Glass ¾ Full Offseason Analysis: Offense

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Here is the central organizing thought of this analysis: free agents are signed to address immediate needs, rookies are drafted to fill holes one league year down the line. The trick in assessment is simply following the money. Look at the roster, see where dollars are committed after 2014, and then evaluate rookie talents ability to replace the guys that will likely be lost to free agency/veteran cuts.

In that vein, this offseason has to be evaluated on three levels:
· Changes to the coaching staff.
· Free agent signings / losses
· Draft class & UDFA / players not taken in the class

The consensus on this site, and as best I can tell by NFL pundits, is that the most significant improvement the Titans made this offseason is replacing Munchak and his underperforming coaching staff with Whisenhunt and what most believe is a superior coaching staff. If coaching matters in the NFL, we may have added 2-3 wins before a single player was signed or a rookie drafted.

That said, Webster’s front office continued to build on the philosophy established last offseason. Specifically, strengthen line play on both sides of the ball, add leadership, and delete guys that for whatever reasons were less focused on winning and more focused on individual accomplishment.

While it has been frequently stated as of late, the roster is perceived to be lacking in star power in general, and just depth of talent on both sides of the ball. Here’s where the Code color glasses begin to show out. It’s my belief that if the coaching staff was significantly underperforming, the talent was defused. In short, we should get a significant talent upgrade simply by matter better use of the players on hand.

What we believe the 2014 Titans will be is a power running team that asks our QB to stay in the pocket and deliver longer throws down field (Kurt Warner to Larry Fitzgerald). On the defensive side of the ball it’s all about multiple fronts, increased pressure, and press coverage.

End of preamble. How did we do?

QB Position Group

Titans smartly parted company with Ryan Fitzpatrick, the more accomplished QB on the roster, in favor of career back-up Charlie Whitehurst. While it’s a clear trade down in talent, Whitehurst's history with Whiz means that he will not have to suck valuable reps away from Locker in OTAs and through preseason.

The team’s decision, again a wise one, not to extend Jake made it clear that Jake is down to his last chance. Fans wanted a replacement QB to be found in the draft. What we know definitively is that the Titans didn’t put much value in Bridgewater, Carr, Manziel, McCarrons or any of the other top rated guys at the position. What we can’t know is if they had targeted Bortles and if his selection by Jacksonville wholly shifted the Titans' focus.

What we do know is that Mettenberg was considered a 2nd or 3rd round talent with flags for back, knee, and drug sample issues. The pre-draft comparisons were to Rapistberger. Good feet, strong arm, accurate thrower, tough, and strong. He comes in with zero pressure and an unproven starter ahead of him. I suspect that he will be given a 30% chance to win the starting job. If Jake’s foot hasn't healed, or if Jake again succumbs to injury bug, I would suspect that Zack will be given a chance to make a few starts.

Whiz gets two bites at this apple. He can start with Jake and then fall back to Zack if the season has been flushed (along with Jake’s career in Tennessee). If Zack shows potential we might avoid burning a pick next season. If Jake has a good year we move forward with both guys into the future (provided that Locker can be signed for 2015).

RB Position Group

In Bishop Sankey the Titans got a 3-down back with comparisons to Lesean McCoy and Ray Rice. He can run between the tackles. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. While he won’t be the HR hitter that CJ was, he can pick up large chunks of yards. Five years ago he would have been a first round pick. Which really helps in my mind offset choosing a first round OT that really has been brought in for 2015 to replace Mike Roos.

McCluster should get most of his touches in the slot. Green is still on hand for short yardage situations and possibly as a change of pace and to give Sankey some rest.

We should expect a good amount of use of FB in the Whiz offense. I think the position battle with be between Mooney and Battle (rather than Quinn Johnson). I’m curious to see how Sankey does behind a FB. His weakness is in pass protection, so until that gets cleaned up, we might see Green on the field in obvious passing situations to give Jake a little extra protection.

TE Position Group

No real movement. Walker remains the main man and Stevens with his reduced cost brings blocking capability. If David Wright beats out Taylor Thompson, Ruston might want to hang his head about that original draft decision.


Offensive Line

The surprise of the draft for many was the selection of Lewan in the first. Not really much of a surprise when you looked at the position group in 2015 and saw that only Oher was under contract at the tackle position. As a fan base we have largely been spoiled by consistently good T play, particularly at LT, with Hopkins giving way to Roos providing roughly 15 years of solid LT play. If Lewan can carry on that string, paired with long-term signed Gs in Warmack and Levitre, the Titans o-line may well be the strength and the identity of the team.

I thought the most interesting signing among UDFA was C Gabe Ikard. Expectations of Schwenke significantly upgrading C play last season were never met. Some of that can be attributed to injuries. Some of that can be attributed to inexperience. But bringing in a smart, relatively athletic rookie might allow the Titans to save a few bucks over the cost of a veteran offensive lineman.

Wide Outs

Titans have investments in Wright, Hunter, and a few dollars in Preston through 2015. Washington comes back and will be counted on in a significant way. McCluster is more a member of this group than the RB room. Preston is the only true big body in the group, which could potentially open the door to UDFA Josh Stewart or former high draft choice like Brian Robiskie attempting to get his career restarted in Tennessee.

Addition by Subtraction

On offense it’s possible that the three biggest additions in this offseason were actually subtractions. The former face of the franchise, Chris Johnson, is now a Jet. Kenny Britt, unlucky in love, unluckier in the health department, took his first round talent to STL. Ryan Fitzpatrick, a great beard but nothing more than a journeyman QB has stopped stealing reps from Jake and Zack. Add the changes to the offensive coaching staff and we will clearly see a very different Titan offense.

It’s been said that it’s all on Jake. I don’t think so. In fact, I think the team has done everything they can to take it off of Jake. They gave him a potentially dominant offensive line. They gave him a back that will get the yards that are blocked for him. They gave him a scat back/slot guy in McCluster who can turn 5 yards into 50. They gave him two high round WRs in Wright and Hunter.

Now if Jason Michael and the Whiz can get his head straight, and if his body can catch a break, we will finally learn in year four what we should have learned in year two … can the Titans win with Jake at QB?

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[TitansGuru]

Good stuff, man. Sorry, I had to delete the first one since I forgot to change the author to you.

[headhunter]

I totally agree that coaches can make huge differences. Take away CJ, Britt and Fitzpatrick and we should have more consistency. I truly hope that the coaches the past several years have been holding our younger guys back, especially our linebackers and offensive line.

Edited May 12, 2014 by headhunter

[CMJ]

Thank you, Michael.

[tgo]

Pass protection is not a weakness for Sankey. Marv Sunderland (Titans scout) was raving about how he is great in pass protection and can play all 3 downs. In fact, passing downs are where he will be the most utilized.

And McCluster will be in the RB room according to Wisenhunt.

Edited May 12, 2014 by tgo

[TitansGuru]

Yeah, I heard that pass pro was a plus for him. Obviously there will be a learning curve with the offense but I think they expect him to be fine there.

[Nash]

Not so sure about Greene, with his knee.. I'd have to think Whiz would like a healthy short yardage back..but other than that , improvement will come from the coaching and scheme changes on offense.. 

[Dikinbaus]

Nice write up Code. I agree and believe everyone should get somewhat of a cleaner slate under an actual NFL coaching staff. It seems like we had the raw talent the past few years but those coaches couldn't develop them and make make them live up to their potential.

I really think we will have guys show up and take a step towards their potential. Guys like Ayers, Brown, Hunter, Morgan, and yes even Locker will have good to great seasons IMO, as long as they stay healthy.

[NashvilleNinja]

Couple points:

 

 

RB - The use of FB in Whiz offense makes me wish we'd gone after a FB. JC Copeland was available as an UDFA. We could have signed him up.

TE - People are talking about this year being Locker's make or break year. The same could/should be said of Taylor Thompson. When is the light switch going to flip to the up position for that guy? He's supposed to have all this athletic ability and we've barely heard anything from or about him since he's been here.

OL - Roos has been here 9 years, not 15. I know it seems like he's been here longer, but he was drafted in 2005. The 2014 season will be his 9th season.

[code]

Couple points:

 

 

RB - The use of FB in Whiz offense makes me wish we'd gone after a FB. JC Copeland was available as an UDFA. We could have signed him up.

TE - People are talking about this year being Locker's make or break year. The same could/should be said of Taylor Thompson. When is the light switch going to flip to the up position for that guy? He's supposed to have all this athletic ability and we've barely heard anything from or about him since he's been here.

OL - Roos has been here 9 years, not 15. I know it seems like he's been here longer, but he was drafted in 2005. The 2014 season will be his 9th season.

Roos + Hopkins = 15 plus years.

 

Agree on Thompson.

 

Not related to your post, but I was referencing the NFL.com draft analysis on Sankey about his pass protection. Glad to learn others disagree with that being an issue for him.

[headhunter]

Hopkins was drafted in 1993, Roos in 2005.

[ctm]

But, but, but.....we could have found a RB who could pass blocked and been a complete RB on opening day in the 7th round or undrafted.  We just don't know that guys name yet. 

[Tim]

All he was saying is we've had two long term back to back left tackles, and good ones.

Hopkins was drafted in 1993, Roos in 2005.

[code]

Thanks Tim.

[Number9]

I think Webster did a solid job this offseason so far. While he has spent maybe a little more money on some positions than we would expect he had money to play with and the CAP is not an issue right now. He brought in or kept a decent core of players who while maybe lacking in star power did allow the team to focus on the BPA in the draft. Webster was prepared for any draft scenario.

Webster solidified OLB and DL enough we could have gone through the draft without adding anyone at one of those spots and still had a competitive group. Turns out we drafted a real nice fit for the new defense at good value in Jones. Outside of a few players early in the draft there were not really a bunch of great pass rushers in this draft. So we might as well go with the guys we have and see what we can get out of them.

I really like the DL guy Jones but the other 4th round pick, which was a free pick for us, is another one of those CB guy who might really pan out for us. He can give us some depth at FS (if Griff goes down we have a problem otherwise), can play in nickel and dime packages and is good enough to also play on the outside at CB.

 

What's the opinion of Ayers excelling in Horton's defense?  When he came there was a lot of talking about him being a good rusher on passing downs.  He got six sacks in 2012.  I like the front three we have now, so does anybody think Ayers could become a 10 sack guy in this defense?