The Tennessee Titans Defense Looked Like Two Different Units in Each Half Against the Colts

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The Tennessee Titans defense has been the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde act in the NFL so far this season. They looked dominant against the Jaguars and Dolphins, but the Texans absolutely exposed them. On Monday Night Football in Nashville, they covered both ends of the spectrum in the same game. It’s a unit that, despite its shortcomings, boasts a lot of talent.

But, in the first half, Dick LeBeau’s squad looked flat out terrible. They couldn’t generate any sort of pressure on Jacoby Brissett, who played largely untouched behind a mediocre patchwork Colts offensive line. Colts players were slipping tackles left and right. And, Colts were making uncontested catches. At times this season, fans have started questioning whether or not the legendary defensive coordinator still has it or not.

Brian Orakpo looked indecisive at times. Namely, on Jack Doyle’s receiving touchdown. I’m willing to give him some credit – I think everyone in Nashville thought Doyle was in to simply block on that play. But, he went out, caught the ball, and scored a touchdown. Excuses aside, it was ugly. Donte Moncrief secured a touchdown-saving block, and Doyle got in pretty well unscathed.

The secondary deserves some credit for holding T.Y. Hilton in check. It may not have been on the vision board, but the Titans have struggled with these types of guys over the last few seasons – Hilton, Houston’s Deandre Hopkins, and Jacksonville’s Allen Robinson. He was a non-factor, which is something this team can mark as a ‘goal achieved.’

Momentum seemed to shift for the Titans when Avery Williamson forced Doyle to fumble the ball which Wesley Woodyard recovered. The defense settled down a bit and played to its capabilities. Jayon Brown continues to impress, and was a factor in containing the Colts, breaking up pass attempts, and pressuring Brissett. The rookie was all over the field, but it hasn’t just been tonight – this kid has made an impact all season long and looks like he could become a stud in the future.

LeBeau dialed up the heat in the final few minutes of the game, and it worked well. Logan Ryan came up and drilled Brissett. The Titans were burned a few times because they couldn’t hold the coverage. That could be a concern moving forward, but the result was okay tonight.

Kevin Byard played tough, aggressive defense, and I’m not going to hold that penalty against him. It hardly looked like unnecessary roughness, and Doyle sold it well. Woodyard had himself one hell of a game, earning that “Gruden Grinder” mantra Jon Gruden gave him. He recovered that fumble, but he also chased down Brissett on a fourth down that eventually sealed the game for the Titans.

This defense still has a long way to go before they can consider themselves among the league’s elite units. But, the pieces are clearly there.

Tonight’s game was a tale of two halves for this unit, but if the team that showed up in the second half shows up the rest of the season, they can hang with anyone. They just need to stop getting off to slow starts.

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley@WrestlingNewsCo

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