If Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill is going to re-create his success from 2019 in 2020, he’s going to need some players to step up in order to do so.
Here’s a look at five players who need to step up the most for their quarterback.
RT Dennis Kelly
Kelly’s spot as the starting right tackle isn’t guaranteed quite yet, but we have to give him the edge over Isaiah Wilson based on experience and the trust the coaching staff has with him.
Kelly will be tasked with taking over for Jack Conklin, who was an elite run-blocker in 2019. Where Conklin didn’t excel was in pass protection, although he was certainly more than serviceable in that area.
Kelly performed well in place of an injured Conklin in 2018, so there is precedent for him being an effective starter. However, that sample size is small and any drop-off in the quality of pass protection could be disastrous.
The Titans can only hope Kelly will at least carry the torch from Conklin at right tackle in 2020, or else Tannehill might be facing a lot of pressure from the right side.
RG Nate Davis
The Titans’ 2019 third-round pick struggled out of the gate last season, which was understandable considering he didn’t have a full training camp and missed the entire preseason.
While Davis rebounded in the run game later on, it was his pass protection that was the most concerning. Struggling in pass protection also creates a domino effect, as it puts more pressure on the guys around him.
If Davis fails to improve and Kelly is any kind of drop-off from Conklin, that will become a serious issue when Tannehill drops back.
The Titans simply can’t afford to have a repeat of some of the horrific offensive line play we saw in pass protection last season that resulted in surrendering the second-most sacks in the NFL last season.
The hope is that with a full training camp and preseason, Davis will improve in pass protection and not become a liability that makes things more difficult for his teammates, and in particular, the Titans’ quarterback.
WR Corey Davis
Davis’ production took a step back in 2019, and as a result he also took a backseat to rookie A.J. Brown, who emerged as the team’s No. 1 receiver.
But it’s not like Davis didn’t have chances to get the ball more. There were several times during the season where we saw him wide open, but Tannehill simply didn’t find him.
That’s something that has to change in 2020, as the Titans need someone who can take the pressure off Brown, who will undoubtedly see more attention from opposing defenses.
Tannehill recently acknowledged he needs to work on his chemistry with Davis for this season and the onus is going to be on the quarterback to get him the ball when he’s open.
There are certainly things Davis can do individually to step up, but he’s going to need some help from his quarterback to really break out.
WR Kalif Raymond
Raymond only had 10 receptions in 10 games (including playoffs) last season, but he made the most of every single one of them.
The Holy Cross product flashed deep-threat potential in his limited looks, averaging an impressive 21.5 yards per reception. Seven of his 10 receptions went for first downs, and three of those went for 40 yards or more.
The Titans went into the offseason conceivably needing to add a burner at the position who can stretch the field, but Tennessee has yet to add any receivers in free agency or in the draft.
If nothing changes, Raymond is going to be the man to fill that role.
WR Adam Humphries
Even before missing six games (including playoffs), Humphries wasn’t utilized much, as he averaged just 3.1 receptions per game in 12 contests, and half of those games saw him get three targets or less.
That means if Humphries is going to step up, Arthur Smith has to get him more involved in the game plan. Furthermore, another year of working with Tannehill and in Smith’s offense should help him see more opportunities.
Humphries is never going to be a compiler that puts up big numbers, but his ability to get open and move the chains can make Tannehill’s life much easier in short-yardage situations.
The Titans need to use that to their advantage in 2020, and Humphries has to answer when they do call his number.
