Spreading It Around Elevated Pass Game
NASHVILLE When A.J. Brown burst back onto the scene in Week 16, his standout performance highlighted both a strength and weakne s of the Tenne see Titans at the time.Browns 11 catches for 145
Clarence Weatherspoon Jersey yards and a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers on a Thursday night at Ni san Stadium after four weeks on injured reserve -- made it clear he was still operating at a Pro Bowl level. The fact that all the other Titans pa s-catchers in the game totaled 11 catches for just 64 yards, however, revealed the continuation of another trend: Nobody besides Brown was making much of an impact in the receiving department.But as playoff preparations begin this week, there are some encouraging signs of increased diversity in the pa sing game.In fact, four Titans posted more than 50 receiving yards and a touchdown in Sundays victory over the Houston Texans, marking just the second time in franchise history that had occurred, per NFL Research via Broadway Sports. The first was back in the Oilers run-and-shoot days, a 1990 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.Maybe even more impre sively, there have only been six occurrences of the four-for-50-and-a-
Jahlil Okafor Jersey TD anywhere in the NFL over the past seven seasons.The fact that Brown was one of the four (four catches, 68 yards and a touchdown) was no surprise. He led the team this season in catches (63), receiving yards (869) and touchdowns (five) despite mi sing three full games and portions of others.But the contributions of receivers Julio Jones and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, along with tight end Anthony Firkser were a little more newsworthy, perhaps a sign the Titans wont have to be as reliant on Brown in the postseason.Heres a closer look: Julio Jones In a year in which hes been plagued by injury, Jones had been little more than an afterthought in recent weeks, targeted a combined total of twice in games against Pittsburgh and San Francisco before sitting out the Miami game due to COVID-19.Scroll to ContinueAgainst the Texans, however, it was a different story. Tannehill targeted Jones a season-high nine times. His five catches for 58 yards and a touchdown were Jones most impactful numbers since
Allen Iverson Jersey Week 2 at Seattle. Jones played 46 snaps, the most hed played since the Seahawks game, which went to overtime.Was the tight-window touchdown catch evidence that Tannehills trust level with Jones is increasing?We're steadily working at it, and to make a huge play in a critical moment in a situation where we really needed it, and to be able to make it through the contact, you know, it wasn't just a simple, easy catch, Tannehill said. He was in the perfect spot and was able to make it through tough contact and reel it in. It was a huge play for us." Nick Westbrook-Ikhine Hes been a steady contributor this season, recognized as much for his run-blocking and ability to play all the receiver positions as for his receiving stats. Still, Westbrook-Ikhine had only caught a combined two pa ses in the two games prior to Sunday.Against Houston, however, Westbrook-Ikhine bounced back with four receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown, just the third time this year hes had more than 50 receiving yards in a game. The second-year receiver recorded one of the seasons most important catches, hauling in Tannehills already famous Houdini pa s and helping the Titans keep the Texans at bay in the fourth quarter.I have
Wilt Chamberlain Jersey so much respect for him and the way he works, Tannehill said. He plays wide receiver positions consecutively within the drive hell play all three -- and people don't realize what kind of mental gymnastics that puts you through on where you are and what you're listening for, and just the flexibility that gives us as an offense. Anthony Firkser Its fair to say bigger things had been expected of Firkser this season following the departure of Jonnu Smith. Despite a slight increase in snaps, however, the numbers havent been as good as they were in 2020.But perhaps his production over the last two weeks, which included four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown against Houston, are signs of things to come. The Texans game marked the first time this year Firkser had topped 35 receiving yards, and the touchdown catch was his second in as many weeks. Hes now totaled seven catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games.I think Anthony is playing with more confidence, coach Mike Vrabel said. I think he has done a better job chipping (as a pa s blocker) when we have asked him to chip, and I think that has given him a lot of confidence, just for him to be able to start that.I felt like that really improved in the 49ers game, and then when we have asked him to go out on routes, he has gotten into routes quicker. He had some really nice plays (against the
Joel Embiid Jersey Texans). I think the confidence level has really improved there.