The Tennessee Titans have a big dilemma for the Houston Texans game
By Will Lomas
Around the NFL, fan bases are staring at the Tennessee Titans matchup against the Houston Texans this weekend and they are expecting a blowout. Pump the brakes.
Ignoring Mike Vrabel’s habit of losing to bad teams, the game against the Houston Texans presents a real problem for the Tennessee Titans coaching staff. Everyone will scream that this is a potential repeat of the New York Jets game, but…should the Titans rest some players?
Obviously, anyone who is healthy should play, but with so many players banged up, should the Titans make some conservative decisions on who is active?
In two weeks the Tennessee Titans will travel to New England for a key matchup with the Patriots which might determine whether or not the Titans get the one-seed and a bye in the NFL playoffs. The disadvantage for Tennessee is that the Patriots play against the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night and then they get extra time off to rest before hosting the Titans.
One way to mitigate some of that advantage is to rest players of your own to make sure they are as healthy as possible for the following matchup.
Which Tennessee Titans could rest?
The coaches should be weighing their options on these five Titans who either got banged up on Sunday or who missed practice last week:
Bud Dupree is the first and most obvious name. Whether the stats reflect it or not, Bud Dupree has been effective for the last month and he has really started to come on in this scheme that features so many stunts and loops.
With Derick Roberson potentially available to come off of I.R. and multiple active roster spots open, the Titans have time to weigh their options and figure out who gives them the best replacement this week.
Chris Jackson struggled last week, but he has been one of the most improved players on the roster all season long. He has been fighting a nagging injury because the cupboard has been empty behind him for so long.
With Kristian Fulton returning and playing so many snaps last week, the Tennessee Titans could trust a trio of Kristian Fulton, Elijah Molden, and Jackrabbit Jenkins against this Houston offense.
David Long missed Sunday with a hamstring injury, but the duo of Monty Rice and Jayon Brown looked good in his absence. With Rashaan Evans potentially returning to be a key backup, the Titans could afford to rest Long for another week.
Teair Tart was a late scratch, but while he was gone NaQuan Jones tallied the first sack of his career and looked like a capable starter. The rotation that they used last week wasn’t spectacular, but it was good enough to leave you feeling comfortable about their chances vs the Houston Texans’ offensive line.
Finally, Nate Davis has really struggled this year and it had to leave in the middle of the game on Sunday. Whether it is some unknown injury or the scheme change, Davis just hasn’t been the same player this year and the Titans shouldn’t be in any hurry to get him back on the field.
Leaving him inactive would mean that Aaron Brewer or Corey Levin would be the replacement, and both have shown that they are capable guards. In fact, there is a decent argument to say that both players have outplayed Davis when they have been asked to step in, a fact that should prompt the coaching staff to move their 2nd round tackle…back to tackle.