Last week’s loss to the Houston Texans highlighted the Tennessee Titans’ overall deficiencies as an offense, and more specifically, when it came to play calling and in-game adjustments — or lack thereof.
Despite having no success, the Titans insisted on sticking with the run game in Week 15, especially on early downs, which put the offense in disadvantageous positions all game long.
Rather than trusting their young stud quarterback to push the ball downfield, the team chose to run Derrick Henry into a wall of defenders en route to averaging less than one yard per carry.
Not only was this infuriating, but it was illogical, as well.
If you start to throw the ball early and often, it’s eventually going to force the defense to respect the threat of passing plays, subsequently pushing defenders back.
That would then open up the run game a little more, which likely makes the play action more efficient, also.
Instead, the Titans ignorantly chose to stick with their formula to no avail, allowing the Texans’ defense to sell out to defend the run on early downs, predictably resulting in a negative play.
The Titans’ lack of success with running the football on early downs isn’t some sort of anomaly, either.
Per data collected by NFL analyst Ben Baldwin, Tennessee ranks in the bottom half of the league in rushing efficiency on early downs.
Meanwhile, the Titans have the sixth-most efficient passing offense on early downs, only trailing the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys Cowboys.
Unfortunately, the Titans aren’t throwing on first-and-10 nearly enough, with Tennessee sporting the 13th-lowest rate in the NFL.
Rushing and passing efficiency on early downs
lol 49ers pic.twitter.com/imxlpHEmAd
— Computer Cowboy (@benbbaldwin) December 19, 2023
The offensive philosophy we saw from Tim Kelly in Week 15 is not only outdated, but it’s contradictory to what this team is actually good at.
Thankfully, the Titans only have three games left in the season before they can begin the evaluation and rebuilding process, and it’s one that should include the offensive coordinator.
The main priority this offseason needs to be finding ways to modernize the offense by building the unit around Will Levis’ skill set, but the play-calling must also reflect that.
