How the Titans defense is working to end their turnover drought
Tennessee needs to play a complete game to get their first win.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans (0-2) need to get right this weekend when the Green Bay Packers (1-1) come to town on Sunday. Creating turnovers on defense would be a big step in the right direction.
Tennessee has a league-worst turnover differential (-4) despite allowing the fewest yards per game in the league.
Titans In A Turnover Drought
A part of those lopsided numbers is due to quarterback Will Levis' difficult start to the year.
Through the first two weeks (both 24-17 losses), Levis has thrown two touchdowns against three interceptions. He has also lost a fumble in each of game. The Titans lone turnover on the season was a Week 1 muffed punt by Chicago Bears returner Velus Jones Jr. that was recovered by running back Julius Chestnut.
"Normally in individual, every coach has an individual drill that's used to take the ball," defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said on Thursday. "We overemphasize it and we're overemphasize overemphasizing. Today we're working on hammering the ball because, a lot of times, it's not just about the interceptions.
"It's when you get the sack, can you get the ball off the quarterback when you run into the ball? It's not always the first man there, but it's the second man to come being violent, crunching the ball out. And one thing that we do well is run to the ball and we swarm the ball, but now we have to finish and get the ball out."
Tennessee finished last season ranked 31st in total takeaways (14).
Former coach Mike Vrabel and his staff were let go in the offseason. Wilson's unit has been re-tooled with considerably more talent. So far, the dividends of the Titans' offseason have been obvious in every way except for a lack of turnovers.
Coaches and players feel like it is just a matter of time.
“I mean, for us, I think the first week, we were a lot closer than the second week," safety Quandre Diggs said via The Buck Reising Show on 104.5 The Zone. "I think the first week, we had a lot of tips, and balls going in the air that we should have caught balls. And I think for us, it's more of just being in the right spot at the right time, being able to play the game the way you're supposed to.
"And some of those lucky plays will come, and some of the plays that you just got to take the ball away, they'll come too. So for us, obviously, we want to take the ball away still early in the season. And who knows, we might get on the run, we go 8-9, and we have 8-9 games, and we have two turnovers each game. You know what I mean? Two takeaways each game. And it just puts it back where we want to be. So for us, we just got to obviously not overreact, but also be proactive in making it happen."
Tennessee is 9th in defensive EPA per play (-0.08), 12th in success rate (40.9%) and 3rd in completion percentage against (50.0%), according to sumersports.com. They are, however, allowing 24.0 points per game as a team (T-9th worst). That figure does not not adjust for a Levis Pick Six and a punt blocked by the Bears that was returned for a score.
Defensively, the Titans did not give up a touchdown against Chicago, but did give up two passing touchdowns and a rushing score in Week 2 against the New York Jets (1-1).
Tennessee hosts the Green Bay Packers (1-1) in Week 3 at Nissan Stadium. Watch/listen to Titans Radio's pregame coverage starting at 9am CT on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.
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Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
