Titans biggest offseason gamble has already blown up in their face
NASHVILLE — After an embarrassing 27-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, it has never been more clear that the Tennessee Titans' big offseason gamble was a mistake. The Titans took a risk this offseason when they signed left tackle Andre Dillard to a three-year, $29 million free agent contract and made him the […]
NASHVILLE — After an embarrassing 27-3 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, it has never been more clear that the Tennessee Titans' big offseason gamble was a mistake.
The Titans took a risk this offseason when they signed left tackle Andre Dillard to a three-year, $29 million free agent contract and made him the starting left tackle. Prior to joining Tennessee, Dillard was a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles who had played just 617 career snaps at left tackle.
Instead of spending big at the position or using 11th overall pick Peter Skoronski as the tackle he was in college, the Titans went thrift shopping. Dillard's training camp struggles have now carried over into the regular season, and Tennessee's gamble has blown up in their face.
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill never had much of a shot on Sunday. The 35-year-old veteran was sacked five times by Cleveland defenders. Myles Garrett had 3.5 sacks by himself battling against Dillard.
“They did a good job of getting pressure in the pocket pretty much all day," said Tannehill after the game.
Let's just tell it like it is. Dillard is a problem. His struggles on Sunday were not new. He allowed six pressures against the Saints in Week 1. He allowed three sacks against the Chargers in Week 2. He got beat off the edge by Arden Key for the better part of a month during training camp.
He's far too soft with his hands. I've seen it time and time again in practice. Quite frankly, he's just not a starting left tackle in the National Football League. He wasn't in Philadelphia and he's not now. The sooner the Titans realize that and make a change the better. I don't care how much money they're paying him.
But don't worry. At least Myles Garrett was kind enough to give Dillard some tips on his game after eating his lunch for 60 straight minutes.
"I think I just need to do better with my hands and my sets. I talked to [Myles Garrett] after the game and he told me his inputs. I'm just trying to get better, so he kind of told me what he saw, what he liked about my game, and what I could've done differently," said Dillard in the locker room after the game. "It's cool to see it from his perspective."
Apparently Myles Garrett is like a white hat hacker. He penetrated the Titans' fire wall and then reported all the security deficiencies he found after the fact. Hilarious for Cleveland. Embarrassing for Tennessee.
So what options do the Titans have? On paper, it would make sense to move Peter Skoronski over to tackle. He's Tennessee's left tackle of the future, so why not bite the bullet and get him some experience over there now? It's not that easy.
Skoronski got almost all of his offseason and training camp work at guard. As part of the gamble they made on Dillard, that's where the Titans have developed him for now. Mike Vrabel, Ran Carthon, and company may not love the idea of switching Skoronski's position one month into his rookie season. That may be more of an offseason project.
Chris Hubbard is an option, but until Nicholas Petit-Frere returns from his six-game gambling suspension, Hubbard is needed on the right side.
Then there's Dillon Radunz, who has been filling in a left guard with Skoronski out but could be displaced to tackle once the rookie returns. Radunz makes a lot of sense and, in my opinion, it really couldn't hurt to give him a look over there.
I'm not sure there's a perfect answer out there, but I know the Titans should be looking wherever they can. The Dillard experiment is blowing up in their face and costing them football games.
It doesn't matter who your running back is, quarterback is, or how many DeAndre Hopkins' you sign in free agency. If you can't protect your quarterback and avoid negative plays, you're not going to win football games.
Sunday's loss was demoralizing and change is clearly necessary.
Andre Dillard’s contract breakdown for the Titans
The Titans are not stuck with Andre Dillard.
