American Football: Tennessee saying Eddie who?

Chris Brown is doing his very best to help the Tennessee Titans not miss Eddie George right now. Jeff Garcia will need a little more time to make a good impression on the Cleveland Browns.

Brown ran for 46 yards on only six carries, and Steve McNair threw for a touchdown as the Titans downed Cleveland 24-3 Saturday night in the preseason opener for both teams.

"Chris Brown did an excellent job of running the ball," Titans receiver Derrick Mason said. "I think we're going to be a very productive running team this year."

Brown, the Titans' third-round draft pick in 2003, missed the entire preseason last year because of a strained hamstring. But he averaged 7.7 yards per carry in his first work as the Titans' starting tailback, the job held by George, the team's career leading rusher who was released last month in a pay dispute.

Brown hit holes quickly and had a long run of 18 yards. George totaled 72 yards on 32 carries in the 2003 preseason, with his best run a 6-yarder. Brown credited the offensive line for big holes to run through and blocking help downfield from the receivers for making it easier for him.

"It really helps my confidence that I can go out with the starting offense and help take the lead and hopefully win games," Brown said.

McNair would have been perfect if one pass hadn't bounced off the hands of Drew Bennett and into Daylon McCutcheon's arms for an interception. McNair was 5-of-6 for 54 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown to Mason that gave the Titans a 7-0 lead on the next drive.

That was all for the NFL's co-MVP on this night.

Garcia and Kellen Winslow could have had smoother debuts with the Browns.

The Titans, who chose to go with youth on the defensive line rather than spend big bucks to keep Jevon Kearse and Robaire Smith, greeted Cleveland's new quarterback by sacking him twice in his first three plays and forcing a quick punt on the opening drive.

Garcia was 3-of-5 for 23 yards in three series, and he set up Phil Dawson's 50-yard field goal with a 10-yard toss to Winslow on the first play of the second quarter.

"We're not going to kid ourselves," Garcia said. "We need to be a much better football team. It doesn't matter that it's preseason or anything like that. There's a lot more this team has to offer. We didn't display that tonight."

Cleveland coach Butch Davis wanted to see his Browns run the ball well, and he liked how William Green picked up 23 yards on three carries. He didn't like a 42-yard pass interference by McCutcheon as he ran into Mason before his TD.

"We've played horrible in our pass defense. We gave up too many big plays, two pass touchdowns and a big PI, and those things are hard to overcome," Davis said.

Winslow's arrival in camp was delayed by a 12-day holdout before he signed a contract that makes him the highest paid tight end in the NFL. But he quickly added his first penalty to his first catch.

He drew a personal foul in the second quarter for a shoving match with Titans safety Lamont Thompson and wiped out a completion by Kelly Holcomb to Dennis Northcutt.

Holcomb, who had eight starts last season, nearly got the Browns into the end zone. But linebacker Rocky Boiman hit Andre King before the goal line just after he caught a pass on fourth-and-3 in the second quarter.

Titans backup quarterback Billy Volek looked just as sharp as McNair. He was 11-of-14 for 119 yards, with a 30-yard TD toss to Jake Schifino for a 14-3 lead. Undrafted rookie Vic King added a 1-yard touchdown and 42 yards on 10 carries.

Titans kicker Joe Nedney, who tore a ligament in his right, non-kicking leg in the season opener last year, had much better luck with a 44-yard field goal at the end of the first half. The ball hit the right upright, then bounced off the crossbar and over to make it 17-3.

For some odd reason, every one I talk to thinks the Titans will be horrible this year. I don't see why! Jeff Fisher always has "nothing" and makes it to the playoffs. Just because you lose a few names dosen't mean you can't go to a super bowl :-)

If Steve can remain healthy of course they will be able to, Fisher has had complete controll of their team. I am worried that they wont have a running game and will miss Eddie when it comes to the playoffs

The Titans will do Great.......Chris Brown will do fine Mcnair will prove he is the MAN. And for the record the browns got the 2 worst thing to ever come out of Miami Buch Davis and Kellen Winslow....Davis has no clue and Winslow is a PUNK who does not deserve to have his dads name. Winslow will not live up to his hype is a F*&*King Soldier ya Know

Edit: Spelling

[Edited on 8/17/04 by Archangel]

Originally posted by Archangel
The Titans will do Great.......Chris Brown will do fine Mcnair will prove he is the MAN. And for the record the browns got the 2 worst thing to ever come out of Miami Buch Davis and Kellen Winslow....Davis has no clue and Winslow is a PUNK who does not deserve to have his dads name. Winslow will not live up to his gype is a F*&*King Soldier ya Know