Tennessee Titans key to winning vs Houston Texans is the same

MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Vrable of the Tennessee Titans greets Birian Orakpo prior to taking on the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Mike Vrable of the Tennessee Titans greets Birian Orakpo prior to taking on the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /
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Why the Tennessee Titans key to victory hasn’t changed in spite of bad news.

Tennessee Titans fans have had a lot of bad news this week. From Delanie Walker going to IR, to being without your top two OTs vs a decent front seven.

As grim as it looks a day before the game, the Titans key to getting to 1-1 remains the same: defense.

The Titans defense should be much improved this year. Look at the moves made this offseason to solidify that side of the ball:

-Spent north of $10 million per year on Malcolm Butler

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-Brought in Kenny Vaccaro

-Drafted Rashaan Evans with their 1st round pick

-Brought in defensive ends Harold Landry (2nd round) and Sharif Finch (UDFA) in the same draft

-Re-signed Daquan Jones.

-Signed veteran LB Will Compton.

-Added Bennie Logan at NT to sure up run defense.

All of those players either started last week or were heavy contributors other than the two rookies.

That defense may have taken some time to gel, but that time is over. They need to be the unit they were paid to be sooner rather than later, and I think they can be.

Against a Houston Texans offense that already had one of the worst offensive lines in football before losing their right tackle for the year, it shouldn’t be hard to show up well. Now with the addition of Harold Landry, Rashaan Evans and a healthier Derrick Morgan, there is no excuse to look anything less than above average.

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If Blaine Gabbert plays, the Titans need to be able to keep the Texans under 20 if they are going to have a chance at winning. That may be giving the Tennessee offense too much credit given the injuries they are dealing with.

Even if Mariota plays, Tennessee needs to have an identity. If they aren’t going to be feared for their offense which isn’t off to a hot start, then the defense needs to step up.

Dean Pees had a great year last year and we saw Thursday in the Baltimore Ravens vs Cincinnati Bengals game that it wasn’t because he had a loaded roster. He is going to have to be aggressive and really dominate this game.

If they don’t, then the Titans could be in for a long day and a long season.