Brian Daboll spent the first seven weeks of the season searching for something Tennessee’s offense clearly didn’t have: a real identity. Against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8, he may have finally found it.
The Titans turned in their best offensive showing of the year, and the biggest reason was a noticeable shift in how Daboll handled under-center and play-action looks. It wasn’t a dramatic overhaul, but it was enough to change the feel of the entire offense.
That matters because Daboll has never been shy about leaning on shotgun, and his under-center usage has never been a major part of the plan. But when Tennessee did line up under center earlier in the season, the results were painfully easy to diagnose.
Through the first seven weeks, the Titans ran the ball 70% of the time from those looks, according to Sumer Sports, and most of those carries went right up the middle. Defenses caught on quickly, and Tennessee sat 31st in EPA per play out of under-center formations.
Week 8 told a completely different story. The Titans jumped to first in that same category, making them the most efficient team in the league from under center for the week.
The change was simple but effective: they became far less predictable. Half of their under-center plays were passes, and every one of those throws came off play-action.
That gave Cam Ward cleaner answers and better opportunities, especially with Cincinnati’s defense leaning toward the run based on Tennessee’s earlier tendencies. Once the Bengals started reacting to the run, Daboll had the leverage he needed.
When an offense becomes easy to read, defensive coordinators don’t hesitate to pounce. Tennessee had given opponents that kind of opening too often early on. In Week 8, Daboll broke that pattern, and the payoff was the Titans’ most productive game of the season.
The bigger question is whether this becomes the new normal. Tennessee doesn’t need a total reset, but it does need more variety. A stronger mix of under-center snaps and play-action passes could keep defenses guessing without forcing a wholesale change in the middle of the season.
That kind of flexibility is exactly why the Titans wanted Daboll in the first place.
In Other News...
Former Titans GM Just Added Fuel To Tennessee's Jaguars Showdown
Former Titans general manager Ran Carthon had plenty to say after Jacksonvilles 33-10 win over the Ravens, and his praise only sharpened the edge on whats next for Tennessee. Carthon called the Jaguars the most complete roster in the league, pointing to the way Liam Coen and Trevor Lawrence have meshed and noting how the team has stacked up dominant wins while building the NFLs best point differential.
For the Titans, it adds another layer to a matchup already carrying plenty of attention. Jacksonville is sitting at 6-2 and rolling into its next game with real momentum, while Tennessee now has to deal with a division rival that is being talked about in the league in a very different way than it was a year ago. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Backfield Could Change Fast If Nick Singleton Gets His Shot
The Titans backfield could look a lot different in a hurry if the team decides to move Tony Pollard for a fourth-round pick. Any deal would not just trim a veteran from the rotation, it would also open the door for a reshuffle behind him, with rookie Nick Singleton positioned to see a larger role if the depth chart changes.
Singleton has already been the name to watch in a backfield that has been waiting for clarity, and a Pollard trade would force the Titans to sort out how the touches are divided. For a team still trying to define its identity on offense, the ripple effect could reach beyond one player and change the way the entire running game is managed. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Midseason Grades Expose Whats Really Holding This Team Back
The Titans hit their bye week at 1-7, and the midseason picture is as uneven as the record suggests. There has been some real growth on offense, with Cam Ward settling in and Tony Pollard helping drive the rushing attack, while the offensive line has held up better than expected despite injuries. Even with the losses piling up, that side of the ball has shown more signs of direction than the standings would indicate.
The bigger problem has been everything around it. The defense has been hit hard since the Jeffery Simmons trade, and the secondary has not done enough to steady things when games tighten up. Special teams have been merely average, and the coaching staff has taken heat for shaky play calling and an offense that still lacks a clear identity, leaving the Titans with plenty to sort through before the second half begins. [Read more 🡒]