Fixing Titans’ offense won’t be easy against Seattle
McNair missed practice last week with a sore left ankle. That coincides with the Titans’ (4-9) drought since a three-TD burst in the third quarter of a 33-22 victory over San Francisco on Nov. 27 ? all from McNair.
“We’ve been there,” McNair said of the spurt. “At the same time, we just haven’t held onto the football. We’ve been doing some good things offensively, and we just haven’t finished. I think this is what we want to do this week. Once we start, we want to go ahead and finish the drive.”
It won’t be easy ? the Titans host Seattle (11-2) and a defense that hasn’t allowed a touchdown in two games. The Seahawks are allowing only 16.2 points per game and only 17 touchdowns this season.
The Titans have had their chances.
McNair threw into the end zone twice in a 35-3 loss at Indianapolis on Dec. 4 only to watch as passes were dropped. Last week the Titans drove inside the Houston 35 yard line six times, then turned the ball over on downs three times, missed a field goal and kicked two others.
Receiver Drew Bennett said if they knew exactly what the problem was, they would fix it.
“This week it was a few dropped balls, a lack of execution, a few missed assignments, some tipped balls ? just things like that. You can’t point the fingers and say we’re not getting open downfield well. We’re not making the throws well. W’ere not opening the holes,” Bennett said.
And the mistakes have been multiplying.
Tyrone Calico, the third-year receiver recovering from a calf injury earlier this year and a torn ACL that cost him 2004, dropped one ball on a slant. McNair went right back to him last week, when dropped a ball that hit his hands.
But with season-ending injuries knocking out rookie receivers Brandon Jones and Roydell Williams, McNair’s options are limited. Tight end Erron Kinney missed last week after minor surgery on his right knee and is questionable for Sunday.
McNair said he hasn’t lost faith in Calico.
“He’s been out almost a year. Coming back, it takes a lot to get into a groove. He’s slowly improving in practice. He’s done a good job this week, and hopefully we can get some things done Sunday,” McNair said.
Scoring touchdowns instead of field goals will be a must Sunday because the Seahawks feature one of the NFL’s best offenses, a unit that averages 29.1 points per game.
“There’s no question that we have to score points,” Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.
Converting third downs will be a big step toward touchdowns. The Titans are 18-of-71 on third down over the past five games, including a measly 3-of-14 against the Texans last week. Fisher gives some of the credit to opposing defenses with some shared by the Titans’ offense.
“It’s all about what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. We’re going to practice it all week and try to give the guys a chance to make the right plays,” Fisher said.