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TRAP GOES COUNTRY

November 18, 2002 by Still Trap

TRAP GOES COUNTRY

TRAP GOES COUNTRY

 

At the insistence of Trap�s terrific wife, we took the road trip to Nashville, Tennessee, to witness yet another abortion of a gameplan by Field Goal Bill Cowherd.Following are some observations from the mind like a steel trap:

 

-          The game at The Coliseum was sold-out, but there were plenty of scalper tickets to be had.These chumps were trying to sell tix at two to three times face value two hours before kickoff.Trap waited until about 1/2�hour before game time, and managed to score a couple of ducats below face value.In hindsight, there were guys all over the place looking to unload tickets 10 minutes prior, and these probably could have been had for 10-20 bucks, since these chumps didn�t want to go home empty-handed.

-          Titans fans are pretty good � I was impressed.They are very tolerant to the bacl-and gold fans, and there were a ton of us.I met another couple in a bar prior to the game, and the husband wore Stiller garb, while the wife wore an Eddie George jersey.We hit it off, since Trap�s wife was ALSO wearing a �George� jersey!Ouch.(She likes the Titans� colors�.yikes.)

-          No kidding � two blocks from the stadium through the north endzone is a huge sign on top of a building that reads �THE TRAP�.Probably a bar or club of some kind�.Trap felt right at home!!!!!

-          Stiller fans in attendance had two unanimous feelings at the game yesterday � Hope Tommy�s OK, and shitcan that pile of whaleshit, Todd Peterson.

-          Trap had a discussion with a Titan�s fan after Tommy�s first INT.He asked if Tommy had thrown many picks, given the HORRENDOUS nature of the pick that just occurred.I told him that Tommy hadn�t thrown all that many, but that they were ill-timed.I also told him that Tommy has done well when getting rid of the ball QUICKLY, usually on 3-step drops, but that he struggles when he has to find receivers after his primary target is covered.He does not do well when going to 3rd and 4th options.Little did Trap realize at the time how prophetic that conversation would be.

-          Tommy was aiming the ball all day, save for the first pass of the game.He threw behind receivers constantly, and looked to me to have a dead arm.Trap is wondering if Maddox has hit the point that some pitchers hit in the middle of the season, where they have nothing left in their arm, and would benefit from a coupla weeks of rest.Or, perhaps the cold weather affected him.

-          The stadium was colder than most would realize.A stiff breeze blew in, and if you were in the shade, it was colder than a witch�s tit.You probably didn�t see it on TV, but our defense was scurrying to the �hot benches� every time they went off the field.Trap found this to be disturbing, especially when the defense had a bad series.Trap�s personal feeling is that the coordinator ought to have made them keep warm on their own, until they played like they deserved a seat on the �hot benches�.But maybe Trap is too hard on these millionaires�.

-          Trap�s observations of the defense:The tackling was weak, although this is a trend we have seen for many weeks.Any time Rodney Bailey is in on a running play, he is blasted, bullied, or buried.His is clearly a liability versus the run.I saw where Mill said that porter had a terrible game � I did not see that.Sure, he missed some tackles, but he was involved in EVERYTHING.Even Titan fans were praising him in the stands.I also saw some hope in Jason Gildong�s game�he showed more contact for a pussified linebacker than I have seen from him in three years.He still stackjumps, but at least he actually HIT something every once in a while, and I�ve not seen that from him in quite some time.Chad Scott is a mystery to me�you probably don�t see it on TV, but most of the time, he has very good coverage on his men�he seems to pick inopportune times to not, however�.Want a great laugh � watch John Fiala get BURIED on the touchdown run by Eddie George.Fiala is planted so bad, he probably created a hole at the goalline the grounds crew had to fill in with topsoil.I actually also thought that Brent Alexander was better in supporting the corners than I had seen on tape last week.Trap SILL MAINTAINS that the biggest flaw in the defense on 3rd downs is that the QB is given a perfect channel up the middle to �step up into� from the pocket and find the open man.Trap saw this �parting� of the defensive line on the pass-rush so many times, he thought he was watching �Groundhog Day� with Bill Murray�

-          Trap�s observations of the offense:Trap�s worst fears were confirmed about Amos � he simply is NOT an every down back.Trap LIKES Zeroue � a lot � but Amos needs to be used in tandem with another power back.Trap is also disturbed at how Zeroue slips and trips over his own two feet an astonishing number of times.Sometimes this happens without ANYONE even laying a hand on him.I also noticed that Amos gives up on a hole about to open in the interior of the line in favor of breaking to the outside.On many of the gimmick plays that Amos has been involved in over the past coupla years, this is OK, but when carrying the ball as an every down back, this is a fatal mistake.This eventually causes confusion amongst the linemen.Bettis is superior in this regard.The linemen KNOW that he will be patient, and that the holes will develop as the game wears on.That said, the line did not have a good day, although the dullard playcalling after the first play of the game allowed Tennessee to come hell-bent after the running backs.Maddox was putrid at reading the field, and threw into coverage consistently, and INsistently.His insistence at throwing into the endzone to Ward on the throwback pass was abominable, as Ward had three guys with him.Before the first or second field goal botch, Maddox had Mark Breuner WIDE OPEN at the 5 yardline.I am never in favor of throwing lots of passes to the man with hands of stone, but this one could not possibly be dropped.Plex had a chance to make a terrific catch using only his hands, but alas, failed to do so at a critical juncture of the game.Overall, being able to watch the game and plays develop from above, it is SICKENING to see some of the vomitose routes being run in a cowardly manner by the ultra-conservative Cowherd gameplan.There were times in a 4-receiver set where ALL FOUR receiver were running routes ALL shorter than ten yards�.this is atrocious, and inexcusable�.ESPECIALLY after you have burned the Titan�s secondary with a play-action logn pass on the first play of the game!

-          Jeff Fischer�s post-game radio interview said that the Titans� used plays that the Raiduhs had used against us in week two.Fischer said that he felt this was the only way to beat our defense, and that the formation that placed Eddie George spread wide as a receiver was critical to spreading the Stiller defense � he said he got this from the Raiduh game.Obviously, Cowherd and Company have forgotten this game.

-          Trap agrees with Mill on the Hines Ward ball-taunting on the first play.As soon as I saw it, I was having visions of Ed Reed�.

-          Trap likes EVERY TIME Mike Logan comes on the field.Good things happen when this man is in�he needs to be in MORE.

-          Trap�s observations of the special teams:GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK.

-          Titan fans were tremendous when Maddox was injured.The stadium was fairly silent, and there was lots of applause for him when he was loaded into the ambulance, and when the ambulance drove off.Very classy.

-          Trap had a Titan-clad fan get up in his section, and jokingly yell at Trap to �GO HOME� after the Titans had taken a 31-7 lead�!Good fun!

-          If anyone has any questions from the game that could be answered from the in-perons perspective, write them on the message board�!

 

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