Tennessee Titans: Javon Ringer, Chris Johnson Are Irrelevant Until OL Improves

The Tennessee Titans managed to pull out of their slump on Sunday with a 27-10 victory over the shell-of-their-former-selves Indianapolis Colts. But anyone who watched the game must have their reservations about this 4-3 team.

Yeah, the Titans won, but up until Curtis Painter's second interception, it was beginning to look like the Colts might actually come back and win.

However, more than anything else, Javon Ringer toting the rock more times than the suddenly lackluster Chris Johnson in the second half was a welcomed surprise.

Ringer out-gained Johnson both on the ground and in the air with 14 carries for 60 yards and five catches for 42 yards. Johnson finished with 14 totes for 34 yards and two catches for 17 yards.

Although, admittedly Ringer did look like the more in-sync of the backs, most of his yardage came in garbage time. The true and obvious flaw in the rushing attack was the offensive line.

On far too many occasions, the Colts defense was in the backfield before either Johnson or Ringer got the handoff.

The Titans started the game off showing some improvement in providing running room. The Colts defensive line only penetrated the backfield on one occasion.

But as the game wore on, the offensive line began to slip back into its sloppy routine. Since the departure of Kevin Mawae as the team's starting center the Titans offensive line has been markedly worse in run offense proficiency.

In the four seasons Mawae was with the team, 2006 to 2009, the Titans finished ranked fifth, fifth, seventh and second in the NFL for total rushing yards. Last season they finished 17th and this year they are ranked dead last.

Obviously, whatever efforts the team has made to replace the All-Pro talent have been overwhelmingly ineffective.

Johnson has been bad, anyone can see that, but when the loss of one player on your offensive line causes this much of a drop-off in production it's no coincidence.

The Titans must find someone who is capable of improving their offensive line production, because to me it looks like Johnson is more on the verge of giving up.