The Tennessee Titans absolutely fell flat in Week 1. Heading into the opener, when you typically get the New York Jets as your first opponent, there is a lot of optimism because of how the Jets have played under Aaron Glenn. Not to mention, the Titans revamped their coaching staff and roster where it looked like there was a lot of improvement this offseason.
Clearly, that didn’t translate on Sunday as the Titans allowed the Jets to come into Nashville and control the game from start to finish. Tennessee ended up losing 23-10, with the Jets spoiling Robert Saleh’s opportunity to get revenge on his old team.
The Titans completely collapsed, leaving a sour taste about what the rest of the season could bring. Now granted, it's only one game and there is plenty of football left. At the same time, losing against the Jets is embarrassing.
The lone bright spot is that the TItans may have found a rising star on their defense. Rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was exceptional while playing in relief of the injured Cedric Gray. Hill's emergence should put veteran Cody Barton in trouble.
Tennessee Titans see rookie LB Anthony Hill Jr. shine in Week 1
The Titans drafted Hill back in April in the 2nd round out of Texas, adding a future leader to Saleh's defense. With Gray failing to clear concussion protocol in Week 1 due to a UTV accident, Hill got the chance to show what he is made of and he took well advantage of his opportunity.
He led the Titans in total tackles (16) and he also had two pass breakups in coverage. He showed that he deserves more meaningful playing time, and we would even argue that when Gray comes back and is cleared, Barton should be heading to the bench. Heck, maybe even the Titans should see if they can get some value for Barton in a trade.
This Week 1 performance by the Titans overall was very forgettable, especially from the offensive side of things. As for Saleh's side of the ball, every aspect of the defense needs to be cleaned up before Week 2, from the pass rush to the secondary and run defense. With Hill being productive in his first NFL game, the Titans have to find a way to put him on the field as a full-time starter rather than going backwards once Gray comes back.
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