Preview: Houston Texans vs. Tennessee Titans
One of the Texans' biggest concerns today at Tennessee will be the Titans' defensive line. Tennessee collected eight sacks in its first two games.
"It's one of the best in the league, if not the best,"
Texans guard Chester Pitts said of the Tennessee front four, led by 6-foot-6-inch, 320-pound nose tackle Albert Haynesworth.
How do you prepare for Haynesworth?
"Eat a heavy lunch,"
joked Pitts. "Every play you better bring it or that big old guy will embarrass you. I'd be hard pressed to find another guy with that size and so explosive at the same time."
"I try not to look that way,"
Texans quarterback Matt Schaub said of Haynesworth. "I'm trying to scan the secondary."
Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jevon Kearse are the Tennessee defensive ends, while Tony Brown plays at the other tackle.
Schaub acknowledged that Tennessee is not a generous defense, yielding just 17 points in two games.
"Points and yards are hard to come by against them,"
he said. "It's definitely one of the best (defensive lines) out there."
"They don't have to blitz a lot because they get a pretty good push with those four guys. I've got faith in my guys up there that they're going to do the job."
Titans still supporting Young
Despite Vince Young's recent troubles, Titans coach Jeff Fisher hasn't soured on his quarterback.
"He's rehabbing and getting better,"
Fisher said of Young, who will not play against the Texans. "He's still part of this team. He's meeting with the offense."
Young suffered a sprained left knee in the opener against Jacksonville, a 17-10 Titans victory. Then media reports surfaced stating that Young, not used to facing adversity in his football career, had contemplated suicide.
Young was 12-of-22 passing for 110 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions before being hurt against the Jaguars.
"We've got most of this put behind us,"
Fisher said.
"He's got special skills and rare athletic abilities. He's 18-11 as a starter and led us to the playoffs last year. This is going to end up being a positive for Vince and the franchise."
Fisher hopes that Young can benefit by watching his replacement, 15-year veteran Kerry Collins, run a team.
"He's got an opportunity to watch Kerry and learn from Kerry, which he never had before,"
Fisher said. "This is a great thing for Vince to see in action the things Kerry has been talking about. Kerry's been very good with Vince."
Texans' game plan changes
Playing against Collins rather than Young won't make the Texans' job any easier.
"We don't have to worry about him getting out of the pocket and running for a first down,"
said Houston middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who rode out Hurricane Ike in Austin. "He's not a very mobile guy, but he can beat you with his arm. Kerry is a better passer (than Young), a more experienced quarterback."
Fisher knows that Collins is more than capable of beating Houston.
"Last week was his 150th start,"
Fisher said of Collins, who led the New York Giants to the Super Bowl after the 2002 season. "He's 90 yards short of 35,000 yards passing, so he's been around the block. He understands defenses. He has a good feel for this offense."
Collins wasn't sure he would ever be a starting quarterback again after signing with Tennessee in 2006.
"It's definitely something I didn't foresee coming,"
he said. "As a backup you wonder if you'll ever get to play. I certainly didn't wish for Vince to get hurt. Physically, I don't feel like I've lost anything. I dropped my weight a bunch. I can still throw the ball."
Getting back to normal
Wednesday's practice appeared to be a little more normal for the Texans, unlike the day before when they were still inquiring about each other's homes and families in the wake of Ike.
"It definitely felt more like a Wednesday,"
quarterback Schaub said. "We're getting into our game plan. We've had a couple of things to take our mind off the Pittsburgh game."
"It doesn't matter if it's back to normal or not,"
Pitts said. "It's business time."
With last weekend's home game against Baltimore postponed until Nov. 9, it was a little early for a break in the schedule.
"It's going to be good to get out there and play after all we've been through,"
Schaub said.
