Tennessee Titans Brent Urban could create fierce DL battle at camp

Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Brent Urban could create a fierce training camp battle at defensive e with DaQuan Jones.

Despite the signing of Brent Urban being a quiet one during the offseason, there is reason to believe he can make a big impact in 2019.

Urban spent the first five seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens after being drafted out of Virginia in 2014. He is also a former player of Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who held the same position with the Ravens in the past.

In his five seasons in Baltimore, Urban totaled 52 combined tackles (seven for loss), 3.5 sacks and four QB hits. Those aren’t exactly stats that jump off the page at you, but there is reason to believe he can be an upgrade over last year’s starting defensive end, DaQuan Jones.

In 2018, Urban finished with 0.5 sacks, which is slightly higher than the zero Jones totaled. Not much of a difference there for sure; although Jones’ six career sacks are more than Urban’s 3.5.

However, when you examine Urban’s last season in Baltimore a bit more closely, you can make the case he’s an upgrade for a Titans pass-rush that finished tied for 22nd in overall grade, per Pro Football Focus, and tied for No. 16 in total sacks with 39.

Urban notched 21 QB hurries last season, as opposed to Jones’ nine. Now that is a big difference in production when you consider that the Titans are looking for every means necessary to improve their success in putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

One of the lesser spoken about training camp battles could actually occur at defensive end. Urban’s numbers from a year ago show he has a more impressive recent history of being a better pass-rusher than Jones, who was iffy at best for the Titans in 2018.

Even if this battle doesn’t go Urban’s way once camp concludes, there is reason to believe he could surpass Jones at some point this season. In no way is Jones safe to keep his starting role from a season ago.