Titans’ Tyjae Spears led NFL in 3rd/4th-and-short conversion rate
After a solid rookie season, Tennessee Titans 2023 third-round pick and running back, Tyjae Spears, is set to take on a bigger role in the team’s offense, even if fellow back Derrick Henry returns.
Spears tallied 453 rushing yards in 2023, the fifth-most among rookie backs. His 838 scrimmage yards also ranked fourth among first-year players at his position.
With Spears taking on a bigger role, he will inevitably be called into action to pick up first downs in short-yardage situations, but luckily for the Titans, he thrived in that area last season.
According to NFL analyst Warren Sharp, Spears was tied for the league lead in conversion rate on 3rd- and 4th-and-short situations (one to two yards) among backs with at least 100 rushing attempts (90% success rate).
His backfield mate, Henry, wasn’t far behind, with a success rate of 83 percent, the fourth-highest in the league.
1st down conversion % on 3rd/4th & short
90% – Tyjae Spears, James Conner
89% – Kyren Williams
83% – Derrick Henry
80% – CMC, Aaron Jones, Alvin Kamara
79% – Isiah Pacheco
75% – Kareem Hunt, David Montgomery, Rhamondre Stevenson
73% – Gus Edwards, Tony Pollard, Zach Charbonnet…— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 29, 2024
While the Titans have things figured out atop the depth chart, they have to bring in a second back that complements Spears.
Henry would, of course, fill that role wonderfully, but it remains to be seen if he’ll even be back in Nashville in 2024. I continue to believe Henry will be donning a different uniform for the first time in his career.
