3 key players who can help Titans keep Lamar Jackson in check
By Ravi Konjeti
Kevin Byard
The Titans probably have the best and most-overlooked safety in the league in Kevin Byard.
Byard is a ball hawking coverage specialist with amazing ability to play coverage against tight ends and receivers, or come in to stop the run. Byard may be the most crucial piece for any success against Jackson this Saturday.
The Titans will most likely come out with a single high safety look for the game, asking Kenny Vaccaro to play down low to stop the run. If the Titans do that, then they are asking Byard to cover the entire middle of the field. When the Ravens do pass, they love challenging the middle of the field with their tight ends.
Andrews and company will look to exploit the middle with a single high safety. Byard will need to be ever-present in limiting the big plays. This is a challenging matchup for the Titans that will require players to make split-second decisions to commit to the run or pass.
Byard was amazing against the Patriots in stopping any big plays down the middle of the field. He will need to match that play from last weekend. The Ravens have shown an ability to score points off of big plays or slug it out with clock-killing drives. Byard’s role will be to force the Ravens and Jackson to check down passes.
The Titans will also want to recreate a ground-and-pound offense on the other side of the field with Derrick Henry. That inevitably means that the number of possessions each team get will be limited. Forcing Jackson into long third downs and limiting his drives will frustrate the Ravens that have surprisingly seen little competition in their dominant 14-win run.
The Titans, led by Byard, will need to show a new creativity and look to throw off the Ravens. Luckily for them, I think they have the talent on the roster and creativity from the coaching staff to matchup against Lamar Jackson.