Music City Miracles
The Tennessee Titans have struggled to defend the run this season. The Los Angeles Rams routinely ripped off chunk plays in Sunday’s Week 2 loss. The Rams outgained the Titans 149-109 via the ground-game attack.
The Rams’ fourth run-play from scrimmage was a 45-yard touchdown by Puka Nacua on 4th-and-short. Veteran safety Xavier Woods shot the gap beautifully, but whiffed horribly, and Nacua went untouched to the end zone. It was the second 45-plus-yard gain the Titans’ defense gave up on the ground in as many weeks after Denver Broncos rookie running back RJ Harvey ripped off a 50-yard run in Week 1.
The Titans currently rank 29th in rushing through two completed weeks, allowing 150 yards per game. Zach Lyons compiled some more advanced stats together. The Titans are also fourth-worst in ground yards allowed (5.5) per play and third-worst in run-stuff rate (10.9%).
Head coach Brian Callahan and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson must sort through their run-defense woes ASAP. Coming to Nissan Stadium in Week 3 is Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts currently rank third in rushing, averaging 161.5 yards per game. Taylor, a former NFL rushing champion, currently leads all running backs in yards with 236.
Taylor rushed for an astounding 165 yards on 25 carries against the Broncos in Week 2. The Colts scored 29 points and are riding a Daniel Jones resurgence to a 2-0 record. They haven’t punted on offense yet. The Titans’ running backs managed just 62 rushing yards via 20 carries against that same Broncos front in Week 1.
It would greatly benefit the Titans if T’Vondre Sweat could return from injury. Sweat missed Week 2 with an ankle injury, and was also sidelined for a large portion of training camp with tonsillitis. We’ll monitor his participation at practice this week.
