Four points, four question marks for the Titans after four games

NASHVILLE – The Titans enter the bye weekend with a record of 1-3.

Monday's win over the Dolphins didn't make up for previous weeks' losses, but the result changed the mood, at least for now.

Did it change the course of the season? Time will tell.

This much we know: The Titans need to settle in and play consistently better.

After four games, let's take a look at four positives and four areas where the team needs to improve if this season is to remain interesting until the end.

After four games, the Titans are No. 1 in the NFL in total defense (yards allowed). As a unit, the group played so well that the team was able to win at least three games. Center backs Kenneth Murray and Ernest Jones IV were incredibly productive with 31 and 29 tackles, respectively. Edge rusher Harold Landry has four sacks. Safety Quandre Diggs shows up and cornerback L'Jarius Sneed was himself. I'll cover another player in the next graphic because he's earned his own spot. But it's still too early to have a parade celebrating this team, because the secondary doesn't have an interception yet (the 2-point conversion INT doesn't count), and let's be honest, they've played two games against back-. against two quarterbacks (Green Bay's Malik Willis and Miami's Tyler Huntley) and another against a QB making his first NFL start (Chicago's Caleb Williams). Bigger challenges are on the horizon.

An appearance on Monday Night Football let the nation see what Titans fans had already seen: T'Vondre Sweat is a disruptive force. At the start of the summer, some people were already questioning Sweat when he got off to a slow start during the offseason. At the time, his weight and fitness were issues that concerned him. The people who made noise then are now quiet. Sweat has changed the subject with some dominant performances, most recently against the Dolphins. He was a beast in the middle, and he's just getting started.

There may be some recency bias here, but Nick Folk did the Titans right by choosing him over young kicker Brayden Narveson after the preseason. This was less a decision by the team than by a loud minority in the fan base. At 39, Folk proved he still has it Monday night by making three 50-yard kicks on a night when he clearly had the distance from 60 yards. Folk is 7 of 7 on field goals and 8 of 8 on extra points this season. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against the Dolphins. Of course, going forward, the Titans would prefer to see him kick more PATs.

I already mentioned Sweat. If we are hoping for positive developments so far, I would like to give a big shout out to the rookie class after four games. In addition to Sweat, rookie tackle JC Latham and cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. have also stepped in and have performed well so far. Latham has settled in at left tackle – he was arguably the team's best offensive player – while Brownlee is having his best game with the team. Rookies Jha'Quan Jackson and Jaylen Harrell also contributed. With more experience these guys should only get better.

And here's a look at four areas that need improvement after the departure:

Will QB Will Levis find his way?

For now, Titans quarterback Will Levis needs to focus on getting healthy. His injured right shoulder will be monitored as we count down the days until the team's next game against the Colts on October 13th. When Levis returns to action, the Titans expect him to calm down and play better. Levis has turned the ball over nine times so far – six interceptions and three fumbles. Levis is the team's starting quarterback. He has tons of talent. In the future he will have to make better decisions and make fewer mistakes.

Pass Pro needs to get better

All was not well in Miami on Monday evening. Sure, the unit only allowed one sack in the contest after giving up eight the previous week, but let's be honest – the Titans didn't have many dropbacks against the Dolphins, especially in the second half. Did you know that quarterback Mason Rudolph only threw three passes in the second half? It's a night where the team relied on the running game instead. Right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere and others will have to prove it week in and week out, as the Titans have allowed 16 sacks in four games so far.

The punt protection was shaky

A blocked punt returned for a touchdown doomed the Titans in their season-opening loss at Chicago, and then the Jets came along and blocked another punt, adding insult to injury. On Monday night, the Dolphins got their hands on another punt from Ryan Stonehouse. While individual players take the blame for missing tasks here, the Titans need to improve as a unit. In the NFL, getting a punt off should be a given, but that certainly wasn't the case for the Titans.

The sales difference is minus 7

I've already mentioned Levis' nine sales. As a team, the Titans are failing in turnover margin, and that's one of the reasons the team is currently 1-3. The Titans need to stop turning the ball over on offense and the defense needs to start making some game-changing plays of their own. Arden Key jumped on a lateral against the Dolphins and Julius Chestnut jumped on a loose football after the Bears botched a kickoff. I consider these more of a giveaway than a souvenir from the Titans. Diggs intercepted a two-point conversion attempt in Miami, but that doesn't count as insight since a change of possession was imminent anyway. In the future, the Titans will have to be greedier and less generous.