Tennessee's new general manager, Ran Carthon, explained the organization's team-building philosophy with him in charge in a way that makes us wonder what year it is.
Titans GM Ran Carthon on his philosophy for team building:
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) February 28, 2023
“It’s cute and sexy to play Golden State Warriors football in September and October when the weather is good, but the teams that play in January play tough defense and run the football” pic.twitter.com/cutGtyCh9W
Using a basketball metaphor, Carthon explained that high-scoring offenses are great during the regular season but don't result in championships. He's wrong, of course. Golden State, the NBA team he used in his metaphor, has won four championships since 2015, in part due to the team's high-flying offense.
As for the football world, Warren Sharp looked at the last six Super Bowl winners and each finished in the top half of the league in pass rate, with five finishing in the top five.
huh?
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 28, 2023
last 6 Super Bowls were won by 5 teams
almost all had a top-5 pass rate:
2022 KC: #1
2021 LAR: #5
2020 TB: #5
2019 KC: #1
2018 NE: #11
2017 PHI: #5
meanwhile...
the Titans run rate over that same time:
2022: #28
2021: #32
2020: #32
2019: #31
2018: #31
2017: #23 https://t.co/x1okOszIgc
The idea that championship teams run the football, play good defense and don't do "sexy" things like throw the football would have made sense in the 1960s and 70s but is a ridiculous assertion to make in 2023.
It might explain the team's curious decision to trade star wide receiver A.J. Brown to Philadelphia last offseason, however. The move certainly made the Titans less "cute and sexy," but curiously didn't amount to better play during the colder months.
After beginning the season 7-3, Tennessee lost its last seven games and missed the playoffs.
The league is well past the point where it should be common knowledge that to win a Super Bowl, a team needs a strong passing game. A team like the 2015 Broncos winning a championship with a severely limited Peyton Manning is an exception to the rule.
Tennessee needs to adopt a modern philosophy if it wants to join the AFC's elite. With their current thinking, they'll turn to dust.
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