PE.com - Football Blog

Offensive guru Norm Chow is Tennessee's offensive coordinator and the guy who has guided Vince Young through his first two NFL seasons. Before tutoring Young, and even before tutoring Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer at USC, Chow was Philip Rivers' offensive coordinator for one year at North Carolina State.

"The one thing he did for me was, you knew exactly what he was trying to get out of every play," Rivers recalled. "He did a great job of, not necessarily simplifying it, but you knew when the play was called, it was, 'Hey, look, I want you to look at this (receiver) and read this area.' He made you confident early, for me early in my career. and I imagine that's what he's doing for Vince there.

"He was fun to play for. I hated only having him for one year, but I'll certainly looking forward to at least getting to say hello on Sunday."

Posted by Jim Alexander at 6:59 PM

The Titans' quarterback represents a unique threat, a quarterback equally capable of tormenting the Chargers with his arm or with his feet. Last Sunday against Houston Young burned his hometown team again, completing 21 of 31 passes for 248 yard and two touchdowns and rushing for 44 of his team's 153 ground yards.

"Vince is a guy that the whole team relies on, and they expect him to make plays," Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman said. "He's going to be like the engine of that car. He's going to drive that car and point them in the right direction and try to help them win."

How do the Chargers contain him?

"First of all, you have to know what he does best, and that's throwing on the run and moving around in the pocket," Merriman said. "Having him alone allows the offense to do certain things that maybe you wouldn't be able to do with another quarterback. ... You have to watch a lot of film and see what kind of formations (they're in) and put a stop to it."

He was asked if a defense would think run first and adjust to the pass, or vice versa.

"You have to just read and react because of some of the things he can do," Merriman said. "He can drop fast, and if he doesn't see anybody, see a wide receiver, he can take off and run. He's just like a wide receiver with the ball, and you have to really pay attention to what you're about to get and really get ready for it."

Posted by Jim Alexander at 5:43 PM

Even though Tennessee tackle Albert Haynesworth sat out Wednesday's Titans practice to rest his hamstring, the Chargers expect him to play Sunday. And they understand that taking him out of the equation is going to be a key factor.

"He makes a huge difference -- there's no question," Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers said.

"You look around the league, at teams that have tackles like that -- Minnesota, Jacksonville. And Haynesworth does the same for them. He has a big impact on the run, and he can cause some pressure in the passing game as well. He'll be a guy we have circled, obviously, to make sure that you take care of."

Added LaDainian Tomlinson: "I don't think there's any question they're a different team (with him). He demands so much attention. A lot of times, that extra attention he demands will allow somebody else to be free and unblocked and make plays for them. It definitely is a big advantage for them when he plays."

The matchup of the day, then, might be Haynesworth against the Chargers' Kris Dielman and Nick Hardwick.

"Oh, yeah, most definitely," Tomlinson said. "That's a matchup that you don't want to miss. It's going to be a tough-fought matchup between those guys."

Posted by Jim Alexander at 5:34 PM

Defensive end Luis Castillo (ankle) did not practice Wednesday and will miss his fifth consecutive game when the Chargers travel to play at Tennessee on Sunday.

Defensive end Jacques Cesaire (thumb), center Nick Hardwick (foot) and running back/returner Darren Sproles (knee) did not practice Wednesday. Linebacker Shawne Merriman (calf) had limited participation.

Cesaire has replaced Castillo in the starting lineup in three of the four games (Ryan Bingham started the other game in place of Castillo).

(Merriman was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 3.0 sacks and a fumble recovery in last Sunday's 24-10 win at Kansas City.)

No Titans have been ruled out for Sunday but DT Tony Brown (knee), DT Albert Haynesworth (hamstring), S Chris Hope (back), WR Brandon Jones (groin) and RB LenDale White (finger) did not practice. TE Bo Scaife (shoulder) was limited.

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 3:51 PM

Tennesseee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth did not practice Wednesday, resting his sore right hamstring, the Associated Press reported from Nashville.

Haynesworth, who missed three consecutive games -- all Titans losses -- with the hamstring injury before returning to action last week, said he expects to practive by Friday and play Sunday against the Chargers.

Running back LenDale White, the former USC Trojan, is nursing an injury to his right hand that may keep him out of Sunday's game. White worked on conditioning Wednesday. He dislocated a joint on his hand that required several sitches.

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 2:22 PM

When playing Tennessee, the offensive game-planning needs to begin and end with their 6-foot-6, 320-pound defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

The 7-5 Titans are 7-2 in games Haynesworth has played this season.

Haynesworth missed a recent three-game stretch with a hamstring injury and the Titans went on a three-game losing streak, falling to Jacksonville (28-13), Denver (34-20) and Cincinnati (35-6).

During those three games, opponents averaged 349 yards per game, 55 more than their season average of 294 and 73.34 yards more than in the games Haynesworth has played in.

The Titans allow an average of 93.9 yards per game rushing for all games with 10 rushing touchdowns.

But in games Haynesworth has played, opponents average only 71.88 rushing yards per game and have scored only 4 TDs on the ground.

In the three games Haynesworth missed, opponents were padding their rushing stats, gaining an average of 160.0 yards per game and scoring 6 rushing TDs.

The Chargers rank 15th in the NFL in rushing, averaging 112.5 yards per game, and are tied for third in the league with 13 rushing TDs.

And one final statistical point about Haynesworth's dominance.

The Titans allow an average of 20.1 points per game and have allowed 28 TDs.

In the three games Haynesworth missed, the Titans gave up an average of 32.3 points per game and 13 touchdowns.

So, in the nine games Haynesworth has played, the Titans have allowed only 16.0 points per game and have given up 15 touchdowns (1.66 per game).

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 3:27 PM

Odds and ends heading into Sunday's game at Tennessee:

** Titans coach Jeff Fisher is 0-3 against the Chargers but 2-2 head-to-head with Norv Turner.
** The Titans are tied with Cleveland, both at 7-5, battling for the AFC's final wild-card playoff spot. Jacksonville is 8-3 and has a one-game lead for one of the two WC spots.
** Chargers have won six of eight after a 1-3 start
** This will be the 39th meeting between two franchises that first met in the American Football League as the Houston Oilers and Los Angeles Chargers.
** They played three times in 1960, splitting the regular season series before Houston won the the first AFL Championship, 24-16. Players on the victorious Oilers each earned $1,016.42 (according to the Titans weekly release).
** The Chargers and Oilers met again for the 1961 AFL title and Houston won again, 10-3.
** They wouldn't meet again in the postseason until 1979 when the Oilers beat the San Diego Chargers, 17-14, in an NFL playoff game.
** Chargers coach Norv Turner was an assistant coach at USC when Titans coach Jeff Fisher was a defensive back for the Trojans and Turner coached the DBs in Fisher's senior year (1980).
** Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow coached Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers during his freshman season at North Carolina State in 2000.
** The Titans rank fifth in the league in first-down defense. Tennessee holds opponents to 4.58 yards per first down play. Arizona leads the league at 4.48 following by Indianapolis at 4.53. San Diego is 10th at 5.02.
**

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 2:49 PM

Justin Fargas, the converted college safety who transferred from Michigan to USC, rushed a career high 32 times for 146 yards (unofficially) and a touchdown as the Raiders knocked off the Broncos, 34-20, in an AFC West Division game.

It was the Raiders' first win over Denver since 2004 and their first win over the Broncos at home since 2002.

Denver's loss coupled with the Chargers' earlier win at Kansas City, gives San Diego a two-game lead in the division with four games to play.

One of those games for San Diego is against Denver on Christmas Eve Monday night at Qualcomm Stadium. The Chargers won the earlier meeting, 41-3 in Denver on Oct. 7 and hold that head-to-head tiebreaker.

AFC WEST STANDINGS
(Team) ......... (Overall) ... (Division)
San Diego ..... 7-5-0.......... 3-1-0
Denver .......... 5-7-0.......... 2-2-0
Oakland ........ 4-8-0.......... 2-3-0
Kansas City .. 4-8-0.......... 2-3-0

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 3:59 PM

JaMarcus Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft, made his NFL debut at quarterback for the Raiders on Sunday.

Russell, who missed all of training camp in a contract dispute, came in to start the second quarter of the game against Denver at Oakland. Russell completed his first pass on a sprint out to Jerry Porter, showing off his powerful arm, and directed two series before being replaced by starter Josh McCown.

He completed 4 of 7 passes for 56 yards.

Russell left LSU following his junior season and the Raiders took him No. 1 in April's draft, passing on, among others, Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, Wisconsin tackle Joe Thomas and Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn.

After drafting Russell, the Raiders than began stockpiling quarterbacks, trading for McCown on draft day and later signing free agent Daunte Culpepper to add to a roster that already included Andrew Walter. The Raiders continue to carry four quaterbacks on their roster.

Russell hadn't appeared in a game since LSU's Sugar Bowl victory over Notre Dame on Jan. 1.

He had his struggles in his brief time on the field, bobbling a handoff to LaMont Jordan and fumbling a shot-gun snap that appeared to be a little off line.

After his second series, the Raiders forced a turnover and a quick camera pan to the sideline appeared to show Russell scrambling to find his helmet to return to the field. McCown began that series instead and it's unclear if that was by design or Russell made a rookie mistake.

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 2:24 PM

The Chargers defeates the Kansas CIty Chiefs, 24-10, behind two rushing touchdowns from LaDainian Tomlinson and a dominating defense that recorded eight sacks.

Tomlinson rushed for 177 yards and scored on runs of 31 and 28 yards and moved into third place all-time with 111 career rushing touchdowns.

Shawne Merriman is unofficially credited with three sacks and Shaun Phillips adds 1.5 leading a defense that contained the Chiefs to 268 total yards and no points after halftime.

Antonio Cromartie has two interceptions and now has eight to lead the NFL.

San Diego improves to 7-5 -- after a 1-3 start -- and maintains at least a game lead in the AFC West Division over Denver, which is playing at Oakland this afternoon.

San Diego improves to 2-4 on the road this season with two road games to play -- at Tennessee next week and at Oakland on Dec. 30 to end the regular season.

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 1:09 PM

LT scored another rushing TD, the 111th of his career to move into sole possession of the No. 3 spot all-time, passing Walter Payton. Tomlinson not only trails Marcus Allen and Emmitt Smith on the all-time list.

Shaun Phillips has beating Jason Dunn twice for sacks and Shawne Merriman has another and the Chargers have seven as a team, knocking Damon Huard out, or at least to the sideline in place of Tyler Thigpen and sending the chilled patrons into the Kansas City afternoon.

Tomlinson, who had 20 carries for 132 yards and a TD in the first meeting, a 30-16 KC win, has 177 rushing yards and two TDs this time.

In the Week 4 meeting in San Diego, KC outscored the Chargers 24-0 in the second half. Today, San Diego has outscored KC, 14-0 after halftime.

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 12:53 PM

A 31-yard burst for a touchdown by Tomlinson gave the Chargers a 17-10 lead. It was Tomlinson's 110th career rushing TD, tying Walter Payton for third all-time behind Marcus Allen and Emmitt Smith.

The Chiefs threatened to respond on a drive fueled by a fourth-down conversion but stalled when a second fourth-down attempt was stopped as Marlon McCree's hit on receiver Eddie Kennison helped force an incompletion. The gusting wind is forcing coaches to alter their approach on certain passes and field goal attempts.

The Chiefs lost linebacker Donnie Edwards to a hamstring injury. Edwards came into the game as the Chiefs leading tackler.

Michael Turner replaced Tomlinson on a third-and-short situation but was up-ended on his carry and the Chargers were forced to punt nearing the end of the quarter. It was not only a drive-stopper but a momentum-changing tackle by strong safety Bernard Pollard, especially if the Chiefs can convert the change of possession into points. Either way, Kansas City as spent most of the quarter on offense and that could pay huge dividends by the end of the game.

KC quarterback Damon Huard is zeroing in on tight end Tony Gonzalez, who has 7 catches for 99 yards with still almost three minutes left in the quarter.

The Chiefs, running out of running backs, came out in a spread formation forcing a Chargers time out.

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 12:10 PM

The Chiefs took a 10-3 lead on a Damon Huard pass to defensive lineman Jared Allen, lined up as a tight end. Allen beat safety Clinton Hart to the corner but Huard made a pinpoint rainbow pass and Allen made an impressive sliding finger-tip catch for the score.

The Chargers responded on the following drive culminated with a 38-yard strike from Rivers to Vincent Jackson running a deep post between the safeties for a touchdown and a 10-10 tie. The pass play was reminiscent of a year ago when Jackson emerged as a consistent big-play threat that had him on many player-to-watch lists coming into this season. But it was only his 25th catch and third TD of the season.

Meanwhile, Kansas City could be running short on defensive backs. Reserve corner Benny Sapp was injured on kickoff coverage and backup safety Greg Wesley was helped off following the Jackson touchdown. We'll have to see if either player returns and what impact this might have later in the game.

Other second quarter notes:

Rivers had a big-gainer to lumbering tight end Brandon Manumaleuna. ... Michael Turner had a carry, his 38th of the season. ... Left tackle Marcus McNeill, a Pro Bowl selection as a rookie last season, is holding his own against Jared Allen, the AFC's co-sack leader. ... Tennessee, next week's opponent, welcomed the return of run-stuffer Albert Haynesworth and is tied with Houston, 7-7, nearing the half. .... Hart dropped a sure interception with 1:54 left in the half. It was a third-down incompletion that led to a punt. But, Darren Sproles muffed the reception and rookie linebacker Brandon Siler saved the Bolts with a recovery at the 35. ...Former Chargers linebacker Donnie Edwards read a tight end screen to Antonio Gates and stuffed the play for a loss late in the half. ... Rivers ended the half 5 of 14 for 126 yards. ... The wind is playing tricks with punts, kicks and longer passes. ... Rookie Gilbert Harris saw time in the KC backfield that has already lost Larry Johnson, Michael Bennett and Kolby Smith to injury. Smith started the game but Harris was on the field at the end of the half. ... Shawne Merriman had a sack ad now has 7.5 for the season.

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 11:08 AM

The teams traded field goals (former Charger John Carney connecting for the Chiefs) and turnovers as the teams played to a 3-3 stalemate.

Philip Rivers tried once too often to pick on Ty Law and paid the price but Antonio Cromartie got his NFL-leading seventh to make things even.

Rivers found Chris Chambers behind the Kansas City defense for one big-gainer and LaDainian Tomlinson did his best Justin Fargas, averaging 10 yards a carry in the early going. Rivers looks sharp when he's not trying to force an opening that isn't there and the Chargers defense is very active against Damon Huard and the KC offense.

Posted by Jeff Parenti at 10:58 AM