Titans-Steelers Preview

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Breaking Down Steelers' Win Over Titans

SCOUTING REPORT

Titans-Steelers: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's Titans-Steelers matchup. 1. Pittsburgh's X stunt blitz: Pittsburgh's signature blitz with its linebackers is the X blitz. ILBs James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons crisscross in an "X" as they create interior blitz pressure. (Timmons has an ankle injury and reportedly will not play Thursday. If he is unavailable, he will be replaced by Keyaron Fox.) Even though the strength of the Pittsburgh blitz comes from the outside with OLBs James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, teams want to pressure QB Kerry Collins up the middle to force him to move his feet. That's why the X blitz will be used often in this game.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
TEN	3-6	189	255	2-2	1-4	1-3	2-6
PIT	6-4	231	184	4-1	2-3	1-2	4-3
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Tennessee Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Collin... 54.8 1071 5 8 Young 65.7 507 2 2

Pittsburgh Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Roethl... 68.9 2867 17 10 Batch 50.0 17 0 0

Tennessee Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Johnso... 170 1091 6.4 8 White 59 204 3.5 1

Pittsburgh Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Menden... 134 689 5.1 4 Parker 67 218 3.3 0

Tennessee Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Britt 22 351 16.0 0 Gage 22 302 13.7 1

Pittsburgh Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Ward 63 798 12.7 5 Holmes 50 764 15.3 1

Full Player Stats: Tennessee | Pittsburgh

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	TEN	314.0
	PIT	312.0
Yards Passing	TEN	176.2
	PIT	206.3
Yards Rushing	TEN	137.4
	PIT	105.6
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	TEN	293.6
	PIT	237.2
Pass Yds Allowed	TEN	199.8
	PIT	156.9
Rush Yds Allowed	TEN	93.9
	PIT	80.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Series tied 4-4
Dec 21, 2008	TEN 31, @PIT 14
Sep 11, 2005	TEN 7, PIT 34
Sep 28, 2003	TEN 30, PIT 13
Jan 11, 2003	TEN 34, @PIT 31
Nov 17, 2002	TEN 31, @PIT 23
Nov 25, 2001	TEN 24, @PIT 34
Oct 29, 2001	TEN 7, PIT 34

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The stomping their Terrible Towel took on the Tennessee Titans' sideline last December was nothing compared to the trampling the Pittsburgh Steelers took on the field.

The Titans were Steelers-like in the way they manhandled Pittsburgh up front, hurried Ben Roethlisberger into mistakes, and were more physical. Tennessee's 31-14 victory on Dec. 21 was Pittsburgh's only loss in its final 10 games, and it made fans of both teams eager for the rematch.

It never took place -- until now.

The Titans and Steelers, teams that always stay in character amid the constant changes that swirl around them in the NFL, open the new season Thursday night by playing the game that was anticipated in January.

The Steelers cooperated -- they won the Super Bowl -- but the Titans were derailed by Baltimore in the divisional round, and the Ravens then lost to Pittsburgh. The Titans started 10-0, finished 13-3 and have spent the last seven-plus months pondering how their season -- and perhaps the Super Bowl -- got away from them.

To the Steelers, the most indelible image of that Titans rout was running back LenDale White and several teammates tromping on Terrible Towels. The sideline stomp has been replayed countless times in Pittsburgh, where the towel is as much a source of civic pride as it is a symbol of the six-time Super Bowl-winning team it represents.

In Pittsburgh, one doesn't dare tread on the Terrible Towel, but White said he would gladly do it again if he gets the chance.

"If it happens to be there, I'm going to stomp all over that, man," White said. "If there's a towel in the stands, I will stomp on it. I don't care who gets mad. ... If they throw a towel at me, I'm going to kick it and stomp all over it. If they don't want their towel stomped on, keep it out of my face."

White's words weren't especially well-received in his own locker room -- why agitate the champions, after all? Coach Jeff Fisher quickly moved to end such talk.

"It was something that took place in an emotional moment," Fisher said. "The players now understand ... the tradition behind the towel and the organization. They're certainly not going to carry their own towels out there and stomp on them before kickoff."

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he's got more important matters to worry about, such as making sure his players don't turn over the ball four times again.

"There's a lot of things that pump fans up that got nothing to do with playing and winning and losing," Tomlin said. "This is going to be two top-quality teams. They're going to play because it's opening night ... both teams need to get off to a great start. Those are going to be the things that motivate these teams."

Still, that didn't prevent offensive tackle Willie Colon from saying, "We'll talk about it (with the Titans) Thursday night."

Obviously, he's not expecting a Towel Tromp II.

Given the NFL's yearly player turnover rate, this is about as close as two teams can come to a rematch from one season to the next. The Titans are missing only two starters, though the loss of All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth could significantly weaken what was the NFL's No. 7 defense.

"It's important for us to get off to a good start," said defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, whose production was hurt by a groin injury. "There's no better way than to play against the team that had the best finish last season."

The Steelers return 19 of 22 starters, exceptional for a Super Bowl-winning team. Tomlin, however, has repeatedly taken steps to distance this team from last season's.

"Just because we won the Super Bowl last year don't mean nothing," defensive tackle Casey Hampton said. "To be at the top then doesn't mean anything because it's a whole new season."

The Steelers lost backup wide receiver Nate Washington to Tennessee, where he is expected to take on a bigger role once he heals from a hamstring injury that might keep him out of the opener. The Steelers will be without linebacker Lawrence Timmons (high ankle sprain).

The Titans have won four of their last five against the Steelers, but the loss also came in a season opener, 34-7 in 2005 as Willie Parker ran for 161 yards in his NFL starting debut. This time, Parker is unsigned past this season and is coming off an injury-interrupted year that helped limit him to 791 yards.

Parker may yield some carries to last year's first-round draft pick, Rashard Mendenhall, though perhaps not to the extent the Titans use both Chris Johnson (1,228 yards) and White (773).

Both teams had kick return issues during the preseason, though the Steelers have settled on CFL import Stefan Logan as their punt returner. Fisher won't announce his returner until game time, but it is likely to be cornerback Cortland Finnegan.

Scouts Buzz: Stafford growing up fast

Scouts Inc. examines Matthew Stafford's development, the Vikings' dynamic offense and more.

Steelers QB Batch injures wrist; out 6 weeks

Steelers QB Charlie Batch has a wrist injury that will require surgery this week and will sideline him six weeks, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported.

FBO: Week 11 Quick Reads

Football Outsiders apply their metrics to Week 11. Findings: Even when Wes Welker doesn't find the end zone, he's historic; Mark Sanchez isn't ready; DeAngelo Williams needs the rock more; and T.J. Houshmandzadeh may have saved Minny's season.

Chiefs stun Steelers; Big Ben suffers hit to head

Ryan Succop's 22-yard field goal with 8:28 left in overtime lifted the Kansas City Chiefs to a come-from-behind 27-24 victory Sunday over the Pittsburgh Steelers, breaking a team-record 10-game home losing streak.

Vince Young: play me or let me go

If the Titans don't want him to play, Vince Young is ready to move on. The No. 3 pick of the 2006 NFL Draft told a Baltimore television station Monday that he wanted to become the starting quarterback for the Titans - regaining the job he lost last season to Kerry Collins in dramatic fashion - or find another team.

Quarterback steps out of bounds again

Will Vince Young ever get it? Just when you believe the Titans' backup quarterback is beginning to absorb the big picture of what it takes to be an NFL quarterback, he gives you reason to doubt him.

Titan sharpens focus after eye surgery

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.

McNair says he believes Young is maturing

Steve McNair touched on a variety of subjects at his eighth annual football camp at Goodpasture Christian School on Friday.

Nick Harper overcomes age, vision to stick in Titans' secondary

Titans cornerback Nick Harper could blame his hands for not having more interceptions last season, but the bigger problem was his eyesight.

Ward helping out young receivers

Wide receiver Hines Ward watched the play unfold in the Steelers indoor practice facility during OTA's and then walked over to first-year running back Stefan Logan and shared a little bit of advice.

Steelers' rookie tries to overcome obstacle

Mike Tomlin knows a thing or two about motivating players. So it probably shouldn't come as any surprise that the Steelers coach regularly tells rookie center A.Q. Shipley, "Man, those arms are looking short." The length of Shipley's arms is a big reason why 225 players were selected before the Moon Area High School graduate in April.

Steelers players brighten some spirits

John Harris is a sports columnist for the Tribune-Review. He can be reached via e-mail or at 412-481-5432. An excited Heather Miller of Bedford got a chance Wednesday to meet her favorite football player, Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton, as part of her Make-a-Wish Foundation request.

Steelers' LB Davis seeking his seat on bus

The BMOC of UCLA has been MIA in Pittsburgh. Linebacker Bruce Davis went from what he called a "rock star" in college football to almost rock bottom with the Steelers.

Mundy impresses Steelers with smarts, skills

Twenty-nine has significance for Steelers safety Ryan Mundy beyond the fact that it is his uniform number.