Depth Another Key For Titans Sunday

By Eric Lister November 14, 2008

The Jacksonville Jaguars will play host to the undefeated Titans Sunday at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher said the Jaguars team, despite a losing record, is totally improved from the team the Titans faced in week 1.

''They had a lot of injuries they had to deal with early in the season,'' Fisher said. ''Against Detroit they ran the ball very well and protected the quarterback. Their defense is playing well.''

Their rushing attack, one very similar to the Titans', features two backs with different talents. Fred Taylor has rushed for 358 yards this year and Maurice Jones-Drew has rushed for 433 yards. Jones-Drew is the bigger scoring threat, getting into the endzone nine times in 2008.

Fisher said to have success against the physical Jaguars, they have a very stingy run defense that does not allow big plays.

''They're going to try to run the football and win time of possession and do those kinds of things,'' Fisher said. ''That is the way they are built so this week will be one of our biggest challenges so far in the run game.''

The Titans are familiar with tough challenges. They faced a Bears defense that only allowed 20 yards on the ground, and a Packers team that pushed them to overtime.

Fisher said the Titans toughest challenge yet lies with playing a divisional opponent for the second time in the season.

''There is no way to anticipate what is going to happen and you can't expect any repeat performances or things like that, anything can happen.''

With Kyle Vanden Bosch nursing a sore groin suffered against Baltimore, the defensive line has been challenged by performing with less depth. In the four games since Vanden Bosch's injury, the Titans' second and third units have recorded five and a half sacks and over twenty tackles.

Fisher said contributions from younger players and second-teamers are crucial to the team's success, and a big reason that the team is undefeated a game into the second half of the season.

''They are certainly taking advantage of a great opportunity and we're very fortunate to have them,'' Fisher said. ''We saw good things from Dave [Ball] in the offseason and knew he was going to be a guy that could come in and do a lot of things for us.''

''We are fortunate to have the rotation and wave going with the defensive line right now.''

With the depth the Titans have and the strong finish to the 2007, fans certainly expected success this season. Fisher said the team did surprise him with their work ethic.

''The think that I am pleased with is they go ahead and focus on the next task at hand, the next opponent. Moments after the Chicago win they were focusing on Jacksonville, and that has been one thing we have done all year.''