By Casey Pearce
Titans Online

NASHVILLE, TN, Nov. 5, 2003 – In the National Football League, there is a fine line between intimidation and respect. The Tennessee Titans won’t be intimidated by anyone, but as they line up against the Miami Dolphins at the Coliseum this Sunday, the Titans will have a healthy respect for a star-studded group of defensive players.

“All across the board at every position they have a big name guy there,” TE Frank Wycheck said. “You have to be on your game technique-wise to really do well against them. Watching them on tape, if your technique is off just a little bit, they’re going to make a play in the backfield and they’re going to make you look stupid.”

Eight of the Miami’s 11 defensive starters have been named to at least one Pro Bowl, making a combined 28 trips to Hawaii. One of the three starters that hasn’t is DE Adawale Ogunleye, currently second in the AFC with nine sacks.

The Dolphins bring the AFC’s second-best rushing defense into Sunday’s contest. Miami’s defensive scheme is built around their size up front and speed outside. In the run game, defensive tackles Tim Bowens and Larry Chester will attempt to tie up offensive linemen and keep them off of All-Pro linebackers Zach Thomas and Junior Seau.

“[Bowens and Chester] are two enormous guys who were brought in to take up two guys at a time to free up their linebackers so that they can run side to side and make tackles,” Titans G Benji Olson said. “It creates problems blocking them because both are so big and strong. This is one of the reasons why their defense has been so successful. We know we are going to have our hands full.”

Miami also boasts one of the most talented defensive backfields in the NFL. S Brock Marion has been named to two Pro Bowls in his career. CB Patrick Surtain leads the AFC with six interceptions. Surtain’s counterpart Sam Madison, a five-time Pro Bowler, has two interceptions on the year.

“Surtain and Madison are playing very well,” Titans head coach Jeff Fisher noted. “Madison’s numbers aren’t as high because they’re not throwing the ball toward him over there.”

If there’s one place where the Dolphins defense is vulnerable, it seems to be in the deep passing game. In Miami’s Week 7 loss to New England, Patriots QB Tom Brady connected with WR Troy Brown for an 82-yard game-winning touchdown in overtime. In last week’s loss to the Colts, Miami also gave up four pass plays that covered at least 20 yards.

With the way that Titans QB Steve McNair is playing, Thomas and company realize how important it is to keep Tennessee from making plays down the field.

“[McNair is] definitely making big plays,” Thomas said during Wednesday’s conference call to Nashville reporters. “He’s throwing the best out there right now and he can definitely hit you deep. We gave up some deep plays this year and that’s the one thing coming into the game we don’t want to do. That can change a game and we just have to be patient and try to get our defense back. Last week we struggled a little bit, so hopefully we can get it back this week.”

As the Titans begin the second half of their season on Sunday, several players are primed for a big stretch run. The Titans currently rank 26th in the NFL in rushing offense, averaging 90.6 yards per game on the ground. But RB Eddie George has always finished seasons stronger than he has started them. In 2002, the former Heisman Trophy winner rushed for 728 of his 1,165 yards during the final eight weeks of the season.

While George has typically been a strong finisher, WR Derrick Mason hopes to remain consistent through the second half as he has throughout his career. The former Michigan State Spartan had the same number of catches in the second half of 2002 (44) as he has through eight games this season.

Several other Titans will be looking to set career highs in the second half of the season. QB Steve McNair, arguably the league’s MVP at the midway point, is on pace to have the best season of his career statistically. The Titans’ signal caller set a new career high with 3,387 passing yards and 22 touchdowns in 2002. Already this season, McNair has 1,978 yards and 13 touchdowns while leading his team to a 6-2 record.

TE Erron Kinney is also on pace to rewrite his personal record book. He needs just three catches in the second half of the season to break his personal best of 25 receptions he set in 2001.

“My game has been better this season,” Kinney said. “It’s just been more consistent than it has in years past. I’ve been more dependable and therefore I’ve had more opportunities come my way. That’s the everyday struggle. That’s what you work for and that’s what I’m continuing to work for, to stay consistent and continue to be a dependable part and productive part of this offense.”

WR Justin McCareins has already set a new career high in catches this season. McCareins caught 19 passes in 2002 and has 20 catches through eight games this year.

The Titans carry a three game winning streak into Sunday’s contest, but they haven’t beaten the Dolphins since 1991 when they were the Oilers and Dan Marino was under center in Miami. Fisher said that protecting the football will be key if his team hopes to beat the Dolphins.

“The last couple of times that we’ve played them, we turned the ball over a few times and then we didn’t make any plays,” Fisher said. “Turnovers are really the difference in this ballgame. They’re very good in run defense. I think they’re tops in the league in run defense. They make you throw it and they put you in a situation where they can pressure you so that if you can protect the ball on offense you have a chance to play with them.”

Injury Report

The Titans will likely be without the services of CB Andre Woolfolk for the remainder of the regular season after he suffered a severe high ankle sprain Week 8 at Jacksonville. WR Drew Bennett could miss the next three weeks with a calf injury. RB Chris Brown (hamstring), S Donnie Nickey (foot), G Benji Olson (hamstring), and CB Samari Rolle (elbow) are listed as questionable for Sunday’s matchup with the Dolphins.

The Dolphins enter Sunday’s game with several bumps and bruises as well. Miami placed OT Mark Dixon on injured reserve last week after he suffered an injury similar to that of Woolfolk. DT Larry Chester (hamstring/quad), QB Jay Fiedler (knee), FB Rob Konrad (shoulder/knee), CB Patrick Surtain (ankle), and LB Zach Thomas (groin) are listed as questionable. DT Tim Bowens (neck), LV Tommy Hendricks (neck), Travis Minor (shoulder), WR Derrius Thompson (groin), and RB Ricky Williams (leg) are probable for Sunday’s contest.