Watching the Tennessee Titans offense has been rough for 18 games, but the screen game has taken that misery to another level.
The problem isn’t just one thing. Some of these plays don’t look built well.
At other times, the receivers haven’t created enough separation or done enough after the catch to make the call pay off. But there’s another issue that’s impossible to ignore now: Cam Ward simply has not shown the touch needed to make screen passes work with any kind of consistency.
Too often, Ward is skipping those throws at the feet of his target. In plain terms, he has been downright horrific on these plays, bad enough that offensive coordinator Brian Daboll should be thinking seriously about pulling screens from the playbook altogether.
If the Titans want to keep attacking that area of the field, there are better answers available. When Daboll expects quick pressure up the middle, he can audible to a pitch play, with everyone blocking down and Tony Pollard or Tyjae Spears getting the ball in space.
And if the Titans have a little more time to let things develop, they can work the flat another way. Ward has been notably better on swing passes when he’s on the move, even on tougher throws, and at this point that looks safer than asking him to execute the standard screen.
That kind of adjustment fits the broader reality Tom Brady described during the Washington Commanders’ Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Brady talked about how early-season struggles can show up when teams change offensive play-callers, saying everyone thinks they know what they’ll be in the preseason, but once the real games start, the truth comes out. He called the first month under a new coordinator a “feeling out” process, when coaches and players figure out what their identity really is.
For the Titans, that process should start with one clear admission: screen plays are not a productive part of this offense. If they want to move the ball quickly in the D-gap, they need to find another route besides hoping Ward can suddenly become reliable in the screen game.
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Cedric Gray Could Change Everything For A Titans Defense Under Pressure
Cedric Gray was back on the practice field Wednesday and Thursday, a strong sign the Titans linebacker is on track to clear concussion protocol and return for Week 2 against the Eagles. His availability matters more than it might in a typical early-season game, because Tennessee already got a preview of how thin the margin can be when a key linebacker is missing and the defense is forced to lean harder on the next man up.
Anthony Hill handled a bigger role in Grays absence against the Jets, but the Titans still have to prove that performance can translate against a far more demanding opponent. Grays return would give Tennessee a steadier look in the middle and another piece to help a defense that is already under pressure to hold up as the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Make An Early Defensive Change Robert Saleh Couldn't Delay
After a rough opener, the Titans are making an early adjustment on defense, turning to rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. as the starter at MIKE for Week 2 against the Eagles. Hills debut was hard to ignore: he piled up tackles at a pace that stood out league-wide and earned the highest PFF grade among rookies last week, giving Tennessee a fresh option in the middle of the defense at a time when the unit is still searching for answers.
Robert Saleh confirmed the move while the staff continues to sort through what it has in veterans Cedric Gray and Cody Barton. The timing says plenty about where the Titans are right now, trying to stabilize the front seven quickly after Week 1 and leaning into the player who made the strongest first impression, even if the larger linebacker picture is still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Suddenly Have A Real Concern Up Front Before Eagles
Austin Schlottmann arrived in Tennessee with a chance to stabilize the middle of the offensive line, but his first game in a Titans uniform did not go the way the team wanted. In the Week 1 loss to the Jets, the offseason addition and expected starting center had a rough outing, including a low run-blocking grade and trouble handling solo assignments inside.
Now the Titans are staring at a real question up front as they prepare for the Eagles. Center is supposed to be one of the spots that anchors an offense, and Tennessee does not have much time to sort out whether Schlottmann can rebound quickly or whether the line needs a different answer before the next kickoff. [Read more 🡒]