Titans coach explains the refreshing offensive philosophy he's bringing to Tennessee
Charles London joined the Tennessee Titans coaching staff this offseason as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator with a plan to solve Tennessee's main offensive issues. The Titans are hoping that the fresh perspective of London and new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly will bring some much needed efficiency and versatility back into their offense. Under […]
Charles London joined the Tennessee Titans coaching staff this offseason as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator with a plan to solve Tennessee's main offensive issues.
The Titans are hoping that the fresh perspective of London and new offensive coordinator Tim Kelly will bring some much needed efficiency and versatility back into their offense.
Under Todd Downing last season the Titans were 30th in total yards per game (296.8), 30th in passing yards per game (171.4), and 28th in points per game (17.5).
But Kelly and London, who was one of the hottest names in the coaching carousel this offseason, are hoping to change that and Titans fans recently got their first look at a few of the refreshing philosophies London will be bringing with him to Tennessee.
London was one of a few coaches to speak at the NFL Quarterback Coaching Summit, giving a presentation to his peers on some of his biggest offensive philosophies.
Here's a look at some of the passing game philosophies London spoke about:
– Use stacks and bunches to get free releases and create leverage to help your players win the route
– Use shifts and motions to make the defense communicate
– Vs. zone coverage stress the defense with proper spacing on route concepts
– Vs. man create seperation…You do this by running routes with "edges"
– The QB must trust you are going to be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there!
– Trust builds confidence and belief…between QB & receiver
– Build a passing game that maximizes the talent, ability, and potential of each player on your offense
– Must be brilliant in the basics (alignment, assessment, technique)
– Structure formations to help give the QB the answers to the test
– Spread the field horizontally and vertically using different formations and alignments
– Be multiple in your personnel groupings to exploit mismatches
– "FTS"… "Feed The Studs"…Get the ball to your best players
London also made a point to emphasize the importance of the quick game and implementing quick routes. In some circumstances, like when the Titans' offense went against the Washington Commanders' dominant defensive front last season, quick concepts give a QB "the answers to the test" by simplifying their responsibilities and getting the ball out of their hands faster.
In other situations, quick routes are a practical way of getting the ball to your best players in space. When you have a player like Derrick Henry in your backfield, you need to take any and every opportunity to get him running downhill.
But regardless of the route, it's generally a good idea to play through your best offensive weapons. As London worded it during his presentation, it's all about "feeding the studs," which would be refreshing to see in Tennessee's new offense after failing to do so last year.
Treylon Burks and Chig Okonkwo were probably the Titans' two best weapons in the passing game last year, but the two rookies combined for just 100 of 456 team targets on the season. We heard all season about how it was a priority to start getting the rookies more looks, but we rarely saw those plans come to fruition while Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Austin Hooper were given just as much, if not more opportunities in the offense to make plays.
Against Indianapolis in Week 4, Okonkwo caught all three passes thrown his way for a total of 38 receiving yards and a touchdown, but would only have 3 receiving yards and four total targets over the next month.
After a promising start to his NFL career, racking up seven catches for 102 yards on 11 targets in the first two games of the season, Burks got just five combined targets in Weeks 3 and 4.
It would be nice to see Tennessee play through their stars in 2023. That means a high volume of targets for both Burks and Okonkwo, as well as incorporating both Henry and Tyjae Spears into the passing game. London seems to have a good idea of how to make that happen and make life easier for Tannehill, Will Levis, and Malik Willis.
Up to this point, Tennessee's new assistant coaches are saying all the right things to give fans faith that things can change on the offensive side of the ball in 2023. But in order to really win everyone over, they'll need to prove it this fall by putting up points.
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