Tennessee Titans CB Logan Ryan is a better pass rusher than your top EDGE
By Will Lomas
Tennessee Titans CB Logan Ryan is the top pass rushing DB in the NFL.
For Tennessee Titans fans, the biggest thing they want to see on defense is Harold Landry and Rashaan Evans develop into star players.
However, it turns out that one of the best pass rushers on the roster is defensive back Logan Ryan but you shouldn’t feel bad. In fact, he would be a top-2 EDGE on a lot of teams over the last two years.
In a defensive back group filled with talented pass rushers, Logan Ryan stands above the rest:
The #Titans DB group has 10.5 sacks in 2018 - 2019. That's the most in the NFL. Logan Ryan's 5.5 sacks over that stretch leads all NFL DBs. https://t.co/rSX0YQcfEu
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) September 13, 2019
5.5 sacks is nothing to scoff at, but just how good is it? Well, in case you are petty like I am here is a list of some notable players that Ryan is in front of or tied with over the last 17 games.
–Jabaal Sheard: 5.5 (Colts)
–Preston Smith: 5.5 (4 years, $52 million deal this offseason)
–Vic Beasley: 5 sacks (2016 NFL: sack leader)
–Whitney Mercilus: 5 (Texans)
–Da’Ron Payne: 5 (1st round pick in 2018)
–Kemoko Turay: 5 (Colts)
–Leonard Williams: 5 (Pro Bowler)
–Marcus Davenport: 5 (The Saints used two 1st round picks to get him)
–Ndamukong Suh: 4.5
–Anthony Barr: 4 (5 year, $67.5 million deal this offseason)
–Brandon Graham: 4
–Malik Jackson: 3.5
–Derek Barnett: 2.5
The list (literally) goes on. The point is that this is something Titans fans should all be talking about. Despite all of these players rushing the passer on every single play, it is Ryan who is the most successful and some players he doubles up or nearly doubles up.
His knack for getting to the QB and his poise to not overrun him makes him excellent in this role and the Tennessee Titans are lucky to have him.
He is a huge part of this defense and the reason why that is important this week is because you may remember that he didn’t play in the last game against the Indianapolis Colts.
If he, Jurrell Casey and Marcus Mariota were healthy for that game it could have meant a playoff berth for the Tennessee Titans in 2018. Those three will get a chance to prove it and the combination of Harold Landry and Cameron Wake will have a chance to introduce themselves to Jacoby Brissett since neither were in Tennessee in 2017 the last time he came to Nashville.