![Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) reacts to a third down stop during the first quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Browns defeated the Jaguars 18-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_387,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ReutersImages/mmsport/35/01m5mjr0zxggej5w7ngn.jpg "Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) reacts to a third down stop during the first quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Browns defeated the Jaguars 18-13. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
The Tennessee Titans are fresh off their first win of the season against the Indianapolis Colts as they look to win back-to-back games for the first time since 2022. However, that will not be an easy ask for Robert Saleh's squad as they prepare to face a red-hot Cleveland Browns team.
Saleh's defense seems to be trending in the right direction following a three-turnover performance, but the Titans' offense on the other hand still remains one of the worst units in the league. Despite its struggles, their fourth overall selection has began to provide some hope for a unit needing someone to step up.
Last week, Titans rookie Carnell Tate caught his first career touchdown, and Tennessee's struggling offense will look to rely on him moving forward. Unfortunately for the rookie wideout, the Cleveland Browns have a former fourth overall pick of their own who will look to keep Tate in check.
Browns CB Denzel Ward presents a major challenge for Titans WR Carnell Tate
The former fourth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, star cornerback Denzel Ward will be a must-watch matchup for Titans rookie wideout Carnell Tate. Ward currently has an 87.4 PFF Coverage grade, ranking third among 102 cornerbacks.
Per Sharp Football Analysis, the Browns lead the league in defensive man coverage, putting Denzel Ward on an island roughly 57% of snaps. Cleveland obviously trusts their defensive leader to handle business on the outside, putting Tate in arguably his toughest matchup yet. The nine-year veteran has faced his fair share of elite receivers in the AFC North, so Sunday could just be another day at the office for Ward.
Brian Daboll will likely need to get more creative to put these receivers in position to succeed. The Titans currently rank 31st in the league in pre-snap motion, using it on just 37% of their plays. Moving Tate around before the snap, or giving him more opportunities in the slot, could be effective ways to separate him from Cleveland's lockdown corner.
Tennessee's offense will likely have to rely on receivers like Wan'Dale Robinson and Elic Ayomanor to make big-time plays this game. Ward being left on an island against Tate presents a tall task for the rookie, so Brian Daboll must find ways to get this offense going elsewhere if they hope to get a win.
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