Exotic Smashmouth: The NFL’s Newest Offensive Trend?

The NFL is a constantly evolving landscape, with offensive philosophies rising and falling in popularity like hemlines. In Week 1 of the 2025 season, the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans combined for a paltry 274 total yards. This has left fans and analysts alike searching for the next big thing, a way to grind out tough yards and control the clock while still maintaining the threat of explosive plays. Could “Exotic Smashmouth” be the answer?

Defining Exotic Smashmouth

The term “Exotic Smashmouth” isn’t new. It was first coined by former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Mularkey in 2016. Mularkey envisioned an offense that would bludgeon opponents with a strong running game, but with a twist. It wasn’t just about running between the tackles; it was about using creative formations, pre-snap motion, and unexpected personnel groupings to keep defenses guessing. As Mularkey explained, it was about tailoring the scheme to the team’s strengths. The Titans, at the time, lacked elite receivers and a fully developed quarterback in Marcus Mariota. However, they possessed a powerful offensive line and a stable of talented running backs, including DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry.

In 2016, the Titans unveiled their “exotic smashmouth” offense. DeMarco Murray channeled his 2014 Offensive Player of the Year form, scampering untouched for a 71-yard touchdown. Left tackle Taylor Lewan reported as an eligible receiver, plucked a Marcus Mariota pass and rumbled for a score.

Key Tenets of Exotic Smashmouth

Analyzing the original Exotic Smashmouth reveals several core tenets:

Formational Unpredictability: Constantly shifting formations and personnel to create confusion and exploit defensive mismatches. Motioning tight ends across a formation or placing a bunch outside of a tackle creates massive run fit issues.
Run-Heavy Play Calling: Establishing the run as the focal point of the offense, even in today’s pass-happy NFL. In 2024, 35.5% of all yardage gained was via rushing, the second-highest rate since 2008.
Simple Pass Attack: Utilizing play-action passes and quick throws to complement the running game and avoid putting the quarterback in high-pressure situations.

The 2025 NFL Landscape: Is Exotic Smashmouth Poised for a Comeback?

Several factors suggest that a version of Exotic Smashmouth could be effective in the modern NFL:

Defensive Adjustments: Defenses have become increasingly focused on stopping the pass, often employing lighter personnel groupings to match up with spread offenses. This can leave them vulnerable to a physical running game.
The Kickoff Change: As a result of the kickoff changes, offenses started possessions on average at their 29.7-yard line after a kickoff (touchback or return), the best rate of this millennium.
Emphasis on Offensive Lines: Teams are recognizing the importance of investing in strong offensive lines to create running lanes and protect their quarterbacks.

Teams That Could Embrace Exotic Smashmouth

Several teams in the NFL possess the necessary ingredients to implement a successful Exotic Smashmouth offense:

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens, led by quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, are already a run-heavy team. Adding more wrinkles to their running game through creative formations and motion could make them even more difficult to defend. According to expected points added (EPA) per drive, the Ravens had the NFL’s best offense last year, and they’re pretty much bringing everyone back.
Green Bay Packers: The Packers have a young, talented quarterback in Jordan Love and a stable of promising running backs. A commitment to the running game could take pressure off Love and allow him to develop at a more comfortable pace.
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons were run-heavy, ranking just 29th in Pass Rate Above Expected (PROE). Falcons games were top 10 in both combined snaps and total points.

The Challenges of Implementing Exotic Smashmouth

While the concept of Exotic Smashmouth is intriguing, it’s not without its challenges:

Requires Specific Personnel: A successful Exotic Smashmouth offense requires a strong offensive line, a mobile quarterback who can make plays with his legs, and versatile running backs who can run, catch, and block.
Complexity: Implementing a constantly evolving offense with numerous formations and personnel groupings can be complex and require a high level of communication and execution.
Passing Game Limitations: Over-reliance on the running game can make an offense predictable and limit its ability to come back from large deficits.

The Future of NFL Offenses

The NFL is a cyclical league, and offensive trends tend to come and go. While it’s unlikely that Exotic Smashmouth will become the dominant offensive philosophy in the league, it could be a valuable tool for teams looking to gain an edge. By combining a strong running game with creative formations and a willingness to take calculated risks, teams can keep defenses guessing and control the game on their own terms.

The key will be adapting the core principles of Exotic Smashmouth to fit the specific strengths and weaknesses of each team’s personnel. It’s not about blindly copying what the Titans did in 2016; it’s about finding new and innovative ways to run the football effectively in the modern NFL.