The Titans defense is one adjustment away from perfection
The Tennessee Titans defensive front has played a huge part in the team's surge to the top of the AFC South. Even without Harold Landry, and at times Bud Dupree, the Titans front four each have an innate ability to win one-on-one matchups and get after the quarterback. Joining Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry with […]
The Tennessee Titans defensive front has played a huge part in the team's surge to the top of the AFC South.
Even without Harold Landry, and at times Bud Dupree, the Titans front four each have an innate ability to win one-on-one matchups and get after the quarterback.
Joining Jeffery Simmons and Denico Autry with the breakout seasons from Teair Tart and Rashad Weaver as well as quality snaps from Mario Edwards Jr. and DeMarcus Walker, the Titans defensive front is stifling.
Sunday Night in Kansas City, that was evident, and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid took notice of what contributes to the Titans defense being so special.
Bitter Sweet
There is good news and bad news regarding the Titans performance in the trenches, though.
The good news? The Titans were able to bring pressure on Patrick Mahomes without having to bring a blitz.
Per Next Gen Stats, "Mahomes was pressured on a career-high 18 dropbacks when facing four-or-fewer pass rushers in Week 9. The Titans defense has blitzed at the lowest rate (15%) in the NFL this season, while recording a league-high 31.7% pressure rate on non-blitzes."
That means the line is winning with less up front, allowing the Titans to drop more players into coverage and making things difficult for an opposing quarterback, who is dealing with good coverage and great pressure.
The bad news? Patrick Mahomes was able to turn that strength into a massive weakness with his mobility and IQ.
Mahomes gained 403 yards on the Titans non-blitz packages on Sunday Night. He gained 63 yards, and scored the game-tying touchdown with his legs. Mahomes also traveled 428 scramble yards before throwing the ball tonight, the 11th-most in a game since 2016.
Because he was under pressure, but the Titans had so many players in coverage, more lanes opened up for Mahomes to extend a play on the ground. That could be a real concern moving forward with Tennessee set to play a dangerous slate of mobile quarterbacks (DEN, CIN, PHI).
The Solution
Time for some more good news. The solution is pretty clear, and making this adjustment could be the last piece of the puzzle for this defense.
Both Mike Vrabel and the Titans defenders had the same takeaway from the defensive effort in Kansas City. The Titans pass rushers need to work on their communication and their rush lanes. They need to be on the same page and prevent big gaps in the line from forming.
"Everybody has to be on the same page," Vrabel told the media on Monday. "Whether it's Bud [Dupree] working out there with somebody or whoever it may be, just making sure that we're on the same page and that we don't have one guy coming under, one guy over the top, and giving those quarterbacks [space]. There's so many of them in this league, that can get into a defense and breakdown a defense."
Vrabel also alluded to the emphasis placed on relentless coverage for the Titans defensive backs this past Sunday. Obviously, a number of defenders in coverage with backs turned to the quarterback is a bad recipe for a mobile QB that can get loose.
It's such a slight adjustment, but an incredibly important one. If the Titans can get on the same page, their defensive dominance may reach new heights.
Image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
