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What should the Tennessee Titans expect from Kevin Dodd

By Will Lomas

Oct 16, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson (29) rushes for a touchdown against Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Kevin Dodd (93) and Titans inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Tennessee won 28-26. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson (29) rushes for a touchdown against Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Kevin Dodd (93) and Titans inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Tennessee won 28-26. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Should the Tennessee Titans temper expectations for Kevin Dodd?

With the first week of actual football practice in the books, my biggest question isn’t about the rookies or Marcus Mariota, it is about the Tennessee Titans 2nd pick last year: Kevin Dodd.

I was a big fan of Kevin Dodd’s coming out, he really had a lot to love. Dodd’s strength, length, pop, effort, production, and intangibles were all there.

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While he might not have been a top tier athlete, he looked like he could anchor that base end spot that Derrick Morgan plays.

Kevin Dodd was impressive to me in the Tennessee Titans game in Detroit where he came up with a big sack against Lions quarterback Matt Stafford.

I wrote this about Dodd’s game against the Detroit Lions at the time,

“Kevin Dodd probably won’t be a 10 sack edge rusher in the NFL, there are only a handful of those guys in the league anyway. However, where he does win and help this team is with his change up as a pass rusher.

If you are the tackle lining up opposite Dodd, one play he can bull rush you right into your quarterback’s lap. The next play he could go inside and before you know it Jurrell Casey is looping around and you have already lost. Then on 3rd and long you could be preparing for his power and inside move and he can bend and go outside with a rip move and sack Matt Stafford.

That was exactly what happened Sunday against the Detroit Lions.”

So you can see I had a lot of hope for him.

However, he went to I.R. before logging 200 snaps in the NFL and his injury is still bothering him. So far, we have no idea if Dodd is anywhere close to where he was during his senior year in college.

The Tennessee Titans face a tough choice going forward with Kevin Dodd.

On one hand, you could let him sit and wait as long as he needed. However, then you go into the season with Aaron Wallace and Josh Carraway as your two rotational pass rushers.

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    • On the other hand, you could rush him back so that you can teach those other two rushers how to play the RDE/ROLB spot that Brian Orakpo plays. However, you have to worry that he is going to get hurt again or that he won’t be 100%.

    I really don’t know what the Tennessee Titans should expect from Dodd. What is a successful season?

    If you measure it by sacks, will 6 be enough? That is a nice total from your third rusher, but is it enough to warrant the pick they spent.

    If you measure it in snaps, are you wanting him to play 35% percent? Surely they don’t want him splitting reps 50/50 with Derrick Morgan already right?

    If it is games, are you just wanting a healthy season from him? Do you expect him to develop and have a big year next year if he can stay healthy and play all 16, or do you need to see more?

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    I don’t know. For me, I want to see him be a productive anchor that can really play a legit 50/50 split with an aging Morgan. That could give him a few more years or production and it lets him really focus on the pass rush.

    If he can only do that for a few games towards the end of the season, that sucks. However, I can accept that if he plays well enough.

    If you are expecting him to come back fully healthy and be an instant factor now, I think you are asking too much. This is the one position that worries me more than any other and it is why I really hope they take a long hard look at a future Hall of Fame EDGE player in free agency.

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