One Negative Stat The 2023 Tennessee Titans Must Correct

Football is a game of blocking and tackling, but it is also a game of numbers, and one of those numbers from 2022 paints an ugly picture for the Tennessee Titans.

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

NASHVILLE - William Shakespeare once opined, "I am ill at these numbers," which might describe how Titans head coach Mike Vrabel felt after reviewing the final numbers for his 2022 squad. 

Of course, not all the final numbers were terrible; the ones that were could be considered beyond bad and more akin to terrible. Still, numbers, particularly in football, can be viewed differently depending on how you wish to spin them.

However, there is one number from last season that can only be interpreted negatively, and it's one Vrabel and his staff must find a way to correct if they hope to have a better number in the most important category, the win column.      

Last season, the Titans offense ended 110 of their 163 drives via punt or turnover. Put another way; the Titans finished only 53  of their 163 drives by scoring a touchdown or field goal.   

Those 110 failed drives ranked the Titans as the No. 3 worst team in 2022 in that category, behind only the Houston Texans (115) and Denver Broncos (117).

While it's accurate to say that injuries, in particular to quarterback Ryan Tannehill played a significant part in many of those failed possessions, part of the blame should be placed on the offensive coaching staff, who at times last season seemed more lost than Chuck Noland, and Wilson in Castaway.  

Enter Tim Kelly as the new offensive coordinator, replacing Todd Downing who was relieved of his duties following last season's disappointment. 

It will be up to Kelly to find answers to change this stat positively.

"I wouldn't say it's a complete overhaul. Obviously, this program has done a lot of really good things offensively throughout the years, so just like we talked about whenever the last time I talked to you guys was, it's going to be about we make sure we're accentuating the things we do well, and making minor adjustments to some of the other to improve," said Kelly following the second OTA session for the Titans. 

It will be a while before we know what this team will do well, but here's to hoping one of those is finding ways to end drives in the endzone more often than a season ago.

 

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