Troubling trend among Tennessee Titans highest-graded offensive players?

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 14: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball for a first quarter touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts at LP Field on November 14, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 14: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans carries the ball for a first quarter touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts at LP Field on November 14, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Pro Football Focus shared who the Tennessee Titans’ highest-graded offensive players are since 2006.

If you look at the highest-graded offensive players for the Tennessee Titans since the 2006 season, you notice one obvious trend.

There are a ton of offensive lineman on the list.

Since 2006, the Titans have seen nine offensive lineman take home the honor of the highest-graded player on the entire offense, per PFF.

The one that jumps off the page at me is in 2009, when guard Jake Scott’s 82.6 was tops on the team. That year, of course, was the season in which running back Chris Johnson dominated the NFL and ran for over 2,000 yards. While Scott was no doubt great that season, you’d think Johnson would win out over an 82.6.

Which begs the question: how on earth was Johnson not the highest-graded offensive player? Perhaps the grading system has a few cracks in the old armor—but I digress.

Regardless, the somewhat troubling trend is that the Titans aren’t seeing many skill position players on this list. Of the 13 years these grades have been recorded, only four non-lineman have earned the highest marks.

On the bright side, three of the last four years have been a different story, with tight end Delanie Walker being at the head of the class in two of those seasons. Quarterback Marcus Mariota reigned supreme last season, albeit with a 76.8.

NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 2: Marcus Mariota #8 of the Tennessee Titans is helped up by teammates Derrick Henry #22 and Taylor Lewan #77 after being sacked by the New York Jets during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 2: Marcus Mariota #8 of the Tennessee Titans is helped up by teammates Derrick Henry #22 and Taylor Lewan #77 after being sacked by the New York Jets during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

To also be fair, fantastic seasons like left tackle Taylor Lewan’s in 2016 (87.0) and fellow tackle David Stewart’s (90.7) in 2008 have been truly exceptional seasons for their respective positions. It’s hard for any offensive player to break through against grades like those.

And, as I mentioned already, how a running back like CJ2K with over 2,500 total yards in a season doesn’t get a grade higher than Scott’s 82.6 in 2009 makes you question the system in general, despite PFF being a revered source by many, including yours truly.

For now, we’re going to take it at face value and see if the Titans can keep this new trend of skill position players getting the highest mark going forward; although it must be said those top grades from the last few years need to go up, as well.