National Football League

Titans defense faces stiff challenge in Colts, red-hot Luck

Published Sep. 26, 2014 6:33 p.m. ET

foxsports

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans are uncertain of their quarterback situation this week. However, they are fully anticipating a full dosage of Colts QB Andrew Luck on Sunday.

Titans starter Jake Locker injured his throwing right wrist in last week's loss to the Bengals, and his status for Sunday's AFC South showdown with Indy is currently listed as questionable. If Locker cannot go, then the Titans will turn to backup Charlie Whitehurst, who hasn't thrown a regular-season pass since 2011.

Quarterback might be in flux for the Titans (1-2), who opened the season with a win at Kansas City before stumbling mightily against the Cowboys (home) and Bengals (away). But it's certainly not for the Colts (1-2), after they opened with losses to the 49ers and Eagles, before routing the Jaguars last week.

Luck, who became the first NFL quarterback to pass for more than 8,000 yards in his first two seasons, is trending upward with a balanced offensive attack. The 1-2 rushing punch of Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw -- who combined for 270 rushing yards the last two games -- complements a passing attack that's highlighted by Reggie Wayne (a possible Hall of Famer) and T.Y. Hilton (28 targets for Weeks 1-3).

"They're really balanced," said Titans defensive coordinator Ray Horton said of the Colts offense and Luck, who posted a completion rate of 79.5 percent against the Jaguars last week, while passing for 370 yards and four touchdowns (tied for a career high).

"They have a tandem running back with Bradshaw and Richardson," Horton added. "The receivers are good. They take shots up the field. I like what they are going schematically."

The defending South champs have won 10 of 11 games over the Titans, who led in the second half of both games last season -- before eventually adding to a five-game losing skid to their division rivals. Here's the thing about Luck, though: He holds a 4-0 record against Tennessee, despite topping the 240-yards passing mark just once and tossing more INTs than touchdowns.

"I think (the Titans are) ranked fifth in the NFL in total defense," said Luck. But the Titans are allowing 23 points per outing (tied for 19th in the NFL) including being outscored 59-17 the last two games.

"They do a heck of a job," Luck added. "Obviously, I don't think they've played as well as they wanted to the past couple of games, but you watch the film, and it's a bunch of good, good players. (Jason) McCourty is a premier, premier corner. They've got great guys all in the secondary."

Horton compares Luck favorably with Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who is big, strong and can extend plays from the pocket, even after contact. Horton should know, too, having served as a Steelers defensive assistant from 2004-10.

"You watch him, and you hate to make comparisons to players in the league, but he really has some Ben Roethlisberger qualities," Horton said of the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Luck, who has guided the Colts offense to 31.7 points and 426 yards per game, both third-best in the NFL. "He's big. He's strong. If you don't actually see the guy, you see him break tackles and (say), 'Well, he won't break my tackle.'

"And all of a sudden, he breaks tackles -- nose guards, linebackers -- he's a big, physical guy. And he has an unbelievable ability to extend third down running the ball. So, he's really a triple threat with his play-action passes, him running the ball and seeing him throwing the ball."

The Titans are tied for seventh in the NFL with eight sacks, including two by standout defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, who had a career-high 10 1/2 sacks last season. But Horton isn't happy with the lack of sacks, or even quarterback pressures, coming from the outside, especially from linebackers in the new 3-4 defensive alignment.

"We do want to see more," Horton said of quarterback pressures and sacks from outside linebackers that include former defensive ends Derrick Morgan and Kamerion Wimbley, who have yet to have a sack. "We've had a number of sacks, but they have been from other positions. I am obviously going to call a different kind of game to get them oiled up and let them go."

But Luck is also adept at getting out of sacks, either by strength or tenacity or deceiving foot speed or all of the above. He has been sacked only five times in three games.

"You see guys who have had opportunities to sack this guy," said Titans veteran free safety Michael Griffin. "And if you don't go for his right arm or whatever, he still throws the ball. We have been in that situation before, where guys on our team thought we had sacks, and he is strong enough to still throw the ball 20, 30, 40 yards down the field with his strength.

"He's a great quarterback, and you see a lot of positive things headed with him in the future."

To that point, Luck feels more relaxed and confident early in the third season of a career that has already netted two Pro Bowl berths.

"I'd like to think I'm better," said Luck, the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Colts (2012). "The experience definitely helps, game experience, understanding defenses, the speed of the game, the situational football, third down, red zone.

"But I do feel like I have more of a mastery of what's going on on offense and a much better understanding of what defenses are trying to do and how we're built to attack defenses."