Tennessee Titans game 2 standout: offense
By Will Lomas
The Tennessee Titans took care of business in all phases by beating the St. Louis Rams last night. While that is important, it is more impressive that the Tennessee Titans were up 20-0 at the half, and probably should have been up 28-0 if Dexter McCluster catches a layup pass and if Zach Mettenberger can control his fast ball a little bit better.
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However, there are some players who had a great night that didn’t get noticed. For the Tennessee Titans offense, it was Byron Bell who was filling in at left guard.
Now, that pick may be surprising because I assume that many of you expected Marcus Mariota, Chase Coffman, Zach Mettenberger, or another high profile player to be named here, but that isn’t what this piece is about. This is about a player who had a really good night that didn’t get noticed, but made a huge defense.
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In the running game, Bell wasn’t a mauler but his body was so big he constantly made lanes by getting in front of defenders and walling them off. He never got pushed back in one-on-one blocking, which is night and day different from what Andy Levitre offered at that position.
He also was a constant threat to get to the next level. If the Tennessee Titans had broken a couple of runs to the second level, it would have been clear just how well he was sealing off linebackers.
In the passing game- like Jeremiah Poutasi- once he had his hands locked on someone they couldn’t beat him. He constantly ended over the top of defenders he had put on the ground. These aren’t nobodies either, Bell had reps against 2014 defensive rookie of the year Aaron Donald and elite defensive end Robert Quinn and held his own.
I think the Tennessee Titans would be wise to stick with this offensive lineup unless they can get Evan Mathis in free agency. Either way, it is easy to see that the gritty physicality of Bell, Poutasi and Taylor Lewan is making a difference on this offensive line and I think you have to find a way to keep all of these guys on the field together (again, unless you can get an All-Pro guard like Evan Mathis).