The Tennessee Titans lost to the New York Jets last weekend in an all-too-familiar fashion — the classic Titans “trap game” with an overflow of blunders.
The loss left everyone searching for answers and determining who is most responsible. I am well aware there are many parties who are worthy enough to pick up the hammer of blame, but I believe there is one party that deserves the largest piece of blame pie, not only for this embarrassment in Jersey, but also for the slow start to the season.
That culprit is not a person, but more a singular aspect of the most explosive unit on the team: the red zone offense.
The Titans had been one of the deadliest teams in the NFL the past two seasons in the red area, scoring at will and rarely settling for less than 6 points.
In 2019, the Titans were first in the NFL in scoring touchdowns when in the red zone with a sexy 75.6 percent conversion rate. In 2020, they were second with a 75 percent clip. For a team that is cursed at kicker and has a below-average defense, this type of scoring efficiency is vital; it covers the warts. And, when it drops off, we see what the Titans look like without the make-up.
The Titans are currently one of the worst red zone teams in the NFL through four weeks.
They sit at 27th with a middling 50 percent touchdown conversion rate. They have only scored nine touchdowns out of 18 red zone opportunities, a free fall of sorts compared to the previous two seasons.
And I know in your head right now you are thinking about losing the Smiths; Arthur and Jonnu. Arthur was clearly a supreme offensive mind, and Jonnu had eight touchdowns and was oft a target of Ryan Tannehill in the red zone, but that can’t explain this type of drop.
The absence of Julio Jones and A.J. Brown for most of the year also doesn’t help. But here is the thing: the Titans red zone coordinator last year WAS Todd Downing, the current offensive coordinator.
So, what is happening? Let’s take a look at what doomed the Titans against the Jets — going 0-3 in the red area in the first half.