The offseason is over, and regular season NFL football has returned.
The Tennessee Titans open up their season traveling to FirstEnergy Stadium to face a vastly improved Cleveland Browns team.
With the talent of Baker Mayfield under center and a supporting cast with prominent receivers like Odell Beckham Jr. and rushers like Nick Chubb, the Titans could have their hands full if they don’t play their cards right.
Here are three defensive keys to victory for the Titans.
1. Exploit the Browns’ weaknesses.
The Browns have made moves over the offseason and brought in several big name players. However, the Browns still have a major weakness — their offensive line.
Former first round bust Greg Robinson is set to open the season at left tackle for the Browns. The Titans need to take advantage of this weakness by filling all the run gaps, and pressuring Baker Mayfield on every play.
If the Titans can shut down the run game and force Mayfield to throw the ball every play, pressuring him into some bad throws shouldn’t be too tall of a task.
2. No big plays.
The second thing on this list goes hand-in-hand with the first. If the Titans can plug all the run gaps, while setting the edge, running back Nick Chubb shouldn’t be able to break off any big runs.
If the Titans need to make Mayfield uncomfortable and not allow the deep receivers an opportunity to make a reception.
On quick out routes, curl routes and quick slants, the Titans need to be sticky and bring the receiver down immediately if he catches the ball. Odell Beckham Jr. is almost like a running back after catching the football, and the Titans need to be better at tackling in this one than they were in the preseason.
3. Be a master of disguise.
While Mayfield had an outstanding rookie year, he is still a young quarterback. The Titans need to disguise their defense often and leave him confused as much as possible.
One of the biggest takeaways from the Tennessee’s third preseason game was that the Titans showed some new looks on defense that left even veteran quarterback Ben Roethisberger looking confused occasionally.
