As the Tennessee Titans look to rebound from a rollercoaster season, one of the most contentious discussions has revolved around the Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades for their offensive players. While PFF’s grading system is widely used and highly regarded, its accuracy and relevance in evaluating certain aspects of the Titans’ offense this season have become a topic of debate. For many fans and analysts, the Titans’ offense doesn’t always align with PFF’s analysis, and in some cases, it seems to misrepresent key aspects of their performance.
The Titans’ Offensive Line: Overrated or Underappreciated?
The offensive line is one area where the Titans’ PFF grades have been particularly controversial. On paper, the offensive line has ranked highly in some weeks, which contradicts the glaring struggles seen on the field. Despite the Titans being one of the most sacked teams in the NFL and facing consistent pressure on quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the PFF grades often show a much rosier picture. According to PFF, players like left tackle Andre Dillard have performed decently despite consistently struggling to protect Tannehill’s blindside.
The PFF grades are derived from subjective evaluations of players’ individual performances on each play, and while they account for factors like pass protection and run-blocking, they often fail to capture the chaos a quarterback faces when he’s under constant duress. The fact that the Titans’ offensive line has been a significant liability for most of the season but still receives favorable grades on PFF feels like a disconnect with what fans and coaches see in real-time.
Ryan Tannehill’s Grades: Misleading Metrics?
Ryan Tannehill, the Titans’ veteran quarterback, has had a rollercoaster of a season. While PFF has offered some high grades for Tannehill during games where he has displayed flashes of his former Pro Bowl form, the overall narrative around his season tells a different story. His PFF grade may be elevated by well-executed throws when the pocket holds up, but these isolated moments don’t tell the full story of his performance under duress.
PFF grades don’t always take into account the context of a play. When the Titans’ offense is in disarray—either because of poor line play or lack of receiving talent—Tannehill’s PFF grades can seem somewhat inflated. His inability to effectively drive the offense for much of the season, coupled with crucial turnovers in key moments, is often downplayed by PFF’s numerical approach. To be fair, no quarterback would thrive behind an offensive line that consistently falters, but Tannehill’s grades seem inconsistent when viewed in conjunction with his overall contributions to the team’s lack of success.
The DeAndre Hopkins Dilemma: Does PFF See What We See?
One of the most perplexing evaluations this season has been the PFF grading of DeAndre Hopkins. Brought in as a star receiver to help elevate the offense, Hopkins has often been the Titans’ most reliable weapon. However, his PFF grades do not always reflect his importance to the team, especially when factoring in his ability to win contested catches and create separation in critical moments.
PFF grades focus heavily on route efficiency and statistical outcomes, but they don’t always account for the intangibles that make Hopkins a valuable player. For instance, while his raw statistics might not always jump off the page due to the Titans’ inconsistent passing game, Hopkins has been a force in tight coverage situations, demanding attention from opposing defenses. Yet, his PFF grades sometimes rank him much lower than his on-field impact suggests.
Running Back by Committee: Derrick Henry’s Dwindling Grade
Derrick Henry’s PFF grades this season have also been a point of contention. While Henry remains one of the most dominant physical specimens in the NFL, his ability to create explosive plays has been hampered this season, in part due to an ineffective offensive line and subpar blocking. Despite the clear signs of wear-and-tear from years of heavy usage, PFF’s grading sometimes overstates Henry’s effectiveness when the Titans’ offense struggles to move the ball.
Yes, Henry has shown flashes of brilliance—rushing for 100-yard games and breaking off monstrous runs—but his diminishing yardage output and inability to consistently take over games paint a different picture. The high PFF grades fail to capture the frustration of fans who see Henry less as a game-changer and more as a player trying to make the most out of a fractured offensive system.
Is PFF’s Formula Outdated for Tennessee’s System?
The Titans’ offensive scheme has always leaned on a dominant run game and play-action, but this season’s struggles have shown that it’s not working as effectively as it once did. PFF’s grading system is designed to evaluate individual players’ technical skills, but Tennessee’s system is more reliant on scheme and situation. When PFF’s grades reward individual efforts without accounting for systemic breakdowns, they offer a skewed perspective on how well the offense is performing.
Moreover, in a league that’s increasingly moving towards high-flying passing attacks, the Titans’ old-school philosophy might make PFF’s metrics feel outdated. Their offensive players, particularly Tannehill and Henry, may perform better in a more conventional system but suffer under the microscope of a grading system that heavily weighs metrics like dropbacks and passing attempts.
Conclusion: A Disconnect Between PFF and Reality?
While Pro Football Focus has become an influential part of NFL analysis, its grades don’t always capture the nuances of a team like the Tennessee Titans. The offense, while undeniably flawed, is not necessarily as bad as the grades suggest, nor as good as they might seem at times. Tennessee’s offense doesn’t fit the mold of modern, data-driven evaluations, and while PFF grades can give insight into certain aspects, they often fail to paint an accurate picture of the team’s struggles. Ultimately, while PFF’s grading system has its merits, it’s clear that for the Titans, it doesn’t always align with what fans see on the field each Sunday.