Tennessee Titans reset a winning formula in 2018

Super Bowl or bust is the mantra for the Tennessee Titans, because a winning season was not enough last year. The Titans are hitting reset on their winning formula in 2018.

No matter how poor or successful a team’s season was, there are always major offseason questions on the front burner. The NFL turns over too much for even the best teams to advance a calendar year unscathed. Let’s continue the team-by-team overview with the Tennessee Titans.

The Titans had a wild season. They overachieved to get to 9-7 and into the postseason. They even won a game in the playoffs with a massive second-half comeback. Then, after being eliminated by the eventual conference champion, they fired their head coach and brought in someone who had never been a coach before. The team is hitting reset on their winning formula in 2018.

Two brothers from New York, Dan Salem and Todd Salem, debate the Tennessee Titans in today’s NFL Sports Debate.

Todd Salem:

That upheaval leaves the franchise at a bit of a crossroads, even as they pull a soft reset. Mike Vrabel will get time to learn how to be a head coach, but this could be a make-or-break season for Marcus Mariota. DeMarco Murray is also likely gone, as his release would save the team $6.5 million each of the next two seasons. What does a team do that was below average in every unit, is starting over with fresh leadership, and doesn’t pick until the back third of the draft? On the plus side, Tennessee does have some cap room to work with!

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The maturation of Derrick Henry and Corey Davis would do wonders for Mariota, but that’s not enough to turn around an offense on the brink. Mariota is not developing. If anything, he went in the opposite direction in 2017. I think a semi-overhaul is in order.

A timeshare running back is needed to aid Henry. Interior offensive linemen are needed. Wide receiver help should also be paramount. This team, arguably, lacks both a top option and a second option on the outside. Rishard Matthews is competent, but that’s about it. Delanie Walker, at tight end, is the most reliable piece this offense has.

Why couldn’t the Titans of 2018 pull what the Eagles did prior to 2017? Philadelphia was a mess on offense, leaning on a quarterback who no one was sure would be that great. It added numerous skill players in Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, LeGarrette Blount, and eventually, Jay Ajayi. The team churned out the best offensive line in football, and even without that quarterback who became great, the roster won the Super Bowl. With Mariota, Taylor Lewan, and Jack Conklin, the Titans have the most important parts already: Quarterback and offensive tackles.

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Say the depth chart adds the likes of John Brown, Marqise Lee, Josh Sitton and Jerick McKinnon. None would break the bank, yet they would create a cloud of talent around Mariota, as well as complement the pieces that remain. Is that offense good enough to compete in a division with the Jaguars defense, Andrew Luck, and Deshaun Watson?

Dan Salem:

I never felt as though the Tennessee Titans were a good football team last season, but I must admit they actually were. The reasons don’t matter. Tennessee had a winning record, made the playoffs, and advanced past its first postseason game. Despite much statistical evidence to the contrary, the Titans had a very good season and positive results on the final scoreboard more often than not. Ultimately that is all that matters, until its not.

If Tennessee had missed the playoffs, then I would have expected them to fire their head coach. Credit the organization for making a necessary change, despite a successful season. They did not win the Super Bowl, so they did not achieve their true goal. I don’t agree that Mariota is on the hot seat at quarterback. Perhaps if he continues to get injured, then he will be questioned by his coach and the team. But Mariota likely gets time to mesh with the new regime in Tennessee. Its the Titans’ job to add skill players around him with their ample cap space. Don’t create a problem at the most important position when one does not exist. I repeat, Mariota is not a problem in Tennessee.

Before you start throwing stats my way about his lack of development and inability to live up to expectations, let me remind you that just because he isn’t the problem, doesn’t mean he is the solution. But the Titans don’t need to look very far to see how this very situation can succeed. Jacksonville has a quarterback who is not the solution, but is never a problem either. Tennessee can win with Mariota, but not without a running game. They need that ‘Mr. Reliable’ at tight end as well, plus a wide receiver who demands double coverage. These things can push the Titans over the top in 2018. Its what pushed Philadelphia all the way to a championship.

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I believe Tennessee can compete with the additions you mentioned on offense. The Colts don’t scare me and Watson needs to prove he can avoid the sophomore slump coming off major surgery. Jacksonville is the team to beat and appears to have the division in hand. The Titans can be right there once again with one or two playmakers for Mariota to work with.