Three weeks into the season, most attention on the Tennessee Titans has centered on its head coach, Robert Saleh. After failing in his first attempt at leading an NFL team, another great stint as the San Francisco 49ers' defensive coordinator landed him another gig. Next on his team's schedule is a road date with the Baltimore Ravens.
Cam Ward and Jeffery Simmons are the current anchors of the offense and defense, respectively. Those are the obvious names Baltimore will spend the week preparing for. Brian Daboll, another former NFL head coach, is the Titans' offensive coordinator. Here are some under-the-radar Titans that Baltimore would want to silence if they want to win their first home game since four days before Thanksgiving.
Tyjae Spears, running back
Tyjae Spears
is Tennessee's complementary piece to the starting running back, Tony Pollard. So far, he has carried the ball 13 times for 58 yards. That isn't much work, but it's hard to ignore the 4.5 yards-per-rush average. Spears also has a 27-yard explosive run.
Cam Ward has scored both of the Titans' rushing touchdowns this season, and he did so in the same game. Might Spears provide a spark in Week 4?
The Ravens have been searching for more consistency tackling in space, making Spears the type of player who could become dangerous if he reaches the second level. He may not receive a heavy workload, but Baltimore can't afford to overlook him when he's on the field.
Calvin Ridley, wide receiver
Calvin Ridley's career began with a bang. He has fizzled as of late. He enters Week 4 having only been targeted three times in Tennessee's passing attack this season. He has hauled in two of those targets for 35 yards, an impressive 17.5 yards-per-reception average.
The low target total might cause some to dismiss him, but that could be exactly what makes Ridley dangerous. One favorable matchup or one busted coverage can quickly turn into a chunk gain. Against a Ravens secondary still searching for greater consistency, every vertical threat deserves respect.
Marcus Harris, cornerback
A starting nickelback for the Titans defense, Marcus Harris has been impressive. He has accumulated 19 tackles this season. Three of those stops have resulted in a loss of yardage. He has also recorded a pass breakup and one of Tennessee's two interceptions this season.
Baltimore's offense features plenty of weapons, but Harris has shown a knack for finding the football and making plays near the line of scrimmage. If the Ravens plan on attacking the middle of the field, they'll need to know where No. 27 is lining up.
Keldric Faulk, defensive end
Keldric Faulk has recorded five tackles, including two tackles for loss and a sack through three games. He'll test Baltimore's edge protection, especially as the Ravens continue adjusting to changes along the offensive line.
The spotlight will naturally fall on Simmons and Tennessee's interior defenders, but Faulk can create problems in obvious passing situations. Baltimore's tackles can't afford to take a snap off.
The Titans have bigger names on the roster, but games are rarely won or lost because of stars alone. If Baltimore handles these four under-the-radar contributors, it will be one step closer to securing its second consecutive victory.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens vs. Titans: 4 sneaky threats on Tennessee's roster
