The Tennessee Titans once again fielded an inconsistent offense in Sunday's Week 4 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll hasn't seen his unit put together four quality quarters. Coach Daboll continues to fall short of expectations.
The Titans' offense had largely struggled during the first halves. They were significantly more effective versus the Ravens. Unfortunately, the previous first-half struggles appeared in the second half.
Daboll made some critical play-calling errors. Elsewhere, the Titans didn't consistently execute, with the players deserving their fair share of blame. The offense continues to be the Titans' shortcoming.
Titans OC Brian Daboll continues to struggle in Week 4
After Chimere Dike returned the opening kickoff to his own 42-yard line, the offense began with a 15-yard strike to him. They already matched their first-down total from the first half of Week 3 Giants defeat. Unfortunately on the next snap, Tony Pollard let a creative Cam Ward pass slip through his fingers for a Ravens interception.
The offense responded well on their second possession. They strung together an 11-play, 65-yard scoring drive that concluded with a Pollard rushing touchdown. They picked up multiple first downs, clearly outperforming the first-half performance of the week prior.
The third possession ended with a punt after just four plays. The Titans' fourth possession began promisingly, but ended with a Daboll-related nightmare. A 10-play drive came up empty when Pollard was stuffed at the Ravens' goal-line on 4th-and-goal. Daboll unfathomably called Wildcat on the critical goal. It was especially stunning since the Titans were stuffed on a Wildcat play at the goal line versus the Giants. The Ravens went 99 yards, extended their lead to 21-7 and the game was effectively over.
Titans OC Brian Daboll got too cute when it mattered most
At this point, the Titans had seven goal-to-go situations. Daboll called seven straight runs to Pollard. It was uncreative and unimaginative. Perhaps it was a response to Ward's game-losing interception last weekend. It was inexcusable stuff from Daboll.
The Titans' next possession ended with a punt from the Ravens' 47-yard line. The fifth possession was a two minute drill where the Titans desperately needed points. After Ward hit Carnell Tate for a 35-yard gain into Ravens territory, the rookie lost a fumble that made his explosive play useless.
Despite the fumble, Tate enjoyed his breakout game by registering nine receptions for 145 yards. He was the only bright spot of Daboll's offense in Week 4. The second half then welcomed even more frustrating results.
Daboll's second-half offense was even worse
Though the Titans offense made critical errors via two turnovers in the first half, they at least moved the ball rather consistently. That wasn't necessarily the case throughout the second half. They opened with an impressive 12-play drive that stalled at the Ravens' 15-yard line, ending with a Joye Slye field goal.
The Titans' next three possessions were three successive three-and-outs that gained a combined nine yards. It was shades of Daboll's first-half offensive struggles. These included a misfired pass to Calvin Ridley on first down, and later a failed 3rd-and-3 opportunity. Lack of execution contributed, but there were too many failed runs and designed screens called by Daboll.
The Titans finally strung together a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, but it was too late, as the ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Ravens. Daboll's offense failed to take advantage of a Lamar Jackson-less Ravens team in the second half. Daboll continues to oversee an inconsistent offense, and he deserves majority blame.
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