NASHVILLE — Year 2 of edge rusher Bud Dupree in the Tennessee Titans defense projects well for all parties involved. The veteran knows that Week 1 in the NFL brings plenty of unforeseen challenges.

Tennessee's first test: stopping New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley.

When the Titans last faced New York in 2018, they did well to hold Barkley down. The Giants star accounted for only 31 yards on 14 carries in a 17-0 Giants loss. Since then, Barkley has routinely dealt with injury, including a 2020 ACL tear that cost him all but two games that season.

Dupree, however, understands the threat this week's opponent still poses out of the backfield.

Barkley was not efficient for the Giants in 2021

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New York's roster and coaching ineptitude should be blamed as much for the above fact.

"Saquon is not a fluke," Dupree told me in a 104.5 The Zone interview on Wednesday. "Saquon is an animal. So, anytime you let a lion out of the cage, you have to prepare for anything it's going to do. We have to make sure we're containing him. He's a great player. Have to make sure we get hats on him at all times and not run away from contact. We have to go meet him, bring it to him."

The big game Tennessee's defense will be hunting in their season opener this Sunday has not felt that way for some time.

Barkley averaged only 3.7 yards per carry last year for the Giants and totaled only nine runs of 10 or more yards, per Andy Behrens of Yahoo Sports. When it came to making plays after contact, Barkley ranked 41st among qualified backs last year with 1.7 yards after contact per attempt. It is fair to expect that a fortified offensive line in New York will go along way to better their featured runner's efficiency and explosive play opportunities.

The Giants endured more adjusted games lost along their front five in 2021 (38.5) than any team not named the Philadelphia Eagles (38.6).

Dupree and the Titans defense were among the best units against the rush in football last season. Upgrading their inside linebacking corps from Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown at the campaign's start with David Long and a mid-year waiver claim of Zach Cunningham went a long way to bolster the group.

"You look at the explosiveness, the speed, everybody's at the point of attack," coach Mike Vrabel said. "We understand the strength at which (Barkley) runs at. I hope that we don't have too many one-on-one tackles. I hope that there are some more guys at the football when he has it. They've got other guys that are good with the football. (Kadarius)Toney, (Wan’Dale) Robinson, the quarterback (Daniel Jones) is going to have it. They've run him in the past. He can run and he will run."

Letting Jones try to beat Tennessee's system himself is by far and away the preferred outcome. It is fair to expect offensive-minded head coach Brian Daboll and coordinator Mike Kafka to find ways to utilize all of New York's skill talent in creative ways. Vrabel's mantras of defensive swarming and full-tilt to the tackle will be emphasized on Sunday.

Tennessee knows they'll have to carry that much over hosting Barkley and the Giants in Week 1.

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.