NFL analyst list 10 reasons he thinks the Titans will take a step back in 2022
The Tennessee Titans haven't had a losing season since 2015 when the franchise went 3-13 and fired Ken Whisenhunt as their head coach (Whisenhunt was fired after a 1-6 start). Despite Tennessee's success over the last six seasons — which includes a trip to the AFC Championship game and the No. 1 overall seed in […]
The Tennessee Titans haven't had a losing season since 2015 when the franchise went 3-13 and fired Ken Whisenhunt as their head coach (Whisenhunt was fired after a 1-6 start).
Despite Tennessee's success over the last six seasons — which includes a trip to the AFC Championship game and the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC last season — it seems like the national media still doesn't believe in the Titans as a premier NFL team.
NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal, for example, recently fired off 10 reasons why he thinks the Titans will take a step back in 2022.
You can click here for his explanation, but here's a quick rundown of his 10 reasons.
- Ryan Tannehill had a rough offseason.
- Derrick Henry was ineffective in the divisional round of the playoffs.
- The offensive line struggles in pass blocking.
- Treylon Burks won't be able to replace AJ Brown because his "touches were manufactured" at Arkansas.
- The quarterback hits will catch up to Tannehill.
- Titans didn't address the offensive line enough this offseason.
- Bud Dupree was "up and down" last season.
- Zach Cunningham doesn't do enough to help against the pass.
- The cornerbacks still have a lot to prove.
- "The Titans' statistical profile was closer to that of a 9-8 team than a No. 1 seed" and "the roster looks worse overall now".
Some of those concerns are legitimate. The cornerbacks have a lot to prove and the offensive line definitely needs to get better in pass blocking.
Some of the other concerns, however, are laughable.
Tannehill had a rough offseason? How? Because he threw a bad interception in the Titans' playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals? He's not the first quarterback to have a bad interception to end a season. It happens. That won't affect how he plays in 2022.
Otherwise, it was business as usual for Tannehill this offseason.
The note about Henry is amusing as well. Henry missed nearly three months of action and the game against the Bengals was his first game back. Just because he only rushed for 62 yards in that game doesn't mean he's going to struggle in 2022. As long as Henry is healthy, he'll continue to produce at a high level.
All the Titans have done under general manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel is win games. Just because this team lost wide receiver AJ Brown (let's not forget that they added a great player in wide receiver Robert Woods), doesn't mean the Titans' roster is "worse overall). This team has a history of producing positive results.
Tennessee, as usual, will have to work hard to prove they belong among the elite teams in the AFC. I don't know how the season will play out, but this isn't a team that I see "taking a step back" in 2022.
Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
