The Tennessee Titans’ passing game still isn’t producing enough, and the numbers make that plain.
Through six weeks, Tennessee ranks 30th in the NFL in passing yards with 998. Only the Minnesota Vikings (938) and Miami Dolphins (849) sit behind them, and both have already had their bye weeks, meaning they’ve played one fewer game than the Titans. Tennessee has topped 200 passing yards just once this season, in the 212-yard outing at Baltimore.
The touchdown production has been just as thin. The Titans are tied for 30th in passing touchdowns with the Indianapolis Colts at four, with only the Dolphins below them at two. On a per-play basis, it’s even rougher: Tennessee is last in the league in yards per attempt at 5.6, tied with the Denver Broncos.
That puts plenty of pressure on second-year quarterback Cam Ward, who has not yet taken off in Brian Daboll’s new system.
“I think the biggest thing is, particularly when you’re a young guy and you’re seeing so many things, you’re in a new system and there’s a lot of growing to do,” Daboll said of Ward’s progress. “Obviously, the results have not shown. We’re good with the direction we’re headed, but we’re not good with the results we’re getting.”
Daboll didn’t pin the issues on Ward alone. He said the offense needs more consistency across the board if it’s going to become a weekly threat.
That includes the ground game, which has been stuck in neutral for much of the year. Tennessee has gone over 100 rushing yards only once, no running back has hit 100 yards in a game, and the Titans have 497 rushing yards total, which ranks 27th in the league. That works out to just 82.8 rushing yards per game.
“I’d like to see everything improve. That’s the reality of it and where we’re at.
We need to be a more consistent offense. There’s no excuses being made.
We’re not where we need to be and that’s what we’re working towards,” Daboll said.
Ward echoed that view and put the burden on the whole unit.
“I think we all have to be better. I have to be better.
I’m overly critical of myself, whether it’s anything - the run game or getting people in the right positions and in the pass game, throwing those guys open and giving them chances. It’s all 11 of us on offense.
I think as we continue to get closer to where we want to be, get more games and more reps and play the style of football that I know we’re capable of playing, I think there will be some big improvements throughout the year.”
Ward also addressed the technical concerns that have followed him, saying his footwork and accuracy are areas he works on constantly.
“I work on it every day. It’s something I’ve got to get better at each and every day.
Then at the end of the day on Sunday, it’s football. You play with your instincts and play with what you worked on the whole week and eventually it will pay off,” Ward said.
On the injury front, Tony Pollard was held out for a second straight day for rest, while Calvin Ridley had Thursday off after being limited Wednesday with a hip injury. Safeties Tony Adams, dealing with an ankle issue, and Kevin Winston, who has a quad injury, were both limited Thursday.
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