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.
The Titans spent the offseason making important acquisitions to give quarterback Marcus Mariota a better supporting cast, and some added protection. All of that will be truly put to the test for the first time on Sunday.
Here are three offensive keys to victory for the Titans.
1. Win in the trenches.
The Browns boast one of the best defensive lines in the NFL, led by the 2016 first overall pick Myles Garrett.
What makes this task even more difficult is the Titans will be without pro bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan. However, the Titans have a starting caliber left tackle in Dennis Kelly to plug and play, and former all-pro right tackle Jack Conklin seems to finally be healthy.
It is imperative this group protects Marcus Mariota. On pass plays, they will need to make sure they’re not being pushed back into him.
The group will also need to open running lanes for Derrick Henry early and often. This offense still runs through the run game.
If the Titans can establish the run early, they will be able to control the pace of the game and set up play-action passes.
2. Take what the defense gives.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota will need to run through his progressions in this game and not try and force throws that simply aren’t there.
Having proper protection goes hand-in-hand with this.
If Mariota’s mental alarm clock is going off, and everyone is covered, he’s also got the mobility to escape the pocket and pick up yards with his legs.
3. Play aggressive.
There is no doubt that Mike Vrabel is an aggressive coach. That will need to continue in this game, and the Titans will need to mix things up to keep the defense guessing.
This team will need to be confident in for fourth-and-short situations, and also use some field stretching plays to threaten the defense.
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