Why David Long Jr. is poised to take a Pro Bowl leap
In quiet times during the offseason my mind often wanders. Lately, I have been asking myself the same question over and over again, “How in the hell did David Long Jr. fall to the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft?” He was the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, for crying […]
In quiet times during the offseason my mind often wanders. Lately, I have been asking myself the same question over and over again, “How in the hell did David Long Jr. fall to the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft?” He was the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, for crying out loud. Now entering his fourth season with the Tennessee Titans, Long has positioned himself for a breakout season in 2022.
Long has improved in each of his three years with the Titans. In his rookie campaign, the inside linebacker filled in mostly on special teams, playing sparingly as a rotational linebacker. However, it was in the Titans’ Divisional Round win over Lamar Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens when Long had his coming out party.
Long was filling in for the injured Jayon Brown and was tasked with slowing down the Ravens’ run game, led by the 2019 NFL MVP in Jackson. Long was playing with his head on fire, blowing up run gaps and keeping the edge. He finished with five solo stops, playing a pivotal role in the win.
Primarily lauded for his run-stopping abilities, Long continues to make strides in pass coverage. In fact, he had career-bests in completion percentage against (70.7) and passer rating allowed (61.0) in 2021.
Long started in nine of the 10 games he saw action in during the regular season. Though he missed time due to a nagging hamstring injury, he was on the field for nearly every defensive snap through the team’s first eight games.
The Titans decided to let Rashaan Evans and Brown walk during the offseason and will turn to Long and mid-season acquisition Zach Cunningham to lead the middle of the defense in 2022.
In what the Titans hope will be Long’s first full season as a starter, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen noted Long’s growth as a leader of the defense.
“He’s taken that role by the horns and he is running with it,” said Bowen. “I’ve been really pleased with him. I think he’s trying to become more vocal out there as well. I’m excited for him. I think he’s really excited for the opportunity and it’s very deserving with what he’s done here, especially last season.”
It’s clear that the Titans have lofty expectations for Long in his third season in Bowen’s system. With an elite pass rush in front of him and the best coverage safety in the game –Kevin Byard — to his back, Long will often find himself in a position to make an impact on Sundays.
While there are Pro Bowl candidates scattered amongst the Titans’ defense, Long will have a chance to make his first appearance in the annual exhibition, as long as he stays healthy.
Featured image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
