Tennessee Titans: Three major changes needed to turn around season
In order for the Tennessee Titans to turn their season around, three specific things need to be improved as soon as possible.
The Tennessee Titans are having a very scary October so far, and I’m not talking about Halloween. Maybe Nissan Stadium is buried on an old Native American graveyard, or a more likely explanations is the coaching staff doesn’t really know how to use their talent on the field. Either way, there are three things that need an obvious change for the Titans going forward.
Before I go through this list, I think there are a few things that need to be said immediately. Firstly, Marcus Mariota is not the problem for the Titans. Also, I don’t think they should be looking forward to the draft coming up (albeit in Nashville) for more young talent, because they are still in first place in the AFC South in a three-way tie.
The Running Game
This might be the millionth time I say this, but I’m going to scream it for anyone in the back that hasn’t heard me yet: DERRICK HENRY NEEDS TO BE THE FULL TIME BACK. With only 12 more carries than Dion Lewis, Henry has not had his chance to shine. I almost wish Henry would be a more verbose NFL back, because it seems that nowadays the more media attention you get, the more carries you get, but I digress. Henry is a volume back, and the fact that he has 72 attempts through six weeks is appalling. Have you heard the adage, “feed the monster”? That doesn’t mean that the monster wants to eat, but that when the monster eats, he gets bigger and stronger. Henry needs 20-plus touches a game, which he has not had once this season, and until he does I will not shut up about this. I don’t want to hear about how Mike Vrabel and crew have a “game plan”, because so far that “game plan” has been utter garbage.
Malcolm Butler
I don’t even know where to start on this guy, or even what to say that hasn’t been said already, by me especially, but I’ll try to be creative. Malcolm Butler is bad. Okay, that’s a bit harsh, but he is the obvious weak link in the Titans secondary, and the proof was in the 21-0 loss against the Baltimore Ravens. Joe Flacco was not even looking away from whoever Butler was covering and for good reason, connecting with Michael Crabtree for the first touchdown of the day. Butler seemed to not care at all. The guy hit the lotto with his contract, and the Jon Robinson-led front office made a critical failure in signing him, and now they need to figure out what to do with him. A benching could be coming in the future. Him being on the field has clearly been a problem, so why not take him off for a bit.
The Play Calling
This one I can tie into the first point, but I think it goes a little deeper. The play calling for the Titans has completely changed going into the month of October. I haven’t seen that same zest for aggressiveness from the play calling that we saw in Weeks 1-4. Vrabel and staff must get back to not being afraid to go for it on 4th and short and take risks on first down. That must come back, because Titans fans have seen enough of the Run, Run, Pass, Punt — in the field goal Fisher era — and they don’t want it back.
There it is, the three major things that need to change for the Titans. I think these changes can crucially help the Titans. So, if you’re superstitious in this month of October, then it’s time to wash that jersey, do a rain dance or whatever you don’t usually do to keep a winning streak going, because the Titans need all the help they can get right now. Follow me on Twitter @ZacheriahW for more Titans talk and a live chat after every Titans game.