Tennessee Titans Depth Chart 2018 Titans Depth Chart

Preseason Analysis: Titans May Be the "It" Team in 2018

The Titans are an interesting bunch, and were a little bit of a letdown by our 2017 expectations for them. 2018 will be interesting with a promising AFC South division and tough matchups out of division. Marcus Mariota is looking at the same receiving core as 2017, with Corey Davis and Rishard Matthews leading the way. Eric Decker is not in the picture anymore, which opens the door for Taywan Taylor in the slot. He would be an interesting threat with his speed, but the Titans coaching staff will need to utilize him the right way. That seems to be the one area holding the Titans back, but some new faces on the staff gives us hope. After holding Derrick Henry back from a full workload, DeMarco Murray is out of the picture, but now Dion Lewis is in. Hard to see Henry as a true workload back given Lewis’ price in free agency. Both are intriguing backs, but volume might hinder their upside a bit. The draft wasn’t for offensive players, as they were comfortable with what they had. The defense will need to improve, which could help out the running game a bit if they go the way of their division rivals in Jacksonville.

The Tennessee Titans have a balanced roster with several great players. Although the team won a playoff game last year, most fans felt like the team could have performed better with proper coaching. The Titans made several notable free agent acquisitions and hired a new head coach. The Titans were blown out by the Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs after beating Kansas City. The Titans decided to fire head coach Mike Mularkey and replaced him with Mike Vrabel. Vrabel played linebacker for over a decade in the NFL. He also hired the offensive coordinator from the Rams. The Titans will focus on throwing the ball more than last year. In 2017, the Titans had an offense that was primarily driven by the running game. Although the offense was successful in some games, it was relatively simple for teams to scheme around. Most teams overloaded the box and forced the Titans to pass.

One of the most significant issues with the offense last year was a lack of production from the wide receivers. Although Delanie Walker is one of the best tight ends in the league, he cannot carry the entire offense by himself. With a new head coach and offensive coordinator, fans expect to see a much more exciting and effective offense. Marcus Mariota is entering his fourth year in the NFL. Although he had a rough year last year, most fans anticipate he will bounce back. The Titans signed multiple free agents who should contribute immediately. Malcolm Butler was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL at one time. He had a famous play in the Super Bowl where he intercepted a pass by Russell Wilson in the end zone. After struggling last year, the Patriots decided to cut him from the roster. The Titans struggled to stop teams with a potent passing attack in 2017. With the addition of Butler, the Titans will be able to play more man coverage and blitz more often. The pass rush struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks last year. Dion Lewis is another excellent free agent signing by the team. After spending several seasons in New England, Lewis is ready for another challenge. Derrick Henry will receive a large percentage of the carries, but Lewis will be an excellent receiving running back. Adding additional weapons should help Mariota improve over last year. The Titans focused on the defense during the draft. With only a few picks, it was critical for the Titans to pick players who can contribute immediately. Most NFL experts believe the team had a solid draft. Rashaan Evans is a linebacker who played for Alabama. After letting Avery Williamson leave last year, the team needs Evans to step in and replace him. The Titans have the talent to make the playoffs. Anything less will be a disappointment to fans.