Tennessee Titans

Titans Pace Numbers

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Tennessee Titans look much improved from a year ago in many phases of the game. Their rushing numbers are up, their offensive line is ranked number one in the entire NFL, and their sack numbers are up. I thought it would be fun to look at the numbers and see what the stat lines would look like at season’s end if the team continued the same course it has in the first five games.

DeMarco Murray (RB)

At this very point in the season, DeMarco Murray has 461 rushing yards and is averaging 5.1 yards per carry. That ranks second in the entire NFL, trailing only Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot. If DeMarco continues on this course, at season’s end his numbers will be similar to this: 1475 rushing yards and 9.5 touchdowns. That would double his production from last year when he rushed for 702 yards, six touchdowns, and averaged 3.6 yards per carry. Not only that but the yards total is almost triple Tennessee’s leading rusher’s yards from a year ago.

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Marcus Mariota (QB)

Mariota is on track for 22.5 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, 3482 passing yards, and 422 rushing yards. I know everyone has been talking about Mariota’s setbacks this season, which are certainly cause for concern, but, besides the number of interceptions listed above, the rest of these are respectable numbers. Mariota only appeared in 12 games last season, but let’s compare the numbers from last year. 19 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 2818 passing yards, and 252 rushing yards. I think this shows just how spectacular Mariota’s rookie season was. I am concerned with the number of interceptions, but I expect Mariota to get that under control.

Brian Orakpo (ROLB)

Brian Orakpo has been amazing this year, to say the least. Last season he had 7 sacks for the whole season. Five games into this season, he already has six. At this pace he’s on track for a monster 22 sack season. Do I think he’s going to get 22? No, but I would be thrilled if he did. What I expect (pretty much know) is teams are going to start giving him more attention and some of the sacks will go to other guys. I still predict he will end up having somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 sacks this year.

Delanie Walker (TE)

Just like last year, Delanie currently leads all Titans receivers. Currently, he is on track for 51 catches for 720 yards and six touchdowns. He has missed a game, and I’m hoping Marcus Mariota cleans his game up so that his numbers look more similar to last year when he had 94 catches (most among tight ends) for 1088 yards and six touchdowns.

Only time will tell how the numbers will look for the Tennessee Titans at season’s end, but I hope these numbers bring some encouragement to Titans fans. If the team plays better over the next three quarters of the season, the numbers will be better. If the team plays worse, the numbers will be worse. Personally, I’m expecting better numbers with this week’s game against the Cleveland Browns, two meetings with the Indianapolis Colts, and two meetings with the Jacksonville Jaguars. There are still some tough opponents up ahead in the Denver Broncos and a rematch with the Houston Texans, but, as I’ve said before, it’s the little things this team needs to clean up, barring any major injuries.

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