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Tennessee Titans: 3 biggest concerns vs. Cleveland Browns in Week 1

By Michael Moraitis

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 25: Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans looks on during the second half of a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Nissan Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - AUGUST 25: Head coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans looks on during the second half of a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Nissan Stadium on August 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Browns DE, Myles Garrett.
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 08: Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns during warmups before the gam against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Holding off the Browns’ pass-rush

The Browns’ talented pass-rush featuring Olivier Vernon and Myles Garrett would have been a concern even with Taylor Lewan on the field, but now that the Tennessee Titans left tackle isn’t playing because of a four-game suspension, the concern is even bigger.

Filling in for Lewan will be Dennis Kelly, who played solid on the right side last season. And, while Kelly has some experience playing on the left side, he isn’t quite the pass protector that Lewan is, and that was apparent even during a preseason in which Kelly was just OK.

The Titans do have some solutions for this issue, though. Sliding protection over to help Kelly on the left side will be necessary, and having Delanie Walker to help out will be huge.

Thankfully for Tennessee, the right tackle spot seems to be stabilized with Jack Conklin having played well this preseason, so the Titans can afford to give Kelly the extra help.

Right guard is another spot the Titans should be concerned with. While Pamphile is normally good in pass protection, he didn’t have a good preseason. The Titans can’t afford to have the same issues up the middle like they did in 2018, thus Pamphile’s performance is also key.

Should the Titans succumb to the Browns’ pass-rush and Marcus Mariota ends up running for his life for most of the afternoon, this Titans offense will have a tough time getting off the ground in Week 1.

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