TENNESSEE TITANS
2020 Record - 11-5-0
Head Coach - Mike Vrabel
Key Additions - Julio Jones (WR), Janoris Jenkins (DB), Bud Dupree (LB), Josh Reynolds (WR), Kendall Lamm (OL), Denico Autry (DL)
OFFENSE - Quarterback Ryan Tannehill passed for 3,819 yards along with 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions last season. He also rushed for 266 yards (6.2 ypc average) and scored seven touchdowns. Logan Woodside will be the backup. Derrick Henry led the NFL in rushing last season, going for 2,027 yards with a 5.4 ypc average and he scored 17 touchdowns. Darrynton Evans and Jeremy McNichols (204 yards, 4.3 ypc and one TD) will split time as the second backs.
Wide receiver Julio Jones (51 receptions for 771 yards and three touchdowns) comes over from the Atlanta Falcons this season and he will team with A.J. Brown (70, 1,075, 11 TD) and Josh Reynolds, who had 52 receptions for 618 yards and two touchdowns with the Rams last year. Anthony Firkser is the tight end and he caught 39 passes for 387 yards and one touchdown. Geoff Swaim is also available at tight end.
The Titans offense averaged 30.7 points per game in 2020 and they ranked second in the NFL in total offense, averaging 396 yards per game. The running game averaged 168 YPG (2nd in NFL) and the pass offense was 23rd overall, averaging 228 yards per game.
DEFENSE - Up front will be Teair Tart at nose tackle and Denico Autry and Jeffery Simmons (three quarterback sacks) at the ends. Julian Taylor, Daylon Mack and Larrel Murchison will spell the starters on the defensive line. The linebackers include Bud Dupree, Harold Landry III (5 1/2 QB sacks), Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown. Rookies Monty Rice (Georgia) and Rashad Weaver (Pittsburgh) along with David Long and Derick Roberson are also looking to contribute.
In the secondary will be corners Janoris Jenkins (three interceptions with New Orleans last year) and Kristian Fulton. The safeties are Kevin Byard (team leading 111 tackles) and Dane Cruikshank and Amani Hooker, who had four picks last season. Others in the mix include rookie Caleb Farley (Virginia Tech), Chris Jackson, Matthias Farley, rookie Elijah Molden (Washington) and Breon Borders.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - Tennessee was a quick out in the AFC playoffs last year after making it to the AFC Championship Game two years ago. Head Coach Mike Vrabel knows another lengthy run in the playoffs is possible, but things have to be different this season.
The offense clicked during the regular season, but was stymied in the wild card round, so with two new wide receivers (Julio Jones and Josh Reynolds) on the team this season playing along with the speedy A.J. Brown, the Titans passing attack should be better suited to complement All-Pro running back Derrick Henry. On the other side of the football, the defense has to improve after finishing 28th in the NFL last year.
The Titans gave up 398 yards per game and allowed 27.4 points per game in the 2020 season. The run defense allowed 121 YPG (19th) and the pass defense allowed 277 yards per game, which ranked 29th overall. Tennessee has to do better at pressuring the opposing quarterback. They only had 19 sacks last year, but did get 15 interceptions as their opportunistic approach yielded a plus-11 in the turnovers category.
The key this season will be better defense and continued ground-and-pound offense from Henry to get back to the playoffs. The AFC South title should be within reach, but the Titans know nothing is guaranteed. As long as Tannehill stays healthy and doesn't have any type of regression, the passing game should be fine. The schedule between weeks six and ten will go a long way to seeing what kind of success the Titans will have in the 2021 season. An 11-6 record is possible and a Super Bowl appearance is not unattainable, but it will take a lot of hard work and some breaks along the way for the Titans to achieve that goal.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - vs. Arizona
Week 2 - at Seattle
Week 3 - vs. Indianapolis
Week 4 - at N.Y. Jets
Week 5 - at Jacksonville
Week 6 - vs. Buffalo
Week 7 - vs. Kansas City
Week 8 - at Indianapolis
Week 9 - at L.A. Rams
Week 10 - vs. New Orleans
Week 11 - vs. Houston
Week 12 - at New England
Week 13 - BYE
Week 14 - vs. Jacksonville
Week 15 - at Pittsburgh
Week 16 - vs. San Francisco
Week 17 - vs. Miami
Week 18 - at Houston
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