Titans' Karl Klug making an impact

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Karl Klug (97) sacks Indianapolis Colts quarterback Curtis Painter during the second quarter at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011. (JAE S. LEE / THE TENNESSEAN)

AFC South Stock Watch
November, 1, 2011

By Paul Kuharsky

FALLING

1. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback: It’s baby steps for the rookie quarterback, who isn’t the root cause of the team's losing but isn’t doing nearly enough for the team to win with any regularity. I don’t like to read too much into body language, but it’s hard for a guy who’s not productive to give a team much moxie. And more than moxie, the team needs a couple touchdown passes from its quarterback. In the same game. No, he doesn’t have great weapons or protection, but we need to see him elevate his game, at least at times. It may not be fair to measure him against Andy Dalton, Cam Newton andChristian Ponder, but he's not off to the same caliber of start to his career.

2. Confidence in the Titans’ ability to solve problems: Never mind a debate about Chris Johnson versus Javon Ringer. Johnson’s going to start, but Ringer will continue to get work if he’s the hotter hand when he gets his chances. We’re seven games into the season, and two Hall of Fame offensive linemen -- Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews -- clearly don’t have the horses to get effective run-blocking consistently. That’s a big problem for a team that’s supposed to have a run-based offense. The head coach and his offensive line coach wanted these guys, now they are on the hook for fixing things with what they have.

3. Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts coach: A second consecutive appearance! Congrats. Bill Polian keeps talking about the great job Caldwell’s doing, and he has done well to keep things from fracturing. But there is only so much value in that when there are no wins. Caldwell and his staff don’t have enough talent to work with, but they also haven't adjusted their plan and approach enough to reflect what they are working with. It shouldn’t be a surprise that they can’t block up a great return. Points are tough to get so they have to be more aggressive at chances to get them. Caldwell looks like things are wearing on him.

RISING

1. Joel Dreessen, Houston Texans tight end: He’s got a touchdown catch in two consecutive games and three in the last four. Even without Andre Johnson playing, defenses don’t put a priority on covering the Texans’ second tight end. Owen Daniels, Arian Foster,Jacoby Jones, Kevin Walter and even a healthy James Casey all probably qualify as more threatening. But Dreessen’s got the confidence of Matt Schaub and has a knack for taking advantage of what a defense allows him to do. Gary Kubiak said Monday you can be sure Dreessen’s not undervalued in Texans headquarters.

2. Karl Klug, Tennessee Titans defensive tackle: The high-motor rookie’s been an impact guy for the Titans so far and put together a very nice game against the Colts. He had a sack of Curtis Painter, a tackle for a loss and a deflected pass. He’s a key guy in Tennessee’s defensive line rotation and looks to be a real find as a fifth-round draft pick out of Iowa. The team made a push to get bigger on the defensive front. Klug is the tallest tackle at 6-foot-3, but the lightest at 275 pounds. Light is just fine if he produces like this.

3. Optimism in Houston: It’s always a bit dangerous to get excited about the Texans because they’ve been so consistent at suffering letdowns right when it appears they are ready to make a big step. But they’ve found their balance in a lot of ways over the past two weeks. The division is bad. The schedule is favorable. It’s there for the taking and it’s understandable if, no matter how careful history suggests we need to be, big expectations are building.

PFF With More Love For Titans Rookie DTs Karl Klug and Jurrell Casey

By Jimmy

November 1, 2011

It seems like each week in the re-focused post over at Pro Football Focus they have good things to say about the Titans rookie defensive tackles. This week is no exception:

Poor Seth Olsen (-3.5). The Colts RG only lasted 25 snaps before his coaches decided he’d had enough, but they really had no choice once it became clear that he was absolutely no match for Karl Klug (+4.9), who went to work on him, picking up a sack, hit and pressure. His sack at 10:22 in the second was particularly brutal to watch with Klug treating Olsen with utter contempt as he swept pass him. In fairness to Olsen, he wasn’t alone in getting the Klug treatment, with Jamey Richard getting beat instantly by the DT with 3:32 to go in the game as the 5th round pick finished the day with a sack, hit, three pressures and a batted pass. That would normally make you the star DT on your team, but he’ll be sharing those honors with Jurrell Casey (+3.2) with both men trying to work their way into my race for rookie of the year. Casey had four defensive stops, going to work on Quinn Ojinnaka and Mike Tepper and not losing a one on one battle at the point of attack all game.

It seems like the Titans have a lot of holes on defense, but defensive tackle is not one of them.

Now if they could only get the defensive ends to play like expected before the year started they would be in business. Through seven games the Jason Jones move to end looks like a failure. He only has two sacks.

Derrick Morgan has also been a disappointment. He only has two sacks as well.

Those guys are going to have to step up and get some pressure on quarterbacks or it is going to be a long season.

Marshal Yanda named to National Football Post Midseason All-Pro Team

October 29, 2011

By Dan Pompei

My Sunday Best: Midseason All Pro Offense

Quarterback—Aaron Rodgers, Packers. There have been some outstanding quarterback performances so far this season by the likes of Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Eli Manning. None of them is leading an undefeated team, however. Rodgers is averaging 9.92 yards per pass attempt—nearly one first down every time he drops back.

Running back—Matt Forte, Bears. First in the NFL in scrimmage yards, first in touches, second in runs of 10 or more yards, second in yards after the catch, third in rushing yards and third in average per carry. Any more questions?

Wide receiver—Calvin Johnson, Lions. He has become the most difficult receiver in football to defend. His league-leading 10 touchdown passes is four more than the next closest receiver.

Wide receiver—Steve Smith, Panthers. The old man still has it. His 21 yards per reception is best in the NFL among starters.

Wide receiver—(this is a one back, three receiver personnel group) Wes Welker, Patriots. He is averaging a ridiculous 130.8 yards per game and benefiting from great chemistry with Brady.

Tight end—Jimmy Graham, Saints. He has been far and away the most productive tight end in the game. He is a tight end who moves like a wide receiver. Or maybe a gazelle. If you want more of a blocker, Rob Gronkowski of New England is a fine choice.

Offensive tackle--Andrew Whitworth, Bengals. See my item above in Things I Didn’t Used to Know.

Guard—Marshal Yanda, Ravens. The Baltimore line has struggled at times, but Yanda has been the rock in the unit.

Center—Scott Wells, Packers. He has been the best offensive lineman for the best offense on the best team. That counts for something.

Guard—Andy Levitre, Bills. He really has come on strong this year, and even has done some fill in work at left tackle.

Offensive tackle—Joe Thomas, Browns. He is very consistent game to game, year to year.

Kicker—Josh Scobee, Jaguars. He has yet to miss a kick and is 9-of-9 on field goal attempts of 40 yards or longer. What’s more, 61.5 percent of his kickoffs have been touchbacks.

Returner—Devin Hester, Bears. No returner puts fear in opponents quite like Hester.