Y I K E S. Can we all agree to finally put that dreadful gut-wrenching loss to the Indianapolis Colts behind us? Shit, I hate when the Tennessee Titans have a game like that. That aftertaste just sits in your mouth for days. Thankfully, there’s a quick turnaround, as the team is preparing to head to Jacksonville to dance with the 0-2 Jacksonville Jaguars in a primetime game on Thursday Night Football that the entire nation is DYING to see. So, let’s hit the Titans-Jags preview.
Win with offense
Let’s see this unit help out the defense. The defense was dominant in Week 1, and played well (for the most part) in Week 2. I’d love to see the offense catch up a bit. I would definitely say that the heat played a large role in the Titans losing that game on Sunday, and it turned into a game of ‘which defense is going to break first.’ The Titans defense was on the field so much, that they looked gassed late in the game. The result? Jordan Wilkins breaks a 55-yard run that sure as hell felt like the backbreaker.
So, if the Titans can come out and make a statement on offense, I think they win this game. I’m talking about a complete, concerted effort to be sharper. I think they’ll need to be – this should be the best defense they’ve faced yet.
Don’t let the fact that the Jags have allowed 26.5 points per game through two games fool you. They’ve played two good offenses with excellent quarterbacks at the helm in the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texans. There’s still plenty of teeth on that defense (assuming they’re actually getting along and what have you).
This could be a big A.J. Brown game. It just depends on who they put Jalen Ramsey on. If Ramsey is on Brown, then it could be a big Corey Davis game. If A.J. Bouye can’t go, you have to take advantage of the matchup on Tre Herndon.
Regardless, if you keep putting games on your defense’s back, that Jordan Wilkins shit is going to keep happening.
Commit to Derrick Henry
I’m going to expand upon that first point a little bit. Specifically speaking, the Titans need to dance with who brought ’em. They got away from Derrick Henry in the 4th quarter of the Colts game and it was a contributing factor towards their undoing. There’s no need for that kinda nonsense. The 4th quarter is when Henry comes to life. Don’t stray from that.
Gardner Minshew to DJ Chark
Stop me if you had this connection becoming one of the most worrisome for the Titans this season. Rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew, who is pure sex, isn’t phased at all by the bright lights of the NFL. Sophomore receiver DJ Chark is averaging 18.3 yards per catch through two games. Chark, specifically, looks like he could become a major star in the NFL. This is no doubt the big-play threat from this Jags offense right now – the Titans will need to employ a group effort to keep Minshew and Chark from lighting ’em up.
The pass rush HAS to feast on those two tackles for the Jags, specifically the left side where Cam Robinson is absent due to injury. Minshew has shown a propensity to extend plays with his legs, so confusing him and wrapping him up when given the opportunity will be of paramount importance on defense.
Discipline
The Jags will be fired up for this game. They surely realize they can’t drop to 0-3 on the season and 0-2 in the division. But, from a broader perspective, this rivalry goes way back. The Titans have owned ’em lately. There’s going to be some bad blood here. The Titans will need to stay disciplined in order to avoid penalties. Let’s see a nice, clean game here, boys.
Check out Joshua Huffman’s DFS preview here. Give the guy some credit for sticking with it – no one wants to write a DFS preview for Titans-Jags.
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, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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