TENNESSEE — The Tennessee Titans have been a big reason for their success over the last decade, but they still have some work to do to recapture the glory days of a decade ago.
Here’s how the team ranked among NFL teams in both rushing and receiving yards per game in 2014 and 2015, per Football Outsiders.
They finished with 538 yards per contest and 8.9 yards per catch, both of which are career lows.
In fact, they were the lowest rushing offense in NFL history.
However, the Titans are just 4-1 over that span, and quarterback Marcus Mariota is finally taking control of the offense and running it well.
Mariota finished the season with a career-best 1,876 yards passing, with 8 touchdowns and just one interception, which is second most in NFL playoff history behind only Peyton Manning.
Mari, who has the most yards in the history of the franchise, is also the best passing quarterback in NFL postseason history.
He threw for more than 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns, which are the fewest in the modern era.
Mari was also named to the Pro Bowl in 2015.
Mari has the Titans leading the NFL in passing yards per attempt and touchdown rate.
Tennessee finished in the top 10 in both categories for three straight years from 2013-15.
In 2016, the offense was so good that the Titans finished the year tied for first in the league in total offense.
Tennessee ranked sixth in total defense and eighth in passing defense.
Mari’s production has dipped in the last two years, but it was still good enough for him to earn the franchise tag from the Titans, per ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington.
It was a good signing for the Titans to get Mari at the time.
The Titans also added running back Bishop Sankey and defensive end Calais Campbell in free agency.
It should be noted that Sankey is the third overall pick in the draft, which makes him a free agent.
He will be the third running back drafted by Tennessee since 2011.
It’s hard to imagine Sankey not seeing the field this season.
He’s going to be a good player for them.
