Time Machine Tannehill: Titans QB Throwing the Ball Vertically Like it's 2019

Despite a poor showing in Week 3, the Tennessee Titans' offense has looked improved from what we saw in 2022. A lot of that difference comes from Ryan Tannehill challenging defenses vertically in a way we haven't seen since 2019.

Ryan Tannehill took over as the starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans in 2019, one of the biggest improvements he brought to the offense was the ability to challenge defenses vertically by taking shots down the field.

Not only did that soften up defenses against the run and short passes over the middle, but it also created more opportunity for explosives plays. Something a run-first offense like the one the Titans run desperately needs.

Over the last two seasons, we have seen Tannehill challenge defenses less. A declining offensive line is certainly part of the blame there, but it was also a philosophical problem that can be blamed on Tannehill and former offensive coordinator Todd Downing.

During Tannehill's 2019 and 2020 seasons, his average depth of target(ADOT) was 9.45 yards. In the past two seasons, it was 8.05. The Titans' offense had gotten condensed. Defenses were pressing up with no fear of being beaten vertically. It stymied the run game and the quick passing game.

This season though, we have seen a clear change in approach. Tannehill's current ADOT is 10.4 yards, the second-highest mark in the NFL behind Green Bay's Jordan Love at 10.5. Tannehill is airing it out.

Tannehill is throwing the ball 20 yards or more on 19.4% of his throws, more than any quarterback in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, Tannehill has made seven "Big-Time Throws" of 20 yards or more, tied for second in the NFL.

It's working for the Titans right now. The Cleveland game was brutal for sure, but the Titans' offense created several vertical chances that were missed in Week 1 that should have resulted in more points and they tied their 2022 season-high in points twice in the opening four weeks of 2023.

Most big plays in the NFL through Week 4: pic.twitter.com/xxDqcSxO4R

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) October 3, 2023

The Titans are in the top-15 teams in explosive plays and top-13 teams in explosive pass plays. That is with multiple missed chances that should have been converted from the DeAndre Hopkins' miss in Week 4 to the drops by Treylon Burks in week 3 to the multiple misses in Week 1 on open chunk-play chances.

How explosive has the Tennessee #Titans offense been when throwing bombs? Four teams in the NFL have 4+ passes of 40+ yards. Here they are and the rate they are hitting these plays:
-Denver Broncos (3.8%)
-Tennessee Titans (3.7%)
-New Orleans Saints (2.8%)
-Houston Texans (2.6%)

— Mr. Positivity (@jlomas72) October 3, 2023

The offense is creating and focusing on downfield opportunities and Tannehill has been committed to going to them. Even in tight coverage or with pressure bearing down on him. As you can see from the tweet from Titan Sized's Will Lomas, the Titans are creating huge plays as often as any team in the league.

Tannehill's highest ADOT of his Titans tenure is 10.1 yards in 2019. If he can continue his current pace, he will surpass that. While it may be unlikely that his current ADOT of 10.4 yards holds, if Tannehill's focus remains on pushing the ball down the field, the Titans offense will likely continue to be improved anyways.

The Titans scored 25.1 points a game in 2019 while only scoring 17.5 in 2022. If the downfield aggressiveness correlates directly with points per game for the Titans, they are certainly on the right path to getting back to that level.

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