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Playing Over/Under with Mike Clay’s Tennessee Titans projections pt.2

By Will Lomas

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 12: Linebacker Wesley Woodyard
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 12: Linebacker Wesley Woodyard /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 13: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is tackled by Brian Orakpo #98 of the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 13: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots is tackled by Brian Orakpo #98 of the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

EDGE O/U: Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan 16 total sacks

Under

There is nothing I would love more than Orakpo and Morgan regaining their 2016 form and combining for 20 sacks, and in a different scenario they possibly good.

Honestly though this is a matter of volume and age more than it is a matter of talent. From a talent standpoint, I think both have the tools and potential to be double digit pass rushers in the NFL, but there are two big things that stand in their way.

Firstly, the Tennessee Titans are going to face their first offseason where they have to actually, kinda pay attention to the cap this year. While I firmly believe that the cap is a myth and that smart teams can figure out ways to fit good players on their roster, extensions for Marcus Mariota and Taylor Lewan will be big hits.

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    • The reason I bring this up is that both Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan are going to be free agents next year, and it really doesn’t do the Titans much good long term for one of them to hit 10+ sacks.

    To that end, they stole Harold Landry in the draft and now have a legit answer at the EDGE position long term if they can’t keep one or both of the starters after this season.

    As you can see Landry himself is the second big issue for the tandem. What happens if he comes out and proves to be a very capable EDGE, which is what earned him a first round grade from nearly everyone that evaluated him on draft Twitter, in the media, etc.

    If he is the star everyone thinks he is then he is going to eat into the snap count of Morgan and Orakpo and rightfully so. If you can keep your starting EDGE tandem healthy while also finding a way for Landry to get in on passing situations and get 6 or so sacks, shouldn’t you?

    With Orakpo (31) and Morgan (29) having a lot of miles on them over the last two years due to the Titans lack of EDGE depth, it makes sense to rest them early in hopes of having three healthy pass rushers going into a potential playoff run.

    This is one of the rare “unders” that could actually make the team better short and long term.

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