The Real Deal Football League

[Darren]

Tennessee Titans 3rd year Defensive End Marshall Freeman set a new league record with 5 sacks in the Titans win over the New Orleans Saints in week 2.

Freeman's performance was the highlight of what was an otherwise dull game in which both teams had trouble holding on to the ball and made numerous mistakes. Tennessee turned the ball over 5 times and the Saints were only slightly better, coughing up the pigskin on 3 occasions.

Both QB's had trouble finding their receivers and completed less than 50% of their passes as a result. Titans rookie QB Arnie Maloney came back to earth with a bump after his outstanding performance in week 1 versus Houston. Maloney only completed 12 of his 25 attempts for just 140 yards with 2 interceptions, although he did also throw 2 TD passes which was enough to get the win for Tennessee.

DE Freeman victimised nearly all of the Saints offensive linemen as he beat tackles Rhodes (twice), Patterson and Israelson and also centre Hangartner on his way to sacking QB Marshall Monroe. It wasn't just a one man show however, as DT's Griffith and Welch each notched a sack while DE Mack Garner and backup DE Leroy Sherman combined for another one, on one of the few plays that Freeman was on the sidelines.

Another defender who had a good game was Outside Linebacker Corwin May, who forced a fumble and also picked off a pass, which led directly to the Titans first touchdown.

It wasn't all good news for Tennessee though, as Running Back Dennis Turner tore the rotator cuff in his right shoulder and is now out for the season, and possibly his career. Head Coach Darrin Holmes feared the worst when he spoke to reporters after the game, as he said that the injury is so severe that Turner may not be 100% for the start of next season. The severity of the injury, combined with Turner's age, could spell the end for him, especially as he had already lost a step since signing for the Titans in 2013.

This is the second year in a row that the injury bug has bitten Turner, as he was diagnosed with arthritis in his left knee prior to the 2014 season and he missed 8 games as a result and only played sparingly when his arthritis became manageable around mid-season.

Turner had looked good in a limited role this year, ripping off a 60 yard run prior to getting injured against New Orleans, but he will now go onto IR and the Titans are left to scour the free agency market for a replacement. They are rumoured to be interested in a trade for a replacement, but it is too early to tell if a trade is a likely possibility.

But the Titans now move on to another team in a rebuilding mode, the Denver Broncos, in what should be another close fought game. Another win would give them their best start to a season since 2008, when the Philip Rivers-led team had the first of two back to back 13-3 seasons. Clearly the current team isn't close to the standard of the 2008 Titans, but their 2-0 start shows that they are heading in the right direction.
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GM of the Tennessee Titans
AFC South Champions 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016
Playoff Wildcard 2007, 2015
GM record 102-73-1