A source with an AFC team that doesn’t play its home games in Nashville asked me today whether we think there’s a relationship between the acquisition of receiver Randy Moss by the Titans and the recent implosion of the Titans and Vince Young.
Though we doubt that Moss has had sufficient time to metastasize, the reality is that Moss increased fan expectations, which made fans more apt to boo when things weren’t going well on Sunday, which fueled Vince Young’s meltdown.
On Monday, coach Jeff Fisher spent some time explaining away the failure to use Moss on Sunday in a game that resulted in only three targets and zero catches for the future Hall of Famer.
“There were some reads and progressions that were incorrect,” Fisher said, per Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com.
Translation? It’s Vince’s fault.
“[Moss] had some opportunities yesterday. He was open,” Fisher said. “He had an opportunity for one touchdown pass, and had an opportunity to keep a couple of drives alive, but the ball wasn’t delivered to him.”
Translation? It’s Vince’s fault.
Fisher also seemed to subtly take issue with the offensive pass interference call that wiped out what would have been a touchdown reception for Moss, his first since October 24.
“You’ll see that go uncalled,” Fisher said. “The ball was thrown outside and there was separation, and the official, because of separation and contact, just assumed that Randy separated to go to the ball, to get adjustment.”
We don’t know whether Fisher has seen the tape, but the official assumed correctly. And all coaches should have known (especially those with seats on the Competition Committee) that the reaction to the horrendous non-call that allowed Falcons receiver Roddy White to push down Ravens cornerback Josh Wilson and haul in the game-winning touchdown pass would include officials calling things a lot more tightly.
But, as Fisher surely is learning, nothing can ever be Randy’s fault.