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2016-2017 Tennessee Titans Preview
Key Additions: RB DeMarco Murray, WR Rishard Matthews, C Ben Jones, ILB Sean Spence, OT/G Jack Conklin, DE Kevin Dodd, NT Austin Johnson, RB Derrick Henry
Key Subtractions: NT Sammie Lee Hill, DT Mike Martin, ILB Zach Brown, CB Coty Sensabaugh, S Michael Griffin.
Strengths
Tennessee fans can also expect a respectable ground game from their beloved squad. The Titans did well in addressing that need, as they now have a promising running back duo in DeMarco Murray and 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry (+3,000 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year).
Both should be able to at least do a better job in helping out Mariota engineer the team’s offense, which ranked 30th in the league in total offense (311.8 yards per game) last year.
Tennessee is priced at +5,000 to win the AFC title.
Weaknesses
The Titans may have solved their issues on the ground, but right now, their passing game remains a glaring problem. Yes, they managed to sign Rishard Matthews in the off-season and drafted Tajae Sharpe in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, but neither is proven enough to make a strong impact next year.
It sure looks like that tight end Delanie Walker, who caught 94 passes for 1,088 yards with six TDs in 2015, will have to continue being Marcus Mariota’s only reliable target.
Key Player – Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota is the obvious answer here. He’s Tennessee’s franchise quarterback and there’s certainly tons of pressure surrounding the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner. But basing on his sensational rookie season, he’s in line for better numbers and should be even more comfortable playing under the system of Mike Mularkey, who’s hoping to have more success in just his second year as the head coach of the Titans.
Mariota is pegged at +7,000 to finish with the most passing yards in the upcoming season.
Key Game – vs. Minnesota Vikings (September 11)
The Titans will already have their backs against the wall in the opening week versus the visiting Minnesota Vikings. A win against one of the best defensive teams in the league would be a perfect way to kick off their 2016 campaign, but a fairly close game should actually suffice as a victory for Mariota and co., too. Ultimately, it will serve as a good measure in finding out if Tennessee is heading towards the right direction.
2015 Team Stats
| Category | Stat (Rank) |
|---|---|
| Points per game | 18.7 (#28) |
| Passing yards per game | 218.9 (#25) |
| Rushing yards per game | 92.8 (#25) |
| Scoring defense | 26.4 (#27) |
Writer’s Prediction
Tennessee, which is priced at +10,000 to win Super Bowl 51, finishes with a 5-11 record.
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