COLUMN: The Titans' Challenge in Correcting Turnover Problem on Offense
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ⏤ It doesn't take a whole lot of detective work to figure out that the biggest problem plaguing the Tennessee Titans so far in 2021 is offensive turnovers. Through just three games, Tennessee's offense has given the ball to the defense a whopping seven times. Three of those turnovers came in the Titans' […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. ⏤ It doesn't take a whole lot of detective work to figure out that the biggest problem plaguing the Tennessee Titans so far in 2021 is offensive turnovers.
Through just three games, Tennessee's offense has given the ball to the defense a whopping seven times. Three of those turnovers came in the Titans' most recent game, a 25-16 win over the Colts on Sunday.
"We need to protect the football. We’ve turned the ball over far too many times," offensive coordinator Todd Downing said.
"We need to protect that ball like we’re protecting everybody else’s family, kids and livelihoods, because we are. That’s an area of our offense we need to fix quickly."
Making that fix will be a unique challenge.
TURNOVER VARIETY PACK
When you take a look at the Titans' seven turnovers in 2021, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to them. There's no common cause or pervasive error in technique.
Here's a look at what led to each of those seven giveaways…
- No. 1: OLB Chandler Jones (Cardinals) strip-sacked QB Ryan Tannehill as an unblocked rusher.
- No. 2: WR Julio Jones dropped a Tannehill pass, which LB Isaiah Simmons (Cardinals) easily caught off of the deflection.
- No. 3: Jones strip-sacked Tannehill, again, after ruthlessly beating LT Kendall Lamm in pass protection.
- No. 4: DE Alton Robinson (Seahawks) strip-sacked Tannehill after easily beating TE Geoff Swaim, who was inexplicably left on an island in pass protection.
- No. 5: After TE Tommy Hudson and RB Jeremy McNichols ran into each other, Tannehill panicked and threw the ball straight to LB Darius Leonard (Colts) in zone coverage.
- No 6: WR Chester Rogers dropped a Tannehill pass, which CB Kenny Moore II (Colts) easily caught off of the deflection.
- No. 7: CB Rock Ya-Sin (Colts) stripped WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine of the ball as he was going to the ground after catching a slant.
That amounts to three strip-sacks, two interceptions off of deflections from dropped passes, one ill-advised Tannehill pass and one fumble from a runner⏤basically, a turnover variety pack.
"It has come in a lot of different areas, and it all works together," QB Ryan Tannehill said of his team's turnover bug. "You can’t pinpoint one thing."
Not having a clear, common cause behind all or even most of their turnovers will make it difficult for the Titans to make corrections.
If all or most of the turnovers came because of, for example, sloppy technique in carrying the football, the Titans would be able to emphasize that error, correct it and move on.
But since there isn't a singular problem area causing the Titans' turnovers, they can't cure the issue simply by making an adjustment or two.
MIKE VRABEL'S APPROACH
Instead, head coach Mike Vrabel is ensuring that each position group focuses on the common mistakes specific to their position that lead to turnovers.
Vrabel dedicated two periods of Wednesday's practice to that purpose.
"I think it went well," Downing said of the practice. "The guys realized where we are and how far it is from where we want to be in that department. I think everyone took it very seriously and very intentionally. We got a lot of good work."
Having running backs practice ball security, receivers practice catching with their hands and quarterbacks practice avoiding high-risk throws won't lead to some kind of massive transformation for the Titans' offense.
After all, each of those positions already understands those fundamental elements of technique.
What it does provide, however, is cognizance.
If players are more aware of their shortcomings in the area of ball security, they'll be more likely to avoid the same pitfalls.
"It's the technique, and then it is also a mindset. We have to be aware of it going into the game," Tannehill said.
Time will tell whether that awareness makes a discernable difference. It should, though.
"We'll clean it up," WR Chester Rogers said. "It's a long season, no worries."
Cover image: Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean
