Titans OC gives notable update on team's backfield

Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz said on Wednesday that the team sees running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears as "interchangeable" headed into the 2024 season.

"Everyone keeps saying interchangeable, and we see it that way," Holz said Wednesday. "We don't want any tendencies when those guys are in there. So, we think they both can have a skill set as pass catchers, skill set running the gap schemes and all the different zone schemes we are going to have. So, that's where it is really most exciting as we go, you are not going to say 'when this back is in these are the plays, and when this back is in those are the plays.' They can really function on all three downs, and really, there are not any scheme limitations."

Spears was selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft and showed promise working behind Pro Bowler Derrick Henry. The Tulane product played in all 17 games and was the only player other than King Henry to record more than 25 rushing attempts (100) or 100 rushing yards (453).

Spears added two touchdowns on the ground and had the highest yards per carry (4.5) on the team for players with more than two carries. 

He also finished third on the Titans in targets (70), receptions (52), receiving yards (385) and yards from scrimmage (838).

Tennessee saw Henry sign with the Baltimore Ravens on March 12 but replaced him with Pollard on a three-year, $24M deal.

The 2022 Pro Bowler saw his overall effectiveness decrease during his first season without sharing the backfield with longtime Dallas Cowboy Ezekiel Elliott.

Pollard started all 17 games for the Cowboys in 2023, recording career highs in rushing attempts (252), targets (67), receptions (55) and touches (307), but failing to reach his 2022 numbers in most of the other prominent categories. 

Despite having more opportunities, Pollard's statistics dropped in rushing yards (1,005), rushing touchdowns (six), yards per carry (career-low 4.0) and receiving yards (311) while he failed to find the end zone through the air.

"We see it 1A, 1B, and they're both just gonna play a ton, get a lot of carries and let 'em roll," Holz said.

Like Pollard, Holz is new to the Titans. The 40-year-old spent 2023 as the passing game coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars, so he has familiarity with Titans wideout Calvin Ridley. Holz was hired by Tennessee in early February.