Titans will win Sunday

Seeing practice and being in the lockeroom this week I’m calling for a Titans win Sunday against the Cowboys. The Titans left Miami with a sour taste in their mouths and I feel it is the perfect recipe for a win Sunday. Another reason I feel they’ll win Sunday is that the lockeroom has been a jovial place this week. When lockerooms are loose, good things happen. Let me also throw in the fact that the Cowboys had a plethora of distractions this week and play at Philly next week(TO’s return to the city that hates him). They probably think they can show up at LP Field and pick up an easy win.

Maybe I’m being too optimistic. And, I’ll be man enough to take the punches if the Cowboys win.

See you Sunday on Sports Xtra at 10:30pm where we go 1-on-1 with Jeff Fisher.

TITANS MAKE RIGHT CHOICE

Don’t get too teary eyed over Billy Volek’s departure. I don’t have a problem with the man as a person. But as an NFL quarterback he is not all that. I’ve got facts to back it up: He has started 10 games in the NFL and won 3 against bad teams at the time. The Titans traded Billy for a 6th round draft pick. Don’t you think if he was that good the Titans would have received more than a 6th rounder? Billy would have been the starter if he had not gone to Jeff Fisher and asked for a trade after the Titans signed Kerry Collins. But he wanted out and Fisher made the right call by not playing a quarterback who wanted out.

As for Vince Young; who do you want tutoring this young stud? A guy who has won 3 games and started only 10? Or a guy who has thrown for over 33 thousand yards and piloted a team to the Super Bowl? I know Collins looks awful right now, but I feel Titans have picked the best tutor for Young. Let’s be honest. Vince is the future and needs a guy who’s been there done that. Volek has not been there done that.

Chris Stout

Ask coach Fisher a question….

Hey Titans fans. I know you’re frustrated with the Titans season opening loss and you’ve probably got a lot of questions. Well, YOU can ask coach Fisher question. Just submit it to sports@wkrn.com and we’ll pick 3 questions for coach Fisher to answer. The first show is this Friday at 7pm on news 2. We will actually tape the show Thursday night at 7pm. You can be a part of the show by going to Buffalo Billiards. Joe Dubin and a Titan will be there along with great food and fun. I’ll be in studio with coach Fisher. I look forward to passing your questions along to coach Fisher.

Chris Stout

Titans starting QB….Who should start?

Hey everyone! I am Chris Stout, the new Sports Director at channel 2. I am so pumped to be in Middle Tennessee, getting to bring you all of the highlights from the Pro’s to the PeeWee’s…..

But let me ask you this. Who do you think should start at QB this Sunday against the Jets? I’d love to know……….
I think the TItans should start Kerry Collins. Let Vince Young play a few series just to feel the regular season heat, but Collins should start the first couple of games. He’s experienced, but more importantly he’s got the ability to lead this team until Vince is ready.

With all due respect to Billy Volek, you don’t get to start in the NFL by “doing your time.” To my knowledge Billy never stepped up and took the reigns. You must do that to be successful NFL quarterback. Look at all the winning quarterbacks in the NFL. They are leaders who don’t screw around. Unless Billy changes his tone on and off the field, Kerry Collins will take the first snap Sunday against the Jets. I’d love to know what you think.

Have a great Labor day!

Chris Stout

Preseason Game 2 Upon US…

This is Nathan…

Titans vs. Broncos. Preaseason Game #2. Jay Cutler versus Vince Young? Well, not exactly, but it’s likely they will be leading their respective teams down the field on back to back drives. Cutler looked as good as anyone in his first appearance for Denver, going 16 of 22 for 192 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Young wasn’t as impressive with his numbers, but he showed on several occassions that he has the talent to start in this league.
Myself and several other members of the News 2 Sports team will be traveling to Denver tomorrow afternoon to cover the game. Of course, you can see the broadcast on News 2 at 8 o’clock. Back with more after the game.

Nathan

Preseason Starts Tonight

Hello everyone…
This is Nathan Brooks…Sports Producer/Photographer here at News 2 Sports. I’ve been putting in 12 to 18 hour days over the last week, trying to bring you all the best coverage of Titans training camp. After all that preparation, we’ll finally get our first look at the 2006 version of the Tennessee Titans on the grass at LP Field. Kickoff is just about four hours away, but here are a few things to look for in tonights game. First and foremost, there will be a tremendous amount of attention on Vince Young. Coach Fisher said Young will likely enter the game in the second quarter, and play through the third quarter. The rookie has a long way to go in terms of being the main man under center. What I would look for tonight is for him to make a couple spectacular plays, but also make several bad plays. The Titans want to win tonight, but I expect them to try to get VY as much experience as possible, especially with the first team offensive line so he doesn’t get hit too often. A couple other players to watch are Tyrone Calico and Andre Woolfolk. Calico is deep down on the depth chart at wide receiver…maybe as far down as 6th or 7th on the chart. He has to make some big plays over the next few weeks to make the regular season roster. Woolfolk, the first round draft pick out of Oklahoma in 2003 as a cornerback, hasn’t lived up to his billing. Reynaldo Hill and Pacman Jones are the likely starters at his position, and Woolfolk hasn’t shown the coaches anything compared what the young guns such as Keon Raymond have.
I’m personally excited about seeing Reggie Bush play. The running back has tremendous skill, and I expect him to put on a show tonight. It could be fun if both he and Young make some big plays.

Don’t forget, you can see all the action on News 2 beginning at 7. We’ll have all the highlights right after the game on News 2 Sports at 10.

Don’t forget…This is Nathan. Joe will still be posting on here every once in a while.

The New Face of LP Field.

My colleagues in the sports office were wondering who should be replacing Steve McNair on the banner that hangs on the side of LP Field. When you look at the options, the pickings are slim. The immediate candidate is Keith Bulluck. He’s a force on the field. A vocal leader in the locker room. Well respected by the fans and media in Nashville. There aren’t a lot of downsides to making him the face of the former Coliseum. But outside of Music City, is Keith Bulluck a house hold name? That’s debatable.

Another candidate would be Vince Young. He’s the future of the team. A national sports figure. Also respected by fans and media. However, he has yet to take a snap in the NFL. I’m not saying it’s going to happen, or want it to happen, but there’s the risk that he could wind up like Ryan Leaf or Akili Smith. And if Billy Volek is currently #1 on the depth chart, isn’t that a slap in his face?

Jeff Fisher could also be on the short list. Throughout all the changes, he’s been the one constant. He provides stability, security, and leadership. He’s arguably one of the most popular sports figures in Tennessee. However, how many people go to games to watch the coach map out game plans? Also, if Jeff isn’t able to turn the Titans around this year - the final year of his contract - there’s the possibility he could be moving on.

And finally, a reader in the Tennessean had this unique approach. Look at the history of the players featured on the banner. Eddie George = Gone. Steve McNair = Gone. With that in mind, he suggested Pacman Jones be on the next banner. I’m not saying I agree with him, but I like the way the guy’s thinking.

What do you say Nashvegas? Who would you like to see on the side of LP Field?

Lights, Camera, Zach-tion!

What a whirlwind weekend it has been. I was fortunate enough to hang with Titans O-Lineman Zach Piller this weekend in Madison, Wisconsin. The purpose of the trip was to shoot what is hoped to be the final chapter of his debut documentary, “QB Needs Job”.

The subject of Zach’s film - Jack “Rambo” Pickens is a unique individual. At first glance, you would probably think Rambo is crazy. I admit, I thought the same thing when I first met him 5 years ago in Green Bay where the Titans were playing a preseason game against the Packers.

He walked up to me at the hotel bar and asked if I knew Zach. (I guess he saw me getting off the team bus, since we travel with the Titans on road trips) and then went on this hour long rant about how the Russians were taking over Wisconsin, and how he’s the only one who could stop them. He then went on to state that he was the greatest QB in the NFL. Did I mention Jack was 56 at the time?

I try not to be disrespectful to people in public, so I listened to Rambo’s bizarre story. After 5 beers, Rambo (who doesn’t drink, but certainly led me to that night) and I went our separate ways and I never thought I’d see him again. As a matter of fact, I never even mentioned to Zach that I met him, because I figured he was just some nutty fan.

Fast forward to 2004 and I find out Zach’s making a story on Rambo’s life. At the time, I was also working on my documentary (that will hopefully be finished before my 2 year old daughter finishes college). Zach and I struck up a conversation about the finer points of first time film making and the rest is history.

What’s cool about Zach - people have no idea the amount of time, money, and patience he’s sunk into this project. For him, this film is truly is a labor of love, albeit one that he wants to see completed in the not too distant future.
If anyone has seen the 1999 documentary “American Movie” - Zach would be comparable to Mark Borchardt.
He doesn’t allow anyone to make a mockery of his work! (Inside joke for those who’ve seen the film)

As for Rambo…After spending nearly 3 days with this cat, I earned a new respect for him. He’s a compelling guy. I don’t necessarily believe every word he says, but he’s extremely intelligent, very well-read, and has a quick wit to him. He nicknamed me “Ferrari” because I have some scant Italian blood in me.

Zach’s wants to have the film completed within the next year. He hired Scott Simmons to edit it, and the rough cuts I’ve seen have been absolutely mind-roasting.

From football to film making, Zach’s the man. IN PRIMETIME!

By the way - we need to get Dwyer’s mug off the website since he’s no longer on board. It’s creeping me out. And while we’re at it…can we take the “e” off of my name?

Later!

TITANS

TEST

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