How Hue Jackson can fix the Tennessee Titans in five steps
By Will Lomas
Sep 3, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans assistant head coach Dick LeBeau during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Step 1: Find a way to keep Dick Lebeau
LeBeau has been one of the few bright spots on this Titans team. He has found a way to make a pedestrian unit into a top-10 unit.
Since Jackson has experience on the defensive side of the ball, I have to assume that he will see just how impressive this season has been for LeBeau. Let’s break it down, just in case you have forgotten.
-Perrish Cox was brought into this offense in the second or third wave of free agency and since has become the best cornerback on this team. He is the only true play maker in the back four, and he is young piece that the Titans can build around.
-This team is 8th in the league in pass defense despite never having both corners on the field at 100%. That is insane, and no other team in the league could replicate that. Even if they could, it is likely because their #2 CB is the one that got hurt and they have an elite #1.
-Brian Orakpo is on pace for a career year in sacks and is a dark horse candidate for comeback player of the year.
-Derrick Morgan (when healthy) has looked like a different person. He and Orakpo looked like one of the top pairs of 3-4 OLBs in terms of pressure and overall production when on the field together.
-Jurrell Casey has been dominating like usual, but it is his counter part DaQuan Jones who has taken the biggest leap. Jones has been a very good and consistent 5-tech and looks like a very good draft pick by Ruston Webster.
-Wesley Woodyard is a true captain on this team and is clearly having a great year. He has gone in and out of being the Titans leading sacker on a team with Brian Orakpo and Jurrell Casey, so I’m not sure what more needs to be said.
I think Jackson will have enough experience in the AFC North and common sense to know to keep him.