The Titans’ passing game has a problem, and it’s putting a spotlight on a position group that was supposed to help steady the offense.
Through the first two months of the season, Tennessee’s tight ends have been almost invisible. Gunnar Helm is averaging 10 yards per game heading into Week 7, while Daniel Bellinger is at five.
That kind of production would be easier to overlook if the wide receivers were carrying the load and the passing attack were humming along. But that’s not the reality here.
The issue is even more specific than a general slump. Cam Ward simply has not been able to connect on deep passes, no matter whether the receiver is open or covered.
That part of the offense is not functioning at all, and the problem is being pinned, at least in part, on Ward himself. Still, defenses are not abandoning their structure to chase the Titans out of the game.
They are still lining up with single-high looks and keeping a safety deep.
That should create openings underneath. It should give the backs and tight ends room to work.
Tyjae Spears has taken advantage of some of that space when given the chance. Even in a limited role, he has shown he can win his matchup and turn those touches into yards, as long as he holds onto the ball. Helm and Bellinger are different types of players, but the Titans need that same kind of payoff from them, especially Helm.
Helm’s college track record suggests there’s more in the tank. At Texas, he functioned as the team’s de facto WR2 and finished with 786 yards and seven touchdowns in his final season.
Only future first-round pick Matthew Golden topped him. With his size and hands, there was every reason to believe that production could translate to the NFL.
That made Helm’s rookie season look encouraging on paper, the kind of year that suggested he could be a real help to Ward in Year 2. Instead, the connection just hasn’t been there. When Ward has looked his way, Helm has not been able to turn those chances into much more than what was already on the table.
So if Tennessee can’t suddenly start hitting throws down the field, the tight ends will need to create value another way. That can mean doing damage after the catch. It can also mean leaning on blocking and helping the running backs find more room.
If the Titans want to keep stacking wins, they’re going to need more from that group. And that need starts this week against the Cleveland Browns.
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