Numbers show an obvious way to fix the Titans' passing offense
NASHVILLE — Six games into the 2023 NFL season, the Tennessee Titans have a bottom five passing offense in the league. With 35-year-old quarterback Ryan Tannehill under center, Tennessee is averaging just 173.2 passing yards per game (29th) and Tannehill has just two passing touchdowns. That's tied for the 32nd most in the league and is […]
NASHVILLE — Six games into the 2023 NFL season, the Tennessee Titans have a bottom five passing offense in the league.
With 35-year-old quarterback Ryan Tannehill under center, Tennessee is averaging just 173.2 passing yards per game (29th) and Tannehill has just two passing touchdowns. That's tied for the 32nd most in the league and is dead last among QBs who have played in six games this season.
But what if the answer to fixing Tennessee's passing game was right in front of them? What if it has nothing to do with the quarterback and everything to do with who joins him in the backfield?
According to NFL's NextGenStats, Ryan Tannehill's passing numbers sky rocket in every category when running back Derrick Henry is also on the field. When Henry heads to the sideline, Tannehill's number fall off.
Tannehill's passer rating with Henry on the field is more than double what it is without him. His completion percentage jumps up by 11.5 percent and 16 of the 19 sacks Tannehill has taken this year have come when Henry isn't out there.
Obviously some of this is due to Henry not being on the field for a majority of 3rd downs, but even in 3rd-and-4 or shorter, the Titans' starting running back is on the sidelines over 65 percent of the time.
The numbers don't lie. Tennessee's passing offense has been far more efficient with Henry in the game. And yet…Henry has only played 199 (55.74 percent) of the Titans' offense snaps this season. Rookie running back Tyjae Spears comes in just below Henry with 182 (50.98 percent) snaps played.
Henry's snap count hasn't been that lower than 64 percent since the 2018 season. The Titans are likely pumping the brakes on Henry's usage to prolong his career and get Spears involved, but it's translating into inefficient passing offense.
You might be wondering why this is the case. Isn't Spears superior to Henry in both route-running and pass blocking?
Yes, but Ryan Tannehill and the Titans' passing game is at it's best with a heavy dose of play-action. In order to run play-action effectively, you need to run the ball between the tackles…or at the very least threaten to.
By simply having Derrick Henry in the backfield on 1st-and-10, 2nd-and-10, or even 3rd-and-short, opposing defenses are forced to account for the run. Tennessee does this well on those 1st/2nd and long scenarios I mentioned, but not as much on 3rd down and short.
Perhaps the main issue here is the fact that both Henry and Spears have somewhat defined roles for when they take the field. If Henry's out there, it's probably in a run scenario. When Spears is on the field, the Titans have run a designed pass 71.5 percent of the time.
An easy solution to these problems could be more of Henry and Spears on the field at the same time, but specifically more Henry in general. The more Tennessee is in 3rd-and-long, the more likely they are to take Henry off the field. Once that happens, it's easy for opposing defenses to pin their ears back and get after the QB.
More Derrick Henry and more manageable 3rd downs. If the Titans can find a way to do that, the offense and Ryan Tannehill will be just fine.
Why now is the perfect time for the Titans to play Will Levis
It’s time to give the rookie a shot.
