Tennessee Titans "continue to suffer without Albert Haynesworth"

There are few defensive linemen in the NFL who can disrupt an offensive line like Tennessee's Albert Haynesworth. This past Monday was the second consecutive game the big tackle has missed because a hamstring injury, and it cost the Titans -- who were beaten 34-20 by Denver -- again. During the first 2010 pro bowl Vikings 4 Brett Favre jersey
eight games the season, when Haynesworth was in the trenches, the Titans gave up an average of 15.5 points a game. The most points an opponent scored on Tennessee was 36, which was racked up by Houston; still, the Titans managed to pull out a 38-36 win. Take out Houston's 36-point afternoon, and the average against Tennessee drops to 12.5.The previous two opponents -- Jacksonville and Denver -- capitalized on Haynesworth's absence, scoring 28 and 34 points, respectively. With each of these two teams racking up 166 rushing yards apiece on the No. 4 run defense in the league, it's clear the defense's problem is the lack of Haynesworth.Tennessee, at 6-4, has no timetable on how long Haynesworth's right hamstring ailment will take to heal, so it's sketchy at best how the team will fare the rest of the season. Sans their best defender, it will be interesting to see what happens when the Titans play at Cincinnati, which averages 24 points per game, this weekend.If Haynesworth doesn't return, expect the Bengals' high-octane offense to have a field day against a Tennessee team that won't generate any pressure, thus leading to its iffy secondary being picked apart. It's hard to imagine Vince Young threw three interceptions against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. But it's even more difficult to believe Tennessee won the game in spite of the second-year QB's poor performance.The Titans' defense, which scored both of the team's touchdowns (one via fumble return, the other a pick), should take a bow.Outside of that, Young's performance looked OK on paper (20 of 33 for 157 yards). He was clearly flustered against the Falcons, but the 2006 first-round pick could bounce back this week against Tampa Bay's 12th-ranked defense.Young will have his hands full, for sure, because what bolsters the Bucs' strong defensive ranking is their ninth-rated pass 'D', which is tied for fifth in the league in interceptions (six).As far as last week goes, rust (the Titans were coming off a bye) was probably the former Longhorn's problem. Prior to the Atlanta game, Young only threw two picks in the previous three contests. Needless to say, it would be shocking if Young turned the ball over multiple times against Tampa -- it's just not his style 6 Sanchez White Jersey
to do so. Normally, Young protects the ball.Look at it this way, the last three times Tennessee kicked off the season at 3-1, it went on to the playoffs. The most recent playoff berth, 2003, reflected the Titans owning the No. 5 spot in the league in passing, which is a far cry from today's 30th position. This year, the team will have to focus on passing if it wants to revisit the playoffs. And they have the talent under center to make it happen.