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Tennessee Titans: How Jeffery Simmons impacts the defense

By John Lowell

JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 30: Jeffery Simmons #94 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs in action against the Louisville Cardinals during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs won 31-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - DECEMBER 30: Jeffery Simmons #94 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs in action against the Louisville Cardinals during the TaxSlayer Bowl at EverBank Field on December 30, 2017 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Bulldogs won 31-27. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee Titans DT Jeffery Simmons
STARKVILLE, MS – OCTOBER 21: Stephen Johnson #15 of the Kentucky Wildcats throws a pass as Jeffery Simmons #94 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs tries to defend during the first half of an NCAA football game at Davis Wade Stadium on October 21, 2017, in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /

2. Pass Rush

The Titans seem to lack a bloodthirst — or rather, an explosion in the trenches. Luckily, this is where Jeffery Simmons excels. Simmons has a bull-rush that, in college, had even the best interior offensive lineman on their backs. His length/power combination is his claim to fame and pops off the tape.

Not a one-trick pony, Simmons is probably better against the run than he is rushing the passer, but the Titans have added a game-wrecker no matter how you shake it.

According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons had the fourth-highest pass-rushing win percentage (16.5) among the 2019 draft class.

I tend to think that as the Titans give Simmons his initial reps, we’ll see more of him on early downs. He can be a three-down player, for sure, but they don’t want to give him more than he can handle.

If the exterior pass-rush struggles, however, Simmons’ signature push from the middle could destabilize the pocket and make things a bit easier on guys like outside linebacker, Harold Landry.

Interior pressure is essential in a league where quarterbacks are getting the ball out quicker than ever before. Well, on most teams.

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