Entering this week’s winner-take-all game to decide the AFC South, it had been an open question with respect to who the Titans would start at quarterback. Head coach Mike Vrabel put the issue to rest on Monday, naming Joshua Dobbs the team’s Week 18 starter. 
The move comes as little surprise given the fact that the veteran got the nod for Tennessee’s Thursday night loss to the Cowboys. That decision, in turn, came just over one week after the veteran was signed off the Lions’ practice squad to give the team another healthy option under center.
Dobbs completed 20-of-39 passes last week, totaling 232 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The loss against Dallas carried zero playoff implications for the Titans, so they rested a number of key players to protect against injury in advance of their crucial matchup with the Jaguars. One starter who was sidelined out of necessity, of course, was starting signal-caller Ryan Tannehill.
Tannehill suffered an ankle injury in Week 15, and his availability for the remainder of the season remains very much in doubt. While the Pro Bowler has not been shut down this season, he is not expected to see the field again until next year. That pointed to rookie backup Malik Willis taking over for last week’s game as a means of gaining much-needed experience, but Dobbs was Vrabel’s preferred choice.
Today’s announcement confirms that Vrabel trusts Dobbs more at this point in his career than the third-rounder for a must-win contest, despite the lack of familiarity the former has within the team’s offense. In three starts this year, including Week 16, Willis has attempted only 49 passes and totaled 234 yards. He has added 95 yards on the ground over that span, at times demonstrating the dual-threat ability which made him one of the top options in the 2021 QB draft class.
Willis will once again remain on the sidelines for on Saturday, however, with the Titans’ playoff hopes resting on their ability to halt a six-game losing streak. There is a scenario in which the Jaguars could make the playoffs as a Wild Card team, but for Tennessee the only path to the playoffs is a division title which seemed all-but certain until recently. Their ability to win the AFC South will be decided in no small part by Dobbs’ ability to further acclimate himself to his newest team in the coming days.
Go Jags, win the south!
I think they can handle Dobbs. Was really hoping the Titans would sign Bortles to ramp up the drama.
Not a good look for Malik at all.
While it’s certainly too early to declare Willis a bust….this is about as bad as it could be. If last week didn’t matter, then he should have been playing. Strange that Varbel is treating this season as if his job is on the line, in no way do I believe it is. So why not write this season off (it’s over) and get Willis some experience. He’ll be better for it next season. Starting Dobbs, who has zero future with this team, is just strange.
Sean Mannion, Garrett Grayson, Cody Kessler, Jacoby Brissett Davis Webb, CJ Bethard, Mason Rudolph, Will Grier, Kellen Mond, Davis Mills.
All were 3rd round QBs. I still can’t figure out why Willis is considered “different” in regards to expectations and the bust term comes out when none of the previous 3rd round QBs drafted since 2015 had anywhere near the thought process or expectations.
Willis was always a project and needed time situation. Tennessee was not the right spot.
Willis was drafted as a raw prospect with high upside in the third round. I really don’t see how anything he has done this season significantly differs from such a profile.
Additionally, why on earth would Vrabel play for the future with a postseason spot on the line? As it stands, Dobbs is a more polished NFL passer and therefore gives the Titans a higher likelihood of success. I understand that last week did not count toward Tennessee’s playoff hopes, but wouldn’t it make sense to give Dobbs some in-game experience prior to a must-win game?
“So why not write this season off (it’s over)”
It’s not over, though, and that’s the point. It’s a must-win and the Titans think that someone with more experience gives them a better chance of winning.
Also, Willis was a third rounder. Can third rounders even be called a ‘bust’?
Willis was never going to be ready this year. I personally didn’t think that he ever really would be effective enough to push a veteran in his first two years, even one as ineffective as Dobbs. The thing that Willis does have is athleticism in both running and throwing the ball, so if the Titans get in a bad spot, they could throw Willis in and hope that his athleticism gives them a miracle. Unlikely to work, and extremely temporary in the event that it does, but neither Willis nor Dobbs will be the starter for many games this year or in the postseason.
In Willis’ defense, he’s not alone in not being NFL ready. Most college offenses these days rely on athleticism of skill players and simple offensive concepts to win games. It’s easy to see why-a team will only have a starter for a maximum of four years, usually three, and any backups with discernible talent can easily transfer. The offense needs to be quick, easy, and transferable. That’s not to say that NFL style offenses don’t exist, or that pro style players don’t either, or that the NFL can’t adapt to a college star’s strengths. But for the most part, college quarterbacks aren’t as pro ready as they could be these days, and Willis isn’t too different in that regard.
I like this move.
It will help get Kenny Pickett’s next backup a bit more experience.
Dobbs started against the Cowboys so that Vrabel could see him run their offense. They’d seen Willis, and it wasn’t going to work. Willis looks rough, real rough, but then again the team around him is rough.
Willis is probably put on waivers and sent to practice squad next yr.
Dobbs….could be a nice backup for whoever the Titans run out there next yr.
Jags win 37-24