A few weeks ago, the Titans were sitting at 3-1, which included a thoroughly convincing win over the Ravens, with their lone blemish an opening week loss to the Jaguars. Hasselbeck looked to be having a resurgent season, and all discussion of a lost season were put in the back burner and they were viewed as possible real contenders with the Colts deposed, and the lone real threat being the Texans. Two weeks later, after consecutive blowout losses to the Steelers and Texans respectively, the Titans have fallen back to 3-3.
So what, pray tell, happened, and who are the real Titans? Unfortunately for Titans’ fans everywhere, the team is much closer to the last losses than that beginning. Let us first dispense with the offense. Hasselbeck has done from resurgent quarterback to being shut down. Some will point to injuries to players like Kenny Britt being the cause. But in reality, while that did not help, it was inevitable.
Hasselbeck’s early season success predicated on two things. First, easy transition to having being exposed and familiar with Chris Palmer’s system already. Second, and what was really overlooked, was that Palmer adapted for the learning curve by essentially simplifying passing situations. He created schemes and progressions that literally only covered a third of the field. This enabled the veteran Hasselbeck to quickly transition to a new offense.
This would not last. Defenses learn. And they were starting to pick it up already, as they were looking for keys on which third of the field was being leveraged, and shutting that down. The injury to Britt made this worse. Prior to his injury, the Titans would equally key off Nate Washington or Britt. With Britt’s injury, in essence, the defense could simply key off Washington. Rolling coverage eliminated the quick drops and reads. Coupled with the defused offensive line and run attack, and the Titans’ offense was out of fuel.
The defense has not changed. They are a marauding defense, given to big plays both positive and negative. But they are predicated on size and speed. With an inept offense sputtering, the defense is apt to tire, unable to recoup between series.
The answer? Unfortunately, it is not as simple as to say, change the schemes. They do not have the personnel, talent-wise, to adjust quickly. They were winning early on by out-scheming and leveraging the talent pool to the maximum. That was about as good as they could possibly play. Might they make adjustments to bring them back closer to the fold? Yes. But it is not sustainable, as they simply have a gap in the talent pool.