Titans offensive ‘severe weakness’ under fire from national media outlet but they missed the mark on the in-house solution
Even with over 30 new players via free agency and the NFL Draft under new head coach Robert Saleh’s staff, the Titans couldn’t fill all the concerns across the offense.
There’s a saying in the NFL world that you can’t fix everything in one offseason. Well, the Tennessee Titans have given it a great shot.
Even with over 30 new players via free agency and the NFL Draft under new head coach Robert Saleh’s staff, the Titans couldn’t fill all the concerns across the offense.
But, you have to think they did enough to be better than second worse in the AFC?
Not according to The Athletic Football Show, who ranked all of the ‘AFC’s offensive supporting casts around the quarterback‘ this week. The Titans came in the 15 spot, one ahead of the dead last Miami Dolphins. The criticism from Robert Mays and Derrick Klassen is fair, for the most part. I don’t agree with all of it, but there is one clear issue that sticks out above all of the rest.
Titans offensive line tabbed a “severe weakness”
Mays and Klassen rip through a few key topics they think will hold the Titans back. It’s important to note, as they did, this exercise removes the quarterback from the equation. How good is the entire offensive unit around Cam Ward? The offensive line concerns dominated the narrative of this segment.
“There’s so many questions about what Austin Schlottman and Cordell Volson is going to give you at the interior positions,” Klassen starts off about the offensive line’s free agent additions. “Even the left tackle Dan Moore, I think was not even as good as they had had hoped he would be last year… the offensive line worry is just a lot.”
The main concern for Titans fans has to be the interior offensive line with veteran, but replacement level players like Schlottman and Volson penciled to start. Mays brings up last season’s starting right guard, Kevin Ziegler, as someone who would make him feel better about the offensive line, among his deeper analysis.
“You have two massive question marks at two of the interior spots,” Mays said. “If Kevin Zeitler somehow is in the mix for this team before the season starts. I feel a little bit better about that, but as of right now, I think the offensive line is below average at best, and potentially a severe weakness.”
Are new WRs Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson the OL solution?
Get open quick, throw quick. That’s a solid concept.
It sounds good, until I mention that was a philosophy fired Titans head coach Brian Callahan brought up as the Titans were cycling through saloon-doors at offensive tackle in 2024.
For that to work you have to have the players to actually get open quick. I think they have (at least) two options to help the offensive line by creating quick passing options for Ward.
Robinson wins with quickness, a must in his five-foot-eight frame. He had over 140 targets in each of his last two seasons with offensive coordinator Brian Daboll in New York. The former Giants receiver enters Tennessee in the same role he just left.
Tate is completely different from Robinson, but a great compliment. The six-foot-two former Ohio State receiver can get open quick by being a contested catch maniac. He put this skillset on display at the Titans May 29 OTA practice with two third down conversions verses tight coverage.
Clearly, I’m relying on a lot of projection for a rookie receiver to carry significant weight for his team here. That’s what the Titans drafted Tate at fourth overall for, however. And, Tate’s resume at Ohio State tells you where he wins consistently: against man coverage and in contested catch situations.
Tate has checked all the boxes he possibly can in early June. The early signs are positive between the connection of he and Ward. The interior OL is a real concern. There’s a chance Scholttman and Volson play well enough. There’s also the opposite, where Tennessee may have to turn to one of their three young late round draft pick back ups.