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| Rookie DE Jason Morgan sacks Raiders QB Jason Campbell in the season opener at LP Field. |
It appeared to be a good start, but defensive line coach Jim Washburn said there is room for improvement when the Titans host the Pittsburgh Steelers at LP Field at noon Sunday.
"The tragic thing is we left about three sacks on the field," Washburn said. "It's disappointing. It was no lack of effort. We lost contain on a couple of rushes and just a couple of patterns didn't work out right but that's football.
"I hope that was our worst game of the season," Washburn added. "I don't know how our numbers turned out, but I know we can rush more efficiently than we did."
Babin also said the Titans could have recorded more sacks, but he was generally pleased with his debut.
"The first game went well," Babin said. "There's obviously a few plays you want back. This week, we're looking for the crowd to be loud and get after them."
Washburn is blending the veterans with players like Babin and Morgan, who are in their first season with the team. Making his Titans debut, linebacker Will Witherspoon also recorded a sack of Campbell.
So far, Babin likes what he sees.
"This is unlike any other defense that I've played in," Babin said. "Once you get the hang of it, it's much more enjoyable."
Washburn said teaching is a major component of blending the newcomers with the returning players.
"We're sort of untraditional," Washburn said. "Derrick Morgan missed so much time, and Jason Babin is from somewhere else. It's simple in theory but hard in application. We attack spots two feet outside the offensive tackle. It goes against a lot of things they've learned otherwise. It takes a little time to catch on sometimes."
But it produces results.
Washburn joined Tennessee in the 1999 season when the Titans opened the stadium now known as LP Field. In that tenure, Tennessee has recorded 238 sacks, the third highest number at home by any team.
Defensive tackles Jones and Tony Brown have each recorded nine sacks since 2008. Jones exploded for 3.5 of those the last time Pittsburgh visited Nashville, a 31-14 Titans' victory in 2008. Pittsburgh hosted and defeated Tennessee 13-10 to open the 2009 season. The Titans recorded four sacks in that game and will be looking for more Sunday.
"We're not that big of a group," Brown said. "Our key to success is to get off the ball and cause disruption. That's definitely what we're going to do this week."
The Steelers are expected to start three-year pro Dennis Dixon in his third career start at quarterback in place of suspended QB Ben Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh is also expected to start rookie Maurkice Pouncey at center.
Brown said the Titans will try to capitalize on that inexperience.
"Not that (Pouncey is) not going to be a good football player, because he's definitely a good guy we've seen on film, but he hasn't seen everything yet," Brown said. "We're going to try to take advantage of that in him and Dixon at the same time."
Brown said the relative anonymity of the Titans defensive line doesn't bother him.
"It's guys that everybody didn't know, or guys that were drafted (late)," Brown said. "We just want to be the best defensive line we can be so we can help this team get to the Super Bowl.
"(Washburn) gave me an opportunity when everybody else thought I was too small, too this, too that," Brown said. "He was like, 'I want you to do this,' and I said, 'I'm going to do it.' I definitely appreciate the guy for giving me the opportunity."
