The Tennessee Titans are approaching what could be a very winnable game for the team as they get set to play the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night. The Titans are coming off a sloppy, disappointing loss where most of their offense struggled. They lost Justin Hunter for the season and now need players to step up and fill the void. Could David Cobb be one of those options?
According to the Tennessean, Cobb is expected to see playing time on Thursday and a significant amount at that. According to interim head coach Mike Mularkey, the rookie running back will play in Week 11 and could see a good chunk of time on the field as Antonio Andrews, Bishop Sankey and Dexter McCluster struggle to get things done on the ground. The fifth-round draft pick could be the x-factor they need moving forward.
"He knows he's had limited reps and he's got to take advantage of them," Mularkey said, via the Tennessean. "But he certainly hasn't gone into a closet. He has worked harder and harder. He's taking it very professionally and I like the way he's handled it."
The unveiling of Cobb could be what the Titans need. Against the Carolina Panthers, the run game left a lot to be desired. McCluster led the group with 25 yards off three carries while Andrews had 11 carries and managed just eight yards in the process. There is no telling if Cobb will be the better option considering he has not been seen on the field. However, he is going up against a weaker defense in the Jaguars which could be what he needs to start out strong for the Titans.
While the Titans need the ground game to step up, they have a big body to replace in the receiving game. According to ESPN.com, Hunter is out for the season with a fractured ankle. With Kendall Wright also dealing with injuries, the loss is big for Tennessee. At the moment they are not signing anyone off the free agent market and instead will count on players like Dorial Green-Beckham and Harry Douglas to step up and improve. Green-Beckham's rookie season has seen its ups and downs. The receiver was criticized in week 10 for not running correct routes which contributed to an interception. Green-Beckham must begin to show that he can be part of the future for Tennessee.
Marcus Mariota has a chance to make improvements against Jacksonville. The rookie quarterback saw his share of struggles against the Panthers. He noted that the defense rarely let him throw downfield, something he hopes to change in Week 11. With Wright and Hunter out of the mix right now, the deep ball is going to be in the hands of Green-Beckham and he must take advantage of the opportunity.
"Unfortunately, we weren't able to chunk the ball downfield a little bit," Mariota said, via ESPN.com. "It's tough when you're playing behind field position. It puts your defense in bad spots. We have to do a better job with that and find ways to get the ball downfield."
