Rashaan Evans
Aside from pressuring the quarterback, a major point of emphasis for this Titans defense will be improving against the run. Rashaan Evans will be another key part of this attempt.
Evans got off to a slow start last season, but finished his rookie campaign strong. His overall run-stopping grade, per PFF, was 72.5. While that isn’t anything to write home about per say, it is impressive when you consider Evans’ rocky beginning.
The Alabama product really turned up the heat in the second half of last season, as PFF also named him one of their “second-half stars.” Evans also had an astounding overall grade of 90.5 from Week 13 on, ranking him as the third-best linebacker in all of football in that span.
Rashaan Evans has been one of the top linebackers in the NFL over the final few weeks of the season. pic.twitter.com/bhsXbw0xro
— PFF (@PFF) December 30, 2018
As you can see, Evans has the goods to be a major impact player versus the run—but he’s also someone who can get to the quarterback and improve the pass-rush.
Evans’ abilities in both those areas gives him significant value on this defense, and it’s why he could be the team’s most important player on that side of the ball in 2019.
Along with Landry, the Titans might have two breakout candidates in their linebacking corps., but it’s Evans who stands to make the biggest impact in two facets of this team’s defense.