Titans' Arden Key calls Bengals' QB Joe Burrow a 'sitting duck'
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans' defensive game plan against the Cincinnati Bengals worked to perfection in a dominant 27-3 victory on Sunday. The Titans knew that Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's mobility was limited while playing through a calf injury. Tennessee talked all week about bringing inside pressure to make Burrow uncomfortable and matching hands with […]
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans' defensive game plan against the Cincinnati Bengals worked to perfection in a dominant 27-3 victory on Sunday.
The Titans knew that Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's mobility was limited while playing through a calf injury. Tennessee talked all week about bringing inside pressure to make Burrow uncomfortable and matching hands with him to get deflected passes.
In an interview with Brent Dougherty, Ron Slay, and Dawn Davenport of 3HL on 104.5 The Zone, Titans outside linebacker Arden Key referred to Burrow as a "sitting duck."
"We knew that he was a sitting duck in the pocket," said Key on 3HL. "He couldn't move around. We knew that he was going to try to stay there and let the edge go high, so we did a lot of things inside whether we gamed inside or just powered inside where he was able to step back to us outside rushers."
Tennessee's defense totaled just three sacks on Burrow in the game, but that number doesn't tell the entire story. As a defense, the Titans had 19 total pressures, nine QB hurries, and seven QB hits against the Bengals.
Because Burrow was under a lot of pressure and unable to move like usual, Cincinnati was trying to get rid of the ball quickly to short and intermediate route concepts. Burrow threw just four passes 10+ yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
For reference, Derek Carr threw 15 passes 10+ yards downfield against the Titans in Week 1, Justin Herbert threw 16 in Week 2, and Deshaun Watson threw 9 in Week 3.
The Titans' biggest defensive flaw this season has been allowing explosive plays through the air. But when opposing quarterbacks don't take shots down the field, it makes life a lot easier on Titans defenders.
Arden Key said it perfectly. An immobile quarterback that isn't looking for explosive passing plays is a sitting duck just waiting to get hit by a member of the Titans' front seven.
There's two stories being told here. The first one is how much the Bengals are hindered by Burrow's injury. At this point, you have to ask yourself if it's even worth putting him out there.
It might be in Cincinnati's best interest to play Jake Browning for a game or two, let Burrow get healthy, and hope you can salvage your season with Burrow at 100 percent after the bye week.
On the flip side of things, Sunday's win showcased how dominant the Titans' defense can be when they don't allow explosive passing plays. If opposing teams are forced to settle for shorter gains and go on longer drives down the field, there is a higher chance that Tennessee comes up with a sack, turnover, or tackle for loss that gets the defense off the field.
Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, and every player on the defense deserve a lot of credit for executing the defensive game plan to perfection and making Burrow uncomfortable for four quarters.
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