Titans vs. Ravens: Reasons for optimism and concern for Tennessee

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CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 22: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens runs with the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter in the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Concern: Lamar Jackson

The single biggest concern for the Titans in this game will be keeping Lamar Jackson in check. Notice how I don’t say “stopping Lamar Jackson”; that’s because you simply can’t stop all the things he can do.

Jackson has unheard of speed for a quarterback that is only made more clear when noting that he finished sixth in the NFL in rushing yards this season. He is unlike anything we’ve ever seen at the position before.

To make matters worse, he’s efficient through the air. Just when a defense sells out to try and stop him on the ground, Jackson will lob one over a defense’s head to one of his tight ends, which is a position Tennessee has had trouble defending in 2019.

The Titans are going to have to set the edge on every down and force Jackson into the middle of the field. Once he starts getting around the edge regularly, it’s pretty much game over.

On the bright side, Tennessee’s defensive coordinator, Dean Pees, has seen Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman’s read option scheme when the two squared off in Super Bowl XLVII (Pees with the Ravens, Roman with a Niners), so he has experience game planning for it.

That said, Pees has zero experience game planning for a player like Jackson.

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