Titans’ O-line ranked in bottom half of NFL after 3 games by PFF
The Tennessee Titans’ offensive line has done a great job keeping quarterback Ryan Tannehill upright and had its best showing of the young 2020 season in Week 3 in terms of run-blocking, but where does it stack up against the rest of the NFL?
According to Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson, not that high. He ranks Tennessee’s unit No. 18 in the NFL after three games. Here’s what he had to say about the ranking.
The Titans ended 2019 with a top-10 offensive line, according to our rankings, but they then let Jack Conklin walk in free agency, which was always going to have a detrimental effect. Ironically, his replacement in Dennis Kelly has been one of their better performers, and the line as a whole has just not been able to recapture its form from last season yet.
Right guard Nate Davis has taken a step forward, but he remains the weakest link (59.8 PFF grade). However, his pass blocking has been a huge improvement, and he has yet to surrender a sack after being beaten for eight in his rookie year.
While the 22 pressures aren’t ideal, the Titans have allowed just three sacks so far this season, which is a far cry from the 17 the unit allowed after three games last season.
Monson does point out some important things that leads us to believe the group upfront can be even better moving forward.
He notes that right tackle Dennis Kelly has played well after the departure of last year’s starting right tackle, Jack Conklin, and that right guard Nate Davis, who was a mess in pass protection for much of 2019, has improved in that area and has yet to allow a sack this season.
As long as the Titans’ offensive line can continue to protect Tannehill and the run-blocking can continue to get better, this group should earn a higher ranking by year’s end.
