Usain and Lightening Bolt...get it? Get it?!?

OK, not really.  But, something like this is actually in the works: “Sources” say that Usain Bolt (fastest guy alive, adoptive parent of adorable cheetah named Lightning Bolt) might race Chris Johnson, of the Tennessee Titans (buyer of cars for his entire O-Line after his 2,000 yard rush season concluded yesterday.)

Our money is on Bolt, but…um…only sort of.    Johnson shattered the Titans’ record for rushing yards in a season, previously held by Earl Campbell with 1,934.  He also, meanwhile, broke Marshall Faulk’s NFL single-season record for total yards from scrimmage Have you SEEN Johnson recently? Nope, you haven’t.  You blinked and missed him!

Oooh, we know. Our wit slays.

The race would be run for charity, and would take place on a standard track.  Johnson was clocked at 4.24 on the forty at the 2008 NFL combine, and he wants a short race, at the most 60 yards.  Bolt, meanwhile, wants the race to be longer.  (Johnson’s longest run lately was a 91 yard TD run early in the season against the Texans.)

We’ll take it.

This year, we’ll also take the Titans, who, confusingly for football rookies, showed up today in Oilers uniforms.  The Oilers, of course, were one of the founding teams of the AFL, and remained in Houston as part of the NFL when the two leagues merged, until they left at the end of the 1996 season to become the Tennessee Titans.  The Bills were also in throwback uniforms.  Hey, even the refs were kicking it oldschool.

A few game notes, to get UPH back into the NFL swing of things.

The Bills defense has historically been a strength, but they look…well…old.  They still tackle as cleanly and as hard as any team in the NFL, but their starting defensive setup averages almost five seasons of NFL time, and two of their starters have eight seasons under their belts.  Sure, some guys play forever, and that kind of time could just turn them into seasoned veterans, but tonight they just didn’t look fast enough to catch up to the Titans’ running game.

Meanwhile, the Titans have stepped up that running game.  ECU product Chris Johnson, in his second season, looks poised to be a huge factor, and even backup LenDale White looks…well, we won’t say fast. Heck of a lot faster than before he cut out the Patron, however.  He’s almost forty pounds lighter, and it shows not just in his speed and agility but seemingly in his swagger. They’re coming to play, and while we’re not yet sold on Vince Young, who had only 39 yards and boasted (if that’s what we call it) a 50% completion rate, some of his throws looked great.  He has some issues to work out, and needs some more refinement in his decision making in the pocket, but we think the possibility of  a trade to a place where he could start will be a motivating factor.

The Titans’ Special Teams contingent (or as UPH occasionally like to refer to them, the Special Forces), look good too: polished for this early, and in good shape.  They’re quick.  Quick is good. (and incidentally, third string wide receiver Paul Williams, in his third season? Well, his quick and his quicker had a baby named speedy, as they say.)

Are there questions?  Gaping holes? Wouldn’t be the pre-season if there weren’t.  But we’re excited about the Titans this year.

Love Ya, Blue. No, wait….