Why the Tennessee Titans defense is only going to get better
The Tennessee Titans defense has finally turned the corner as one of the NFL's very best defensive units. Tennessee has only gotten stronger as the season has gone on, and there's no reason to believe they'll be slowing down anytime soon.
While the Titans defense started the 2022 season with some flashes of greatness, the unit was hindered by their inability to prevent explosive plays. The Titans would come through in the red zone, create turnovers, and contain the run, but were always prone to the big shot that generated quick points.
That has all begun to change in recent weeks.
Since the beginning of Week 3, the Titans defense is number one in the NFL in success rate, rush EPA, and rushing success rate, while landing in the top five in overall EPA per play.
When factoring out garbage time statistics, the Titans defense leads in almost every advanced category. Play for play, they have been one of the most efficient defenses in the league.
That was on display on Sunday Night Football in Kansas City when overcoming injuries and offensive struggles, the Titans defense fought to the end and took Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs into overtime. Some defensive starters played 100 snaps of football on the night.
According to Titans rookie cornerback Roger McCreary, who had his first career interception off of Mahomes in the game, the defense is just getting started.
During an interview on The Buck Reising Show on 104.5 The Zone, McCreary said the vibe around the Titans has been a positive one, and that time would help the defense continue to grow.
"I feel like defense is just getting better and better," McCreary said. "We're just getting used to each other. We got some new guys in the defense and everything."
McCreary makes a strong point. The Titans defense, per usual, has added a few new faces over the course of the season that are "plug and play" pieces in their defense. Mario Edwards Jr., Terrance Mitchell, and Andrew Adams were all mid-season acquisitions that are now producing regular quality snaps in Tennessee, just to name a few.
At times, that can be a weakness. We heard from defensive coordinator Shane Bowen and head coach Mike Vrabel this past week about the importance of communication up front leading to better rush lanes and needing to contain mobile quarterbacks.
We saw earlier in the season how communication could lead to busted coverages and big plays from an opposing offense.
As McCreary said, the Titans defenders are now becoming more acquainted with one another, and as that familiarity grows, so will the defensive success.
DB Elijah Molden will be added to the mix this Sunday vs. Denver, as the Titans will once again have to overcome a series of injuries to spark another winning streak.
Image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
