This is Jeff Fisher's 16th season as a head coach in the NFL. During that time the former 49ers assistant has faced
"As I told our team this morning, this is a team that we know nothing about," Fisher said this morning a handful of Bay Area newspaper reporters during the weekly conference call with the opposing coach.
"It's very important that we become familiar with them very quickly. It's a discipline football team that plays hard, finishes game and forces mistakes. I'm really impressed the more and more I watch."
Fisher said he is most impressed by the 49ers' run defense, which ranks second in the NFL.
"To have played teams like
Other observations from Fisher about the 49ers as he tries to learn as much about the team this week:
--"They've done a good job of quietly surrounding the quarterback with good players. The offensive line finishes well, they're well-coached, the tight end is playing out of his mind right now. It's impressive to watch him not only as a receiver but also as a blocker. And the receivers are complementing him. They get open and they block. Gore's touchdown run against the Colts wouldn't have been possible if the receivers didn't make contact with those two defensive backs. They understand the importance of everybody contributing."
--Fisher was asked if he believes he'll see more of quarterback Alex Smith running an offense with spread elements. His answer: "When you have a team built the way their offense is built, and the way their defense is playing, the formula is working. The run game, the play-action, stay out of third downs, make your plays on first and second downs with run and play-action. Keep drives alive get points, kick field goals - you have one of the better kickers in the league - play good defense and you win games."
--On Alex Smith: "He's got the arm strength to make all the throws. The thing that's impressive is when he came in, he was accurate, he was poised, he used the snap count to draw them offsides at home. He was on time. He made plays. The offense was such that they gave them a chance."
--Seldom-used 49ers receiver Brandon Jones played his first four years with the Titans, where caught 112 passes for 1,380 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had six rushing attempts and averaged 12.7 yards.
"He could (play) the slot and win the one-on-one outside," Fisher said. "He has some skills and I imagine he still does as far as run after the catch. He was a reverse guy who could pick up a first down for us. And if we needed him to return he could field the ball and do those things. He just struggled off and on with an injury here and there, but he made a lot of big plays for us."
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Fisher was a cornerback with the Bears, and part of the same 1981 draft class as Mike Singletary. Although, as Fisher points out, they were drafted on different days.
"Mike was all about business," Fisher said. "I'll never forget swinging by his room early in camp and every single formation and every motion, every variation was on cards taped to walls and his ceiling in training camp. That's how important football was to him.
"I've crossed paths with Mike numerous times since I started coaching, and Mike was enjoying his life. He was enjoying Kim and the kids, and speaking and retirement. It didn't surprise me when given the opportunity he took advantage of it in
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Fisher was a defensive backs coach for the 49ers in 1992 and '93.
"I'll never forget one of first few days there, I was watching tape and watching the personnel and said to one of the assistants . . . just with defensive personnel we can win 10 or 11 games," Fisher said. "The assistant said, 'Don't say that too loud. The expectation here is to win them all.'"
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That was the expectation for the Titans this season, too. But they opened the season with losses to the Steelers (13-10), Texans (34-31) and the Jets (24-17).
Running back Chris Johnson said this week he believes the Titans will run the table to finish with a 10-6 record and make the playoffs.
And we'll be talking with Johnson soon . . . actually, quarterback Vince Young joined us on the conference call. I'll have excerpts in a separate entry.
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This is a very scary game. I can see the Titans ripping the Niners in this one. Hoping for a terrible day from VY.
Johnson's gonna need some of that runnin from the cops speed
I don't see that.... way to have faith
I'm just saying, Tennessee is the kind of team that can peel off ten consecutive victories. I don' think the Niners have had three consecutive wins in a long time. These are two very different organizations.I'm hoping for a win, I just honestly don't see it.
If the D can hold it down like I know they can I can see big days from Al, Frank, VD, and Mike. We'll see.
Another loss at home and its ova!
Uhhhh... Ok. Sounds like Fisher hasn't actually watched any game film yet.
"It's very important that we become familiar with them very quickly. It's a discipline football team that plays hard, finishes game and forces mistakes. I'm really impressed the more and more I watch."
LOL seriously?!??! I guess that's why these press conferences are much ado about nothing..
That's the spirit!
I understand "just a fan's" concern. I don't believe that the Titans are as bad as a 1-6 record indicates. Compare them to the Rams, Cleveland and the other bottom feeders and there is no comparison. That said, there is some "doggy' and some "confidence" issues with them this year. If the 49ers come out like they did against Atlanta it could be a very long day. But, given the 49ers recent losing streak, I don't seem them being complacent. In fact, I expect them to be very hungry and aggressive, particularly offensively. The key will be to jump on the Titans early - imposing the "here we go again" failure mindset on the Titans and it will be a good decisive win. Letting the Titan's hang around or giving them turnovers and it is anybody's game.
Sorry, I have to side with just-a-fan on this one... Too many people are counting the Tennessee game like it's in the bank -- trust me, it's not. And neither is the Chicago game. Look, the 49ers are better, but they're not so good that when teams like this roll into town, you're already counting the "W." (You only get to do that against teams like the Rams or Lions when Barry Sims and Adam Synder are your starting tackles, and Dashon Goldson -- not Ronnie Lott -- is your starting safety.)
By the way, classy comments by Fisher. And remember -- this guy is a first-class coach. He will not let this team die. This will be a strap-em-on game between teams with something to prove coached by old Bear teammates. It could go either way.
cmon men - we are going to win this game - EASILY
Our team will play with a lot of emotion and I belive that will work to our advantage. Our stregth plays too their stregth. All we have to do is force Vince Young to beat us with his arm and we are golden.
This is the home debuts for Michael Crabtree and Alex Smith. I have a feeling those two will want to put on a show together. I cannot wait!!!
I agree that this game has danger written on it simply because this 1-6 team bears no resemblance to STL, DET, CLE, TB, or WSH.
Is it winnable? Of course. they key is going to be Chris Johnson. Dude leads the league in rushing, and has 9 runs of over 30 yards. He is lightening fast and can fake half the league out of their shoes.
The 9ers HAVE to contain him and force Young to throw. I don't think he can beat us with his arm, but I think we'll have trouble sacking him because he is pretty elusive and their line has not given up many sacks -- tied for 2nd in the league with fewest sacks allowed (6).
On offense, well, we gotta get some points. They are last in the league in passing D, and middle of the pack in rushing D. We will need over 200 yards passing to beat them. That's my prediction anyway.
27-21, 49ers.
The real Titans are finally showing up for the first time this season,just in time for us to not get the cake walk that many teams have had with them this season. They are playing better and better and have gotten back several key players from injury. We had better be at the top of our game on defense and our offense had better look like the 2nd half of the Texan's game and not the 2nd half of the Colt's game !
I am sure glad it is at home !
Well, it seems spirits are running a tad low today... I understand the nervousness and anxiety and by all means this is not a game in the pocket just because the TTs are 1-6... BUT, come on!! I felt people were more confident against the 6-0 Colts with Manning than against the 1-6 TTs with Young....
Come on guys, don't we like a tough matchup in front of us or what? Is it only vanilla ice cream that we want to play against? Our team can win, will play to win, and will win this Sunday!! And the battle for the west will continue...
SB
Ttoally agree with sandip about interviews with the upcoming opponent's coach. I mean what's Fisher suppose to say in that situation? DUH! The 49ers cannot afford to lose a game they should win & I don't see them losing Sunday. They just need to keep C Johnson in check & let VY win the game (not!) The streak ends at 3!
Don't trust the confidence in this team right now! They better not come out like they did against the lambs in the first half. And fisher is just saying nice things about our offense because sing is his old friend. He got the run d down though.
This is the NFL and any team can beat you if you do not show up and do not excute. I personally never thought this is going to be an easy game. I hope we are ready with a good game plan to take advantage of their weakness and shut down the running game.
I dont see us losing in this one, they won last week because they were playing the jags which there run defense is ranked 25 or 26 in the league and chris johnson blew them up, plus vince made a couple plays for them, but are run d is ranked 2nd and has been stepping up all season,I like are match up. In order for the titans to win any more games this season they will need another solid performance from there running game. When that wont happen then vy will be forced to put the ball in the air more times then the titans would like and its pick city for our db's.We need this W!
ALL I CARE ABOUT IS HOW MUCH ARE WE PRACTICING A SCREEN PASS THIS WEEK.
Fisher was a tough CB and great ST player for the Bears in the early 80's. His playing career was cut short after suffering a broken leg, courtesy of one Bill Cowher. When DC Buddy Ryan left the Bears to coach the Eagles, Fisher went with him. He became the youngest DC in the league at the ripe old age of 30. He coaches just like he played...tough. He's most definitely a class act and I'm sure Coach Singletary has nothing but the highest respect for him. Classic matchup of two former teammates...it should be a bruiser.
Did Fisher watch the 2009 49ers when he answered those questions...maybe he was thinking about '92?
Faith can move mountains but it can't beat 4 aces..
Nels McCloud....