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The Tennessee Titans could struggle in the trenches in 2020

By Colton Pickard

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 20: Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans plays against the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 20: Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans plays against the Los Angeles Chargers at Nissan Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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One area of need that the Tennessee Titans address is the defensive pass rush, and it could come to hurt them in the fall.

The Tennessee Titans didn’t focus much of its free agency and draft with filling its hole in the defensive pass rush. They drafted defensive tackle Larrell Murchison out of North Carolina State, and he’s the only pass rusher that the Titans drafted

In terms of free agency, the Titans notably traded Jurrell Casey to the Broncos, and many Titans fans are still hoping that Jadeveon Clowney signs with Tennessee to replace him, but we still don’t know if that deal is going to get done.

If the Titans don’t get Clowney to Nashville, then the only pass rushers that the Titans signed in free agency are defensive end Reggie Gilbert, re-signed for a one-year deal, and defensive end Vic Beasley, who signed a one-year deal.

Beasley is coming off his best season in five years with the Falcons. He has experience at linebacker and defensive end, but last year he totaled 42 tackles, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles at outside linebacker, not defensive end.

I’ve seen where he’s listed as both but assuming that since his best season was at outside linebacker, I wouldn’t expect the Titans to change too much, which leaves the Titans needing another solid defensive lineman to help with the pass rush.

ESPN listed each NFL team’s biggest roster hole as of right now, and they listed the team’s pass rush as the Titans’ biggest roster hole, which makes sense.

"2018 second-round pick Harold Landry broke through as a highly effective edge rusher in 2019, but the rest of the Titans’ pass rush was underwhelming, finishing No. 30 in Sports Info Solutions’ pressure rate. That was before the cap-clearing trade of their best interior rusher, Jurrell Casey, and the free-agency departure of cornerback Logan Ryan, who was surprisingly effective as a secondary blitzer. Those departures increase the need for the team to get more from its outside rush.Post-draft rumors have the Titans heavily linked with former Texans edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, whose most productive season in Houston came under the tutelage of Mike Vrabel. Clowney would make a huge difference for a defense that struggled to get pressure from its front seven in 2019. Even if they don’t snag Clowney, however, the Titans should look to upgrade the list of hopefuls and reclamation projects currently competing to start across from Landry."

Outside of Harold Landry and Beasley, the Titans’ outside linebacker depth is lacking, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t going to be good. The Titans might have to lean on the defensive line more this fall to get pressure on the quarterback, but I think Jeffery Simmons is ready to be a leader up front, and he can get the job done.

Simmons is projected to have a breakout sophomore season, so if he does, then the Titans might be able to use his production with Beasley and Landry and do enough to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

If the Titans can get the Clowney deal done, then he would help round out the Titans pass rush. If not, I think that the Titans pass rush could be up in the air, and even though they don’t have great depth I don’t think that the Titans pass rush will be horrible.

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