The most embarrassing fact about the Tennessee Titans offense
The Tennessee Titans offense has been a chore to watch in 2022. What was once an exciting, explosive, and dynamic unit in 2020 when they averaged 30.7 points per game has since devolved to a unit that lacks playmakers, balance, or creativity. Anyone who has sat down to watch a Titans game this season has […]
The Tennessee Titans offense has been a chore to watch in 2022.
What was once an exciting, explosive, and dynamic unit in 2020 when they averaged 30.7 points per game has since devolved to a unit that lacks playmakers, balance, or creativity.
Anyone who has sat down to watch a Titans game this season has been exposed to the dumb mistakes on the field and the head-scratching decisions on the sideline that occur every game. Tennessee is towards the bottom of the league in yards per game (296.0) and points per game this season (18.2), and it's not hard to tell why.
Here's where the Titans ranked among NFL teams in key categories prior to this week's game in Los Angeles:
Second Half Failures
Perhaps the most embarrassing and damning fact of them all is what the Titans do coming out of halftime. After some time in the locker room to regroup, make adjustments, and put together a strategy for the second half, the Titans are at their absolute worst.
Through 14 games and 14 drives to open the second half, the Titans have produced 11 punts, one interception, and just two drives resulting in points. 10 of those 14 drives have been three-and-outs (not including the interception, which was thrown on the first series of the drive), and six of them have produced zero or negative net yards.
After talking things over, making "adjustments", and taking the field for the second half, the Titans always seem to come out flat. That's a massive indictment on the coaching staff.
Offensive coordinator Todd Downing was asked by the media last week about the second half problems, and whether or not the Titans use a script for their play-calling on the first few drives.
"To an extent, yes. We certainly rank what runs we want to come back to and in what order, talk about complementary play-passes and things of that nature," Downing said. "There’s a dialogue with the entire staff, again with taking input from some of the players. We just need to go execute better, and I gotta help put them in situations to do that."
Downing put emphasis on staying in front of the sticks in order to stick to the script. That's something Tennessee has failed to do behind their banged up offensive line.
Let's not make this all about halftime adjustments, though. The Titans far too often fall into a mode where they are a complete non-factor offensively. They currently lead the NFL with 48 three-and-outs. That's over 30 percent of the team's possessions (157) on the season ending before they can pick up a first down.
Unfortunately, with Downing remaining the play-caller, a series of injuries up front, and the lack of game changing weapons at his disposal, it doesn't look like things will be changing for the Titans offense anytime soon.
Image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
