Middle of field becomes concern for Titans defense following Jamal Adams signing

The Tennessee Titans made a splash on Thursday when they signed three-time Pro Bowler Jamal Adams to a one-year contract. General manager Ran Carthon had long been alluding to an incoming move at safety. Adams will seemingly be tasked with playing opposite Amani Hooker as the official Kevin Byard replacement (The Titans never really replaced him last season).

The concerns with Adams are age and injury related. He’s suffered significant injuries in three consecutive seasons. Dating our research back to the previous four campaigns, Adams has nearly missed as many contests (33) as he’s played in (34).

The former No. 6 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft appeared in nine games for the Seattle Seahawks this past season. A known liability in coverage, Pro Football Focus credited Adams with allowing 28 receptions on 34 targets for 292 yards and two touchdowns en route to a coverage grade of 50.7.

That means Adams allowed a completion percentage of 82.4 percent. The former LSU standout allowed 10.4 yards per catch. Opposing quarterbacks enjoyed a passer rating of 122.1 when targeting him in the passing game.

The 2023 numbers aren’t misleading either. Adams has long been a preferred target of quarterbacks in coverage. He essentially missed the entire 2022 campaign with injury. In 2021, Adams’ PFF coverage grade was 47.4, and it was 53.1 throughout 2020.

Adams’ recent struggles in the passing game inspired us to look at two other Titans defenders who may be tasked with defending the middle of the field, Kenneth Murray and Jack Gibbens.

Murray allowed 56 targets on 69 receptions (81.2% completion percentage) for 660 yards and four touchdowns in 2023. Gibbens was tagged with allowing 17 catches via 23 targets (73.9% completion percentage) for 168 yards and zero scores. Neither linebacker is an expert in coverage.

That means the trio of Adams, Murray, and Gibbens allowed 101 catches on 126 targets last season for an opposing QB completion percentage of 80.1 percent. They combined to allow 952 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

I find it interesting that the Titans would spend the offseason acquiring two high-level cornerbacks in L’Jarius Sneed and Chido Awuzie just to turn around and possibly neglect their middle-of-the-field pass coverage. Now we don’t know exactly how new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will deploy his defenders, but it’s plausible to believe Murray, Gibbens, and Adams will be most often tasked with defending the middle.

Wilson must find ways to mix-and-match his defense to prevent them from such scenarios with any regularity, or else the Titans defense will be in trouble.