With the Titans headed toward a bye week, let’s examine four things that the team needs going forward for the remainder of the 2024 season.
First down
Fix the offensive line. Much of the blame for the team’s performance has been placed at the feet of quarterback Will Levis, and he’s had more than his share of early-season mistakes. But no quarterback can thrive when the protection is spotty and the run game has been inconsistent. Bill Callahan’s work as offensive line coach is respected league-wide, but it’s difficult to find five guys on the roster who can get the job done.
Second down
Find a balance of run and pass. One of the best ways to make life more comfortable for Levis is to have a consistent run game that will balance the pass. The Titans are now using a three-wide receiver set as their base, but there still should be opportunities to run the ball against a more wide-open look. The Titans have gotten decent mileage out of Tony Pollard at times, but also need to find a way to get Tyjae Spears more involved.
Third down
Get a consistent pass rush. The Titans’ defense did not force a turnover through the first three games of the season, and some of that is due to their pass rush being mostly absent, except in the opener at Chicago. Harold Landry has been pretty consistent on one side, but the Titans are not getting much productivity in pass rush on the other side, nor are they getting enough in the interior from Jeffery Simmons and the defensive line.
Fourth down
Help Levis grow. The Titans need to find out whether Levis can be a solid starting quarterback in the NFL, and it will take the course of the season to determine that, given he is in a new offense with several new weapons. The playoffs are a long shot, so the focus for the remainder of the season needs to be helping Levis get comfortable in the offense, cutting down his mistakes and hoping for the best.