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The Titans will face the Colts of Indianapolis during their home opener this weekend. If they manage to beat their divisional rival, the Titans have a chance to take a 2-0 lead in South AFC.
Defense of Titans against Colts …
James and I explained how the Titans 'defense can try to stop the Colts' offensive on our podcast here …
The Colts want to run, and they did very well last week. Marlon Mack had 153 yards in the second half, despite the fact that the Colts were lagging since the game's first score until tied with 38 seconds left in regulation time.
The commitment to run the ball in the second half despite their deficit on the scoreboard is revealing on several fronts.
Obviously, they want to focus on the strength of their attack, which is their offensive line and their blocking in particular.
It is also the mark of a good coaching staff, who does not panic and do not stray from his strength to try to catch up.
Finally, it tells us that the Colts may not have as much confidence in Jacoby Brissett. Brissett played very well in that game, finishing 21 of 27 passes and two touchdowns (including a third almost finished by Eric Ebron), but he only had 190 yards in the game. His average target depth was just 6.2 yards, good for 26th in the league.
Nevertheless, the Colts were able to move the ball against the Chargers. Adam Vinatieri missed two placements and the Colts racked up 376 yards of total offense with no change that day. They may have managed to win the match as expected if Vinatieri scored only one of two goals that he had missed.
The first-half passing game used back-to-cover shots against single cover attempts for Brissett's receivers. He was able to hit those with good timing with a first-half lead, and the Titans will have to be ready to face that.
This can also create a double-shot stop-n-go road that the Titans bases should prepare after Frank Reich has put that shot back into the streak in the first week.
The Titans against the defense of Colts …
James and I explained how the Titans offense can attack the Colts offense on our podcast here …
The Colts love to manage a 2-cover area and allow their corners to play with their eyes on the quarterback. The Colts side team has a talented young security player in Malik Hooker, who was able to read Philip Rivers' eyes in the red zone and win a beautiful one-handed interception.
Rivers probably should not have thrown this ball, but it's still an interesting game for the safety of the Colts.
This will help the Titans that Jabaal Sheard is absent for this match with Kemoko Turray a decision to make at the time of the match because they are the two best Colts pass passers. The Titans may be able to launch a smoother attack at the crossing against this defensive front, but they may not want it.
The last time the Colts faced the Titans with Marcus Mariota under center, they destroyed the Titans' passing game with disguised and delayed blitzes that caused Mariota's panic early in the game and finally brought from early.
Conversely, Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson attacked the Colts defense last week.
The Titans will probably seek to ride Derrick Henry in this game, taking advantage of the too aggressive linebackers to create cutting lanes in the zone diagram. This aggressiveness on the part of linebackers should also allow the Titans to work the pass-action game in the center and at the back of the pitch.
As in their last game, I expect the Colts to exert a lot of extra pressure to disrupt Mariota's timekeeping in straight-line and action-line shots.
This should be a good match because, just like last week, both teams will probably be looking to throw the ball and control the clock to establish their dominance in this game.
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