Tennessee Titans have a defined defensive identity
NASHVILLE — Nicknaming the Tennessee Titans (7-2) defensive front has caused laugh-out-loud infighting among the fan base. Whether you are a proponent of the "Tyrants" or the "Tickle Monsters," the result remains the same. Tennessee's defense has created a clearly defined identity. Provided they stay healthy, it is here to stay. The Titans have strung together […]
NASHVILLE — Nicknaming the Tennessee Titans (7-2) defensive front has caused laugh-out-loud infighting among the fan base. Whether you are a proponent of the "Tyrants" or the "Tickle Monsters," the result remains the same.
Tennessee's defense has created a clearly defined identity. Provided they stay healthy, it is here to stay.
The Titans have strung together a stretch of five consecutive wins since faltering to the New York Jets in October. A roster largely devastated by injury is currently undefeated this year against 2020 playoff teams and through their most difficult stretch of the schedule. Their latest success, however, can be traced back to one common theme.
Tickle, tickle.
Titans winning with pass rush
Tennessee may have the best four-man pass rush in football this season.
Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry, Harold Landry and Bud Dupree are the primary actors, but it goes much deeper than that. What has allowed the Titans to thwart the likes of Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Matt Stafford comes with both high-level talent and execution of games up front. A front that features beautifully choreographed twists and stunts at the line of scrimmage to bring both direct and delayed pressure from multiple angels has racked up 15 of the team's 23 (T-4th) sacks on the season in the last five weeks.
Tennessee's ability to disrupt quarterbacks has also helped create 11 takeaways in that same span.
"It first starts with who the quarterback is," coach Mike Vrabel said this week. "Some quarterbacks you maybe be a little less inclined to have coordination. Other ones that we have played certainly that is at a premium. Every week is a new week. Coach (Terrell) Williams, Coach (Ryan) Crow and also Shane (Bowen) and everybody involved, they come up with a plan and try to teach it to the pass rushers. Whether it is a third down or two-minute situation, whatever it may be, and then the guys have to go out and execute it. I think the first part of your question is based on the quarterback with how they run it. Using the game example with (Jeffery Simmons), a mistake that is commonly made is that he rounds it off, would have too much space between him and the tackle as he came around, the tackle would then be able to give some ground to get a hand on him to run him by the quarterback. (Jeffery Simmons) wrapped tight, tackle couldn’t come back and make the pass off. Those are the struggles we face offensively trying to stop those games, and when they are run properly and correctly with good players, it can sometimes be a challenge."
The devil is in the details, they say. The Titans have become experts at bedeviling quarterbacks.
Titans secondary benefitting more than anyone
Tennessee's secondary has been one of the position groups affected most by injury.
Only safety Kevin Byard and corner JackRabbit Jenkins has started each of the team's nine games. First-round pick Caleb Farley tore his ACL in Week 6, but Titans reserves like Elijah Molden, Chris Jackson, Greg Mabin, Dane Cruikshank and Chris Jones have all found ways to make plays. The Titans improved pass rush has allowed the young defensive backs to actually develop in live-game reps.
"If you can't rush four and play coverage with seven and have to start adding people to the rush, that limits your numbers in coverage and therefore limits your options in coverage," said analyst Greg Cosell of NFL Films. "So, the fact that they can rush with four and generate consistent pressure on quarterbacks, and that is what the last month's template has been, has really allowed their secondary to play better."
With star corner Kristian Fulton expected to make his return, Tennessee's defense may still yet be rounding into form.
Trevor Siemian better hope he is not ticklish.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
