Sep 15, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans inside linebacker Brian Cushing (56) stuffs Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (28) on the one yard line during the second half at Reliant Stadium. The Texans won 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports
Most Tennessee Titans fans on Sunday were probably sitting there with the typical, “Wow, this offense is boring” blank stare and a facial expression to go along with it.
I was right there as well.
I have seen a general consensus from Tennessee Titans fans on social media and other writers here at Titan Sized on the redundant nature of the offense on Sunday and it is all quite justified.
Joshua Huffman (Editor): Here
John Sciarretta (Assistant Editor): Here
Trey Frisbey (Contributor): Here
As I sat and watched the game, I couldn’t help but notice how “old school” Tennessee looked while running their offensive game plan. It was just a typical high school ground-and-pound offense. I, along with the rest of Titans faithful, just couldn’t fathom why we continued to have the stereotypical offensive game plan from the football days of old.
If you don’t know what that is, let me spell it out for you:
Run, run, pass. Run, run, pass. Run, run, pass. Throw in the occasional pass, run, pass or a mixture of something else and you have an offensive style of attack that is outdated by 30 years.
This offensive mentality drives me insane.
Now, not every single drive was of this nature. In fact, the 99-yard touchdown drive led by Jake Locker was a majority of passes and a good mixture of short, middle, and deep-range tosses to a wide variety of receivers. The drive looked amazing, Locker shined, and it was exactly what we want to see and should expect from this offense.
Even with such a great drive, the other old school approach never faded away and the next series we went back to it again. I don’t understand Dowell Loggains and what he was going for. Many will argue that it comes with distrust in Locker. That is even more frustrating because when you give him the chance to make plays, he can do it. He showed it on the 99-yard drive.
We built an offense around Locker to help him succeed. Let go of the leash and let the guy play. Sure, mistakes and bumps in the road will happen, but I really want to see Locker get the chance to make a difference in tight situations like the one we had on Sunday. Loggains has to let Locker loose and let him make plays with the weapons he has around him. Running the ball over and over again is simply too predictable. Teams will key on it early and often.
Sure, the Titans approach is ball control, time of possession, and a “small ball” mentality, but when it comes to the playoffs and the elite teams, wins can’t come from those things alone. Flare and an offense ready to spread the field continue to shine through.
Next week, we can only hope that Locker is set free and allowed to make plays besides just handing the ball off on every other play.