Anybody feeling it?

no, not at all, calico was injured and couldnt catch, troupe is healthy and catches the ball and does a lot after the catch, i dont see it happenening, but i amd glad that scaife is emerging as a catching threat and will make it much harder for defenses to mark both TEs and the Wrs

if we had someone who could get him the ball you would be singing a different tune.

agreed

When Young becomes qb, speed at WR and TE will be needed at a premium. They'll be able to get open on the scramble. I think Troupe still has a chance for that reason alone. I'd prefer he actually not get hyped, cause we should be going downfield with Collins and Bennett and Givens. The TE offense has to stop for us to make some big plays. We have big play qb's. We don't have west coast qb's. So we should be looking to make big plays. Troupe will still fit in here, as could have calico had he stayed injury free. It just is what it is. He was never on the field.

are u saying our te's arent playmakers? scaife had our td and bens been getting yards after the catch like crazy, did i misunderstand u?

Troupe is way under used in this system so far, I am willing to bet that will change with VY. He should be used much like KC's gonzalez, used to set up the rest of the O and force mismatches. He is a beast.

that might be effective leading to oppertunities for the rest of the O so no way Chow does that

I prefer him as a last resort for Vince Young. Young ought to look downfield first, buy some time with his legs, and then use Troupes mismatch as a fall back should the deeper routes be taken away. I don't like him as a first option. Not because he doesn't have the talent to make a play now and again, but because I think we should be looking to make plays. Not play it safe. I don't think we are a west coast team. We have big play potential with Young at qb. No reason to take small gains to the Tight End when we can get those gains on the scramble anyway. Same thing goes with Collins at qb. He's a big play qb as well, or should be, so I think Troupe is a nice last resort.

I don't see Troupe as a playmaker. He's basically dissappeared for two seasons now. He doesn't get us points for whatever reason. Scaife made a nice catch, but let's be honest, he's no playmaker either. These guys do what Tight Ends do. They catch the ball and rumble for five more. But we are going to be a big play offense, or at least we should be, so I see them as third options on the drop back. If the scramble is cut off, they ought to be open.

Troupe going the way of Calico?

Don't even think that.

I don't see Troupe as a playmaker. He's basically dissappeared for two seasons now. He doesn't get us points for whatever reason. Scaife made a nice catch, but let's be honest, he's no playmaker either. These guys do what Tight Ends do. They catch the ball and rumble for five more. But we are going to be a big play offense, or at least we should be, so I see them as third options on the drop back. If the scramble is cut off, they ought to be open.

No offense, but you're wrong. I don't have time right now to go into it, but trust me.....when the ball is in his hands, Ben Troupe is probably the single most dangerous TE in the league. No joke.

No offense, but you're wrong. I don't have time right now to go into it, but trust me.....when the ball is in his hands, Ben Troupe is probably the single most dangerous TE in the league. No joke.
He speaks the TRUTH!

No offense, but you're wrong. I don't have time right now to go into it, but trust me.....when the ball is in his hands, Ben Troupe is probably the single most dangerous TE in the league. No joke.
That's the problem. The ball rarely gets into his hands. You have a ball in his chest he dropped against the Jets. He's good for one play a game and he needs to be doing more. Right now, he's being outplayed by Scaife.

Still there are only so many balls to go around and we are throwing alot more to the WRs this year. I really don't care if Scaife or Troupe makes the play. If they can both account for 100 yards recieving each game I'm happy. Also Troupe might be getting more attention by the defense which gives Scaife more opportunities against LBs.

That's the problem. The ball rarely gets into his hands. You have a ball in his chest he dropped against the Jets. He's good for one play a game and he needs to be doing more. Right now, he's being outplayed by Scaife.

I take it your feeling it a little bit?

I take it your feeling it a little bit?
What gave it away? ;)

I sure hope not.

The similarities are that both Troupe and Calico were big, physical "projects" with a gamble that would translate to a franchise type player. Troupe has been injured (broken foot) like Calico.

Troupe has made nice YAC plays (like Calico did), but also seems to have very average hands. With the emergence of Scaife playing a more traditional TE role, I see Troupe getting less playing time unless he takes better advantage of his opportunities. Will his hands let him do it? I dunno.

Troupe has been injured (broken foot) like Calico.

one injury compared to five.

as long as its not his knee the injurys are nothing to compare

as long as its not his knee the injurys are nothing to compare

Not really comparing the injuries, just the history. He's had his share.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/players/6799/injuries.html

My main point is I feel an impending sense of underachievement, failed project or plain bust for our #2 pick. We heard alot of hype about him, the same we heard about Calico and like Calico we are just waiting (for the breakout) .....and waiting....and waiting... and waiting.....

How is Troupe a failed project? It isn't like he was a DE who moved to TE. He was a little slow picking up the offense his rookie year but had a solid year last year (#12 in the league). We are only 3 games into the season. Instead of looking at what Scaife is doing as a postitive now we slam Troupe because he is being outplayed. Troupe has 64 yards recieving right now and Scaife has 118. If they end the season with Scaife having double the yardage barring injury I'll be very surprised. Randy McMichael has less yardage than Troupe and I doubt Miami is getting on edge.

Of Scaife's 7 catches this year how many occured in garbage time against SD? The answer is 3 catches for 53 yards in the last drive. That is almost 50% of Scaife's production for the year on that last drive of that game (when SD had their scrubs in) and is the main difference in his production for the year and Troupes. Also everyone seems to remember Troupes missed pass that ended up being an int but Scaife's fumble was even more damaging. I think it is great that Scaife is playing so well but I'm not going to use his play to slam Troupe. Often TE production comes in streaks and many TEs have games where they don't catch many passes. Troupe will have his moments this year and the organization I'm sure is looking for him to be a longterm keeper unlike Calico who never even cracked the lineup.

TE BO SCAIFE

(on stepping up)

“I feel I need to step up every game. I have to take it seriously and give it all I got in every game; I owe it to my teammates.”

Gee thanks Bo. You mean like laughing off your goalline fumble after Miami misses a 30 yard FG on the ensuing drive? Gee thanks. At least you already had that TD to fall back on.

How is Troupe a failed project?
I don't think anyone called him "failed". I certainly am not implying that. But he has disappointed so far.

Instead of looking at what Scaife is doing as a postitive now we slam Troupe because he is being outplayed.
Do you think Troupe has played up to the billing so far?

Often TE production comes in streaks and many TEs have games where they don't catch many passes. Troupe will have his moments this year and the organization I'm sure is looking for him to be a longterm keeper unlike Calico who never even cracked the lineup.
I'll take a streak anytime.

Okay....now I've got a few minutes to defend my pro-Troupe positon. :)

There's no question that Troupe's production has been somewhat less than expected....that's a given. But there's a reason for that, and I can explain it in two words:

Norm Chow.

I'm normally not a Chow basher, but as a rookie OC, Chow's offensive approach completely underutilized and misused Troupe's ability. Instead of using Ben's size and speed to create mismatches in the secondary, he used him primarily as a safety valve, or for those all-too-infuriating TE screens. Simply put, he took Troupe, a 6'4" 270 lb. TE, and turned him into a glorified third-down back.

(Hey, you might call me crazy, but when I see a guy who's 6'4", 270 lbs.... "third down back" is the last thing that comes to mind.)

Throughout the entire season, I noticed (and posted) that they never even attempted to send Troupe down the field; they put a ten-yard leash on him and kept him hovering around the LOS for almost the entire season. In otherwords, they had the proverbial thoroughbred pulling the milkwagon.

Finally, in week 14 against the Seahawks, Chow took the leash off and started using Troupe to challenge the secondary. The result? 6 catches, 116 yards.

Funny how guys tend to do better when allowed to use their ability, huh?

Fortunately, Chow has realized that he screwed up last year.....partially, anyway. Troupe's number isn't getting called as much as I'd like, but we're finally seeing his size and speed being used to create mismatches in the secondary, with very solid results. In only three receptions, Troupe has already had two spectacular gamebreaker-type plays, turning a couple of five-yard dink-and-dunk passes into a pair of 30+ yard gains.

Granted, his hands are relatively average. And of course, his INT against the Jets was absolutely inexcusable....by far the single biggest mistake of his entire career. But the fact is, on the entire Titans' roster, Troupe is second only to Pacman Jones for raw excitement and playmaking ability. Sure, Troupe will have the occasional dropped pass or missed opportunity....but given the chance, he'll turn right back around and make a spectacular play to re-energize the entire team.

From what Troupe has shown us thus far, there's no way Chow can overlook him much longer. I fully expect to see Troupe assuming a bigger and bigger role in the offense this year...and by year's end, the entire league will learn what Titans have known for a while now: Ben Troupe is truly one of the most exciting players in the league. All he needs is a chance to prove it.

If anything, I would say Troupe is going the way of Volek. The clowns running this team have no idea what talent is apparently. It took two injuries to put in Stewart, it's taking forever to put in VY and move on, it's taking them forever to realize Lamont Thompson is a joke. Soon Troupe will ask for a trade, and probably have his wish granted...

I don't think anyone called him "failed". I certainly am not implying that. But he has disappointed so far.


Do you think Troupe has played up to the billing so far?


I'll take a streak anytime.

Riverman is the one who mentioned him being a failed project. As far as Troupe playing up to his billing so far I guess not because he had a slow start to his career. However we can see he has it, the talent to make plays and he has in the past. He had a solid season last year where although he shared touches with two other TEs was able to finish 12th in the NFL in yards (Kinney was 11th). As a TE it is much harder to get the ball thrown your way than if you are one of the two top WRs. He can only catch what the QB throws his way and part of the problem could be the scheme isn't utilizing his talents. If Troupe was our only other TE, like the more noted TEs are in this league his numbers would be better. I agree he nees to show more but certainly he isn't in the Calico category, not even close and Troupe is a force defensive coordinators have to consider in their game plan.

troupe is the best TE on the team

troupe had more catches in one season than calico had in his entire career. nuff said.

However we can see he has it, the talent to make plays and he has in the past.
Like Brown and many others, I think production is the gauge we measure these guys. I'm tired of hearing how talented someone is if they are not making plays on Sunday.

Troupe needs to be a playmaker and someone opponents need to scheme to stop. Not only that, it's time he is consistent with his production. Until he can be that player, I think it's fair to say he's a disappointment.

how can he be a disappointment when he gets two passes thrown his way a game? one is drastically over thrown and the other is for 41 yards.

Sox/Nine: don't misunderstand it- I want Troupe to match or exceed the hype/billing he received as a second round choice. But we've waited a long time (compared to other 2nd rounders) to see production from the guy. Much like Calico in that regard.

Is it the scheme, the OC, Titans player development, or fortune? I don't know. We haven't seen much of the "great mis-matches" in any of the game plans. He DOES have average hands. He has made some drops, and yes, they appear amplified because he doesn't get that many opportunities. I desperately want him to succeed but I need production to allay my concerns.

I don't think anyone can honestly say we have gotten second round draft production out of him yet- for whatever reason.

how can he be a disappointment when he gets two passes thrown his way a game? one is drastically over thrown and the other is for 41 yards.
How do you know he was open more than twice in the game?

You guys act as if Chow isn't trying to make him a key part of the offense. Based on articles I read earlier this year, they want him a bigger part of the offense. They are even sacrificing run blocking to keep him in the game.

I dont remember Troupe being a "project" type player when he was drafted.

there are plenty of ways to force him the ball. the panthers do it with steve smith all the time. troupe's a beast after the catch, why not have a little bubble screen with him playing WR? we all know a corner isnt going to tackle troupe by himself.

if we REALLY wanted him to be a big part of the offense, we could get him the ball.