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Endgame Index

January 11, 2003 by Steel Phantom

Titan 2 Post-game Index:

Titan 2 Post-game Index:

 

 

  1. That must have been some strong wind coming out of the North end (left on your screen).� There were (7) TD and (5) FG today; of those only (1) TD and (2) FG went into the North (left) end.� That�s 52-13, right over left on your TV screen.� Also, all (3) INT occurred when the offense was headed left into the wind.

 

  1. Last week, the Steelers won despite a serious takeaway deficiency.� Today, for the first and (obviously) only time this season, they lost despite exceeding the (nearly) magical (+2) in takeaways.

 

  1. Why?� Well, how about the TOP margin of 12: 49, 37:32 for the Titans, 24:43 for the B&G.

 

  1. Why that? Well, the Titans� 12/18 3rd down conversion rate had something to do with it.� At one point, Tennessee was 11/12, included in that were (2) passes on 3rd & 16 and 3rd & 8 during possession two, the Titans� second scoring drive.� Naturally, both came against the Steeler dime. �Next year, 3rd down conversions will be part of the Week in Review stat check.

 

  1. In these (2) playoff games combined, the Steeler D-side allowed 20/35 3rd down conversions.� That is very close to their combined mark against the Pats and Raiders in Games 1 and 2.� This season ended as it began, with the defense unable to make a stop.�

 

  1. Of course, the O-side had some culpability today.� It�s tough to sustain much with a 4/14 3rd down conversion rate.

 

  1. The RZ efficiency figures were even worse.� Tennessee was 4/5, Pittsburgh 1/3.� That is, the Titans averaged 5.6 points per RZ trip, the Steelers just 4.33.� By far, the worst pass T-Max made on the day was his miss to Spike on the goal line at the close of possession 5.�� That resulted in the Steelers first FG, rather than their 2nd TD; those (4) points made all the difference.

 

  1. Plax went down hard on that play and, afterwards, didn�t factor.� Burress had (2) grabs in the 2nd quarter for 62 yards; he had just (1) thereafter; that was the 2-point conversion from Hines.

 

  1. Frank Wychek did okay today.� As has been true for at least the past three seasons, the Steelers struggled to defend a competent TE.� Why? Well, consider that in these two playoff games, the Steelers faced (87) passes.� Of those, the starting safeties defended exactly (0).� In contrast, we saw Bell make two strong plays on the ball last week and, today, James Farrior was credited with (2) PD.� Beyond doubt, the Steelers fielded the absolute worst safety tandem in these playoffs, if not the whole round league.�

 

  1. Of note: the Titan run game faltered when Zach Pillar went out.� As suggested earlier, Tom Ackerman is far from an exceptional OG.� Consider that George carried (3) times for (18) yards during the Titans� first possession but finished (early) at 15/33.� That�s (17) yards on his last (12) carries, that figure matches backup RB Robert Holcombe�s game totals.

 

  1. To the HH Committee: Casey Hampton played big; (1) FF, (1) PD and (2) TFL.� If I were on the committee, he�d have my HH vote.�

 

 

 

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