Dobbs Disputes Fumble, Decisive Touchdown

The most important play within the Tennessee Titans’ season-ending loss to Jacksonville was a controversial one.

The Titans appeared to have a fairly good likelihood to drag off an upset late within the fourth quarter, main the Jaguars 16-13 and dealing with a third-and-6 at their very own 35-yard line. Tennessee had already produced two first downs on the drive, one on a terrific run-after-catch second effort by Jonathan Ward, one other on Josh Dobbs’ quarterback sneak.

However as Dobbs dropped again to cross, Jaguars security Rayshawn Jenkins blitzed untouched across the left aspect of the Titans’ offensive line, hit Dobbs’ arm and precipitated a fumble. Josh Allen picked up the ball on the 37-yard line – a number of yards forward of the place Dobbs had been hit – and sprinted into the tip zone, giving Jacksonville the decisive factors in a 20-16 victory.

However was Dobbs’ arm shifting ahead earlier than the ball got here unfastened? If that’s the case, it could have been an incomplete cross – and the Titans would merely have punted on the following play.

Dobbs, who graduated from the College of Tennessee with a 4.0 grade-point common in Aerospace Engineering in 2017, relied on his tutorial background to clarify why he thought it ought to have been dominated an incompletion – not a fumble.

“I felt like my arm was shifting ahead,” Dobbs informed media in Jacksonville. “Once you throw the ball and the ball was going ahead, after the man hits you, it appears like – I’m a physics man – fairly easy that it was going ahead.

“However as I mentioned, I haven’t seen the (replay). So I don’t know when he hit me within the act of throwing. Once you’re on the highway, they do an ideal job of not displaying replays of huge performs, so I’ll test it out on movie. However yeah, it was undoubtedly a tricky one.”

Coach Mike Vrabel hadn’t seen a replay of the play instantly after the competition both, however he didn’t problem the decision as a result of there was no must.

“(The league) appears to be like at it,” Vrabel mentioned. “All scoring performs are reviewed. There was just one recreation occurring. There was in all probability a pair set of eyes that checked out it.”

It was a tricky second half for Dobbs, who put collectively a powerful opening half, finishing 12 of 15 passes for 114 yards, good for a passer score of 120.6. His totals included the second landing cross of his profession, a 21-yard toss to tight finish Chig Okonkwo.

Along with the fourth-quarter fumble, nonetheless, Dobbs threw a third-quarter interception that led to a Jacksonville discipline objective. He accomplished eight-of-14 passes over the ultimate half-hour, totaling 65 yards.

“None of us actually had been adequate on the finish of the day,” Vrabel mentioned. “Josh did some good issues however you realize, it wasn’t about one man.”

It’s powerful to be too essential of Dobbs, after all, as he was signed off the Detroit Lions’ observe squad on Dec. 21. Eight days later, after a crash course in studying the Titans’ offense, Dobbs – a six-year NFL veteran – began his first NFL recreation, leap-frogging rookie Malik Willis within the course of. He performed fairly nicely below the circumstances in a 27-13 loss to Dallas, finishing 20 of 39 passes for 232 yards, one landing and one interception.

So, in two begins for the Titans, Dobbs completed 40-68 for 411 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He fumbled 4 instances, shedding two.

What did he study over the previous few weeks?

“Clearly I’ve realized extra ball,” Dobbs mentioned. “(However) I wouldn’t say I realized something about myself as a result of I anticipate myself to be prepared for troublesome conditions.

“To be positioned on this state of affairs, and to have to return in and play nicely, I actually take delight in that. With my psychological disposition, how I work, how I put together, I’m grateful for the chance. As a result of I’ve been ready for this chance for a very long time. So hopefully there’s going to be extra prefer it. I’ll undoubtedly look ahead to it.”

There are lots of inquiries to be answered concerning the Titans’ quarterback place looking forward to subsequent 12 months.

Will the Titans follow Ryan Tannehill, who has a cap hit of $36.6 million in 2023, or will they transfer on? Will the Titans proceed to attempt to develop Willis – a third-round decide final April – or have they seen sufficient? Will the staff take one other quarterback within the upcoming draft?

Dobbs doesn’t know whether or not he shall be a part of the equation, however he’d love an opportunity to compete.

“Little doubt,” Dobbs mentioned. “I really like Tennessee. Shoot, I spent a variety of time in Tennessee.

“I loved the offense. I felt snug within the offense. I do know these selections aren’t made by me, so we’ll see the way it shakes out this offseason. But when the chance is offered, I’d like to be again.”