Titans vs. Saints: Full Game Preview for Tennessee
We'll never know how good the passing game can be for the Tennessee Titans until they drastically improve their pass protection for whoever is at quarterback.
Zach Mettenberger filled in for the injured Marcus Mariota during a difficult time, and the difference showed its ugly face on the field. He was sacked eight times in those two games, with seven of them coming last Sunday against the Houston Texans.
It was a game the Titans could have won if not for a relentless pass rush that gave very little time for an inexperienced Mettenberger to make quality decisions.
Mariota may return this week under a new interim head coach in Mike Mularkey and will look to put some energy back into an offense that has managed just 13 points in the last two games.
The Titans are heading into the unknown after the firing of head coach Ken Whisenhunt, and they have no time to adjust as a hot New Orleans Saints offense will host them in New Orleans.
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Time: Sunday, Nov. 8, at noon CT (1 p.m. ET)
TV: CBS—Channel 5 WTVF (Local)
Week 8 Results and Recap
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It was another frustrating loss (20-6) on a point in the schedule where the Titans thought they could get a win against Houston. They were unable to take advantage with an offense stuck in neutral, and it was the last straw in the Ken Whisenhunt era.
The elephant in the room for this game was the offensive line's powerlessness against a Texans defense that gave up 40-plus points the previous week to the Miami Dolphins. It's glaring to think that the same defense held the Titans to six points the following week.
There was a small silver lining within the offense: The duo of Antonio Andrews and Dexter McCluster showed some promise, and it's something the Titans need to continue to explore.
Andrews finished with 83 all-purpose yards, with McCluster coming in as a change-of-pace.
It's still unclear if Mariota will be able to return this week, but he is expected to practice, per Jason Wolf of the Tennessean.
Mariota should be an instant improvement thanks to his mobility. However, his mobility might be limited coming back from his MCL sprain. He'll need that mobility more than ever thanks to an offensive line that can't seem to stop anyone from getting into the pocket.
The ironic part is that the rest of the AFC South is mediocre at best. The Texans tied the Indianapolis Colts in the standings after beating the Titans. That helps the Titans stay just a game-and-a-half behind first place, which is absolutely baffling for a team that is 1-6.
It's certainly a long shot, but the Titans have to pull off a string of upsets to salvage this season from ending just like it did last year.
All standings information courtesy of NFL.com.
News and Notes
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The Ken Whisenhunt Era Comes to an End
It may have come sooner than some expected, but a 3-20 record will make it difficult for a head coach to keep his job.
The Titans let Whisenhunt go early Tuesday morning. He also didn't seem too surprised by the decision, per Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com:
"Underwood said Whisenhunt "didn't seem terribly surprised" when informed of the news this morning @Titans
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) November 3, 2015"
An ugly win over the Texans would've probably just delayed the inevitable, but it may have bought him more time to correct the severe issues this team is currently facing.
There are also rumors swirling that Tennessee made this decision with Marcus Mariota's health being a major concern, per John Glennon of the Tennessean:
"ICYMI: Health of Mariota played role in #Titans' firing Whiz, promoting Mularkey: https://t.co/x072bHwJnt pic.twitter.com/izSQ9oJJdS
— John Glennon (@glennonsports) November 4, 2015"
Mariota is certainly the prized investment of this organization, and it will always make decisions with him in mind. There's still plenty of time for Mariota's rookie career to be considered a success and offer room for optimism going into his second season.
Who's Interim Head Coach Mike Mularkey?
The Titans decided to promote tight ends coach and assistant coach Mike Mularkey to interim head coach. He has previous head coaching experience for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills.
He brings a total of two decades of NFL coaching experience to the table.
Now the question is how will he change this team, most notably on offense? Mularkey plans to address the protection issues for Mariota, per Glennon.
It's a nice thought to have, but you can't change the personnel on the field. Virtually every player on the offensive line has struggled, including Taylor Lewan.
How the Titans are able to protect the quarterback in Mularkey's debut will be in the spotlight against the Saints. The good news for Mularkey is that he's going up against a Saints defense that just gave up 49 points to the New York Giants, but it does rank in the top half of the league in sacks.
He'll have to figure out a way for the Titans to break out of their scoring slump if they're going to avoid being run out of the building before halftime.
The biggest thing for Mularkey is that he brings some stability to a team that is in a major tailspin. Wins are still important, but bringing energy and excitement is critical at this juncture in the season.
Titans Up Against High-Powered Offensive Attack
The Saints are literally on the other end of the spectrum from where the Titans are on offense. They put points up in a hurry and have several weapons to help them get there.
What makes the Saints so difficult to plan for is that they actually have great balance at receiver and at running back. Mark Ingram is as versatile as they come as a running back, and Drew Brees has a plethora of wide receivers who can make plays.
Take your pick on which Saints wide receiver the Titans should be fearing, but Willie Snead and Brandin Cooks are where you should start.
It will be the biggest test to date for this Titans defense. They've played inspired football despite the 1-6 record. Keeping the Saints from racking up 30-plus points would be a major achievement.
Crazier upsets have happened, and a win here for the Titans would get everyone energized once again. It's a major long shot, but the opportunity is there for the Titans to turn this thing around under new leadership. The Dolphins have shown that it can be done, and now the Titans have that chance.
Latest Injury News
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Injuries always start piling up at this point in the season. The million dollar question on the Titans' injury front is when will Marcus Mariota be able to return. He's been out since suffering an MCL injury against the Dolphins in Week 6.
Being able to protect Mariota from a more serious injury is the biggest concern surrounding his return to the field. This offensive line has given up 28 sacks, which are tied for third worst in the NFL.
Mariota's mobility may be limited in his first game back, and he'll need that mobility to keep from taking too many hits. His knee is improving, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com:
"Marcus Mariota on left knee: Felt good today. Continue to monitor. Collective decision. "For most part I was in... https://t.co/IqxIrwUqQG
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) November 4, 2015"
Another player the Titans desperately need back is Perrish Cox. He's been nursing a hamstring injury, and his veteran experience is needed for inexperienced unit that is about to go up against Drew Brees.
Cox expects to play against the Saints, according to Kuharsky :
".@pcox16 said he expects to play for #Titans vs. #Saints.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) November 4, 2015"
For the Titans to have any kind of success at stopping the Saints, they're going to have to be at full strength in the secondary.
Tennessee could use all of the help it can get on offense, and Harry Douglas' return would be a welcomed addition. He is expected to see his first action since Week 6 as he's been dealing with a rib injury.
Douglas is an important part of a pass offense that relies on quick throws on intermediate routes. He's very good at creating yardage after the catch, and the Titans could have used him in the loss to the Texans.
To add insult to injury in last week's debacle against the Texans, Kendall Wright went down with an MCL sprain. It's unclear how much time he'll miss, per Jason Wolf of the Tennessean:
"Mularkey confirms Kendall Wright injured MCL. Not sure how much time he'll miss. #Titans
— Jason Wolf (@JasonWolf) November 4, 2015"
Not having Wright on the field is going to force Dorial Green-Beckham and Justin Hunter to start making plays. Both of them have all of the ability in the world to make an impact, and they're going to get plenty of looks with Wright out.
Green-Beckham has caught just half of the 14 targets he's received in his rookie campaign.
Here is an updated injury report from the Titans, per Kuharsky:
"Titans-Saints injury report. https://t.co/x9XPDAz8Ln pic.twitter.com/H0IJXu94jL
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) November 4, 2015"
Don't be overly concerned on Jason McCourty and Blidi Wreh-Wilson not participating in practice. It's likely that the Titans are just being precautionary in the middle part of the week.
You do see a lot more injury concerns for the Saints, so that will be worth keeping an eye on.
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Key Matchups
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Antonio Andrews vs. Saints Run Defense
One of the few positives coming out of the loss to the Texans was the hard running of Andrews. He showed why he should be the team's primary back.
Andrews fought hard the entire game for extra yardage, and kept the Titans within striking distance despite having zero luck throwing the ball.
The Titans have to lean heavily on their running game to have any chance to put together a good game on offense. They simply don't have the tools in the passing game to beat teams through the air.
Andrews figures to get plenty of looks under interim head coach Mike Mularkey, per Jason Wolf of the Tennesean:
"Mularkey: Antonio Andrews is the "workhorse" at running back right now. #Titans
— Jason Wolf (@JasonWolf) November 4, 2015"
Don't sleep on Andrews continuing to get looks out of the backfield as a receiver. He has good hands for a running back and has the ability to run guys over in the open field. The Titans need a big game out of him this week.
Titans Pass Rush vs. Drew Brees
This defense's success can be widely attributed to how it consistently gets after the quarterback. It doesn't always get the sack, but it usually does a good job at applying pressure.
/it'll need to keep that up to force Brees into quick throws. The Saints can't be allowed to go for the home run ball, which is what they'll attempt to do on multiple occasions.
Derrick Morgan and Jurrell Casey have been outstanding at being nuisances to opposing quarterbacks. They were able to keep a high-powered Atlanta Falcons offense from putting up too many points. There was the opportunity to win that game thanks to the defensive effort. That's what will have to happen once again for a limited Titans offense to keep up on the scoreboard.
There are too many weapons for Brees to choose from to give him a lot of time in the pocket. The Titans have to win this battle to be competitive in this game.
Titans Tight Ends vs. Saints Pass Rush
This is a matchup that usually doesn't get much attention. With the struggling offensive line, the Titans have to get more creative with protecting their quarterbacks.
The Titans have plenty of tight ends on the roster, and a few of them could start seeing expanded roles as blockers.
Craig Stevens has always been considered a good blocking tight end. He and Phillip Supernaw will see more time as blockers under Mularkey, per Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com:
"Phillip Supernaw will have a bigger role as tight end in run game along with Craig Stevens
— Terry McCormick (@terrymc13) November 4, 2015"
Mularkey will deserve a ton of praise if pass protection improves in his first game as head coach. It will be no easy task, but perhaps he's onto something by using more tight ends for blocking purposes.
Matchup X-Factors
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Matchup X-Factor of the Week: Jason McCourty
The Titans have to figure out a way to take away one side of the field from Drew Brees. That's where Jason McCourty will come into the picture. He has to show why he's one of the leaders of this defense and shut down whichever Saints receiver he ends up guarding.
Odds are he'll be paired up with the explosive Brandin Cooks or possibly Willie Snead. There's even the veteran presence of Marques Colston that you can't forget.
Whomever McCourty guards, the 28-year-old has to be sharp. He had some comments on facing Brees, per the Titans' official Twitter account:
"Jason McCourty on Brees: He's obviously going to throw a lot. That's just more opportunities for us to make plays. pic.twitter.com/ne5OGAWmBU
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 4, 2015"
McCourty was in some trade rumors with the New England Patriots this week, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com:
"A fun one to watch: #Patriots have interest in #Titans CB Jason McCourty to pair him with his twin, Devin. Alas, deal not expected right now
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2015"
This is a game where McCourty needs to step up and take away one of the other team's many offensive playmakers. It will be the only way the Titans stand a chance.
Underrated Titans X-Factor: Dexter McCluster
You have to love what McCluster has been doing lately despite the struggles of the rest of the offense. He's played his role really well as a guy who can do a little bit of everything.
McCluster has shown a lot of fight in returning kicks, receiving passes out of the backfield and getting rushing attempts in certain packages. His wide-ranging skill set keeps a defense off balance.
In terms of all-purpose yardage, McCluster had an impressive game against the Texans.
The offensive game plan needs to continue to use McCluster in this way. Maximizing the skills he brings to the table is important for an offense that is searching for answers and is limited with the players it has at wide receiver.
Prediction: Saints 34, Titans 17
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The downward spiral will continue for the Titans. The matchup for the defense will just be too much to handle on the road.
The Saints are in the midst of a major hot streak on offense. They're beginning to click on all cylinders and have so many weapons to account for.
You should expect a new kind of energy from the Titans, and that will serve them well at certain points in the game. The offense should have a little more success than it's seen the last three weeks.
However, you would be crazy to think the Titans will be able to manage more than 20 points to keep this game close. That's exactly what they'll have to do to keep up with the Saints on the scoreboard.
Expect Antonio Andrews to get another heavy workload that should lead to some solid numbers and help the Titans reach the end zone a couple of times.
Who will start at quarterback for the Titans is still somewhat of a mystery. If Marcus Mariota is able to go, it should allow the Titans more scoring opportunities. I expect him to return, so the Titans should manage to get out of single digits for the first time in two weeks.
This could be a major blowout if Zach Mettenberger starts again. He just can't thrive in an offense that can't protect the quarterback, and most quarterbacks can't. Mariota at least has a puncher's chance to make some plays.
A monumental defensive effort will be required for the Titans to keep this game close going into the fourth quarter. That means forcing turnovers and some three-and-outs. They may force a few in the early going, but the Saints will eventually wear the defense out and get their fair share of points.
Don't bet on the losing streak to come to an end this week, but you will see better energy from the Titans than you've seen in recent weeks. It won't be enough to come close to winning.
Prediction: Saints 34, Titans 17
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