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Tennessee Titans biggest regret ‘not investing more’ in pass-rush?

By Michael Moraitis

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 11: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots escapes a tackle by Harold Landry #58 of the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 11: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots escapes a tackle by Harold Landry #58 of the Tennessee Titans during the third quarter at Nissan Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Bleacher Report believes the biggest offseason regret for the Tennessee Titans was “not investing more into the pass rush.”

Ignoring the Tennessee Titans’ in-house options, Bleacher Report believes the team’s biggest offseason regret is “not investing more into the pass rush.”

The Titans were tied for No. 16 in sacks last season with 39, and while that isn’t bad, an improvement is needed in 2019 if this defense is going to take that next step.

Despite the Titans signing veteran Cameron Wake and having some great in-house options to improve their numbers from 2019, B/R’s Kristopher Knox thinks the Titans didn’t do enough.

"In a division that features Andrew Luck, Deshaun Watson and now Nick Foles, the pass rush Tennessee fielded last season may not be good enough. However, the Titans didn’t do much to address the need in the offseason either."

First off, the Titans aren’t sporting the same pass-rush as last season. That’s because both Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan are no longer on the team after retiring. The pair were the Titans’ starters on the edge last season and totaled a combined two sacks.

Wake alone had triple that amount (six sacks) for Miami in 2018.

Harold Landry is also basically a new addition to the pass-rush. Yes, he played in 15 games last season and finished with 4.5 sacks, but he only made three starts and was mostly a rotational player.

In those three starts, Landry notched two sacks and six QB hits, hence the reason why people are so high on him going into his sophomore campaign.

When added up, Wake and Landry bring 8.5 more sacks with them to the Titans’ starting lineup, which doesn’t include Landry’s potential to be a double-digit sack guy. Throw Rashaan Evans into the mix as someone who can line up on the edge and is a freak athlete at the position, as well.

As Knox also pointed out in his write-up, the Titans drafted Jeffery Simmons, who stands to be a big upgrade along the defensive front and in the pass-rush. The only problem there is Simmons may not play this season as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL. A December return is possible.

Even if Simmons doesn’t make it back in time for 2019, it’s not like the Titans did nothing to address the pass-rush. Did they throw a ton of money or picks at it? Not necessarily, but they did make improvements with addition by subtraction and are in a better position than a year ago.

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