Titans 2020 (..or '21)

[Hunter2_1]

 

Judging by other threads, this is one of the most contentious topics on FF currently. A lot of people seem to think Tannehill doesn't match his play and consequently TEN fall off a bit, and others refute that and point to other factors which would indicate they'll be just as strong. 

I guess options would be along the lines.... one of;

 

•  Maintain momentum from playoffs, best team in AFCS, make another deep playoff run
• An 8 - 10 win type season again and an early/mid playoff exit
• A fall off which results in them not making playoffs

I can't see a 'collapse' but if you feel that way, write it.

 

What do you reckon?

 

Edited July 15, 2020 by Hunter2_1

[theJ]

I think they're ripe for a dropoff, mainly because i don't think Ryan Tannehill can sustain his numbers from last year.

Last year Ryan Tannehill completed 70% of his passes, and had a TD% of 7.7.  His YPA was 9.6 and he had an AY/A of 10.2.  The TD percentage is especially high - Drew Brees has never managed that in his career.  His YPA and AY/A far exceed anything the great Pat Mahomes has ever managed to put together.  The completion percentage is a bit of a leap from previous years, but i suppose i could buy that he repeats that.

The problem here is not that i don't think Tannehill can't be good again this year.  I think he can.  But his numbers last year, projected over a full season, rival some all-time great seasons.  

Maybe some other factors cause them to maintain their play from last year.  But the guy most responsible for their wins and losses is almost certainly not going to do what he did last year.

[DawgX]

Even if Tannehill's play slightly drops off, I think they can still be a good team. I always thought Tannehill was solid in Miami, he just had trouble staying healthy and had a pretty underwhelming supporting cast. As long as he remains better than Mariota, which he's pretty much always been, than I think the Titans will at least be contending for a WC spot. Mariota was the main thing holding Tennessee back during his tenure as the starter.

[BleedTheClock]

Solid team that doesn’t threaten for an AFC title. I could see 9-7 again for them. Tannehill will be average, Henry will come down to earth a tad, but the team will still be good. Just not Super Bowl good. 

[ET80]

I think people focus too much on Tannehill/Henry and don't look at the rest of this team. On paper, this is a top 5 defense (without Jadevion Clowney, they'd only go higher if he joins them). Adoree Jackson, Malcolm Butler, Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro might be the best secondary in football (and if Logan Ryan re-signs with this lineup, it's a lock as the best secondary in football). Even if the offense declines with Tannehill and Henry, the defense will incline and balance it out.

Just like last season, they just need to find some sort of offense to rely on (doesn't even have to be Henry) and the defense could carry it very far (this might be the year where they get the ball to Jonnu Smith early and often - he's got Zach Ertz/Travis Kelce sort of potential at TE, an oversized WR who is a mismatch nightmare). I hope we don't see another AFCCG, but it's in the cards.

They are not a favorite, but they are a team you have to consider in some capacity.

[wackywabbit]

They should have made a run at Brady or even Cam. They have a good talent base and should have taken a swing in the short term and developed someone else. They made the mistake of being too content with how "close" they came in the playoffs last year and not stepping back and trying to fundamentally improve. In most cases, that leads to a regression, which would be out of the playoffs for them.

Edited July 15, 2020 by wackywabbit

[.Buzz]

I see the second option being likely.

8-10 win team the next couple years, probably make the playoffs and win a game maybe two depending on matchup before going up against someone that is too much for them.

If they lose Henry, that could change things. He just changes the whole dynamic of that team imo. 

[Daniel]

Tennessee is a great team, with a good roster top to bottom, and no real weaknesses.

That said, like most say, Tannehill and Henry are both due for regression. The question is how much.

The Titans with Tannehill under center were 7-2 in the regular season and 2-1 in the playoffs. You normalize that over a whole season and by the season’s end, the Titans were more like an 11 or 12 win team than a 9 win one.

And that’s probably where the big disagreement about how they’ll do in 2020 comes from. If they go 9-7, that’s arguably already a big regression.

[43M]

Tannehill had a career year last year.  I think he can be good for them, but I dont see him maintaining that level of play.

Titans remind me of the mid 2000s Steelers.   I think they can definitely be a strong SB contender, but they wont be glamourized like other teams.

[-Hope-]

3 hours ago, ET80 said:

I think people focus too much on Tannehill/Henry and don't look at the rest of this team. On paper, this is a top 5 defense (without Jadevion Clowney, they'd only go higher if he joins them). Adoree Jackson, Malcolm Butler, Kevin Byard and Kenny Vaccaro might be the best secondary in football (and if Logan Ryan re-signs with this lineup, it's a lock as the best secondary in football). Even if the offense declines with Tannehill and Henry, the defense will incline and balance it out.

Just like last season, they just need to find some sort of offense to rely on (doesn't even have to be Henry) and the defense could carry it very far (this might be the year where they get the ball to Jonnu Smith early and often - he's got Zach Ertz/Travis Kelce sort of potential at TE, an oversized WR who is a mismatch nightmare). I hope we don't see another AFCCG, but it's in the cards.

They are not a favorite, but they are a team you have to consider in some capacity.

i think this all stands IF we get some semblance of a pass rush going. that's a big IF though. it was our biggest weakness last year; if that improves, the defensive improvement (which will also *hopefully* be bolstered by a secondary that doesn't lose both its starting corners for an extended period like last year...) will more than likely be able to pick up the slack from the inevitable tannehill/henry regression to mean. if not, it could be a tough go of it. that's why i'm a lot more confident in our team if we snag clowney. not that he's a magic bullet, but beyond his own contributions he'll do a lot to free up harold landry on the other side- landry didn't have that luxury last year and put up 9 sacks, flashing a bit but disappearing for long stretches because he was our only real pass rush threat.

Edited July 15, 2020 by -Hope-

[-Hope-]

more to the tannehill question, i think there are legitimate reasons to swing either way with him. on one hand, he really did- no exaggeration- play like an elite quarterback over the back half of last year, and to have that kind of a jump in play, it just feels sort of ridiculous to expect that to happen again based on what he's been to this point. but on the other hand, he excelled in a lot of the advanced analytics/statistical areas that tend to be good indicators of sustained success, so it could genuinely be a case of a QB and a system/team clicking. just gotta watch and see what happens, really.

[ILoveTheVikings]

I don't just Tannehill at all yet. Need a bigger sample size then basically half a season. 10 games with the Titans doesn't erase the previous 6 seasons with the Dolphins.

 

Prove me wrong, Ryan!

[dtait93]

Too much focus on Tannehill and Henry when really it was the defense that was just as pivotal as Henry running roughshod in those Wildcard and Divisional W's.

The biggest loss this offseason is Dean Pees tbh. But who everyone seems to be ignoring is Mike Vrabel who has been nothing short of sensational his first 2 years with us. Ultimately I trust him to have us right in the thick of it again.

[Forge]

1 minute ago, dtait93 said:

Too much focus on Tannehill and Henry when really it was the defense that was just as pivotal as Henry running roughshod in those Wildcard and Divisional W's.

 

Can you really put too much focus on what ostensibly amounts to your entire offense?

[dtait93]

Just now, Forge said:

Can you really put too much focus on what ostensibly amounts to your entire offense?

Yes, because it's a team game and that analysis leaves out 2/3 of the team and the coaching staff.