The Athletic names a surprise MVP for the Titans
Defining the most valuable player has become one of the most frustrating debates over the years in professional sports. Is it the best player, or is it truly the most valuable player — the one player a team could not succeed without? When it comes to the Tennessee Titans, one writer has taken a unique […]
Defining the most valuable player has become one of the most frustrating debates over the years in professional sports. Is it the best player, or is it truly the most valuable player — the one player a team could not succeed without? When it comes to the Tennessee Titans, one writer has taken a unique approach to the topic, which has the chance to stir up some emotion in the Titans’ fanbase.
“Jeffery Simmons. Derrick Henry is a strong runner-up who will again be asked to carry an offense and has again been putting together an offseason to make that possible, but the Titans’ questions on the offensive line and at receiver put a huge season for Henry in doubt,” writes Rexrode.
“A huge season for Simmons is in very little doubt. He’s surrounded by pieces that make up one of the fiercest defensive fronts in the league, he’s entering his prime and he’s as disruptive an interior presence as you can find east of Aaron Donald.”
Simmons is an interesting answer. Henry felt like the easy option, but I believe Rexrode built a strong case for the 24-year-old defensive tackle.
Prior to the 2021 defensive explosion, the Titans’ weakest link was in the pass rush. It’s what held them back against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the 2019 AFC Championship Game, and plagued the team throughout the 2020 season as well.
That all changed last season with Simmons bursting on to the scene. The Titans finished tied for ninth in the NFL with 43 sacks as the defensive front often carried a banged up Titans offense to a 12-5 record in the regular season.
Simmons accounted for 8.5 sacks, but the attention he commanded on the interior allowed for more opportunities for Harold Landry and Denico Autry. Landry set a career high with 12 sacks while Autry tied his career high with nine of his own.
The team’s success in Henry’s absence could factor in as well. In the Titans’ nine games without its star running back, Tennessee went 6-3 with wins over the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams and NFC runner-up San Francisco 49ers.
Even coming off of a serious injury, Henry is the team’s best player until proven otherwise. There are 2,027 reasons to back that up.
However, with question marks on the offensive line and at pass catcher, Simmons will have to be the anchor of a top 10 defense if the Titans are to win a third straight AFC South title and make a subsequent run in the postseason.
Featured image via Christopher Hanewinckel – USA TODAY Sports
