By Ben Arthur
FOX Sports activities AFC South Author
These Tennessee Titans are constructed for excessive adversity. It comes from expertise.
Final season, their all-everything working again Derrick Henry missed 9 video games. Star receiver A.J. Brown missed 4 video games. Julio Jones, battling a nagging hamstring concern, missed seven video games. The Titans had been compelled to make use of 91 gamers in all, an NFL document for a non-strike season. That they had each purpose to fold — and but they thrived, successful 12 video games en path to the AFC's high playoff seed for the primary time in 13 years.
Tennessee (2-2) has embraced the "subsequent man up" mentality in addition to any crew.
It is one thing the Titans can lean into as high decide Treylon Burks offers with a toe damage.
"Nobody on this constructing ever flinches at something," receiver Cody Hollister mentioned.
Burks was damage within the fourth quarter of Sunday's win over the Colts. He was finally dominated out after being carted to the locker room from the sidelines.
Whereas coach Mike Vrabel mentioned he wasn't positive how lengthy Burks could be out and that he'd proceed to be evaluated, the NFL Community reported Monday that he has a turf toe damage more likely to maintain him sidelined "a number of" weeks and {that a} stint on injured reserve — the place he'd should miss no less than 4 video games — is feasible.
Burks being out for any period of time would mark a giant blow for the Titans' offense, which hasn't scored within the second half for the reason that season opener. He has been the crew's second-leading receiver, with 10 receptions for 129 yards in 4 video games. Regardless of coping with bronchial asthma and conditioning points within the spring, the previous Arkansas star has made regular progress and began to come back into his personal.
Tennessee has used the No. 18 general decide equally to the way it used Brown in earlier seasons: with play-action pictures over the center. Half of Burks' targets have come within the brief and rapid heart of the sphere (0-20 yards), the place he has seven receptions on eight targets for 95 yards, almost 74% of his receiving manufacturing, in accordance with Professional Soccer Focus.
Burks has additionally been the Titans' finest receiver at creating house. Per Subsequent Gen Stats, he has averaged 3.9 yards of separation from the closest defender on the time of a catch or incompletion, tied for twelfth within the NFL with Dolphins star Tyreek Hill. Burks additionally averages a team-best 5.9 yards gained after the catch, tied for twenty second within the league.
"Treylon is clearly a troublesome man to switch, but it surely provides different guys alternatives," quarterback Ryan Tannehill mentioned. "Whoever finally ends up stepping in there for us and getting a much bigger position, he will have to come back up enormous for us."
If Burks misses an prolonged time frame, the Titans should lean much more on veteran Robert Woods, their main receiver with 13 catches for 167 yards. Since a quiet opener, when he noticed simply two targets, Woods has had the numerous position within the passing sport that almost all anticipated when he arrived in Tennessee through commerce. He has a team-high 20 targets.
Woods was slated to be the crew's No. 2 receiver earlier than the beautiful commerce sending Brown to the Eagles made him the highest choice.
"He stays regular," Tannehill mentioned of Woods. "I feel Robert has completed a superb job since he is gotten right here of shopping for in and making an attempt to do the whole lot we're asking of him. … He simply form of stayed constant, stayed on high of his particulars. In the event you're in a position to do this, the ball goes to seek out you. I've loads of confidence throwing him the ball. Hopefully, he continues to get himself open."
Vrabel on Monday additionally pointed to the flexibility of the Titans' receiver room being a profit.
Hollister and fellow wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine mentioned that the crew locations an emphasis on understanding performs conceptually versus simply routes. So when somebody goes down, it is simpler for an additional participant to fill in seamlessly — no matter if he is lining up at a distinct spot within the formation.
"Each place — whether or not you are a beginning X [receiver] or a beginning Z [receiver] or no matter — you are referred to as to know conceptually what's taking place as a result of a play is extra than simply routes or particular person issues. It is working collectively," Hollister mentioned. "I consider any good offense goes to name their performs to realize it conceptually."
In fact, Henry stays the point of interest of the offense. That will not change. After a sluggish begin, the famous person working again has been ascending up to now couple of weeks — 199 speeding yards and two touchdowns on 4.7 yards per carry through the Titans' two-game successful streak — and has emerged as a pass-catching menace out of the backfield. He has obtained no less than 5 passing targets in back-to-back video games for the primary time in his profession coming into Sunday's sport towards the Commanders (1-3).
And even with out Burks, Tennessee's receivers can satisfaction themselves on their physicality. Aside from fifth-round rookie slot receiver Kyle Philips, each wideout on the energetic roster is no less than 6 toes tall and 195 kilos. That dimension helps with run-blocking, a significant accountability for Titans receivers, and helps in matchups with defensive backs.
"It is one thing [receivers coach Rob Moore] tells us to do," Westbrook-Ikhine mentioned. "‘Large guys play huge. Do not attempt to be one thing you are not. Use your power to your benefit.'"
Requested about changing Burks, Hollister mentioned Moore stresses the "subsequent man up" philosophy.
"Lacking a man like Treylon sucks as a result of he is so extremely proficient and the whole lot," Hollister mentioned. "However when adversity hits, you simply maintain going and battling it out."
Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a 12 months and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You'll be able to comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
