Lost Opportunity...By Thom Abraham

The Titans completely dominated the first half in San Diego Sunday and for the effort, they went to the locker room with a 6-0 lead. Not 21-0, not 17-0, 14-0, 13-0 or even 9-0...6-0! Two field goals and a Red Zone fumble had squandered another suffocating first half defensive effort. And before the Titans touched the ball in the second half, the Chargers had the lead.
The real question is, as a major underdog, and with no pressure, why did the Titans play it so tight? Oh, I saw the gimmicky swinging gate play to open the game, and the how they tossed it around early on, but with a three point lead in the 2nd quarter, the play calling became all too predictable. And with a chance to deliver a blow at the end of the first half, the Titans made zero effort to attack the end zone. They simply moved the ball in to range for an all too familiar FG and a harmless lead.
All in all, this was a season of growth for the Titans, but tomorrow is never guaranteed in the NFL, and the Titans lost an opportunity live on in this playoff season. The common refrain is that the Titans need a play-maker or two on offense and some depth on "D". They also need a dose of offensive courage to take advantage of what they've got...

Wild Wildcard Saturday...

The NFL playoffs got off to a wild start on Saturday in Seattle and Pittsburgh, as the Seahawks and Jaguars advanced. In Seattle, Washington had a golden opportunity with a one point lead and the ball at the Seahawk 11 in the 4th quarter. No TD, and a shanked field goal gave a lift to Seattle, and Matt Hasselback cashed in. The score is deceiving do to two late interceptions for TDs. For the Redskins, the reality of losing a friend and teammate may now sink in a second time as they clean out their lockers...

In Pittsburgh, the Steelers fell behind early as Ben Rothliesberger played catch with the Jags defense. In the second half, after falling behind by 18, the Steelers rallied, and then made a critical error from the sideline. And I have a phone call in to Shaffer to document this as a first guess, not second! With 10:25 left in the game, the Steelers pulled within 5 and went for 2. It wasn't worth the risk from the 3 and it certainly wasn't worth it from the 13 after a holding penalty nullified a completion to Hines Ward. When they took the one point lead minutes later, they had to go for 2, and ran an extremely unimaginative fade that never had a chance. What should have been a 3 point lead was 1, and soon, the Steelers season was over. Congrats to the Jags, and you've got to believe the Patriots will now be Titans fans for a day....because no one really wants Jax right now....

Announcers Mean A LOT

Am I the only one who will actually turn to a different channel if the broadcasters are boring or boorish? It happens frequently. When I change stations, I often do not come back.

Thom Brenneman? Matt Vasgersian? Seriously? These guys are doing BCS games? How tasteless was Vasgersian saying - and I am paraphrasing, but accurately - that you could smell the couch cushions from Morgantown? It was a pathetic attempt at being funny.

The only good thing about FOX doing the games on TV is that ESPN had its best announcers on radio, such as Ron Franklin, Brad Nessler and, yes, Brent Musburger. My man crush on Ron Franklin grows with each bowl season.

Here is my point: just call the freakin' game. I was delighted to hear Pat Summerall calling the Cotton Bowl. While Summerall was not as smooth as in the past, I found myself wanting to watch the game because of him. I remember the glory days, "...back to throw...fires...touchdown!" Smooth, simple and savory.

Don't forget, TV announcers, we can SEE the game. I know it is an I-formation or three-wide or pro set. Follow Summerall's example: Let the action speak, not you.

I cannot forget the color analysts. Advice: When a big play happens, shut up until the crowd crescendos, then talk. Nothing sounds better than hearing the home crowd and feeling the energy. Gone are the days of the iconic call, mostly because color analysts can't hold their tongue for 5 freakin' seconds.

Play-by-play and color commentating are lost art forms, and the losers are the fans...

And Gus Johnson needs to stop screaming.

Moment of Truth...or Just a Moment?

Many are pointing at Vince Young's playoff debut Sunday as the moment of truth for the Franchise Quarterback. After all, he shines on the Big Stage, right? Didn't he single-handily beat Michigan and USC in the Rose Bowl? On the same day? Well maybe not that part, but clearly this is what the Titans had in mind when they drafted him out of Texas two years ago. Before we get too carried away, lets check the facts...yes, Vince is shuffling off to Cali once again, but this is San Diego, not Pasadena, and he'll do it with out his top two receivers and his starting tight end. Half of his completions for the entire season won't dress out...plus his center, Kevin Mawhe hasn't been healthy in weeks, and the Vince himself has a bum wheel. I know it sounds like excuses, but facts are stubborn things. If he pulls this one off, someone better go to Reggie Bush's house and rip that Heisman he stole in '05!

Big 12 Redemption...ACC in the Dumps

The Kansas Jayhawks did what the Oklahoma Sooners could not, and that was prove the Big 12 belonged in the Big time. After the conference champ was whacked by the Big East Champ, the 3rd place Jayhawks beat the ACC Champ Virginia Hokies. Now the negative spotlight shines on the ACC, which has had an awful Bowl season. How's that whole Miami, Va Tech, BC thing working out now? Add to that the slippage by perennial champ Florida St. and what are you left with? A win by Wake Forrest! Maybe David Cutcliff knows what he's doing taking the Duke gig; this league is ripe for some fresh blood!

Fooled Again!

Just when you think you have this college football thing figured out, a bunch of Mountaineers with an interim coach go blow out highly (over)rated Oklahoma. None of it added up. Oklahoma had won the Big 12 Title again by beating a good Missouri team for the second time this season. People we're talking about how they would be tough in a playoff, and how the AP might consider them for a split National Title. West Virginia had won that much maligned Big East, and blew a shot at the Title game with a loss to un-ranked Pitt....AT HOME! Then, their heralded coach traded Mountain Maize and Blue for Michigan Maize and Blue (where they would never wear Maize and Maize), and the program was turned over to some guy named Bill Stewart (above). So the rout was on, right? Yeah, the rout of Oklahoma! The Oklahoma defense was completely out manned, showing a lack of speed and tackling, much like they had in the Texas Tech game, and in the 4th quarter against Colorado. You can bet OU will be ranked in the top 5 in the pre-season polls in August, just to fool us all again next January....

Can we do this again....with USC and Georgia!

Yeah, this BCS thing works great! Two things were certainties this bowl season...USC would run Illinois out of Pasadena and Hawai'i didn't belong anywhere with the Big Boys...so we got 8 straight hours of blowout, non-competitive football on New Year's night. We were left to daydream about a true heavyweight battle, like USC-Georgia....with the winner to play the Ohio St.-LSU winner for all the marbles....but hey, the Rose Bowl got their Big 10-PAC 10 game!

Best Games
Florida and Michigan put on quite a show, with the Wolverines playing their best game of the season. The Michigan D put continued pressure on Tim Tebow which proved to be Superman's Kryptonite. The real surprise was the ease with which Michigan moved the ball. Hart, Henne and Manningham never looked better. It was very odd to see Rich Rodriguez on the sideline, wearing his Michigan gear. I wonder how those West Virginia kids felt seeing that with a game yet to play in the Fiesta Bowl tonight? Pretty low and thoughtless on RR's part.
Texas Tech got over on Virginia in a game no one saw...on TV or in person, based on the crowd shots. How is it that Nashville can sell out the Music City Bowl in a matter of minutes and the Gator Bowl, on New Year's Day and with all that history, is half empty? Tech got a late gift from Virginia and won it on a last minute field goal.

Vols get 10
Congrats to the Vols for getting their 10th win of the season with a gutsy win over Wisconsin. Eric Ainge redeemed his SEC Championship Game performance and the defense played well. Both teams overcame shaky play calling in the Red Zone to keep this game close. Gerald Jones is a bonafide Star in the making and UT's challenge will be to come up with ways to get him touches. If Lucas Taylor gets his act together, what was a weakness for the Vols coming into this season (receivers) with be a strength in '08. Jonathan Crompton is ready to take over the controls at QB; now Tennessee has to shore up that defense.