The Tennessee Titans are facing a crucial Monday Night Football matchup against the Miami Dolphins, and they've made some roster moves in an attempt to bolster their defense. The team announced the elevation of defensive lineman Abdullah Anderson and cornerback Tre Avery from the practice squad, adding depth to a unit that is facing a tough challenge against one of the NFL's fastest offenses.
The addition of Anderson may be a sign that defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who has been dealing with an elbow injury, may be out for the game. Anderson, who was a late training camp addition, impressed during his time with the team, earning a spot on the practice squad after being one of the final cuts. Despite not having a lot of experience, Anderson does bring a solid track record to the Titans. He has eight starts in 33 appearances over his career, accumulating 54 tackles and 2.5 sacks with the Bears, Commanders, Falcons, Packers, and Vikings.
The Titans were also looking for cornerback depth with Chidobe Awuzie on injured reserve and L’Jarius Sneed battling a hamstring injury. Avery, who is in his third season with the Titans, has played in 29 games with five starts during that time. His experience with the team makes him a familiar face and a valuable asset to the defense.
Both Anderson and Avery will be looking to make an impact in their first elevations of the 2024 season. The Titans will need all the help they can get to slow down the Dolphins' high-powered offense, which boasts speedsters like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Navigating a Speedy Offense
The Titans know they have their work cut out for them when it comes to containing the Dolphins' explosive offense. Coach Brian Callahan acknowledged the difficulty in simulating the kind of speed Miami possesses. "You cannot simulate how fast and how explosive those guys are," Callahan said. "That's why they are who they are."
To combat this challenge, the Titans acquired L’Jarius Sneed, who has proven his ability to shut down receivers like Hill during his time with the Kansas City Chiefs. In last season's playoff matchup between Miami and Kansas City, Sneed limited Hill to one 9-yard reception and was so physical with him at the line on some occasions that he effectively eliminated him from plays.
The Titans are also hoping to benefit from the Dolphins' quarterback situation, with Tyler Huntley set to start in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa. Huntley's career yards per attempt average is 5.27, significantly lower than Tagovailoa's career mark of 7.64.
Addressing Tackling Woes
One area the Titans need to improve on is their tackling. Dennard Wilson, the defensive coordinator, highlighted missed tackles as a key factor in their previous game, stating that 15 missed tackles resulted in 118 yards given up to the opposing team.
The Titans will have to be much more efficient in bringing down the Dolphins' speedsters, including De’Von Achane, if they want to have any chance of stopping them. "They are fast guys," said Ernest Jones, a linebacker for the Titans. "Handling their speed goes into the disguises and coverages that we have set up for them. Ultimately that is something we really can't manage until we get out there and go against them. We know they are fast. We've just got to go out there and handle it accordingly."
The Titans will need to focus on setting the edge and forcing perimeter runs back toward Jeffery Simmons and T’Vondre Sweat, especially against Achane. "It should be fairly easy to correct," Jones said. "But football happens. Within the play, something may happen. But the goal is to set edges and force it back."
Titans' Offensive Line: A Work in Progress
It's clear that the Tennessee Titans offensive line has strengths and weaknesses. The left side of the line has been impressive this season, with rookie first-round pick JC Latham looking like a star and hardly ever allowing pressure to quarterback Will Levis. However, the right side of the line has struggled, leading to calls for a change at starting right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere.
Despite these differences in performance, coach Brian Callahan believes that adjustments can be made based on the strengths and weaknesses of his players. "Very few people have two tackles that are of the same calibers," Callahan said via Titans insider Easton Freeze. "Some do, but very few do, and you have to find ways to help that. You're always trying to help your weaknesses somewhere. Very few teams are complete when it comes to having everything you absolutely would want to have on a roster. That's our job as coaches, is to find ways to, one, highlight our strengths and, two, try to find a way to minimize whatever our weaknesses are because everybody has them."
The Titans recognized the need to upgrade their offensive line this offseason and addressed it by drafting Latham with the No. 7 overall pick. They may look to strengthen the line again in next year's draft, but for now, they must make do with what they have. They will face a lot of blitzes designed to exploit their offensive line, and it will be up to Callahan and his staff to navigate this challenge. It's a difficult task, especially for a first-year head coach, but if he can find ways to put his players in a position to succeed, the Titans may finally start putting wins on the board.
What's Next for the Titans?
This game against the Dolphins represents a crucial opportunity for the Titans to earn their first win of the season. They have a lot of work to do to turn their season around, but with the additions of Anderson and Avery and the potential return of Sneed, they have a fighting chance to make things interesting on Monday night.
This will be a tough game for the Titans, but their chances of getting a win will be largely dependent on their ability to contain the Dolphins' speed and make the necessary adjustments to their offensive line.
