NFL Team Preview: Tennessee Titans

Last Year:

Record: 3-13

Offense: 311.8 YPG (30th), 18.7 PPG (28th)

Defense: 342.2 yards allowed (12th), 26.4 points allowed (27th)

It was a rough year for the Titans in 2015. They finished with the worst record in the NFL and were unable to keep their 1st round pick, Marcus Mariota, healthy the entire season. Offensively, the run game wasn’t very good and the passing game wasn’t much better. Not a single receiver had more than 36 catches which forced the team to throw to tight end Delanie Walker a ton (94 receptions, 1088 yds, 6 td’s). They finished outside of the top 25 in both rushing and passing yards per game. Defensively they were slightly better (a positive to take out of this), and sure they gave up a ton of points, but they were in the top half of the league in yards allowed and their front 7 was respectable. Unfortunately, the secondary was a disaster and the primary culprit in their high points allowed average.

Offseason:

Key Acquisitions: RB. Demarco Murray, S. Rashad Jones, C. Ben Jones, CB. Brice McCain, WR. Rishard Matthews, QB. Matt Cassell

Key Loses: None

RD(PK)	PLAYER	POS	SCHOOL
1(8)	Jack Conklin	OT	Michigan State
2(2)	Kevin Dodd	DE	Clemson
2(12)	Austin Johnson	DT	Penn State
2(14)	Derrick Henry	RB	Alabama
3(1)	Kevin Byard	S	Middle Tennessee
5(1)	Tajae Sharpe	WR	Massachusetts
5(18)	Leshaun Sims	CB	Southern Utah
6(18)	Sebastian Tretola	OG	Arkansas
7(1)	Aaron Wallace	OLB	UCLA
7(32)	Kalan Reed	CB	Southern Miss

2016 Outlook 

Coaching Staff

HC: Mike Mularkey

OC: Terry Robiskie

DC: Dick LeBeau

STC: Bobby April

Projected Depth Chart

Offense

QB. Marcus Mariota, Matt Cassel

RB. Demarco Murray, Derrick Henry

FB. Jalston Fowler, Sam Bergen

WR. Kendall Wright, Harry Douglas

WR. Dorial Green-Beckham, Justin Hunter

WR. Tajae Sharp, Rishard Matthews

TE. Delanie Walker, Craig Stevans, Anthony Fasono

LT. Taylor Lewan, William Poehls

LG. Jeremiah Poutasi, Sebastian Tretola

C. Ben Jones, Brian Schwenke

RG. Chance Warmack, Quinton Spain

RT. Jack Conklin, Sam Carlson

Defense

DE. DaQuan Jones, Ropati Pitoitua

NT. Al Woods, Austin Johnson

DE. Jurrell Casey, Karl Klug

OLB. Derrick Morgan, Deiontrez Mount

MLB. Wesley Woodyard, Curtis Grant

MLB. Avery Williamson, Sean Spence

OLB. Brian Orakpo, Kevin Dodd

CB. Perrish Cox, Antwon Blake

SS. Da’Norris Searcy, Kevin Byard

FS. Rashad Johnson, Marqueston Huff

CB. Jason McCourty, Blidi Wreh-Wilson

NB. Brice McCain, Kalan Reed

Specialists

K. Ryan Succop

P. Brett Kern

 Breakdown

Offense:

The Titans have significantly improved at running back with the additions of Murray and Henry. I also anticipate them having a better offensive line this season due to reports out of camp about Lewan being in better shape and looking a little quicker, as well as newcomers Jones and Conklin, who should add some punch to the run game. I definitely expect the Titans to be able to run the ball especially if the coaching staff is willing to allow Mariota to run some read option plays. However, I have far less confidence in Tennessee’s passing attack. First and foremost, can Mariota stay healthy? And if so, how much has he improved as a passer? Can at least 1 receiver catch 50 passes? Can they get open? So far in camp a 5th round rookie has looked better than all of their veteran receivers. These are all valid concerns that really make it hard to project much success consistently through the air for the Titans offense in 2016.

Defense:

All-time great defensive coordinator Dick Lebeau has some good pieces in place to get this unit moving in the right direction. The Titans were better defensively in 2015 than some might believe. A lot of their points allowed were the result of turnovers and constantly losing the field position battle, as their offense simply was unable to move the ball on a consistent basis. The front 7 is loaded with pass rushers for Lebeau to play with and utilize for his zone blitzing schemes and the team should be better against the run with better health up front. The addition of Johnson in the secondary and hopefully a healthy McCourty should result in much more consistent play in the secondary.