[FREE] Time to Bench Ryan Tannehill?
Looking at the season and talking about benching a quarterback who may not have much left to give.
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When we see quarterback changes go down, they're usually due to one of these 2 major, yet normal factors.
Injury and underperformance.
Injuries happen all the time, which is why this factor is probably the most common whenever a quarterback switch does occur. Underperformance is the other factor, as bad play from the most important position on the field yields zero positive results, therefore coaching staffs are inclined to swap signal callers in hopes of witnessing better performances.
Easy to understand right?
But there’s also one specific factor connected to quarterback changes, one that we don’t usually see too often since the situation needs to be unique enough.
That specific factor is simply finding a different look from your next quarterback.
It’s something you usually see on the scout team, since starting offenses and defenses need different looks throughout practice sessions to get an idea on what to expect from the opposition throughout the week.
But simply trying to give a different look in game? It isn’t something we usually see.
However, as unusual as it may seem, it appears the Titans may be wise to follow this special sort of quarterback switch?
Why, though?
Well, let me explain.
The Reasoning
You see, the Titans are stuck between a rock and a hard place on the offensive side of the ball.
On one hand, they want to inject more explosiveness into the offense, therefore creating more big plays and limiting the reliance on play-by-play sequences that’ll drive them down the field.
They’re at least attempting to do that by leaning on the main constructors in the passing game, with DeAndre Hopkins, Treylon Burks, and Chig Okonkwo representing as the theoretical three headed monster.
But here’s the kicker.
The Titans simply haven’t been able to fully utilize that theoretical monster because circumstances simply won’t allow them.
And those circumstances pertain to their own offensive line.
Due to such poor play from such a new unit, Tannehill has been forced to take too many sacks and has played poorly during some stretches as a result. This has therefore ruined the overall makeup of the offense and has subsequently ruined the production of the offense as a result.
None of these things are Tannehill’s fault, since a quarterback can’t control every last little thing, no matter how much some try to allude to. But there comes a time when Tannehill has to offer something to help mitigate the ongoing struggles.
Specifically in pass protection.
Now of course that sounds unfair — and granted, it kinda is — but in this day and age of the modern NFL, mobility from the quarterback position is extremely important.
Not only does it help limit the potency of bad offensive lines, but it can open up a brand new dimension of offensive football. Which is why we’ve seen so many teams at least attempt the plan of finding a mobile quarterback and utilizing their athleticism to make offensive football easier.
The problem here is that Tannehill doesn’t present dimension at all.
In the past, Tannehill had the ability to scoot out of the pocket and at least present some running threat. But that simply isn’t the case now.
In fact, Tannehill is what we like to call a statue in the pocket, someone with limited to no mobility to threaten opposing defenses.
Or what I like to call him in this current situation: A Dead Man Walking.
Now mobility isn’t something that’ll always significantly affect the way opposing defenses play a quarterback. But it helps, especially on a team that has such a poor offensive line that’s preventing this offense from at least exploring different ways to find success.
Which is why, the Titans need to seriously consider dropping Tannehill, in favor of one of the two young quarterbacks on the roster that possess mobility. Would you effectively be punting on this season if you decide to do so?
Maybe.
But it’s better than trotting out someone that can’t at least protect themselves from bone crushing pass rushes.
However, that isn’t the only reason why the Titans should consider dropping Tannehill to the bench. The next and final reason is more significant, as it ties to the Titans’ future more than anything.
See what you have from Willis & Levis
This is probably the most important factor in any decision to bench Tannehill.
We know the Titans possess two young quarterbacks that have attractive skill sets and possess unknown amounts of potential.
However, we also know that these two quarterbacks need a lot of snaps in order to potentially accelerate their development.
Why?
Because the Titans simply need to know who they need to build around at quarterback for the foreseeable future.
https://twitter.com/TicTacTitans/status/1706296462374539626?s=20
I know there’s some out there that want to find something positive from this season, whether that’s a division title or some sort of playoff appearance. And I know there’s more that view Tannehill as the best option to lead the Titans to said goals.
But let’s be honest here, does anyone who roots for the Titans, cover the Titans, support the Titans, even think this team is going to come close to achieving something of importance this season?
Yes yes, we’re only 3 games in, there’s plenty of season left for the Titans to find their footing and make a run at a suddenly very appealing AFC South division title. But that’s simply not going to happen this year, not with the way this offensive line is playing, not with the lack of juice at receiver, and not without a running game that can put some amount of fear into opposing defenses.
It’s simply not going to happen.
We knew that coming into the year, as the Titans clearly dove right into the “rebuild on the fly” approach. The Titans knew there wasn’t going to be anything of substance won this year, that’s why drastic cap saving measures weren’t implemented and ludicrous fantasy like roster transactions weren’t completed.
The plan has always been to dive head first into 2024 and beyond, as cap space will be plentiful by the time next offseason begins.
So why not throw your hands up, admit the obvious, and put your young quarterbacks to the test for the rest of the season? You’re going to need to see if one of these guys are your next quarterback, so why delay the process further?
It doesn’t make sense right?
I say cut your losses and start your search for the next signal caller a bit earlier than intended. But I’m not in the front office, so who’s to say my opinion even matters right?
Overview
This isn’t a call for the Titans to blatantly tank, if anything it’s just a call for the Titans to make like a chip and dip.
There’s no reason for Tannehill to continue starting, unless the Titans really want to make something out of this season — spoiler, nothing will!
But odds are they’ll continue trying until the division is completely out of reach, which doesn’t seem likely to occur soon given just how weird the AFC South is at the moment.
As of this typing, the damn Indianapolis Colts are leading the division. The Colts for goodness sake. That’ll likely change as we go further into the season, but who in the blue hell would’ve predicted that in the offseason?
No one, and if you say you did, then you’re lying out of your own ass.
So be for real.
In all seriousness though, there’s two big reasons why the Titans should move longtime starter Ryan Tannehill to the bench.
But in the end, it’s all on the Titans to follow this sort of thinking. Will they do that? I honestly can’t tell you.
However, what I can tell you is that they should.
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