3 big issues for Titans defense.
The Tennessee Titans sit a comfortable 5-1, a game ahead of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.
Coming off of a year in which the franchise went to the AFC Championship Game, the fast start bodes well for the team’s playoff hopes.
The strong start can be attributed to the high-flying offense led by quarterback Ryan Tannehill. In now a season’s worth of games as the Titans quarterback, Tannehill has done nothing but post one of the league’s most potent and efficient offenses. Tannehill has put together a resume that matches former MVP Patrick Mahomes; it just highlights the impact he has had on the team.
Pair Tannehill with running back Derrick Henry, who has not slowed down after winning the NFL rushing crown last year, and the Titans have opposing defenses scrambling. It’s been the biggest reason for the team’s success this year.
The issues, however, lie on the other side of the ball. The Titans defense has taken a massive step back from last season where the Titans were able to draw crucial stops. The Titans have needed game-winning drives in five of their six games, three of which were played against NFL bottom-feeding teams like the Jaguars, Vikings, and Broncos.
The Titans are dead last in third-down percentage, and it was never more evident against the Steelers this weekend where they gave up 13 out of 18 attempts. At one point in the first half, the Steelers were perfect 8-8 on third downs, which enabled them to go up 27-7. The Titans hold the eighth worst-ranked defense and a middling scoring defense.
If the Titans truly want to contend against the best teams in the NFL for a chance at the Super Bowl, the team must make a few changes. Let’s take a look at what changes need to be made to make the Titans defense better for the second half of the season.