Commentary by Joe Biddle
THE NASHVILLE TENNESSEAN
http://www.tennessean.com/section/SPORTS
September 20, 2010
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith (91) defensive end Brett Keisel (99) and linebacker James Harrison (92) slam Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young (10) to the ground for a sack in the third quarter during their game at LP Field Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010 in Nashville, Tenn.
Maybe the Titans were a bit overconfident.
After all, the Steelers were down to third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon, with well-traveled Charlie Batch in the bullpen.
And it appeared things were turning the Titans' way after Dixon left the game with a knee injury, but Batch came on and helped the Steelers take a 19-11 win.
While the Titans were left with a potential quarterback controversy, the Steelers didn't have enough quarterbacks to have a debate.
"I don't know who is going to play quarterback next week," Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said. "I know it won't be me."
The Titans had won seven of their past eight home meetings with the Steelers. To tweak the Men of Steel even more, the Titans elected to wear white jerseys, leaving Pittsburgh dressed in black on a day when the kickoff temperature of 87 was the highest since the Titans moved into what is now called LP Field.
No matter who is wearing a Steelers jersey, however, you have to fight them to beat them. And on this day the Steelers landed the most punishing blows.
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) is stopped by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior (51) safety Troy Polamalu (43) and defensive end Brett Keisel (99) in the third quarter during their game at LP Field Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010 in Nashville, Tenn.
They smothered Titans running back Chris Johnson, holding him to 34 yards, only 8 in the second half.
"When we put eight or nine guys in the box, I don't think you can run on this defense," Steelers linebacker James Farrior said. "I think we took a little football out of him today with some of those hits. I thought he started getting frustrated a little bit in the third quarter. You could see him not running as hard as he was in the first half."
The defensive game plan worked to perfection. The Steelers wanted to stop Johnson and contain quarterback Vince Young. The Titans began the fourth quarter with only a field goal. The offensive line created very little space for Johnson.
"You see a guy get up a little slower play in and play out, and you're getting clean hits on him — he's not really used to too many people getting clean hits on him," linebacker James Harrison said. "Through the course of the game I thought it started to wear on (Johnson) a little bit. It was very gratifying. He's probably the most dangerous back in the NFL right now."
The Steelers took the fight to the Titans, and they had thousands of Terrible Towel-waving fans urging them on. Veteran Steelers receiver Hines Ward was part of a wild scrum early in the game when players from both teams lost their cool.
"I like to start things. I didn't know it was going to go there," the former Georgia star confessed. "Just one of those battles. I was just holding the defensive player and the next thing you know this other (Titan) came over and swung. I think the offensive linemen sent me over there to tussle with those big guys and it just broke out. I think that set the tempo."
It was a tempo the Titans could not match in a fight they would not win.
Joe Biddle's columns usually appear on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Reach him at 615-259-8255 or jbiddle@tennessean.com.
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