Power runners Derrick Henry, DeMarco Murray give Titans offense an identity

In a league that seemingly becomes more pass-happy with each passing year, the Titans’ emphasis on an old-school, smashmouth attack may offer a unique advantage.

How many NFL defenses, after all, are gearing themselves toward stopping power rushing offenses these days?

Instead of loading up on beefy defensive linemen and sturdy linebackers to stuff the run, most NFL teams are more apt to stock the roster with lean pass rushers or a few extra defensive backs.

“I think teams are being built a lot with the nickel (defense in mind),” Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. “A lot of teams are playing with (passing) offenses, so you hear every draft, 'We need pass rushers.’ We’re in the same boat … But you better be able to tackle when it comes to running the football.”

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The Titans certainly will force opposing defenses to tackle backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry if the team’s first three preseason games are an indication. In the first halves of those games — when the Titans had primarily first- or second-teamers in the game — the Titans ran the ball 55 percent of the time (51 runs, 42 attempted passes).

That ratio is in stark contrast to the NFL as a whole last year, as teams attempted runs just 40.9 percent of the time and attempted passes on 59.1 percent of all plays.

There’s certainly no guarantee the Titans’ ratio will remain as run-heavy in the regular season as it has in the first halves of preseason games. But the style has worked so far.

Through three preseason games, Henry has gained 154 rushing yards, the third-highest total in the league, and Murray has gained 153, the fourth-highest total.

The Titans are averaging 172 rushing yards per game, the second-best figure in the league behind San Francisco.

“I don’t know if we’re a throwback or what, really,” Titans offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie said. “It’s just us, what we do and what we believe works. It’s the Titans. That’s the way we like to play football.”

ESPN analyst Jon Gruden said Tuesday on a conference call that he likes the old-school approach the Titans are taking, relying on a power running game and an offensive line coached by Russ Grimm — a Hall of Famer who used to play for the Washington Redskins.

“That’s one team I’ve spent a lot of time studying in the preseason because it’s fun to watch a team go back to the way it was,” Gruden said. “There’s a song I like to listen to called 'The Way We Were.’ That’s what I feel like I see when I watch the Titans play. I’m seeing old-school gap schemes … Russ Grimm, the offensive line coach … they look like the old Washington Redskins under Joe Gibbs. You see shifts, you see all kind of different power, counter-gap schemes and you see big backs that can get downhill.”

Gruden praised the Titans’ new backfield additions of Murray and Henry.

“I like Murray,” Gruden said. “I’ve always liked Murray a lot. I think he can run it. He can catch it. He’s outstanding picking up blitzes and he gets better as the game unfolds. He can finish you.”

The Titans picked the 6-3, 247-pound Henry, a Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama, with the 45th overall selection in the draft in April.

“Henry is uncommonly huge,” Gruden said. “He’s one of the biggest backs I’ve ever seen. He doesn’t even look like a tailback. He looks like a power forward to me. They’ve got a one-two combination that can really punish you.”

Gruden is intrigued by the Titans, though they finished 3-13 last year.

“I’m interested in Tennessee,” Gruden said. “I think they’ve stimulated the football team. I think their defense is playing better because they practice against this every day.”

The former Super Bowl winning coach has long been a fan of quarterback Marcus Mariota, who posted strong numbers as a rookie in 2015. Mariota has completed 23 of 31 passes in the preseason.

“The wild card will be Marcus Mariota,” Gruden said. “He can really play. And his running and passing — with this running game — could get interesting.”

Reach John Glennon on Twitter @glennonsports.