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Tennessee Titans have a tough decision to make a linebacker

By Will Lomas

NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 18: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rolls away from Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the first half of a pre-season game at Nissan Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 18: Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rolls away from Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the first half of a pre-season game at Nissan Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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What will the Tennessee Titans do at linebacker this week?

The Tennessee Titans thought little enough of their linebacker position to draft Rashaan Evans with their first round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

You can debate whether that was a pick for a post-Wesley Woodyard future or whether they thought they needed an upgrade next to him immediately, later. With Evans out this week, the question should be:

Who starts at linebacker this week for the Titans?

Obviously Wesley Woodyard is going to get the bulk of the snaps. He is a savvy veteran who had a career year in 2017 and has the respect of the defenders who were on the roster last year.

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You could also make the argument that the former UDFA was the Titans MVP on defense before Kevin Byard really broke out. Even he was probably the most consistent performer on defense for the entire season.

So clearly he is the LB1 in this defense until someone shows you different. The question refers to who starts next to him.

The idea should be for Jayon Brown to come in as far as I am concerned. He has been a playmaker his entire short career for the Titans and is easily the best coverage linebacker on the team.

Given the fact that Woodyard is a better run defender than pass defender, it makes sense that you would pair him with someone who can cover tight ends and running backs pretty well.

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However, that isn’t what the Titans depth chart says. Right now the incumbent “starter” is Will Compton.

Compton seems to be a really good leader and good enough vs the run, and actually you can make the argument that he fits this defense better.

What I mean is, that the Titans are going to run A LOT of nickel defense. You can’t convince me that this in 95% of situations, that this team isn’t better with Adoree Jackson, Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler on the field.

So with five very capable coverage players including the safeties, you should have every receiving option covered in theory.

If that is the case, then you have to really be sure your front six can stop the run and ideally can stop it without needing to blitz.

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From that perspective, maybe Will Compton makes more sense because he is sturdy and has a better anchor.

At the end of the day, both players will play but who plays more? Who does the coaching staff think is a better fit for this “base defense” at least until Evans is back? That is the big question for me heading into this game.

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