[FREE] What is Progress for Titans in 2024
What does progress look like in 2024 for the Tennessee Titans?
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With the Titans coming off a second straight disappointing season — one that saw them miss the playoffs for the second straight season — and a full overhaul of the nucleus of the team, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone discussing significant expectations.
There’s a new first time head coach in town, one that has no guarantees of finding the success the franchise is looking for. There’s still the question of who the franchise quarterback will be, with Will Levis trying to secure the illustrious, official title.
Then, there’s the question of the roster, which is on the right track towards being respectable, but still has some ways to go.
With a situation like this, any talk of expectations clearly falls short of the mark.
However, the discussion of progress is still on the table, even more so considering the fact that the Titans can’t get much worse than what they’ve shown over the last couple of seasons.
Progress is a much more realistic topic for a team that’s going through major changes. There’s room to grow from year to year, room for mistakes to be made, and an opportunity to make seismic advances depending on the cards you’re dealt.
And for the Titans, this describes them perfectly, at least right now.
But even then, what is progress for the Titans? Or more specifically, what does progress look like for the Titans in 2024?
It’s an interesting question and your answer might differ based on your personal opinion.
So because this feels so polarizing, I wanted to discuss what progress should look like for the Titans in 2024 and if it feels reasonable or not.
First, a comparison
In order to find a somewhat realistic gauge for progress though, I thought it’d be best to find a recent success story that could be used as an example for the situation the Titans are in right now.
At first, the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills popped into my head.
The Bengals went from a 4-11-1 team with Joe Burrow nursing a torn ACL, to a sensation in 2021, reaching the Super Bowl and setting the franchise up to reach heights it hasn’t seen in decades.
But then the comparisons felt too lofty so I switched back to the Bills.
The 2019 Bills had a fairly new first time head coach in Sean McDermott, a new front office, a shiny new quarterback in Josh Allen, and an aggressive commitment towards overhauling a roster than desperately needed a makeover.
They went 6-10 in 2018, jumped to 10-6 in 2019 with a playoff appearance, then they jumped to 13-3 in 2020 while finishing with the second bests record in the conference and earning a home playoff game for the first time in what felt like forever.
Granted, that 2020 season wasn’t a one year jump from season to season, it’s more a best case scenario when it comes to gradual progress. In terms of a one year jump though, I think this situation is pretty comparable to the one the Titans are in right now.
If you still don’t believe me, then let’s go over this:
Both had/have semi-similar quarterback questions in 2019 and 2024, with many expecting a second year jump from Josh Allen, something many are expecting from Will Levis.
Similar roster construction questions, as both needed more young talent at key positions, and more veterans to help guide the younger talent.
Buffalo had similar questions along the offensive line and at the receiver spot— like the Titans this past offseason — and both addressed those spots — just like the Titans this past offseason.
You get the gist right?
If things fall the Titans’ way, they could be on track for a jump similar to the 2019 Bills.
But again, things have to go their way.
Levis needs to make the jump pundits and analysts alike can see him making, the veteran additions need to give this roster the boost it needs, the improved areas offensively need to prove their worth (OL, WR), and the additional young talent need to contribute toward a building culture that’ll be shaped by them and them alone.
That’s a lot that needs to happen in order for the Titans to make similar progress in 2024, but crazier things have happened. This little proposed jump in quality isn’t one of them and it’s time for it to be viewed as such.
Is it reasonable?
What stands in the way of this being universally accepted though, is reason.
Is a similar jump reasonable for the 2024 Titans?
I believe so, yes.
Levis impressed despite his crumbling support structure, including a poor OL, a one man show in the passing game, and a coaching staff that was more focused on maximizing winning efforts instead of development.
It’s reasonable to expect Levis to continue his ascension with a better support system and an organization that is dedicated towards making sure he succeeds.
Defensively, there’s a lot more to like this year than last, with the secondary being the best its been maybe ever and the defensive line receiving much needed upgrades.
In theory, this should lead to better quality from the Titans in 2024.
But this league is full of craziness and can change on a dime, so expectations are pretty much useless. Well, unless you have a team that’s pretty much guaranteed to meet the hype (Chiefs, the Brady/Belichick era Patriots, etc.).
Should you expect the Titans to make progress similar to the example? Probably not, because things can change and will change, regardless if you like it or not.
But it’s reasonable to envision it, that I wholeheartedly believe 100%.
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