It’s something we ask and evaluate every year after a team that is inevitably not the Tennessee Titans wins the Super Bowl. This year, that team is the Philadelphia Eagles, who just beat the New England Patriots 41-33 in one of the most entertaining Super Bowls of all time.
So, why were the Eagles so successful this season? And, how do the Titans stack up in comparison?
Head Coach
This is obviously the biggest difference between the Eagles and Titans. Doug Pederson announced himself as one of the elite play-callers and head coaches in the NFL this season. Meanwhile, the Titans parted ways with Mike Mularkey after back-to-back 9-7 seasons, and a 35-14 drumming at the hands of the Patriots in the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Titans hired Mike Vrabel, but in having no head coaching experience prior to this job, we really have no idea what we’re going to get. This is the pivotal point in comparison, because if you make a bad hire at head coach, you’re setting your franchise back big time.
Run Defense
The Eagles had a ruthless run defense in 2017, and it showed up in the playoffs. The cornerstone of that defensive line is the stout Fletcher Cox. Now, the Titans weren’t too shabby against the run themselves, having the 4th-ranked rush defense in the NFL, and a defensive cornerstone of their own in Jurrell Casey.
As far as this aspect of the Super Bowl winning Eagles, the Titans are comparable. They’re closer in run defense than anywhere else on the team.
Offensive Line
In 2016, the Titans had one of the two or three best offensive lines in the entire league. But, for whatever reason, as a unit, they regressed a bit this season. So, where they would’ve had the edge last year, they concede this year.
That Eagles offensive line was one of if not the absolute best in the NFL this season. The Titans simply weren’t. Now, do they have the talent to be the best? Absolutely. Just a matter of getting back to the chemistry and success they had last season.
Weapons
It starts at the quarterback position, and there’s a stark contrast in the season Carson Wentz was having before his injury and the one Marcus Mariota was having. Mariota took a huge step back for a couple of reasons. One, he just didn’t appear as confident – I think it’s safe to wonder about how the injury effected him. Two, the coaching staff was incredibly predictable and failed to put
Meanwhile, Wentz was the frontrunner for the MVP award before injuring his season. The work Pederson did with Wentz, and subsequently what he did with Nick Foles in replacement of Wentz, is a prime illustration of what can be accomplished with a strong connection between coach, play-caller, and quarterback.
Also, the Eagles have a lot of veteran playmakers in Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, and Torrey Smith. Nelson Agholor had excellent chemistry with Wentz as well. The Titans simply don’t have a unit that strong. Delanie Walker and Rishard Matthews are proven guys, but Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor have a lot of developing to do before they catch up this group to what the Eagles have.
At running back, the Eagles have a stable of guys who are extremely effective – Jay Ajayi, LeGarrette Blount, Darren Sproles when healthy, Corey Clement. The Titans don’t – it’s been DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry the past two seasons.
Pass Rush
The Titans don’t have a bad pass rush, but it’s just not as ferocious as the Eagles. Philly’s pass rush has some real teeth and they finish on plays when they have the quarterback in peril. The Titans didn’t do as much of that, and the sack numbers reflect that. It’s another area of the team that the Titans aren’t too far away on.
Overall, there’s a lot of work for the Titans to do to get to a point where they’re playing championship football the caliber that the Eagles were playing at. But, they have the talent in place, and if Vrabel pans out at head coach, they’ll be ready to take that next step in the next season or two.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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