Something to watch going forward.
The Tennessee Titans are in a state of flux right now, but the one thing that seems certain is that their next opponent will be the Buffalo Bills.
For the sake of my sanity, let’s assume that the Titans and Bills play their game next Sunday on time and that both teams get a full week of practice.
Right now Titans fans are panicking a little bit because the Bills have one of the fastest receiver tandems in the NFL between John Brown and Stefon Diggs. Combine that with Josh Allen who is quickly becoming one of the most difficult quarterbacks to defend in the NFL, and you have a scary matchup for any defense.
Now, if you are a Titans fan you might be saying, “But Will, we don’t actually have a defense.” and that is honestly a good point, at least for most 3rd downs. However, that might be changing sooner rather than later.
If Tennessee’s coaching staff can somehow manage to put all of the COVID distractions to the side, they have an opportunity to look at the defense as a whole and make big changes. Keep in mind, there is no bye week in a month where they can make sweeping changes so if they are going to get better it almost has to be now.
So where can the Titans improve?
Player changes
Before I get into this, let me say that this is me being incredibly optimistic and thinking that none of the starting defenders are the new positives and that Kristian Fulton will be asymptomatic and will get two quick negative tests to allow him to be back before next Sunday.
Right now, the Tennessee Titans want their starting defense to be these 11 players in some alignment:
-Jadeveon Clowney
-Harold Landry
-DaQuan Jones
-Jeffery Simmons
-Jayon Brown
-Rashaan Evans
-Kristian Fulton
-Jonathan Joseph
-Malcolm Butler
-Kenny Vaccaro
-Kevin Byard
When they want to get creative or when they feel like they need to shift to a 4-3 look from their usual 4-2 or their 4-3 under front (basically what you imagine a 3-4 defense looks like), they do make a player change. They take out Kristian Fulton, move Kenny Vaccaro down to linebacker, and they bring in Amani Hooker.
After watching all three games this season, I think there are some player changes that need to be made.
First of all, as soon as Adoree Jackson is healthy he has to enter the lineup and start opposite Malcolm Butler. That is an absolute must and it should allow the Titans to get more aggressive.
Secondly, the Titans rotation at EDGE has stunted due to injuries, but now they are going to have a full arsenal with Derick Roberson added into the mix. His quick-twitch athleticism and his ability to win off the snap will make rushing four more palatable.
Finally, Tennessee needs to consider leaving Hooker on the sideline and bringing in David Long Jr. to be the linebacker in this 4-3 look that they give. I’m not sure what they are trying to do or why he isn’t getting playing time, but this makes them faster and keeps their second-best defensive back in his normal spot.
But what can change besides the players on the field?
Concept changes
There are two new packages/concepts that the Titans need to add during this downtime.
The first is probably the most familiar and we actually got to see it a little bit on Sunday vs the Minnesota Vikings. That is the classic “NASCAR” package, where you find places for your best pass rushers to line up, and (this is key) you let them rush with no other responsibility.
Too many times the Titans have asked their players to loop and stunt around the defensive line, and more often than not this washes everyone inside and no one ends up creating any pressure. By lining up Jeffery Simmons, Jadeveon Clowney, Harold Landry, and Vic Beasley/Derick Roberson, you have a quartet who can actually get pressure on a QB without blitzing as long as you don’t mess with them.
Secondly, the Titans have got to cheat with Rashaan Evans. Over the last two games, Evans has been a nonfactor and a lot of it is because he looks incredibly hesitant. I don’t know if he isn’t prepared or if he isn’t conditioned, or what is going on, but the only time he really looks like a factor is when he is going forward as soon as the ball snaps.
I’m not talking about blitzing him, what I am saying is that the Titans have already made him the strong-side linebacker, but he needs to be cheated over harder to the strong side because right now he isn’t showing the quickness or instincts to beat blockers to the point and when they get close they are running him over or out of the play.
If this defense is going to get better, they have to get something out of the linebackers and Jayon Brown is flashing but not consistent while Evans just isn’t a factor.
Finally in football shape?
The Tennessee Titans have been very clear that Jadeveon Clowney hasn’t been in football shape, but honestly, the whole team has taken turns looking out of shape.
Malcolm Butler seems way more tentative than in the past, Kevin Byard isn’t making many plays, and I have already talked about the linebackers. The Titans have played three games and most of the team has just gotten a week off to tend to their bumps and bruises.
I’m not saying that they look completely gassed, but it is time for this defense to bare their teeth and be the players that bring the energy. This has become an offensive team since Ryan Tannehill took over and that has been huge, but I didn’t expect the pendulum to swing so violently in the other direction.
Now with a month of practice and games in the rearview, this team needs to shake off that excuse and realize that they are one of the most well-rested units in the NFL and they have legitimate star players that can wreck games.
Jeffery Simmons, Kenny Vaccaro, Harold Landry, and Kristian Fulton have already made some big plays on defense, now it is time for the rest of the Titans defense to live up to their hype and step out of the shadow of the offense.