianapolis Colts

4 seed- Cincinnati Bengals

5 seed- Kansas City Chiefs

6 seed- Baltimore Ravens

The first five in the AFC playoff race are locks, but that last spot is extremely difficult to predict.  I did some research and played around the playoff prediction machine and think the Ravens have the best shot at getting in.  They have a tougher schedule after this week against the Vikings, but they're the Ravens, they get hot and win.

Playoff Prediction Machine

NFC

1 seed- Seattle Seahawks

2 seed- New Orleans Saints

3 seed- Philadelphia Eagles

4 seed- Detroit Lions

5 seed- Carolina Panthers

6 seed- San Fransisco 49rs

The NFC isn't as jumbled as the AFC, but it is a much more competitive and talented league.  The 49rs are fighting for their playoff lives with four losses, while the Raiders are still technically alive with eight losses in the AFC.  The Saints will win the NFC South over the Panthers, but Cam will win enough games to get them into a wildcard.  The Lions are just lucky to be playing in the division they play in.