The Tennessee Titans need to fundamentally shift their offensive identity
By Will Lomas
One final note about why blocking is easier with less…blockers.
It sounds so counter intuitive to say that it is easier to block with less blockers, but this is such a fantastic way of explaining it:
Think about it like this. Teams are struggling to find good offensive linemen, I mean look at the Tennessee Titans. Right now they have two 1st round draft picks, a high priced left guard, a center they just extended, and a top-100 pick at right guard.
That is a lot of capital being invested in an offensive line who can’t seem to block for more than 2 seconds at a time without letting someone through.
So if those are the best five blockers, then why then do we think it would get better if the Titans brought in their sixth, seventh and eighth best blockers to try?
There is no law that says that the Broncos have to put Von Miller on Taylor Lewan. If I am the Broncos and the Titans try to put eight blockers on the field then I am hoping that my coach puts me in front of Jonnu Smith and lets me rush one on one with him.
However, if you put 3 WRs, a TE and a RB all out in routes and you have a mobile QB suddenly the defense can only really send 6 rushers vs your five blockers and at that point one missed tackle turns into a touchdown.
I am sure I am over explaining it and you are smart enough to see how this should work, but the concept seems impossible for OCs to understand so I just want to make sure we are all on the same page.
This principle right here is what an offense should be based around. How can I make life easiest for my QB? Force the defense to be reactionary instead of dictating the pace of the game.
What is the best way to do that? Put them in situations where they have to have a defense on the field that is capable of stopping a 240 lb. running back, a mobile QB with the ball in his hands, three talented young receivers with YAC ability, and a Pro Bowl TE who understands how to run high level routes.
When you bring other players on the field or when you take one of these options away, it only makes life easier on the defense and harder on the offense.