Saturday, May 17, 2014
Pirates Blow Up Cubs Bullpen; Claim Opening Day Win
By Andrew Kovalchuk, MLB.com Journalist, March 31, 2014
CHICAGO- The Chicago Cubs' season start was derailed thanks to a bullpen collapse in this game against the Pirates, which ultimately was a lot closer affair than the 6-1 scoreline would suggest. Cubs starter Jeff Samardzija came into the game with a lot to prove, as trade rumors were circulating about him all last offseason. On the other side, a Pittsburgh franchise boyed by its resurgence last season hoped to continue a rise to greatness.
The Cubs came out strong, as Samardzija fired darts from the get-go, displaying none of the accuracy troubles that sometimes affect him. He retired thirteen out of the first fourteen batters he faced, with the Pirates' sole baserunner coming after rookie third baseman Mike Olt bobbled a Russell Martin grounder. The Cubs offense also struck early, with Ryan Sweeney singling in the first. Later, in the top of the second, the Cubbies would plate their first run when catcher Welington Castillo hit a sacrifice fly to drive Anthony Rizzo home after consecutive singles from Rizzo, Nate Schierholtz, and Olt. Samardzija continued his strong showing, most notably striking out Pirates star Andrew McCutchen twice.
However, after the second inning, Pirates starter Gerrit Cole began to find a rhythm, setting down the Cubs in order in the fourth, fifth, and sixth. In the bottom of the fifth, Samardzija allowed his first hit after the Pirates' catcher Martin tripled to deep left field. The hit was partly caused by Ryan Sweeney, who misplayed the ball in left, allowing it to bounce off the palm of his glove as he attempted to scoop it up. The error would be a costly one. Gaby Sanchez's line drive to left was robbed by a Schierholtz dive, but his effort was not enough to prevent Martin from coming around, tying the game at 1-1. A visibly shaken Samardzija walked the next batter, but regained his composure enough to strike out his opposite number and have a one-two-three sixth, barring an inexplicable ball thrown into the dugout by Darwin Barney on a routine grounder to second.
With the game tied and Samardzija's pitch count approaching 100, manager Rick Renteria pulled him after giving up a double to Buccos second baseman Neil Walker. Righty Blake Parker was the first pitcher to come out of the bullpen, but he promptly gave up a single up the middle to Sanchez, putting the Pirates ahead 2-1. And it only got worse from there. After a Jordy Mercer single and a PH Jose Tabata walk, Starling Marte lined to right, scoring two runners. Parker was then taken out and replaced by lefty James Russell, but he couldn't prevent a Gregory Polanco single down the third base line, scoring Tabata. Thankfully, Russell recovered and got two outs to end the inning, but the score now stood 5-1 Pirates. The next inning, the Cubs put in Pedro Strop to see if he could curb the bleeding. Strop managed to strike out two, but gave up a home run to Walker, effectively putting the game out of reach. On the other side of the ball, reliever Jared Hughes posted two consecutive 0-0-0 innings to secure a Pirates win on Opening Day.
Games 2 and 3 of the series are on April 2nd and 3rd.
Andrew Kovalchuk is a journalist for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ItsAndyK.
| Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates | ||||||||||||
| Mar 31, 2014 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Chicago (0-0) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Pittsburgh (0-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | X | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| W: Gerrit Cole (1-0) L: Jeff Samardzija (0-1) S: N/A | ||||||||||||
| Chicago Cubs | ||||||||
| HITTERS | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | HR | AVG |
| Ruggiano, CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
| Sweeney, LF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 |
| Castro, SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Rizzo, 1B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| Schierholtz, RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .250 |
| Olt, 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .250 |
| Castillo, C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .500 |
| Barney, 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Samardzija, P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| Bonifacio, CF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| TEAM TOTALS | 30 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||
| BATTING: RBI: Castillo (1) SF: Castillo SAC: Samardzija GIDP: Castro, Barney | ||||||||
| FIELDING: E: Barney (1), Olt (1) | ||||||||
| Pittsburgh Pirates | ||||||||
| HITTERS | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | HR | AVG |
| Marte, LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| Polanco, RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| McCutchen, CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 |
| Alvarez, 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .000 |
| Walker, 2B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 |
| Martin, C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .250 |
| Sanchez, 1B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .333 |
| Mercer, SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .333 |
| Cole, P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
| Tabata, LF | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| TEAM TOTALS | 32 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1 | |
| BATTING: 2B: Walker (1) 3B: Martin (1) HR: Walker (1) RBI: Marte 2 (2), Walker (1), Sanchez 2 (2), Polanco (1) SF: Sanchez | ||||||||
| FIELDING: E: Alvarez (1) | ||||||||
| Chicago Cubs | ||||||||
| PITCHERS | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| Samardzija (L, 0-1) | 6.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3.00 |
| Parker | 0.1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 81.00 |
| Villanueva | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Russell | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Strop | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9.00 |
| TEAM TOTALS | 8.0 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 1 | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | ||||||||
| PITCHERS | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
| Cole (W, 1-0) | 7.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1.29 |
| Hughes | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Cubs release Opening Day roster
| Chicago Cubs Opening Day 2014 Roster | |||||||
| # | PITCHERS | POS | B/T | AGE | HT | WT | SALARY |
| 49 | Jake Arrieta | SP | R/R | 27 | 6'4" | 225 | 560K |
| 39 | Jason Hammel | SP | R/R | 31 | 6'6" | 225 | 2.3M |
| 36 | Edwin Jackson | SP | R/R | 30 | 6'3" | 210 | 2.3M |
| 50 | Blake Parker | RP | R/R | 28 | 6'3" | 225 | 550K |
| 18 | Chris Rusin | SP | L/L | 27 | 6'2" | 195 | 550K |
| 40 | James Russell | RP | L/L | 28 | 6'4" | 200 | 920K |
| 29 | Jeff Samardzija | SP | R/R | 29 | 6'5" | 225 | 2.8M |
| 46 | Pedro Strop | RP | R/R | 28 | 6'0" | 220 | 560K |
| 41 | Jose Veras | RP | R/R | 33 | 6'6" | 240 | 1.6M |
| 33 | Carlos Villanueva | RP | R/R | 30 | 6'2" | 215 | 690K |
| 37 | Travis Wood | SP | R/L | 27 | 5'11" | 175 | 1.9M |
| 53 | Wesley Wright | RP | R/L | 29 | 5'11" | 185 | 920K |
| # | CATCHERS | POS | B/T | AGE | HT | WT | SALARY |
| 38 | John Baker | C | L/R | 33 | 6'1" | 215 | 550K |
| 5 | Welington Castillo | C | R/R | 26 | 5'10" | 210 | 580K |
| # | INFIELDERS | POS | B/T | AGE | HT | WT | SALARY |
| 15 | Darwin Barney | 2B | R/R | 28 | 5'10" | 185 | 1.4M |
| 13 | Starlin Castro | SS | R/R | 23 | 5'10" | 190 | 6.4M |
| 30 | Mike Olt | 3B | R/R | 25 | 6'2" | 210 | 710K |
| 44 | Anthony Rizzo | 1B | L/L | 24 | 6'3" | 240 | 764K |
| 24 | Luis Valbuena | 3B | L/R | 28 | 5'10" | 200 | 730K |
| # | OUTFIELDERS | POS | B/T | AGE | HT | WT | SALARY |
| 64 | Emilio Bonifacio | CF | S/R | 28 | 5'11" | 205 | 1.4M |
| 51 | Ryan Kalish | LF | L/L | 25 | 6'0" | 215 | 550K |
| 21 | Junior Lake | LF | R/R | 23 | 6'3" | 215 | 770K |
| 20 | Justin Ruggiano | CF | R/R | 31 | 6'1" | 210 | 740K |
| 19 | Nate Schierholtz | RF | L/R | 30 | 6'2" | 215 | 1.1M |
| 6 | Ryan Sweeney | LF | L/L | 29 | 6'4" | 225 | 920K |
| # | DESIGNATED HITTER | POS | B/T | AGE | HT | WT | SALARY |
| 20 | Justin Ruggiano | CF | R/R | 31 | 6'1" | 210 | 740K |
Cubs Coaching Staff:
Manager- Rick Renteria
Hitting Coach- Bill Mueller
Pitching Coach- Chris Bosio
1st Base Coach- Eric Hinske
3rd Base Coach- Gary Jones
ESPN.com updated April 30, 2014. Chicago Cubs is a registered trademark of Major League Baseball, Inc.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Breaking: Epstein Out in Chicago, Unknown Hired in Place
by Evan Ritter, Cubs Correspondent, March 25, 2014
CHICAGO- Only three years after being hailed as the best young GM in baseball and the man who would bring success back to the Chicago Cubs, Theo Epstein has been fired by the organization.
In a statement released earlier today, the organization had this to say about Epstein: "The Chicago Cubs are saddened to announce the departure of president of baseball operations Theo Epstein. He has contributed three years to this organization and we wish him the best in the future. Our current general manager, Jed Hoyer, will take the vacant position."
This created a gap in the hierarchy that most thought would take a few days to fill. However, the next part of the statement was a surprise to many fans and analysts alike, as it turns out the Cubs would not wait to appoint their new GM: "We are also pleased to appoint Sam Wiseman as the new general manager of the Chicago Cubs. We hope he can continue the traditions of this franchise and make it an enjoyable experience for players, coaches, management, and fans alike."
Wiseman, a 26-year old Chicago native, is a member of a prominent banking family. He obtained his MBA at Princeton and has worked in the Cubs organization for two years. While he was considered one of the candidates for the vacant position, he was an outside pick as most feel like there were more senior members of the organization that deserved the spot. We'll see if Wiseman can repay the faith put in him by the Cubs or not live up to expectations. Either way, however, it proves to be a memorable season for the Chicago Cubs.
Evan Ritter is a Chicago-based sports columnist who writes for both MLB.com and the Chicago Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @evan_ritter0286.
Posted on May 12, 2014 at 08:31 PM.
Hello guys, harleyhorse8 coming at you with another dynasty; this one will be run on MLB 14 on the PS4 with my all-time favorite team, the Chicago Cubs.
Dynasty Info:
Difficulty: All-Star
Rosters: OSFM
Quick Counts: Off
I will not sim any games. All will be played.
I have been wanting to do a Cubs dynasty ever since 2012. They have always been my favorite team and it's pretty easy for me to choose them as my dynasty team this year. I like rebuilding projects, but this team will be a huge one because they are almost universally regarded as the worst team in the MLB. However, the team won't need a complete overhaul. Chicago has some of the most exciting young talent in baseball and I'll enjoy playing with them.
Now, Chicago native Sam Wiseman will step into the proverbial "ring of fire" as he is tasked with filling the general manager position for his hometown team. Will he lead the Cubs back to greatness or crumble under the pressure like so many before him?
New content will be coming soon, so sit back and enjoy the dynasty. It's going to be a fun ride.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Titans Continue Rolling with Win over Cincinnati
By Nolan Edwards, ESPN.com Analyst
CINCINNATI- The Tennessee Titans continued their momentum heading into week 2 of the preseason, as they secured a massive 37-13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Despite the scoreline, the starters did not carry over the level of intensity seen in last week's win over the Redskins, with QB Jake Locker being intercepted on the Titans' first drive by Bengals cornerback Leon Hall. The Bengals would drive down the field and score, with Andy Dalton connecting on a 9-yard touchdown pass to receiver A.J. Green in the far left corner of the end zone.
However, the second-team Titans began to turn it around. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick would lead Tennessee into field-goal range and convert on a Bironas field goal. After the Bengals went 3-and-out, recently-signed running back DuJuan Harris was sprung for a 52-yard touchdown. Bironas would add another field goal before the half was over. HB Darius Reynaud turned in another solid performance on the ground, racking up 79 yards on 11 carries.
In the third quarter, the speedy Harris continued to rack up yardage, rushing for 138 yards and scoring his second touchdown on a pitch from QB Rusty Smith. Harris was signed out of free agency to provide competition for a starting HB spot while Chris Johnson recovers, but if he keeps this kind of performance up, he will be a lock for the regular season roster. Also, Smith had a better game than last week, connecting on 5 of 6 passes he threw. On the defensive side, Tennessee forced two fumbles but could not recover them. Cincinnati would score a field goal in the quarter.
The fourth quarter starters could not replicate their performance from last week. Despite throwing for a touchdown, quarterback Tyler Thigpen was intercepted twice. HB Jackie Battle also scored, but only carried for about half the yards of last week and also fumbled the football once. However, with this performance, Titans HC Chris Haig must be feeling satisfied with his team, and all of Nashville hopes this momentum carries over into the regular season.
Nolan Edwards is an analyst for ESPN. Follow him on Twitter at @NolanEdwards.
| Tennessee Titans at Cincinnati Bengals | |||||
| Aug 15, 2013 | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | SCORE |
| Tennessee Titans (1-0) | 0 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 37 |
| Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| Team Stats Comparison | ||
| TEN | CIN | |
| Total Offense | 434 | 218 |
| Rushing Yards | 315 | 115 |
| Passing Yards | 119 | 103 |
| First Downs | 21 | 11 |
| Punt Return Yards | 82 | 18 |
| Kick Return Yards | 59 | 111 |
| Total Yards | 575 | 347 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| 3rd Down Converstion | 6 | 5 |
| 4th Down Conversion | 0 | 0 |
| 2-Point Conversion | 0 | 0 |
| Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals | 3 | 2 |
| Penalties | 0 | 1 |
| Posession Time | 33:37 | 18:36 |
|
| ||||||||||
NFL Transactions Around the League: 2013 Preseason Week 2
Bears
Released S Cyhl Quarles.
Released TE Kyle Adams.
Released DT Nate Collins.
Released OLB Jerry Franklin.
Released WR Devin Aromashodu.
Bengals
Acquired DT Barry Cofield and 2015 round 6 draft pick from Redskins for DT Domata Peko.
Signed MLB Bart Scott to 1 year, $2.3M contract.
Released HB Daniel Herron.
Released WR Dane Sanzenbacher.
Released FB John Conner.
Released HB Rex Burkhead.
Released OLB Vincent Rey.
Released CB Onterio McCalebb.
Bills
Acquired DE Kamerion Wimbley from Titans for 2014 Round 2 draft pick.
Signed OLB Scott Shanle to 1 year, $1.4M contract.
Signed P Jeremy Kapinos to 1 year, $810K contract.
Released WR Marcus Easley.
Released WR Chris Hogan.
Released MLB Brian Smith.
Released DE Jay Ross.
Released WR Kevin Elliott.
Released FB Frank Summers.
Released P Shawn Powell.
Broncos
Signed MLB Takeo Spikes to 1 year, $3M contract.
Signed HB Beanie Wells to 1 year, $800K contract.
Released TE Aaron Brewer.
Released HB Jeremiah Johnson.
Released C C.J. Davis.
Released WR Greg Orton.
Released DT Mitch Unrein.
Released C Steve Vallos.
Released HB Lance Ball.
Browns
Signed CB Nate Clements to 1 year, $3.8M contract.
Released WR Tori Gurley.
Released FB Brad Smelley.
Released MLB Adrian Moten.
Released DE Hall Davis.
Released HB Miguel Maysonet.
Buccaneers
Signed DE Ray Edwards to 1 year, $1.5M contract.
Released TE Danny Noble.
Released DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim.
Released HB Michael Smith.
Released DT Gary Gibson.
Released WR Chris Owusu.
Released DE Aaron Morgan.
Cardinals
Signed S Jordan Babineaux to 1 year, $1.15M contract.
Released MLB Zack Nash.
Chargers
Signed DT Sione Pouha to 1 year, $4.7M contract.
Released WR Mike Willie.
Released MLB Phillip Dillard.
Colts
Signed OLB Sergio Kindle to 1 year, $890K contract.
Released MLB Scott Lutrus.
Released CB Teddy Williams.
Released DE Kellen Heard.
Released MLB Mario Harvey.
Released DE Fili Moala.
Released C Thomas Austin.
Cowboys
Signed MLB Rodderick Muckelroy to 1 year, $680K contract.
Released WR Tim Benford.
Released DT Nick Hayden.
Released WR Carlton Mitchell.
Released CB Micah Pellerin.
Released C Kevin Kowalski.
Released DT Ben Bass.
Released TE Andre Smith.
Dolphins
Released CB De'Andre Pressley.
Released TE John Denney.
Released CB Julian Posey.
Released WR Jeff Fuller.
Released DT Chas Alecxih.
Eagles
Released WR Nick Miller.
Released S Colt Anderson.
Released TE Derek Carrier.
Released MLB Jason Phillips.
Released QB Dennis Dixon.
Falcons
Signed OT Jared Gaither to 1 year, $910K contract.
Signed OLB Rocky McIntosh to 1 year, $1.4M contract.
49ers
Released WR Austin Collie.
Released WR Kyle Williams.
Released TE Brian Jennings.
Released OLB Nick Moody.
Released HB Jewel Hampton.
Giants
Signed MLB Brendon Ayanbadejo to 1 year, $680K contract.
Released CB LaRon Scott.
Released DT Shaun Rogers.
Released S Tyler Sash.
Released OG Bryant Browning.
Released HB Ryan Torain.
Released DT Mike Patterson.
BREAKING: Titans DE Wimbley traded to Bills
By Allen Roach, NFL.com Transactions Correspondent, 8/15/13
NASHVILLE- Kamerion Wimbley has seen the end of his days as a Tennessee Titan, as yesterday he was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a 2014 second-round draft pick. This move comes as no surprise, especially since Titans head coach Chris Haig felt that Wimbley did not fit in with his 4-3 defense. Along with the Bills, the Raiders, Lions, Jaguars, and Bengals, whose offer the Titans were rumored to have accepted, made offers for the defensive end.
Tennessee, in need of some rebuilding, gets a draft pick to do just that. Buffalo gains a defensive end who will fit in well with their 3-4 defense and has the versatility to also play linebacker. Since both teams got what they wanted out of it, in my mind this is a solid trade.
In other transaction news, most of the top free agents going into this season have already signed deals, with S Kerry Rhodes landing in Washington where he will bolster the Redskins' secondary. CB Nate Clements will sign with Cleveland, where he will play alongside Joe Haden. Browns coaches are hoping that these two can combine for some good pass coverage.
Allen Roach is a columnist for The Washington Post and NFL.com's Transaction Correspondent. Follow him on Twitter at @AllenRoach.
Titans confirm Johnson out for prob. 6 weeks
By Dan Bloch, NFL.com Titans Correspondent, 8/13/13
NASHVILLE- Tennessee Titans star running back Chris Johnson will be out about of six weeks, according to a statement by head trainer Brad Brown earlier today. In Brown's words:
"Chris has broken his collarbone in the game against the Redskins. He's currently in the hospital downtown. He will be in for surgery in a day or two, and then begin rehab in a couple weeks. At that rate, and with his injury, we expect him to be fully fit by week 3 of the regular season. If he feels better before that, he may return earlier; we're willing to listen to him, but don't want to rush him back before he's ready.
The loss of Johnson will come as a huge blow to the Titans; he rushed for 2,000+ yards last season and the season before that. Fortunately, the Titans have Shonn Greene waiting to pick up the slack at the halfback position, and he may indeed have it under control.
Dan Bloch writes for ESPN.com and the Tennessean. Follow him on Twitter at @dan_bloch20.
NFL Injury Report: Preseason Week 1
Browns
DE John Hughes, torn knee cartilage, 3 weeks
Cowboys
OT Tyron Smith, pulled groin, 2 weeks
MLB Roddrick Muckelroy, broken jaw, 1 week
Dolphins
OG Tyson Clabo, torn quadricep, 6 weeks
Eagles
C Matt Tennant, fractured humerus, 3 weeks
DT Bennie Logan, dislocated elbow, 2 weeks
Falcons
OT Sam Baker, broken thumb, 1 week
49ers
OG Joe Looney, dislocated ankle, 3 weeks
Jaguars
WR Jordan Shipley, broken thumb, 4 weeks
DT Roy Miller, dislocated ankle, 4 weeks
MLB Brandon Siler, broken thumb, 3 weeks
Packers
C Evan Dietrich-Smith, broken jaw, 3 weeks
Patriots
C Ryan Wendell, broken tibia, out for season, placed on IR
Rams
DT Jermelle Cudjo, broken wrist, 5 weeks
Ravens
OLB Thomas Howard, broken jaw, 5 weeks
Redskins
MLB Perry Riley, broken ribs, 3 weeks
S Brandon Meriweather, dislocated kneecap, 3 weeks
Steelers
OLB Jason Worilds, torn deltoid, 3 weeks
Titans
HB Chris Johnson, broken collarbone, 6 weeks
Vikings
DE D'Aundre Reed, torn rotator cuff, season, not placed on IR
Jim Eliacopoulos's Injury Recap:
The first week of the preseason does not have many injuries, but the ones that happened were notable. The Titans lose star running back Chris Johnson for the first three weeks of the season. As well as that, New England took a huge blow when they lost starting center Ryan Wendell for this season, and possibly the next, when he suffered a broken tibia. It's so heartbreaking when season-ending injuries happen in the preseason, and everyone at ESPN is wishing him a speedy recovery so Wendell can get back on the field as soon as possible. That's all for today- Elia out.
Follow Jim Eliacopoulos on Twitter at @itsElia789.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Titans Dominant Victory Ruined by Chris Johnson Injury
By Nolan Edwards, ESPN.com Analyst
NASHVILLE- Chris Haig made the most of his first game as Tennessee Titans head coach, leading them to a 30-6 win over the Washington Redskins. What seemed like all of Tennessee was excited to see what their new coach brought to the table, and Haig delivered, running his spread-option offense to secure a Titans victory.
Tennessee received the opening kickoff and immediately began to split the Redskins defense in two with the running game. The Titans drove to the red zone before being stopped and settled for a Rob Bironas field goal to make the score 3-0. The next drive, linebacker Moise Fokou intercepted Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III inside the Skins' territory. The Titans took advantage of the short field, with QB Jake Locker running it into the end zone off a read option. However, the feel-good mood on the Tennessee sideline was dampened somewhat when the Redskins pulled back a field goal, and even more when star running back Chris Johnson went down injured at the end of the first quarter.
When the second quarter started, the Titans second-string offense kept up the heavy running attack with Shonn Greene the go-to guy. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick was able to fool the defense as he found TE Taylor Thompson in the end zone and placed the throw over the head of linebacker Perry Riley for another touchdown. The Titans defense also helped out, as LaVar Edwards, the rookie DE out of LSU, forced a fumble from Redskins QB Kirk Cousins. However, Washington was able to recover. Before the half was out, Fitzpatrick led another drive into Redskins territory and capped it off with a Bironas field goal. At the half, the Titans led 20-3.
The Titans' momentum slowed in the third quarter, as QB Rusty Smith experienced the worst decision-making of all four quarterbacks to play this game for Tennessee. After they forced Tennessee to go three-and-out, the Redskins drove down the field and into the Titans' red zone. However, a clutch play from CB Coty Sensabaugh forced another fumble off Cousins. Although the Titans were unlucky again not to recover the fumble, it held the Skins to only three points. Those would be the only points scored by either team. Later in the quarter, safety Brandon Meriweather, who has had his spot in the team taken by veteran Kerry Rhodes, went down with an injury, although he did return.
During the fourth quarter, the Titans used run after run after run to wind down the clock. Power back Jackie Battle had an impressive showing, running the ball 19 times for 132 yards. As well as that, QB Tyler Thigpen staked his claim to be a Titan come regular season, as he threw a long 19-yard pass to receiver Damian Williams and scored a touchdown off a read option. As well as that, the defense finally recovered a fumble when DE Scott Solomon decked a scrambling Cousins and linebacker Tim Shaw fell on the ball. Near the end of the game, Redskins LB Perry Riley was injured on special teams.
As the final whistle blew, Titans fans and Coach Haig had to be feeling satisfied about how the team performed. While this is still only the preseason, it's a good start for Haig and the Titans to win this convincingly, and we'll see if they can keep it up in the regular season.
Nolan Edwards is an ESPN analyst. Watch him on SportsNation every weeknight at 5 on ESPN2.
| Washington Redskins at Tennessee Titans | |||||
| Aug 8, 2013 | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | SCORE |
| Washington Redskins (0-0) | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Tennessee Titans (0-0) | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
| Team Stats Comparison | ||
| WAS | TEN | |
| Total Offense | 212 | 481 |
| Rushing Yards | 101 | 364 |
| Passing Yards | 111 | 117 |
| First Downs | 13 | 25 |
| Punt Return Yards | 12 | 41 |
| Kick Return Yards | 164 | 61 |
| Total Yards | 388 | 583 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| 3rd Down Converstion | 7 | 7 |
| 4th Down Conversion | 0 | 0 |
| 2-Point Conversion | 0 | 0 |
| Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals | 1 | 5 |
| Penalties | 1 | 1 |
| Posession Time | 22:47 | 33:13 |
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Transactions Around the NFL: Training Camp
Bears
Released WR Joe Anderson.
Released WR Terrence Toliver.
Released DE Cheta Ozogwu.
Released FS Tom Nelson.
Browns
Acquired 2014 Round 4 draft pick from Cowboys for FB Owen Marecic.
Buccaneers
Released WR Derek Hagan.
Released HB Jeff Demps.
Released DT Lazarus Levingston.
Released DT Matthew Masifilo.
Colts
Acquired DE Brett Keisel from Steelers for HB Vick Ballard and 2014 Round 7 draft pick.
Cowboys
Released DT Jeris Pendleton.
Acquired FB Owen Marecic from Browns for 2014 Round 4 draft pick.
Eagles
Released MLB Casey Matthews.
Released WR Greg Salas.
Released WR B.J. Cunningham.
49ers
Released WR Chad Hall.
Released WR Kassim Osgood.
Giants
Released DT Markus Kuhn.
Redskins
Released WR Aldrick Robinson.
Released HB Chris Thompson.
Released MLB Rodderick Muckelroy.
Saints
Released MLB Ramon Humber.
Released WR Saalim Hakim.
Released WR Andy Tanner.
Seahawks
Released WR Bryan Walters.
Released CB Will Blackmon.
Steelers
Acquired HB Vick Ballard and 2014 Round 7 draft pick from Colts in exchange for DE Brett Keisel.
Titans
Released FS Robert Johnson.
Released DT Ropati Pitoitua.
Released WR Kevin Walter.
Released OLB Patrick Bailey.
Released OL Robert Turner.
Titans Training Camp Report: Position Battles and Who's Who
By Dan Bloch, NFL.com Titans Correspondent
NASHVILLE- The announcement of new head coach Chris Haig is sure to shake things up in Tennessee. Let's break down the 2013 Tennessee Titans, position by position.
QUARTERBACKS- It appears that Jake Locker will be the starter going into 2013. Locker is the kind of run and gun quarterback that Haig loves: he has the speed to run plays out of the pistol, and the arm to throw bombs downfield all day long. Ryan Fitzpatrick was promised the starting job to come to Tennessee, but with the coaching change, it appears the former Buffalo Bill's place is on the bench. Rusty Smith and Tyler Thigpen will fight for the final QB spot.
RUNNING BACKS- There is no question that Chris Johnson will be the starter in 2013. If two 2,000+ yard seasons aren't enough to merit him the #1 HB spot, I don't know what will. After him, Shonn Greene is a lock for the #2 spot; he improved greatly last year. It will be a little more interesting in the #3 spot, as speedster Darius Reynaud and power back Jackie Battle will duke it out. We'll see if Haig goes with his tried-and-true method of fast halfbacks with good hands, or if he selects a powerful running back to shake things up.
FULLBACKS- The only skill position that is a certainty right now, with former TE Craig Stevens all but guaranteed the start. Quinn Johnson is also on the roster, but don't expect him to be there at the start of the regular season. However, it remains to be seen how often Stevens's number will be called, as Haig doesn't run a lot of sets with a fullback.
WIDE RECEIVERS- Kendall Wright and Nate Washington have the first two WR spots locked down; however, it is unclear who will be #1 and who will be #2. Wright, the Titans' first round draft pick in 2012, has shown tremendous improvement since his selection. On the other hand, Washington, a ten-year veteran, is beloved by the Tennessee fans and the 30-year-old finds the chance to rejuvenate himself in Coach Haig's offense. Kenny Britt holds the slot for now, but has Marc Mariani nipping at his heels. Britt is big and strong and could be used for some variety, but the much-maligned Mariani fits Haig's system to a T ans will get to show what he can do from scrimmage as opposed to special teams. No matter who Haig chooses for the #3 to start the season, expect both to get some playing time as Haig likes to spread the field. 32-year-old veteran Kevin Walter was liked by Mike Munchak, but sources don't seem to indicate Haig feels the same way. According to the Tennessean, Haig is ready to dump Walter at the next available opportunity. Damian Williams and rookie Justin Hunter are in a fight for the last WR spot, but if Walter is cut, both could make the roster. Michael Preston is also on the roster, but it is very unlikely he will see the start of the season as a Titan.
TIGHT ENDS- The oldest of the group, former 49er Delanie Walker will be the starter coming in to 2013. Behind him are three second-year players, all of a different type. Out of SMU, Taylor Thompson is a pure blocker, but can catch if he needs to. Brandon Barden out of Vanderbilt is a receiver much like Walker. Lastly, the former Missouri Tiger Beau Brinkley appears to be a blocker at first glance, but has surprising speed and catching ability. It remains to be seen which two of these three Haig will select for his roster, and how much playing time they will get, as Haig does not like to run a lot of twin TE sets.
OFFENSIVE LINE- Tennessee has one of the best O-lines in the AFC, but also has some depth issues. At left tackle, Michael Roos holds the position, with Barry Richardson and Michael Otto behind him. Starting at left guard is expert run blocker Andy Levitre. His backup Chris Spencer has the quality to start and will likely be used as a OL "sixth man". Also on the roster is Kevin Haslam. Center is the only line position up in the air, with established starter Fernando Velasco and rookie fourth round pick Brian Schwenke both making their cases to be named starter. Jason Slowey is third center. At right guard, the rookie first-rounder out of Alabama, Chance Warmack, will have the start with Robert Turner and Zack Williams behind him. Warmack is the youngest member of the line but has the potential to develop into an elite lineman. Finally, at right tackle is David Stewart. Depth at this position could be a problem, with two mediocre linemen in Byron Stingily and Daniel Baldridge behind him.
DEFENSIVE ENDS- Obviously the weakest part of Tennessee's lineup, the left side start goes to Derrick Morgan. Behind him is rookie LaVar Edwards, who wants to show what he can do. Thaddeus Gibson is also on the roster. At the right, the start goes to Kamerion Wimbley, who is really more of a linebacker. There are rumors that Coach Haig wants to get rid of Wimbley ASAP. Scott Solomon and Keyunta Dawson are the #2 and #3, respectively. With the weakness of this postion, Haig is actively searching for reinforcements.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES- Jurrell Casey will go into 2013 as the unquestioned #1. The superstar lineman's partner spot on the line is up for grabs, with Mike Martin and Karl Klug both fighting for the spot. Klug had fallen down the depth chart under Munchak, but has been rescued by Haig, who prefers to utilize defensive tackles as pass rushers and defensive ends as run stoppers. Antonio Brown, Zach Clayton, DaJohn Harris, and Ropati Pitoitua will battle for the remaining spots, as Haig has not made it clear whether he plans to keep four or five DTs on the roster. One player who almost certainly won't be sticking around, however, is Sammie Hill. A favorite of Munchak, he has fallen out of Coach Haig's plans, and quite a few teams around the league are interested in him.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS- Tennessee's linebacker core needs some work, but has the potential for great things. On the left, Akeem Ayers will get the start, with Tim Shaw and Patrick Bailey behind him. On the right side is the leader of Tennessee's linebacker corps, Zach Brown. Backing him up is Zaviar Gooden, the rookie out of Missouri, who will hope to see some playing time this year. At #3 on the right is Jamaal Westerman.
MIDDLE LINEBACKERS- The middle is the weakest area of Tennessee's linebacker corps, with both Moise Fokou and Colin McCarthy fighting to be starting MLB. Both are similar players and it appears Coach Haig does not yet prefer one over the other. Behind them, Greg Jones and former Raider Travis Goethel will attempt to secure the #3 MLB spot. Sources close to Haig have informed us that Goethel may be more likely to get the spot because Haig prefers his style of play over Jones's.
CORNERBACKS- After the departure of Cortland Finnegan, Jason McCourty becomes number 1 cornerback, and all reports suggest that he is ready for the role. The number 2 spot is also a lock, going to Alterraun Verner, whose coverage-based play style helps compliment McCourty's blitzing ability. After those two, Tommie Campbell, Coty Sensabaugh, and rookies Blidi Wreh-Wilson and Khalid Wooten will compete for the nickel and dime corner spots.
SAFETIES- After Mike Munchak played him at backup strong safety, Haig has decided to move veteran George Wilson to free safety and give him the start. According to the Tennessean, Haig made this move because Wilson is in the prime of his career and better than Michael Griffin, who Munchak intended to start. Griffin will be used as a twelfth man to back up both Wilson and Bernard Pollard, one of the best defensive players in both Nashville and the league. Pollard, like Wilson, has come into his own with the Titans organization. Expect to see a lot of interceptions when those two are on the field. Also making the roster are free safety Robert Johnson and strong safety Al Afalava, but don't expect them to stay.
SPECIAL TEAMS- 35-year-old Rob Bironas will return at kicker in what may be his last season in the game. Bironas's accurate kicking will be a help to Tennessee as they look to put points on the board; he has only missed one out of his last forty-two field goal attempts. At punter is Brett Kern, who, unlike Bironas, has a few seasons left in him. Like Bironas, Kern is an accurate kicker known for his coffin-corner punts. Returning both kicks and punts is WR Marc Mariani. Like Devin Hester, he is a mediocre wideout but an excellent kick returner. HB Darius Reynaud, a good kick returner in his own right, will field short kickoffs. If the Titans special teams unit can hold their blocks, these two could combine for some touchdowns.
Now that we've analyzed Chris Haig's players, the only thing left to do is to wait and see who proves themselves and who fails their tests.
Dan Bloch is the Titans Correspondent for NFL.com. He also writes for the Tennessean. Follow him on Twitter at @dan_blochTN.
Titans Preseason Schedule
Week 1- Redskins @ Titans, NFL Network
Week 2- Titans @ Bengals, ESPN
Week 3- Falcons @ Titans, CBS
Week 4- Titans @ Vikings, NFL Network
Titans Take the Risky Route, Hire Haig as Coach
By DeMario Spurlock, NFL.com Coaching Correspondent, 8/1/13
NASHVILLE-We start off the month of August with some big news, as former Central Michigan head coach Chris Haig has been appointed Head Coach of the Tennessee Titans. While this hire may shock most casual fans, NFL teams have had their eyes on Haig for some time. Despite their interest, Haig is still someone who brings a lot of risk and reward with him to the NFL.
A former tight end for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Haig got his start in coaching in 2001 with his alma mater, Belltown High School in Detroit, Michigan. During that time, Haig began to develop his signature spread playbook, relying on receivers and deep passing for quick scores. Using his offense, Haig led Belltown to three straight appearances in the Michigan 5-A championship game, as well as a victory in 2003. As a result of his success, offers from FBS schools began rolling in, and he had no choice but to take one.
In 2006, Haig became the offensive coordinator for the Boise State Broncos. Immediately after his arrival, Boise State began a period of success, including an undefeated season in 2008 and a Fiesta Bowl win. During his time with the Broncos, Haig added some plays from coach Chris Petersen's innovative Pistol offense into his playbook, giving it some new depth. Haig left the program at the end of 2010 after chose not to renew his expired contract.
After his departure from Boise State, Haig received several head coach offers from schools all over the country. However, he had eyes on only one: childhood favorite Central Michigan. Immediately after his arrival, Haig put forth huge amounts of effort in recruiting the best dual-threat quarterbacks, speedy halfbacks, and tough receivers to play for the Chippewas. His offense took the MAC by storm as well, and in his first year coaching, CMU finished runner-up in the conference and defeated Marshall 21-17. The next year was even better, as Central Michigan went 11-1, won the MAC, and earned a trip to the BCS Fiesta Bowl, where they were defeated by Sam Bradford-led Oklahoma, 40-28.
Now, as a result of his incredible collegiate performance, Chris Haig finds himself in the hot seat at Tennessee. Time will tell whether he will lead the Titans to the summit of the NFL and become one of the all-time greats of coaching, or fall by the wayside like so many others before him.
DeMario Spurlock played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1983-1995 and coached the Philadelphia Eagles from 1998-2002. He is currently NFL.com's Coaching correspondent and an analyst for ESPN. Follow him on Twitter at @Thelegitdemario.
Breaking News: Munchak Out
By Dan Bloch, NFL.com Titans Correspondent, 7/25/13
NASHVILLE- Today the Tennessee Titans caused a shock around the league by releasing head coach Mike Munchak. It comes as unexpected from a football team that finished 6-10 in 2012 and 9-7 the previous year; however, it appears the Titans wanted to move on after Munchak posted consecutive mediocre seasons in his two years at Tennessee.
In a statement released earlier today on their website, the Titans had this to say:
"We regretfully inform you that coach Mike Munchak has been released from the Tennessee Titans organization. We thank Mr. Munchak for his many years of service within the Titans/Oilers organization and wish him the best in his future endeavors."
Munchak has held a head coaching position for two years, both at Tennessee. His cumulative record is 15 wins and 17 losses. Before becoming a head coach, Munchak served as the offensive line coach at Tennessee from 1997-2010.
Munchak was an offensive lineman for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans from 1982-1994. He had a storied career in the trenches, making the Pro Bowl nine times in his career and the All-Pro team four times. These accomplishments were enough to garner him a spot in the NFL Hall of Fame in 2001. His number 63 jersey was retired by the Titans that same year. His performance in the trenches made him a fan favorite both as a player and a coach, and it is understood that many Titans fans are upset at his sudden departure.
Interest in Munchak is said to be high, with the Steelers, Bills and Chiefs rumored to be monitoring his situation. It is unclear who the Titans have lined up as a replacement, but one thing is certain: no matter who is chosen to be Mike Munchak's successor will have huge shoes to fill.
Dan Bloch covers the Tennessee Titans for NFL.com and The Tennessean. Follow him on Twitter at @dan_blochTN.
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