Proof that Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill owns the AFC South
By Will Lomas
The Tennessee Titans franchise QB owns the AFC South.
For a few weeks now there has been a healthy mix of slander and ignorance about Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill. This isn’t necessarily anything new because Tannehill has constantly been the last guy mentioned when it comes to the success of the Titans’ offense.
Everything starts with Derrick Henry both on the field and in the conversation about the Titans, and that is completely fair. No one would say that this offense would be as successful without King Henry in the backfield.
Next, people talk about the pass catchers that Tannehill has had in the trio of A.J. Brown, Corey Davis, and Jonnu Smith. Again, they all deserve credit for their contributions, but this is where people start to have a selective memory. Just take a look at the splits of Corey Davis with and without Ryan Tannehill:
Without Tannehill: 33 games, 1,503 yards (45 yards per game)
With Tannehill: 23 games, 1,348 yards (58.6 yards per game)
That is a big bump in production to just coincidentally happen when Tannehill took over.
Maybe the most egregious issue is that Arthur Smith is given all of the praise for being a brilliant play-caller when the Tennessee Titans offense has always been a collaborative effort between him and Tannehill. (You can find a specific example here)
It is impossible to definitively say that the offense won’t change in 2021, but with the key pieces in place, you shouldn’t assume a decline. The fact is, Ryan Tannehill has been exceptional during his time in Tennessee, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that he dominates the AFC South. Let’s take a look at what he’s done so far.