Ben Arthur
AFC South Reporter
Brian Callahan’s offense boasts one of the NFL’s best wide receiver trios on paper in DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. The new Titans coach also gets the chance to shape and mold second-year pro Will Levis, the franchise’s hopeful franchise quarterback.
But Callahan doesn’t want anyone to overlook his “really fantastic” running backs, Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard. He sees their explosiveness, how they move across the formation, how they make plays in the screen and passing game.
“Of all the groups we have,” Callahan said last month, “I think those guys are the ones who are most exciting for me.”
The Titans are banking on the Pollard-Spears tandem as their solution to replacing perennial Pro Bowler Derrick Henry, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens in March after a historic eight-year run in Nashville.
Tennessee never ruled out his return ahead of free agency, but the offense’s shift to a pass-first scheme under Callahan made it unlikely. Pollard and Spears fit the new vision as dual-threat backs, and the team hopes their collective talent — and versatility — neutralizes the loss of Henry’s dominance.
Pollard, who signed a three-year, $21.75 million deal with Tennessee after five years with Dallas, has had at least 1,000 scrimmage yards — including 300 receiving yards — in each of the past three seasons. He’s also registered 1,000 rushing yards in back-to-back years despite becoming a full-time starter for the first time last season.
A 2023 third-round pick, Spears shined in a complementary role to Henry as a rookie, registering 1,108 all-purpose yards — 453 rushing yards, 385 receiving yards and 270 kick-return yards.
The 6-foot, 215-pound Pollard is an inch taller and 15 pounds heavier than Spears, but on the surface, their games are very similar. Both have shiftiness running between the tackles. They can also catch at a high rate out of the…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/without-derrick-henry-titans-unleash-1-2-punch-tony-pollard-tyjae-spears
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Publish date : 2024-06-04 22:02:13
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