The Tennessee Titans disappointed in Week 1, losing 23-10 to the New York Jets. For new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, his debut with the Titans pretty much couldn't have gone any worse. There's evidently still a learning curve for sophomore quarterback Cam Ward and the offense.
The Titans managed just 10 points. Their lone touchdown was scored in garbage time, with Ward hitting Elic Ayomanor after the Jets' defense let up. The Titans only gained 195 yards, and 65 of them occurred during that garbage-time possession.
The Titans converted 4-of-11 third down opportunities. They rushed for a pathetic 68 yards and punted on seven occasions. The time of possession battle was a lopsided 38:46 - 21:14. Daboll's Titans offense was a big-time loser in Week 1.
Titans' offense has room to improve after Brian Daboll's difficult debut
The Titans did not have a single playmaker produce 40 individual yards. The longest play from scrimmage was a 14-yard pass to rookie Carnell Tate. Tony Pollard's longest run gained 13. The Titans did not generate a single explosive play on offense against a Jets defense that allowed plenty of them last season.
Ward is a young quarterback learning a new system. The Titans have inexperienced rookies and/or sophomores in key starting positions across the entire offense. Perhaps growing pains should have been the expectation.
The challenge isn't going to get easier. Daboll's offense will square off with the Philadelphia Eagles and their Vic Fangio coached defense in Week 2. On paper, the Titans offense appears totally outmatched. Despite that, fans want to see immediate improvement from an offense that was supposed to deliver better results.
The Titans need to compete with the Eagles long enough to establish a ground-and-pound approach. Pollard actually averaged an effective five yards per attempt. Ward made a handful of positive plays as a scrambler. The issue? The Titans were enduring a lopsided defeat and had to abandon the run in favor of a pass-happy approach.
A new NFL campaign represents a learning process. Daboll's experience doesn't remove growing pains from the equation. He's still getting familiar with his playmakers, and that sentiment is equally true for Ward and his supporting cast.
Tennessee's offense should improve as all parties involved gain experience and familiarity. The former New York Giants head coach drew interest for multiple openings this offseason for a reason. Hopefully Daboll's offense gets on track in Week 2.
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