It didn't take long for the Tennessee Titans to find their biggest defensive issue in Week 2 of the NFL preseason. The Seattle Seahawks backups scored on their first two drives—one on a coverage breakdown, then via a huge run up the middle. That cannot happen when the games count.
The Titans' defense had a real strength last year. Pro Football Focus had the run defense ranked ninth, but the coverage unit ranked 26th. This gives new head coach Robert Saleh something to work with. But if the coverage does not improve, the strength up front will not be enough.
Saleh did not turn the San Francisco 49ers around overnight, either. His first 49ers defense finished near the bottom of PFF’s grades. Two years later, they placed second. Building this defense may take the same kind of patience.
The Tennessee Titans' defense struggled in Week 2 of the NFL preseason
The Titans' defense did more than just survive against the 49ers in their preseason debut. It set the tone early, got after the quarterback and played with some real energy. That is the version of this group Saleh needs to see more often.
Then the Seahawks came to town and the first drive was way too easy. Backup quarterback Drew Lock moved the chains with short throws, quick checkdowns and a short run. Their offense did not need anything special to get down the field.
Then play action left tight end Elijah Arroyo all by himself for the touchdown. It was a clear communication breakdown in the secondary. Tennessee's secondary just lost him after a presnap motion confused them.
The Seahawks' second possession did not look like the first. The defense stuffed the opening run, and Jeffery Simmons nearly got to Lock as he fired a short completion. On third down, the pocket collapsed and Lock had to scramble for a first down. He moved the chains, but the Titans' front was finally starting to make them earn it.
Then the next snap wiped it all out. Jacardia Wright went straight up the middle for a 69-yard touchdown. Once he reached the secondary, he ran right past Kevin Winston Jr. and Alontae Taylor. The gap discipline fell apart, and one big run erased everything the defense had done well to start the drive.
There were still good signs from the starting defense, but explosive touchdowns and communication breakdowns ruin everything. The defensive line created pressure up front and made Lock work on the second drive. But two bad plays changed how the entire quarter looked.
Saleh has seen a defense take time to become what he wants. But he and Gus Bradley cannot let the same coverage and gap-discipline mistakes keep showing up once September arrives.
No one should panic over a preseason game, even if Sunday’s uneven performance made the roster picture murkier heading into the final week. But the Seahawks’ backups showed exactly where the Titans still have work to do. Fix the communication and gap discipline, and this defense could look a lot different when the regular season starts.
Add us as a preferred source on Google