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Will the Tennessee Titans have a breakout player in 2020?

By Colton Pickard

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans lines up for the next play during the first half of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 42-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 24: Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans lines up for the next play during the first half of a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 42-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee Titans are looking to capitalize on the run they made at the end of the 2019 season and turn it into success in 2020.

We know the stars of the Tennessee Titans offense that helped push the Titans to their run and their eventual AFC Championship appearance, but what some don’t know is that the defense played a huge part in getting the Titans to the AFC Championship.

The Titans might need the defense to be better than ever if they want to make another appearance in the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl.

So, do the Titans have a breakout player that will drive the Titans defense to one of the best in the league, or will they put the pieces together as they go along and hope the ‘bend don’t break’ mentality works out for them?

Well, according to Pro Football Focus’ Sam Monson, the Titans do have a breakout player, and he is going to help the Titans in a big way.

"“A torn ACL caused Jeffery Simmons to slip a little in the 2019 NFL Draft, but rather than fall out of the first round, he was taken by Tennessee at No. 19 overall and actually got back on the field before the halfway point of last season,” Monson said. “His NFL debut saw him post a PFF grade above 90.0 and notch three total pressures on only 11 pass-rushing snaps. The rest of his season was a little less dominant, but we nonetheless saw glimpses of the kind of impact he can have, and expectations should be justifiably sky high for Simmons after another year removed from that knee injury. He also gets a much clearer path to playing time on the defensive line with Jurrell Casey traded away after an excellent career with the Titans. Simmons was a top-10 talent in the draft before injury caused a slip, so he could be set to dominate in Year 2.”"

Other second-year breakout players that Monson listed are Steelers WR Diontae Johnson, Cardinals WR Andy Isabella, Bills DE Ed Oliver, Steelers LB Devin Bush, Buccaneers CB Jamel Dean, Eagles LB T.J. Edwards, and Raiders RB Josh Jacobs.

Jeffery Simmons is coming into his second season in the NFL and he had a pretty successful rookie season coming off of an ACL tear.

It’s likely that Simmons will take over the role that Jurrell Casey previously held so he has big shoes to fill ahead of the 2020 season.

Next. Are the Tennessee Titans done with Jadeveon Clowney?. dark

I think Simmons has a chance to replace Casey in production with a little extra on the side. He can be the elite player he was expected to be before his injury.

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