NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Titans' defense improved in 2013 over 2012 in multiple statistical categories.
Tennessee allowed 90 fewer points, 29 fewer first downs, 592 less yards and improved significantly in third-down defense. Opponents in 2013 converted 69 of 201 (34.3 percent) of third downs, after succeeding on 85 of 214 plays (39.7 percent) the season before.
"We're right there. We capitalized on third down this year," safety Michael Griffin said. "We just need to (fix) mistakes. A lot of times we killed ourselves with mistakes and we just need to be more consistent and more disciplined."
The Titans' red zone defense stayed about the same, however, one area to target going forward is the success rate that opponents had in goal-to-go situations. Opponents scored touchdowns on seven of the 11 times they had the ball inside the Tennessee 10-yard line.
Tennessee reduced the number of offensive plays, rush attempts, pass attempts and completions this season from the one before and lowered quarterbacks' completion percentage from 66.3 in 2012 to 63.1 percent in 2013. The Titans finished 7-9, with six losses by one possession and three by three points or less.
"Defensively, the numbers were real bad last year, statistically," Titans coach Mike Munchak said. "All those numbers are obviously much, much better as far as points, rankings, where we ended up. The only important ranking is we obviously didn't make the playoffs."
Another category to try to reduce going forward is first downs by penalty. Flags on Tennessee's defenders gave opponents 30 first downs in 2013, which was four more than the season before and undermined the improvements made in other categories.
The chart below highlights differences in multiple statistical categories in Tennessee's defense from 2012 to 2013:
|
Category |
2012 |
2013 |
Change |
|
Points Allowed |
471 |
381 |
90 fewer |
|
Opponent First Downs |
358 |
329 |
29 fewer |
|
First Downs by Rushing |
122 |
108 |
14 fewer |
|
First Downs by Passing |
210 |
191 |
19 fewer |
|
First Downs by Penalty |
26 |
30 |
4 more |
|
Opp. 3rd Down Conv. |
85/214 (39.7%) |
69/201 (34.3%) |
5.4% less |
|
Opp. 4th Down Conv. |
6/14 (42.9%) |
7/11 (63.6%) |
20.7% more |
|
Opp. Red Zone Conv. |
37/58 (63.8%) |
32/50 (64%) |
8 fewer trips inside 20 |
|
Goal to Go Conversions |
25/33 (75.8%) |
25/32 (78.1%) |
1 fewer trip inside 10 |
|
Opp. Total Net Yards |
5,999 |
5,407 |
592 less |
|
Opp. Offensive Plays |
1,086 |
1,027 |
59 fewer |
|
Opp. Net Rushing Yards |
2,035 |
1,795 |
240 less |
|
Opp. Rushes |
483 |
446 |
37 less |
|
Opp. Net Passing Yards |
3,964 |
3,612 |
352 less |
|
Opp. Pass Attempts |
564 |
545 |
19 fewer |
|
Opp. Pass Completions |
374 |
344 |
30 fewer |
|
Opp. Completion % |
66.3% |
63.1% |
3.2% less |
|
Opp. Avg. Per Pass |
6.6 |
6.2 |
.4 less |
|
Sacks |
39 |
36 |
3 fewer |
|
Interceptions |
19 |
13 |
6 fewer |
|
Fumbles/Fum. Lost |
15-5 |
24-12 |
9 more-7 more |
