To make the playoffs you have to be elite on one side of the ball...

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by Titans2004, Dec 23, 2013.

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  1. Titans2004

    Titans2004 Pro Bowler

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    Year after year if you look at the playoff teams they are top 10 on either offense or defense. This year it appears that the Colts are the only team that isn't top 10 on either side of the ball to make the playoffs.

    So which side of the ball are the Titans closer to being top 10? Because that is the side of the ball that we need to focus to improve. Of course being solid on both sides of the ball is the most desireable thing, but we have to become dominant on one side or the other so which is it?

    We all tend to spend time trying to fix our weaknesses, but we really need to be improving our strength to make that side of the ball elite.

    Currently we are 19th in scoring defense and 18th in scoring offense.
     
  2. SawdustMan

    SawdustMan #ChampChamp

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    Until we get a legitimate franchise QB we are closer to being elite on defense. But in reality we're not really that close on either side of the ball.
     
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  3. Titanic_Sub

    Titanic_Sub Pro Bowler

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    I think we should focus on elite special teams.
     
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  4. steverife

    steverife Pro Bowler

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    Someone is getting into the playoffs at 9-7, or maybe even 8-8. You don't have to be elite at either. Seriously, if the Titans had taken care of the ball this year, they are a 9 or 10 win team and in the playoffs.
     
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  5. Titans2004

    Titans2004 Pro Bowler

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    Even those 8-8 teams are top 10 on defense...Miami and Ravens . Philly and Dallas are both top 10 offenses.

    No doubt if our players make a few less boneheaded plays then we might be in the playoffs, but the facts stand that year after year if you want to be a playoff team that being avg. on both sides of the ball just doesn't get it done. You need to be top 10 one way or the other to really give yourself a chance.

    So as a GM I pick one side of the ball and really focus on making it elite.
     
  6. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    I'm glad this is being brought up now after our season because before the season I said we'd hang our hat on defense, and I think thats proven to be true. Its just easier assembling a better defense. There's less things that have to go right for a defense to foil an offensive drive.

    I really would love for us to have 2 monsters in the middle and add another stud DT to pair with Jurrell Casey. I really feel like thats a winning recipe, when you can have total chaos at the line of scrimmage.

    I agree with you Titans2004, focusing on one side of the ball should be the idea. We've dumped more than enough money into the offense ($68.6M 3rd highest in the NFL) vs. the defenses $40.9M (27th). Its time for things to settle in and those guys gel together and make plays on offense.

    It really is remarkable we've had as good a defense as we've had with so little money put into it. We need to finish that defense off and draft a high performing guy and even a high priced free agent DE.
     
  7. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    If we could just get a legit QB, we'd be fine. We have targets, targets that have elite potential. We have playmakers on defense, just need a couple more (impact LB & DE). If we had a legit QB, or even Locker healthy all year, I think we'd be in the playoffs this year.
     
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  8. CalgaryTitansFan

    CalgaryTitansFan Pro Bowler

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    I'm a D guy just based on what I mainly played growing up. I'd agree JC, I think it's easier to assemble a good D and should be our focus this off season. That and the Oline because with how much they did to fix it, they blow.
     
  9. CalgaryTitansFan

    CalgaryTitansFan Pro Bowler

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    If Locker doesn't miss time we're in the playoffs. Oh, and if our ST didn't lose us games. Don't even get me started on the coaching staff...
     
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  10. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    Exactly. That's why I (and pretty much everybody) has been saying, if we get a new coaching staff and healthy/capable QB... we can be just like the Chiefs were this year.

    -QB
    -Additional defensive playmakers
    -Coaching Staff

    That's what we need for playoffs. QB can be found in Rd1/Rd2, which is always a coin flip. Take a D playmaker Rd 1/2 also, with the potential of bringing in somebody like Jared Allen. Hire a legit HC, and hello playoffs... we've missed you.
     
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