Defense Must Deal with Two Texans QBs

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Titans are down a quarterback. The Houston Texans intend to double up as soon as once more.

When the Titans (7-7) host the Texans (1-12-1) on Saturday at Nissan Stadium, they may face an offense that has spun up its manufacturing with using two quarterbacks.

Davis Mills and Jeff Driskel have break up time beneath middle every of the final two weeks, and whereas that partnership has not led to a victory, there’s motive to think about it success. Two of Houston’s three highest-scoring video games of the season have been the final two. In every of these video games the offense transformed 40 p.c or extra of its third-down alternatives, which is as soon as greater than it hit that mark within the first 12 contests.

“We’ve got a ton of variations and totally different personnel and formations in every of our packages, and it offers protection so much to defend and so much to organize for throughout the week,” Mills stated. “If we are able to proceed to combine that up, it sort of simplifies what defenses can do as a result of they’ve to organize for thus many seems throughout the week that they will’t add in all of the advanced blitz seems and disguises for sure coverages.

“It simply sort of simplifies the protection for us so we are able to go on the market and see it cleaner than common. Actually simply exit and react and let our guys win on the sting.”

The primary time the Texans employed the technique, Mills and Driskel bought 33 snaps every in a 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Driskel was his group’s second-leading rusher with 36 yards on seven carries. He tried simply six passes (he accomplished 4) however was the one one of many two to throw a landing go. Mills was 16-21 for 175 yards.

In a 30-24 time beyond regulation loss to Kansas Metropolis final Sunday, Mills performed 52 snaps whereas Driskel bought simply 18. Mills ran it 5 occasions for 21 yards and scored Houston’s solely dashing landing of the day on a 17-yard carry. He additionally accomplished 12 of 24 passes for 121 yards with two touchdowns. Driskel accomplished two of 4 passes and carried 4 occasions for eight yards.

“They are going to put them each in there at occasions,” Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen stated. “I feel it’s somewhat bit totally different with what they’re doing with every of them. Clearly, they’re doing it for a motive.

“… They’re performing some various things to create some advantageous seems for them.”

In comparison with Tennessee’s present quarterback scenario, it is a humiliation of riches.

The Titans will probably be with out starter Ryan Tannehill, who on Thursday was dominated out due to an ankle damage. Meaning rookie Malik Willis will make his third begin of the season. The backup is Josh Dobbs, who has been a a part of the offense since Wednesday, when he was signed off the Detroit Lions’ follow squad. The Titans’ follow squad consists of Kevin Hogan, who was added 10 days in the past after the Atlanta Falcons signed Logan Woodside to their energetic roster.

“It’s only a totally different animal if you’re speaking in regards to the quarterback place, the communication, the verbiage, the cadence, and the operation,” coach Mike Vrabel stated. “It’s only a lot there, particularly having put lots of time in to be taught someone else’s system and the language there. It has been cool to look at (Dobbs) work with [quarterbacks coach] Pat [O’Hara] and put lots of time in to attempt to prepare there and assist us.”

In different phrases, the Titans desperately hope they don’t should play two quarterbacks. The Texans, then again, will accomplish that fortunately.