SI’S 2019
PREDICTION
8 – 8
2018 RECORD 9– 7
SEP T. 8
@ CLE
SEP T. 15
VS. IND
SEP T. 19
@ JAX
SEP T. 2 9
@ AT L
OC T. 6
VS. BUF
OC T. 1 3
@ DEN
OC T. 2 0
VS. LAC
OC T. 2 7
VS. TB
NOV. 3
@ CAR
NOV. 10
VS. KC
NOV. 17
BYE
NOV. 24
VS. JAX
DEC. 1
@ IND
DEC. 8
@ OAK
DEC. 15
VS. HOU
DEC. 22
VS. NO
DEC. 29
@ HOU
Mariota continues to struggle because of poor mechanics and mismatched
personnel, but a dynamic, big-play defense keeps Tennessee in the race for a wild-card berth.
71
× TENNESSEE ATTACKS WITH THE NFL’S
MOST SCHEMATICALLY AGGRESSIVE AND
DIVERSE DEFENSE. With quality man or
zone corners in Logan Ryan, Adoree’
Jackson and Malcolm Butler, multi
dimensional safeties Kevin Byard and
Kenny Vaccaro, and sharp
passingdown line backers
Rashaan Evans, Jayon
Brown and Wesley Wood
yard, the Titans expand
their scheme and win with
big defensive plays. They
mix and match concepts
from coach Mike Vrabel’s
years as Texans coordinator
and defensive coordinator
Dean Pees’s days with the
Ravens. By doing so, Ten
nessee combats any and
all styles of offense. They
become the rare defense whose disguises
reach far enough that zone coverage can
look like mantoman.
× KEVIN BYARD SHOWS HE IS FOOTBALL’S
BEST ALL-AROUND SAFETY. Other than
the Ravens’ Earl Thomas, Byard is the
rangiest pure deep centerfielder in the
NFL, and he’s even better as a blitzer,
box defender and at covering tight ends.
Tennessee’s defense is built around Byard,
who in July earned a fiveyear, $70.5 mil
lion contract extension.
× NEW COORDINATOR ARTHUR SMITH’S
OFFENSE IS A TEST FOR MARCUS MARIOTA,
AND HE DOESN’T ACE IT. Smith, the former
tight ends coach, would love to play with
two TEs and take a runfirst approach
that simplifies the defensive looks for the
upanddown Mariota . But tight ends
Delanie Walker and Jonnu Smith are com
ing off injuries, and the Titans boast new
receivers A.J. Brown (a secondround pick
from Ole Miss) and Adam Humphries
(signed from Tampa Bay for $36 mil
lion over four years), as well
as improving perimeter
target Corey Davis. That
pushes Tennessee toward
the threereceiver sets in
which Mariota, outside
of twominute situations,
has been inconsistent.
So the Titans’ fate, more
than ever, rides on the
performance of a QB whose
mechanics are faulty.
× DERRICK HENRY WALKS
AFTER THE SEASON. T he
thundering fourthyear
runner, who had 585 rushing yards in
the final four games last year (1,059 for
the season), comes back to earth, as his
limited acceleration and ability to change
direction make him overly dependent
on his blocking. The increase in three
receiver sets means that Dion Lewis takes
more snaps from Henry, who is allowed
to walk in free agency.
WHAT LIES AHEAD
St
re
ng
th
QB
22
RB
24
WR/TE
19
OL
21
FRONT 7
16
DB
3
RO
BIN
AL
AM
/IC
ON
SP
OR
TSW
IRE
/GE
TTY
IM
AGE
S^ (B
YAR
D);
JEF
F^ H
AYN
ES
TENNESSEE
