Aside from delaying a game and dragging it on for over seven hours, it seems like the more adversity you throw at the 2018 Tennessee Titans, the more successful they are. Sunday’s 9-6 victory over the intense rival Jacksonville Jaguars was a huge momentum swing in the AFC South. The Titans now find themselves at 2-1 atop the division. Having defeated the Jags and the Houston Texans, the Titans are now 2-0 against AFC South opponents.
But, they’re winning with grit as much as they are actual football acumen. Don’t get me wrong – this is a talented team that was expected to compete for a division title. But, injuries have ravaged the roster. Marcus Mariota has struggled with a dead hand (basically – that’s my completely professional medical diagnosis) since taking a big hit in the Miami game. Against the Texans, they were down their top three offensive tackles. Delanie Walker, the team’s top play maker on offense, is done (likely for the year). To say it’s been “next man up” for the Titans would be an understatement.
Yet, they still find ways to win games they shouldn’t (at least, according to Las Vegas odds makers). That’s because this team believes in itself, and above all else, they are scrappy and downright tough.
Taylor Lewan is excited about playing the @jaguars today pic.twitter.com/fUjz2j6AVl
— Randall Paints (@RandallPaints) September 23, 2018
Taylor Lewan still got into the game and got him a piece of that Jags defense, even calling stud cornerback Jalen Ramsey a “liability,” and saying “I don’t get tired.” That’s a fucking champion of men right there.
But, it starts at the top – the leadership of Mike Vrabel, and the aggressive play-calling from Matt LaFleur and Dean Pees. For two weeks in a row, this braintrust has put together perfect game plans to put the Titans in a position to succeed. They’ve done a phenomenal job schematically, but this team’s toughness is a direct reflection of its leadership.
Seeing these guys buy in to the system with a huge chip on their collective shoulder bodes well for the future. It’s as if this team has the fundamentals of mental toughness down. Now, they just need to get their critical pieces healthy and jelled.
Sometimes, we think of identity as a “run team” vs. a “passing team” or “a defensive team” in the NFL. When a team doesn’t commit to either/or, it’s like we don’t know what to do with them. We don’t have a box to put them in. For the most part, analysts call it a bad thing when a team doesn’t have an identity. But, it’s possible that just being a feisty dynamic team is an identity on its own. Vrabel and company said before the season started that they were going to do what needs to be done to win. Lewan added, “we’ll be whatever we need to be to win games.” And, if you stop and think about it – all the New England influence on this organization – when have the Patriots ever had a hard identity?
The bottom line is that this Titans team possesses character in spades. What happens when all of the talent catches up and comes together?
LOMBARDIs. Let’s hope.
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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