| Neema Hodjat. 18th November, 2008 - 5:25 pm
 While few would have been surprised to see the Tennessee Titans return to the playoffs, not many prior to the season thought that the Titans would jump out to a 10-0 record. A closer look at the Titans reveals a simple formula for the team’s success: a ferocious defensive line, strong running game, dominant offensive line, and a well-run organization. With Jeff Fisher at the helm, the Titans have one of the game’s finest coaches. General Manager Mike Reinfeldt and the Titans' front office have made wise draft selections and free agent signings while refusing to spend outlandish amounts of money on marginal players (see Oakland Raiders' owner Al Davis). While free agency may help a team fill specific needs, the foundation of the most successful teams is built through the draft. Let’s take a closer look at the reasons behind Tennessee’s success.
Defensive Line
Not to take anything away from the Titans’ linebackers and secondary, both of which make up formidable units, but the defensive line is the foundation of this powerful defense. Mammoth defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth should earn the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Add the emerging Tony Brown, Kyle Vanden Bosch, and veteran Jevon Kearse to Haynesworth, and you have arguably the best front four in football (although New York Giants' fans may disagree). This group applies constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks while also stuffing the running lanes, making it tough for even the best running backs to find holes. Tennessee’s defense has allowed the sixth fewest yards per game to its opponents, with both its run defense and pass defense ranking within the top ten stingiest in the league in terms of yardage. Most importantly, the Titans have allowed the fewest points per game of any team in the NFL.
Running Game
Employing the increasingly popular two-back system with rookie Chris Johnson and LenDale White, Tennessee boasts one of the NFL’s leading rushing attacks. Johnson currently sits seventh among individual rushers while White has already found the end zone eleven times, tying him for the league lead in rushing touchdowns. To fully appreciate how the Titans assembled this rushing attack, one needs to look back to April 26, 2008, the first day of the 2008 NFL Draft. The NFL pundits emphasized Tennessee’s need for a wide receiver, arguing thatthe team already had a solid running game. So naturally, Tennessee selected running back Chris Johnson with its first round pick. Several experts shook their heads, wondering how the Titans could possibly pick another running back with such a glaring need at wide receiver. USA Today graded the Titans draft a D+, noting that another running back was unnecessary with White and Chris Henry already on the roster. Anyone remember Chris Henry (not to be confused with the Bengals' receiver) now? NFL draft guru Mel Kiper from ESPN wasn’t as critical of the Titans as USA Today, giving the team a C. Kiper wondered why the team selected Johnson when wide receiver Devin Thomas remained available. Several other analysts echoed these sentiments. While the Titans could use additional receiving help, the team clearly made the right choice by selecting Johnson. The top organizations draft the best player available, rather than draft a player because of need. No one criticizes the Titans for this pick now.
Offensive Line
Johnson and White have great running skills, but the offensive line also deserves credit for paving the way. With veteran center Kevin Mawae anchoring the line, the Titans have had not only terrific run blocking, but excellent pass protection as well, having allowed a league low six sacks all season. Left tackle Michael Roos manhandles defensive linemen in run-blocking schemes while his counterpart David Stewart does a terrific job on the right side of the line. NFL Hall of Famer Mike Munchak coaches the offensive line for the Titans. Having a dominant O-line not only allows the offense to control the line of scrimmage but also wears out the opposing defense. As the opposing defense tires, the offense produces longer drives, controlling the clock and keeping the opposing offense on the bench. While the Titans may not have the most glamorous offense, this unit does more than enough to win games and should sustain this success throughout the playoffs.
Coaching/Front Office
Jeff Fisher has the longest tenure of all current NFL coaches, serving as head coach of the Titans' organization (including its days known as the Houston Oilers) for over fourteen seasons. Just for comparison, during the same period, the Oakland Raiders have been coached by Mike White, Joe Bugel, Jon Gruden, Bill Callahan, Norv Turner, Art Shell, Lane Kiffin, and now Tom Cable. Coaching continuity allows a team to instill its philosophy and allows players to learn the intricacies of the system in place, rather than having to adapt to new systems on a regular basis. Furthermore, the Titans have had the opportunity to draft and sign players that fit the team’s system (hopefully, Al Davis is taking note of this). Fisher has a terrific defensive mind and likes to emphasize the running game on offense (not surprising when you examine the Titans' season).
General Manager Mike Reinfeldt joined the Titans in 2007, moving over from the Seattle Seahawks. Reinfeldt brought with him, among other skills, an expertise in cap management and several years of experience in player evaluation. The Titans have locked up several key players to long term deals. The team will not overspend on marginal players in free agency (someone needs to bring this strategy to Al Davis’ attention) and, thus, will have money available to sign its best players. The Titans have made sound personnel decisions whether in free agency, such as signing Alge Crumpler and Jevon Kearse to modest deals, or the draft, as mentioned earlier with the selection of Chris Johnson, and remain poised to contend for several years down the line.
Conclusion
Several other factors have also contributed to Tennessee’s success this season. Kerry Collins has played efficiently and intelligently at quarterback, leading the team after stepping in for a struggling Vince Young earlier this season. The linebackers and secondary have played well throughout the season. But the base of the Titans’ success has come from the strength of its lines and its solid running game. The Titans should have home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, and with its dominant defense, terrific coaching, and strong running game, the Titans have a great chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy come early February. While Tennessee’s roster is not loaded with household names, such as the Dallas Cowboys, when looking at the team closely, the Titans’ success should come as no surprise to anyone.
- Neema may be reached at Neema.Hodjat@RealGM.com |
