Tag: Calvin Ridley

‘Shorter not longer’ the Titans’ potential approach for Calvin Ridley

The Tennessee Titans have struggled to get WR Calvin Ridley involved in recent weeks, maybe this new approach will help.

The Tennessee Titans’ offense has struggled in the passing game through their first five games. Between poor decision-making and turnovers, QB Will Levis has regressed and shown no signs of development. He’s been bad.

It’s incredibly frustrating for the fans, and the players are also starting to point it out. After his worst game with the Titans, WR Calvin Ridley spoke out on the ineptitude and he may have a point. Deep passes to Ridley have been a disaster, and the risk isn’t worth the reward. 

The nine catches for 141 yards and one touchdown is nowhere near the production the Titans envisioned when they signed him to a four-year, $92 million contract during free agency. But that may not all be on Levis or Ridley. 

To this point in 2024, Ridley has been used to stretch the field vertically with his speed, and in this case the statistics tell the story. Ridley’s has the second-highest depth of target in the league in 2024 according to PFF, averaging 20.3 yards. With his dynamic ability, the idea is great in theory if it works, but it hasn’t and the staff must adjust. 

The Titans’ coaching staff continues to talk about getting Ridley involved, yet they have not changed their approach. With teams across the league taking away the deep ball at a higher rate than ever with their coverage strategies, head coach Brian Callahan and offensive coordinator Nick Holz must find a way to utilize Ridley’s playmaking ability closer to the line of scrimmage. 

Screens, crossing routes and setting up double moves should be the approach with teams prepared to take away the deep ball and it sounds like that will be the way the Titans build their game plan moving forward. 

“We sat down and said, `OK, there’s some screens, some reverses, some quick game, stuff like that,” Holz recently said, “Where number one, it goes to [Ridley], and [the defense] really has to, they have to take it away.”

Titans’ fans hope that this change in philosophy starts this week against Buffalo and Ridley can be the weapon everyone expected. The Titans face the Bills Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium. 

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Causes for concern as the Bills face the Titans in Week 7

Causes for concern as the Bills face the Titans in Week 7

The Buffalo Bills will host the Tennessee Titans in Week 7 at Highmark Stadium.

The Bills (4-2) and Titans (1-4) have largely trended in different directions in the first six weeks of the NFL season.

The Bills are favored by nearly double digits (-9.5) but the Titans shouldn’t be taken lightly. Anyone can beat anyone in the NFL. And, the Titans currently have the league’s number one defense. The Titans haven’t had to face a contender on the road so it will be a big test for first-year head coach Brian Callahan.

Still, the Bills need to execute to come away with the win. To improve to 5-2 on the year, they will need to be wary of these three things from the Titans on Sunday:

Interior defensive line

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The Titans’ defensive tackles are nothing to mess with. Jeffery Simmons is a veteran who has caused havoc in the middle of the trenches over his six-year career. And, rookie T’Vondre Sweat is following in his footsteps at 366 pounds.

They are disruptive in the middle, and both have a top-25 PFF defensive grade among NFL interior defensive linemen. Simmons grades as the 23rd-best while Sweat grades as the 19th-best just six weeks into his career. The Bills would be wise to find ways to either combo-block these guys or attempt to avoid them.

Titans running game

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While the Titans’ passing game has struggled to find its rhythm so far in 2024, the running game is averaging over 118 yards per game. With Tyjae Spears ruled out with injury, the backfield will be led by Tony Pollard who has averaged 90.5 rushing yards in his last two outings. On the flip side, the Bills have struggled at defending the run. They give up over 140 yards per game.

When Pollard runs for over 60 yards, the Titans have either lost by one score or won the game. In the one game he was shut down, the Green Bay Packers beat them by 16.

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Titans still have playmakers

Despite being ranked second-to-last in the NFL in pass yards per game, the Titans still have excellent skill players. They can make a chunk play at any given moment. Things haven’t connected between quarterback Will Levis and first-year offensive coordinator Nick Holz. If things do click, they have the pieces around Levis to do something.

Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, and Tyler Boyd are one of the better receiving trios in the league. Tight end Chig Okonkwo, along with Pollard in the run game, have the talent to make a big play or two. Bills have to be disciplined or these guys can make you pay. That’s if Levis can get the ball to them.

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Titans’ WR Calvin Ridley voices frustration after loss

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley voiced his frustrations after another disappointing outing against the Indianapolis Colts.

The Tennessee Titans fell to 1-4 after their 20-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday and frustrations are starting to creep inside the locker room. 

After a third consecutive quiet day with zero receptions on eight targets and one carry for nine yards in the first game coming off the bye week, WR Calvin Ridley spoke out. 

“The last couple weeks have been frustrating,” Ridley said after the game, “I gotta get the ball a little earlier so I can be in the game and here with the team.”

Everything looked like it was pointing up for Ridley after what appeared to be a breakout game in Week 2 against the New York Jets, where he looked explosive and was a dominant force for the offense. That day, he accounted for both Titans touchdowns and was the dynamic playmaker the team was hoping for. 

Unfortunately, that has not been the case. In the past three games, Ridley has been invisible, catching a total of two passes for 14 yards and zero touchdowns.

The Titans’ passing offense and quarterback Will Levis again struggled against the Colts, completing 16 of 27 passes for only 95 yards with one touchdown and one interception. They could use Ridley to be in the game from the first snap, both mentally and physically, to make an impact. 

The Titans will be back in action in Week 7 when they travel to Orchard Park to take on the Buffalo Bills.

Calvin Ridley went off on a NSFW rant about his insignificant role in the Titans’ offense

Calvin Ridley is fed up with Brian Callahan and Will Levis.

Call it a hunch, but I’m fairly certain the 1-4 Tennessee Titans have more pressing concerns than a lack of volume for their struggling, supposed No. 1 receiver. Then again, maybe it’s a not-so-small sign that encapsulates everything wrong with head coach Brian Callahan and Will Levis’ operation.

I personally wouldn’t blame Calvin Ridley for being frustrated.

Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts saw Ridley catch zero passes on eight targets. On the season, the veteran has just nine catches for 141 yards on 19 targets. For whatever reason, the Titans have just not been able to get him involved.

And as Ridley’s NSFW rant after the Indy defeat showed, he’s so fed up.

(Warning: NSFW language in the video below.)

When we boil it down, Ridley is a professional who isn’t contributing much to one of the NFL’s worst teams. This is a perfectly acceptable reaction. From that perspective, I’m a little surprised he didn’t rant earlier.

Titans OC Nick Holz praises DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley

Titans’ offensive coordinator Nick Holz credits wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley’s patience with their lack of touches this season.

[lawrence-related id=151847,151820,151812]Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz addressed the media after practice on Friday, and he had high praise for wide receivers DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley for their patience so far this season.

“Credit to those guys after Miami,” Holz said. “There was no complaining, they were the happiest two guys in the world. And there’s a lot of teams and there’s a lot of cultures where those guys would be not happy the team won, but, you know, kinda happy their team won but they would be more upset that they didn’t get their touches and get their targets and things like that. So, credit to those guys for kind of seeing what’s going on and we’re trying to get it to them.”

There are 18 wide receivers with 40 or more targets this season. Of the top 10 receivers in the NFL, the lowest number of targets is 28. Ridley and Hopkins have 19 and 14 targets, respectively, leading the Titans in that category.

They say patience is a virtue, and we’ll see if that patience paid off this week when the Titans face the struggling Indianapolis Colts and Will Levis is back under center.

Titans vs. Colts: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 6

The Tennessee Titans take on the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday in Week 6 and here are three reasons for optimism.

The Tennessee Titans are preparing to face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The Titans (1-3) are coming off their bye after notching their first victory to close out Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins.

The Colts (2-3) struggled against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5 and are injured at many skill positions.

There is a lot on the line for both teams and this should be an interesting and important AFC South battle. Here are three reasons for optimism heading into this match-up.

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Overall health

The Titans are rested and getting healthier every day. Coming off the bye, the Titans have almost their entire roster ready to go. Quarterback Will Levis is trending upwards with his shoulder injury and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons appears ready to go after missing their Week 4 victory with an elbow issue. The Colts are battered and have injury questions at multiple skill positions. This should give the Titans an advantage on game day.

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Calvin Ridley

After self-scouting during the bye, multiple coaches on the staff mentioned the importance of getting Calvin Ridley more involved on offense. He has been silent over the past two games and the team needs his dynamic receiving ability to help open the running game. Ridley should have a favorable match-up this week, with fellow receiver DeAndre Hopkins starting to settle back into the top of the room after missing most of training camp with a knee issue. If the Titans can get Ridley involved, which sounds like the focus, the offense can get going and be hard to stop.

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Defense keeps rolling

The Titans’ defense has been tremendous in 2024 and are poised to continue building upon their impressive start. With the Colts limping on offense and possibly down multiple starters at all levels, the unit should be ready to impose its will. Quarterback Joe Flacco will make it difficult on them, but the possible loss of running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Josh Downs, and leading receiver Michael Pittman Jr. will make it harder to get the offense going. The Titans’ defense is strong enough to give any team fits, especially one missing top playmakers. This game should give them a solid advantage.

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Titans WR Calvin Ridley’s impact transcends stat sheet

Some impressive numbers from Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley in Week 2.

During the Week 2 loss to the New York Jets, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley looked and played like the prized free agent acquisition he was billed as. He accounted for both Titans touchdowns and was the dynamic playmaker the team was hoping for. 

How good was he? Well, he recorded the fastest speed of any receiver in the league during Week 2. His 20.93 mph touchdown run was the best by a receiver and fourth by any ball carrier. 

The game marked a significant step forward for Ridley, who was solid but not a game-changer in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. While his stat line of three receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown might not jump off the page, he averaged 24.6 air yards per target and was the only wideout in the NFL to average more than 20 yards. 

Ridley was mostly followed by one of the best young cornerbacks in the game, the Jets’ Sauce Gardner, who had a rough day. Ridley and the rest of the Titans corps gave Gardner the worst statistical day of his career; he allowed five receptions for 97 yards and a score. 

With Ridley stepping up, the Titans need another receiver to do the same. DeAndre Hopkins has been invisible, playing fewer snaps than Treylon Burks over the first two games, and free agent Tyler Boyd has not added much production. In fact, his 1.1 yards of separation on his five targets were the worst in the NFL during Week 2. 

With the line struggling and quarterback Will Levis making some huge mistakes, the offense needs a boost. Ridley made the first impact; which receiver will be next?

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Titans insist Will Levis, Calvin Ridley are on the same page

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis struggled on Sunday, especially connecting with Calvin Ridley. Are they on the same page? The Titans say yes.

The Tennessee Titans are looking to bounce back from their frustrating 24-17 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday when they take on the New York Jets in their home opener. 

One of the biggest topics of the week has been quarterback Will Levis and his struggles against the Bears. Not only did he have issues with decision-making, but he also lacked accuracy and missed open receivers, including prized free agent acquisition Calvin Ridley, on some deep shots. 

There has been a lot of talk throughout camp about the chemistry between Levis and Ridley and whether the quarterback and wide receiver are on the same page. Hearing from the Titans coaching staff, this is a non-issue.

Even if he is on the same page as Ridley, the combination has to produce more than they did against the Bears, where Ridley recorded three receptions for 50 yards on seven targets.  Levis was under a lot of pressure, but his stats of 19-of-32 for 127 yards and a touchdown but with two interceptions and a passer rating of 52.5 were below the line. 

Fans will be able to see if there has been any improvement this Sunday when the Titans take on the Jets. 

Related articles:

Titans play calling, pass protection two tales of the same game

Titans’ Will Levis still has ‘all the confidence in the world’

Titans’ T’Vondre Sweat corrects Brian Baldinger: Nickname is ‘Meatloaf’

On paper, Titans’ offseason ‘spending spree’ pays off

The Tennessee Titans made a rash of moves during the offseason. Now it is time to see how this $228.2 Million spending spree pays off.

After the Tennessee Titans’ 2024 offseason began, general manager Ran Carthon set out with a vision to improve the team after a dismal 6-11 performance in 2023. Now, after a complete overhaul of the coaching staff and spending a reported $228.2 million to retool the roster, it’s time to see the results. 

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On paper, the Titans appear to be in a good place. Offensively, they built around second-year quarterback Will Levis, using both free agency and the draft to bolster the unit. 

After signing center Lloyd Cushenberry III to a four-year, $50 million contract, the team selected offensive tackle JC Latham with the No. 7 selection in the NFL draft. Infusing talent into a unit that struggled mightily in 2023. 

With Levis being the key to the offense, the Titans added to their skill positions with moves that added talented playmakers to the roster. Running back Tony Pollard, wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd came aboard to assist Levis, hold-overs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and running back Tyjae Spears to potentially create one of the most dynamic Titans’ offenses in recent memory.  

Carthon didn’t stop there. Turning to the defensive side of the ball, they added an array of veterans to bolster the aggressive style that the Titans want to employ.  Free agent cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs, and inside linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. were brought in. He also hit the trade market, securing cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and, most recently, linebacker Ernest Jones IV in different transactions. 

With pre-season in the books, there is good reason to be optimistic about the Titans’ potential. In less than a week, fans will see how well this spending spree translates into the regular season when the Titans open up against the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Sept. 7. 

Fantasy football: Where to draft Tennessee Titans WR Calvin Ridley

Analyzing Tennessee Titans WR Calvin Ridley’s 2024 fantasy football ADP and where to target him in fantasy drafts.

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Tennessee Titans WR Calvin Ridley has been impressive throughout his 5 NFL seasons. Ridley was taken with the 26th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2018 NFL Draft. He went for over 800 yards during his first 3 seasons and then played just 5 games in 2021, totaling 281 yards. After being suspended in 2022, Ridley came back a thrived with the Jacksonville Jaguars, totaling 1,016 yards. Below, we look at Calvin Ridley’s 2024 fantasy football average draft position (ADP) and where you should draft him.

Entering 2024, Ridley is expected to be the main receiving threat for the Titans, a team led by QB Will Levis. Ideally, Ridley could be a top-10 receiver, but that could be asking too much from the 2nd-year Levis. The speedy receiver is intriguing in terms of fantasy value.

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Calvin Ridley’s ADP: 76.02

(ADP data courtesy of MyFantasyLeague.com; last updated at time of this publishing – ADPs continually change as more drafts occur)

Ridley has an ADP of 76.02 in redraft leagues, which puts him in the range of the 6th-8th round, depending on the size of the league. His ADP is lower than his teammate Tony Pollard (70.03), though.

Among wide receivers, Ridley’s ADP puts him 35th at the position, behind the likes of Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars), and slightly ahead of Rome Odunze (Chicago Bears), Ladd McConkey (Los Angeles Chargers) and Jayden Reed (Green Bay Packers).

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Calvin Ridley’s 2023-24 stats

Games: 17

Receptions | targets: 76 | 136

Receiving yards: 1,016

Receiving touchdowns: 8

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Where should you draft Ridley?

Ridley’s fantasy value will be intriguing this year as he’s set to be the top target in Tennessee. However, transitioning from Trevor Lawrence to Levis could present some issues. The offense is poised to be more stagnant than before.

Considering he had 136 targets last season, Ridley will likely see fewer than that this upcoming season. However, his 13.4 yards per reception average was below his career average, so that should be set to improve. Levis has a cannon of an arm, and the addition of Pollard should help the offense stay on the field.

The Titans also have DeAndre Hopkins, so Ridley may not see quite as much of the target share as he did last season. Ridley won’t be someone that the Titans take off the field often though, especially considering his ability to change the game at any time. Ridley should remain a high-volume player, but the question regarding the Titans’ offense still remains.

Considering his position in the offense, Ridley is being undervalued. Draft Ridley comfortable in the early seventh round and even in the late 6th round. His potential is there, and he should be expected to see 70-plus receptions and 6-plus touchdowns again this coming season.  He’s even more valuable in PPR leagues because of how often he’s targeted.

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