How close to a Super Bowl are the Titans in each phase?

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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 08: DaQuan Jones #90, Jeffery Simmons #98, Derick Roberson #50 and Kevin Byard #31 of the Tennessee Titans celebrates at the line of scrimmage during a game against the Chicago Bears at Nissan Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Bears 24-17. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Defense: Never-Ending Limbo

Like the Titans’ offense, the Tennessee defense houses a group of stars from Jeffery Simmons on the defensive line, all the way to Kevin Byard in the defensive secondary.

Unlike the Titans’ offense, 2020 didn’t quite show the production that the team’s level of talent would suggest. Even with All-Pro’s in the secondary and young stars in the front-seven, Tennessee’s defense struggled to find their footing throughout the season.

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Of the two Titans to make the AFC Pro Bowl roster, both came from the offensive side of the ball, and that disparity showed on the field, as Tennessee finished 24th in points allowed per game, and 28th in yards.

The further you dig through the stat sheets, the worse it looks. The Titans finished with the third-fewest sacks in 2020, gave up the third most yards per drive, and finished as the season’s worst third-down defense, allowing conversions on over half of opposing teams attempts.

But the Titans’ aren’t in “blow it up” mode on the defensive side of the ball, despite the deficiencies.

The Titans had to make a tough call and cut Malcolm Butler in favor of Adoree Jackson. Obviously this team is relying on him getting back to 2019 form, but don’t forget that Kristian Fulton had flashes of solid play and cornerback is a position that usually takes a year or two to grow into.

Free-agent Jayon Brown and stalwart Harold Landry have looked at times like young stars on the rise, Kevin Byard is an All-Pro level player at safety, and Jeffery Simmons looks to be on pace to join him with how he looked in year two.

But the personnel and the 2020 production have not matched up. For whatever the reason, be it coaching or simply an inability to adjust and prepare in a COVID-shortened offseason, the Titans did not play the part of an above-average defense. They’re too talented to be considered bad, but their play is too bad to be…well, good.

Right now, they’re the unit keeping the Titans franchise in limbo.

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