5 areas of concern for the Tennessee Titans in 2022

5. Todd Downing

Downing’s first year in Nashville was a disaster. His refusal to use play-action dropped the team from 6,343 total yards of offense in 2020 to 5,822 in 2021, despite 102 more offensive snaps and an extra game.

The team averaged 6.2 yards per play in 2020. That dropped to 5.1 in 2021, a full yard per play difference. In 2020 the team scored 491 points, ranking 4th in the league. In 2021, they scored only 419 points, ranking 15th. For those keeping score at home, that’s 72 points less with one more game on the schedule.

Sure, Downing faces challenges this year with issues on the offensive line and at wide receiver, but it’s his job to overcome them. Another season like last year is unacceptable.

While this isn’t an article about good news, there needs to be an obligatory mention of new pass-game coordinator Tim Kelly. In theory, Kelly is going to help implement the offense that yielded a career year from Deshaun Watson and made Davis Mills look like the best rookie QB last season.

Since the Titans wanted to hire Kelly as the OC last year, it makes sense to assume that he is going to be given a lot on his plate and he may end up with a full OC title in Tennessee after this year.