Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith lifted
the team’s offense to great heights in his first year on the job in 2019. Under Smith’s direction, the Titans ranked
first in the NFL in red zone efficiency (75.6%), third in rushing (138.9 yards
per game), fourth in yards per play (6.12, which was the third best in
franchise history) and 10th in points per game (402, 25.1 per game).
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill led the NFL in
passer rating (117.5) and running back Derrick Henry led the league in rushing
with 1,540 yards. Along the way, rookie A.J. Brown blossomed into one of the
league’s top young talents.
With all of them returning, Year 2 should be a
breeze, huh? Not so fast, said Smith,
who is taking nothing for granted coming off a trip to the AFC Championship
Game. The former tight ends coach wants
to build on last year’s success and knows the offense will need to come
together leading up to the season following an offseason when virtual meetings
have taken the place of OTAs and minicamps to this point.
A positive: He’s more comfortable heading into his
second season. “It is certainly
different going into Year 2, whether we are at the facility or not, for me in
this role,” Smith said on a Zoom conference call on Wednesday. “Any
job you take for the first time, you try to plan for what’s coming, and until
you have experienced something. … Now the fear of the unknown is gone.
“But I have a long way to go, and every
season you have to start over. We have to make more improvement, and certainly
I am aware of that. But the unknown, after going through it for a year, you
know what to expect.”
In 2019, the Titans’ red zone efficiency was the
best in the NFL since 2013, and the third-highest percentage in the league
since 1991. The team surpassed the 400-point total for a season for only the
second time since 1990 (435 in 2003). Tannehill and Henry became only the
fourth NFL duo (since 1973, when passer rating was established), and first in
franchise history, to lead the league in rushing and passer rating in the same
season. And Brown, in his rookie season,
finished the season with 1,051 yards and eight touchdowns. “We have to evolve (as an
offense),” Smith. “We don’t want to get stale. We need to
improve.”
During the 20-minute Zoom conference call with
reporters on Wednesday, Smith tackled a number of questions.
A look at some of the hot topics…
-When asked about Henry’s workload moving forward
coming off a 2019 season when he carried the ball 367 times, including the
postseason, Smith said “we’ll see how the season evolves for him and see
what happens with the other running back spot. But Derrick has done a great job
the last couple of years, especially down the stretch. We’ll have to see how it
evolves during the season.” Smith said Henry emerged as more of a leader
last season, and he expects him to pick up where he left off. “We feel good
about the run game and we’ll continue to build off of that,” Smith said.
-Smith said he anticipates quarterbacks Logan
Woodside and Cole McDonald battling it out for the back-up spot behind
Tannehill. Smith said Woodside did a great job behind the scenes last year
while on Injured Reserve, “and I’m excited to see when we get on the field
how much he’s grown.” Smith bounced out of a question on whether the team
could potentially add a veteran QB, saying he wants to see Woodside and
McDonald compete in the short term.
-In addition to praising Brown, Smith also raved
about receiver Corey Davis, who caught 43 passes for 601 yards and two
touchdown last season. “We want to see their growth as well,” Smith
said. “We want to be the most explosive unit we can. … Corey is a big part
of our offense. And there were some huge explosive plays (last year) that Corey
was the unsung hero to. … He’s a big part of this offense and I think he’ll
take another step. I feel very confident in Corey, A.J. and Adam (Humphries) and
that group.” After being asked about the competition at receiver behind
Brown, Davis and Humphries, Smith named receivers Cody Hollister, Cam Batson
and Rashard Davis while also complimenting Kalif Raymond for the job he did
stepping up in 2019. “I think we’re going to have great competition
there.”
-Smith complimented tight end Jonnu Smith while
expressing how much he’ll miss veteran Delanie Walker from a leadership
standpoint. “He’s come a long way,” Smith said of Jonnu Smith.
“That’s a tough position to play … and Jonnu does a great job. He does it
all and hopefully he’ll take the next step.”
-Smith sounded excited about the potential of
running back Darrynton Evans, the team’s third-round pick in the NFL Draft out
of Appalachian State. “When we get out there, we have to see what he can
do,” Smith said of Evans. “Obviously we are excited about the
potential of what Darrynton can bring. He’s a very smart player and had a ton
of production at App. We feel like he can (help us). … I can give you an answer
after we see him practice a few weeks. We’ll see what he can handle and how we
bring him along. We hope he gives us another element.”
-Smith said Tannehill did a great job after taking
over as the starter last season. “He was decisive with the football, and he
made some great plays,” Smith said. “He is able to move, and he is
good in the pocket. … We are excited about Ryan and where we can go with the
passing offense. I feel very confident in Ryan. We see the game very similar. I
am excited about the leadership Ryan brings, too.”
-In a recent Zoom call, left tackle Taylor Lewan
said he’d like to take on more of a leadership role moving forward. Smith said
he’d welcome that while indicating he views Lewan as a leader. “Taylor is
going to lead in his own way, and it may be different from how Ryan
leads,” Smith said. “Like all of us, hopefully I’ve matured and
evolved as a coach and the same thing he’s done as a player. … Taylor works
hard and he leads by example.”
