There hasn't been an update here in a while-
Titans snap counts are wayyyy up. Two games in and Smith's offense definitely shows a better rhythm, some urgency, and NOT the slow plodding style.
His love for Delanie is still strong and ya gotta remember that since Delanie has fallen in FF drafts. (Little concerned Walker has to help while Lewan is out)
His footwork was off the first preseason game and many noticed. Looked like rust to me. Fine in second game. Cosell did call it very concerning that a QB in year five would have footwork issues BUT he also said how alot is blown off week 1 of preseason.
When under pressure, he moves a few steps to the left or right and this was something he wasn't allowed from prior OCs. He had to step backward but his comfort is in sideways steps. Concern of his he brought to Smith day one. I think this matters with a mobile QB. It might be over my head some, planting the feet the right way, but you can't miss that he looks much more comfy moving sideways than moving backward.
He's not throwing soft passes. no lobs to run under, no soft placement by sideline. Everything has some oomph to them.
Loves Humphries. At times Mariota to Humphries and Brady to Edelman look about the same. QB seems too focused on one guy, yet he's getting open quick so who cares. Snap N throws, snap and throw after two steps...it's quick to Humphries.
Unsure how Humphries and Walker mesh in as they both play over the middle AND in the slot. People keep forgetting Walker gets snaps in the slot.
Smith has them taking deep shots and Mariota throws a good deep ball and is capable of throwing it deep on the run. Davis and Brown have struggled to get open deep regularly, but Taylor has and lit up the Pats one day. If those two could figure it out, their size would make this difficult to stop.
Titans stunk on two opening drives that were scripted long before- by Vrabel who said he will concede to Smith. Vrabel sent them out an unexpected third time and they marched right up the field the third drive.
PLENTY of action along the sidelines. This is definitely not the same offense we've hated. They use the whole field side to side and short/long
Lewis allowed 12-15 sacks last year, depending where you look. Smith doesn't like the dump off pass and has said several times that there are other ways to get rid of the ball and better short passes to get rid of it quickly. Vrabel discussed this too and there's a definite change here that you can see in preseason from all the QBs. The RB has to pick up the blitzing defender- no question, no reading the D, it's automatic. Consequently, they're running more screens with big WRs and linemen running to that side. They also brought back a college-esque run and pitch by Mariota to the RB.
Davis, Tajae, (and now Brown) have gotten long looks and taken too long to get open. There is still this issue where you(the fan) can swear the OC wants the ball to one guy but he's not getting open. The comforting thing (and I can't overstate this) is Smith is oh so clearly making a change the next play. You can see Davis can't get past someone on a straight line and the next play he's cutting across or curling back.
Pats were annoyed with his throwaways in practice. Mariota has never been a QB to throw the ball away on purpose. This is new.
Smith is the FedEx billionaire's kid and was gifted a position with the Redskins after college and NFL camps. He is clearly intelligent, well-read, well-prepared and always adjusting. He may be a young inexperienced OC, but I am impressed for a change. Forget his daddy. A guy that goes two TE, three wide, four wide, two wide with H-back...he is thinking and working it as best he can. When they catch a rhythm, the announcers are pointing out that he had the perfect counter move ready like going deep and throwing a quick underneath pass. There's something intelligent to this OC. He will probably make mistakes and maybe even a disaster of a game, but he seems so much more impressive than Whis, Robiske, and Mularkey.
Run heavy offense- when Smith talks, yep they plan to run a lot but it's like I was just saying- he says how it will open up other things. He doesn't speak often but when he does it is always point-counter point.