New England Patriots Links 10/14/09 - On to The Tennessee Titans

Bill Belichick talks up the Tennessee Titans.

Tennessee is one of the most talented teams that we've seen in awhile. I know what their record is. But as far as what we have to prepare for, the team that we're seeing, their coaching staff, their scheme and the players - they're very good. [There's] no real doubt about how they won 13 games last season. They're really good across the board. They're a tough team. They're very physical. They can run the ball. They can stop the run. They are averaging over five yards per carry and giving up less than three, so they do a great job on the line of scrimmage - on both sides of the ball. They're an explosive team. [They get] a lot of big plays from Chris Johnson, and in the passing game with Kerry Collins, and his group of receivers and tight ends. All of that's behind a very good offensive line.

Defensively, they're - as I said, in the running game - outstanding, very disruptive. [They] have some very experienced guys in the secondary, big-play guys: [Cortland] Finnegan, [Michael] Griffin, [Chris] Hope and players like that. [They have a] good kicker, good coverage teams. [They are] a lot to get ready for, a very talented team, a team that I have a lot of respect for - Jeff [Fisher], and the job that they do down there. I'm sure it will be a physical game like it always is against them. They are certainly tough on the line of scrimmage.

Dean Pees talks about the Broncos 'Wild Horse' play last Sunday

They did a nice job with that ‘Wildcat' or whatever and doing it differently than what other people had. Basically [in] that part of it - the running part of it - they really only gained 24 yards on five plays. Twelve of it was in the first play when we missed a tackle at the line of scrimmage.

I don't think that in the big scheme of things that was a deciding factor. We certainly can play it better, but I don't think it was a deciding factor. The rest of the stuff is they do what they do and we did what we did. I don't think we were really shocked or surprised by the things they did. We just didn't play them well enough. We just need to play them better.

Nick Caserio discusses the offense not being in sync.

I think when you look at any player, you're looking to see if there's improvement on a day-to-day basis. Whether that's - and there's a number of opportunities for players to improve - in passing camps and training camp and once you get into the regular season. So, I think in the end, you want the players to play to the best of their ability. It's hard to put a timetable on anything and say, ‘By this date, you expect this.' The hope is that you go out each week and prepare and prepare well enough so that when you go into the game everybody can execute as a group.

TEAM TALK

• Boston Patriots vs. Houston Oilers: Broadcast info, series history, team connections and more.
• Tuesday Conference Calls: Bill Belichick (13.11 min.), Dean Pees (8.27 min.) and Nick Caserio (6.35 min.) Plus Transcripts.
• Patriots Today: What went wrong in Denver (9.55 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Michael Vega notes that for defensive coordintor Dean Pees, Sunday’s loss to Denver was every bit as hideous as the Broncos’ mustard-and-brown throwback jerseys and striped socks.
• Kerry Byrne says the Patriots pass defense is literally worse than ever — a 92.5 defensive passer rating — and we’re running out of excuses for the Patriots and for the once-unbeatable Belichick system.
• Mike McDermott reports Titans QB Vince Young may be a possibility to play against the Patriots on Sunday.
• Mike Reiss looks at where the Patriots rank in key statistical categories through five weeks of the NFL season.
• Shalise Manza Young reports Wes Welker was voted most underrated player by his peers.
• Mike Reiss offers some quick hits from the Belichick, Caserio and Pees conference calls.
• Ian Rapoport looks at Sebastian Vollmer and wonders if he could switch sides if Matt Light isn't ready to go.
• Mike Reiss says Belichick has some options to weigh this week.
• Mike Reiss answers his weekly reader mailbag.  Lots of great insight here as usual.
• Christopher Price answers his reader mailbag: Taking offense at the play-calling.
• Tedy Bruschi Sunday's loss to the Broncos was a game of missed opportunities for the Patriots.
• Steve DeOssie grades the Patriots in his report card.  The 'D' wasn't for defense.
• Boston Globe Patriots Notebook: Junior Seau's return; Matt Light has no significant ligament damage in his knee or ankle; Belichick talked up the 0-5 Titans like they were 5-0.
• Ian Rapoport notes commissioner Roger Goodell's view of players engaging the officials and pleading for calls.
• Chris Gasper reports Colts' owner Jim Irsay won't support Rush Limbaugh's bid to become a partial owner of the St. Louis Rams.
• Ron Borges talks about Rush Limbaugh and the moral hypocrisy that is the NFL.
  

NATIONAL NEWS

• Versus Network announced that Junior Seau is returning to the Patriots.  Belichick and crew don't know what Versus is talking about - and won't, until all the i's are dotted and t's crossed.
• Sports Illustrated notes Wes Welker was voted the number 1 most underrated player by his peers, not including his teammates.
• Gregg Easterbrook (ESPN) Think the spread offense has revolutionized the game of football? Think again.
• D.J. Gallo (ESPN) NFL Hangover from Week 5.
• Don Banks (SI) The NFL's emerging talent at quarterback.
• Jason Whitlock (Fox Sports) Goodell should say no to Limbaugh.
• Adam Schein (Fox Sports) It's ugly and crowded at bottom of NFL.

VIEW FROM TENNESSEE

• TennesseeTitans.com Titans try again for first win Sunday at New England.
• Jim Wyatt (The Tennessean) Titans coach says problem isn't Kerry Collins. Now is not the time to switch to Vince Young, Jeff Fisher says.
• Jim Wyatt (The Tennessean) Five things we know about the Titans.  Pass rush is really bad, return game is struggling, WR Justin Gage has become a ghost, Punter Reggie Hodges is unspectacular, and they're cursed.
• Gary Estwick (The Tennessean) Titans CB Nick Harper expected to miss 4-6 weeks.
• Teresa M. Walker (TennesseeTitans.com) Titans look to end 0-5 slide.