Brian Daboll doesn’t have to reinvent the Titans offense. He just has to stop leaving useful pieces on the sideline.
After Tennessee’s step forward in Week 2, the next move is pretty clear: build around what is already working and get the right bodies on the field. The Titans are close to finding that mix, but they still haven’t quite nailed the “best 11” formula people love to talk about.
The clearest example is Elic Ayomanor. Through two games, he has only three catches, but two of them went for explosive gains and the third was the team’s only receiving touchdown of the season.
Even with that production, he is still playing fewer snaps than Calvin Ridley. That needs to change against the New York Giants in Week 3.
Ayomanor has earned more work for a few reasons. He has been more efficient when the ball comes his way, he brings more punch as a blocker, and he has avoided the kind of unnecessary penalties Ridley drew in Week 2.
He should also be on the field with Carnell Tate, who has been the Titans’ second-most productive receiver and profiles as a natural Z receiver. Tate has already come close to a few big plays this season.
The backfield deserves a similar rethink. Tony Pollard should remain the early-down runner, but Tyjae Spears has to keep getting more touches as the season moves on. Pollard is steady, but Spears has another gear, and this offense can’t keep letting playmakers sit.
That leaves the final two offensive spots, once the line and Cam Ward are accounted for, as a simple choice: a second tight end or a third receiver. Wan'Dale Robinson has a case as a chain mover, but Daniel Bellinger is making too many useful plays to ignore.
Gunnar Helm is still the TE1, yet Bellinger has lined up at fullback, helped as a sift blocker, and been used on wham blocks. He has also held up in one-on-one pass protection.
For now, the safer path looks like leaning into two-tight-end sets. Robinson has a place once Ward settles in and gets more comfortable with the playbook, but right now the Titans would be wise to use their tight ends to support the run game and the play action game, and let that take some pressure off the passing attack.
In Other News...
Titans Secondary Suddenly Has A Week 3 Concern Fans Need To Watch
The Titans added cornerback Erick Hallett II to their active roster ahead of Sundays Week 3 matchup with the Giants, a move that reflects how quickly the secondary can change from one week to the next. Hallett had already been elevated for game days in each of the first two weeks and has been a steady presence on the practice squad, giving Tennessee a familiar option as it continues to sort through its defensive backfield.
The timing matters because CordDale Flott entered the week listed as questionable, leaving the Titans with an added layer of uncertainty at cornerback. Even with Hallett now secured on the roster, the bigger issue is how Tennessee will line up if Flott cannot go, and whether the team will need to lean on more depth than it expected just a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Face A Jameis Winston Decision They Didn't Want
Jaxson Darts season-ending knee injury in Week 2 forced the Giants into a quick pivot at quarterback, and Jameis Winston is now the player holding up the position while the rest of the roster waits to see how it all settles. Its the kind of midseason turn that can push a team into looking beyond its own depth chart, especially when the backup plan comes with real uncertainty and the season is still young.
Jonathan Jones of The Athletic reported that New York has already been tied to possible trade targets for quarterback help, including Mitchell Trubisky of the Titans and Mason Rudolph of the Steelers. For Tennessee, Trubiskys name surfacing in that conversation is a reminder that quarterback-needy teams are watching the market closely, but everything still hinges on how Winston handles the job from here and whether the Giants decide they need a more established fallback. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Face A Few Huge Week 3 Questions That Could Decide Everything
With the Titans sitting at 0-2, the Week 3 trip to face the Giants already has the feel of a swing game, and the injury situation is only adding to the uncertainty. Tennessee is watching the status of Tyjae Spears and Cor'Dale Flott closely, while New York will be without starting quarterback Jaxson Dart, a wrinkle that should reshape how both teams approach the afternoon.
For Tennessee, the questions go beyond who is active and who is not. The Titans may need to lean more on rookie Carnell Tate if Spears cannot go, and the weather could also play a role in how aggressive the offense can be. In a game that feels capable of tilting the season one way or the other, a few lineup decisions could wind up carrying a lot more weight than they normally would this early in the year. [Read more 🡒]