Sports Radio Interviews

Jeff Fisher Doesn’t Want To Hear Any Playoffs Talk…Not Yet At Least

Don’t look now, but the Tennessee Titans are right back in the thick of things in the AFC Wild Card picture thanks to five consecutive wins following their 0-6 start. Last week’s win over the Arizona Cardinals was certainly the most dramatic of the five victories, as Vince Young led the Titans 99 yards down the field with just over 2 minutes for the game-winning touchdown drive as time expired. The Titans are now 5-6, just one game out (tiebreakers not considered) of the final playoff spot as they get set to take on the Colts in Indianapolis this Sunday.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher joined The Mike & Mike Show on ESPN Radio to talk about the remarkable turnaround for his club, how and why Vince Young has been able to perform and lead his team the way he has, and how he’s not even thinking about the playoffs just yet.

On the Titans five game winning streak and just how differently they’ve looked recently

“It’s been fun. The BYE week kind of came at a good time for us and we regrouped and sent everybody away for a solid four or five days, told them to get as far away as they could and when they come back, we’ll start over. So far it’s been good.”

On how the team has really come alive since Vince Young was named the starter in Week 8:

“Well I think first off, we’re fortunate to have two starters at that position, and after they way we started, it was just time to change things. We certainly didn’t point the finger at Kerry. Kerry won a lot of games for us last year. It was the football team’s issue, not just the quarterback position. But sometimes when you find yourself in those positions you need to make a change. And we did, and I can’t tell you right now how proud I am of Vince and what he’s been able to do. He’s a different guy. I believe the experience he got last year preparing himself  to play each and every week watching Kerry as a backup, and then the off-season – I think everything really helped him. And the quarterback play is directly related to how the rest of the guys are playing. We got a little running back that’s pretty good and creates some problems for people, the line’s playing well, and we healed up. It’s just a combination of things falling together at the right time for us.”

On the main reasons why Vince Young is playing so well since being reinserted into the starting lineup:

“Well Mike, I think it’s a couple things. One, he’s in the second year now of this system with Mike Heimerdinger and I remember back when Steve got in the second year with Mike – things changed. Steve was the co-MVP in his third year. So I think that has a lot to do with it. I just believe players, over their careers, as they start, at times, they’ll have some difficulty, they mature and then all of a sudden, the light goes on. And it really has for him. He’s doing the right things, he’s having fun, he’s able to overcome things now. I think earlier in his career, if there was a negative play or something like that, it would linger, it would effect him. Now he just brushes it right off, takes responsibility for it. There haven’t been many, mind you. But I think it’s a combination of things.”

On if he’s discussed with his team that they’d be right in the thick of things for a Wild Card berth were they to win this weekend at Indianapolis:

“Absolutely have had no conversation whatsoever with them. You know, we’ve taken the one-week-at-a-time approach with it. It’s no different than last year when we put together the 10 in a row to start with. So that’s the approach we’ve taken. I think in the back of their minds they’re all aware of it, and they know this is a big one. You know, any week it’s all about preparing yourself to play the best you possibly can because it’s going to take that to have a chance to win it. But we don’t talk in terms of playoffs. The thing is, I think what’s interesting about this team is when we came back, there was no pressure, it was just come back, look forward to work, have fun, goof around but take your job serious – let’s just go out and play because we have nothing to lose. And I think that approach has really helped us. Now obviously we’ll be really, really focused for this week, but the playoffs, there a long ways away and not on the forefront here. We’re you know, I know it’s coach speak, but we’re one week at a time.”

On if there was a moment during the win streak when he really thought his team had something special going and was ready to make a run during the second half of the year:

“We started with a win over Jacksonville after the BYE Week here at home, then to go back on the road out to San Francisco who I think is a very good team. And to win that one the way we did, then to come back and win at home again – I think after we got to three we said okay, this thing’s working now. We’re healthy, we’re having fun, we’re making plays. You know for two or three consecutive weeks, I think we were knotted at 17 to start the 4th quarter and found a way to win it. So, you know, last week interestingly enough, there was no panic. I was pretty relaxed, I knew we had plenty of room – we had about half a yard from our own goal line to start the drive. I knew we were going to make some plays and have a chance. So, I think everyone on our sideline felt we were going to win that game because we had the ball. And we did. When you feel like that, regardless of the situation at the end, I think good things can happen to you.”

Listen here to Fisher with Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio

Tags: AFC Playoffs, Chris johnson, hottest team in NFL, Jeff Fisher, Tennessee Titans, Vince Young