2020 projections for Tennessee Titans pass rushers

Harold Landry

If the Titans pass rush is going to have major success in 2020 it will be because of Harold Landry. Along with Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry is getting closer and closer to bursting through the scene of NFL stardom. The Tennessee Titans haven’t had a player record 10 sacks or more since Brian Orakpo in 2016. Could Harold Landry be that guy?

It all depends on the depth of the edge rushers. Last season, the Titans sack leader got burned out early after playing at least 80% of snaps in each of the first 9 games. According to Jim Wyatt, linebackers coach Shane Bowen had this to say regarding Harold Landry’s role in 2020.

"“He played a lot of plays for us and he did, probably, too much — that’s on me,” outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen said on a Zoom conference call last week. “But we’ve got to find ways to get some other guys that can take some stuff off of him too, and I’ve got to get those guys developed where we are trusting them, putting them in the game, where we feel like they can make plays for us. I’ve got to do a better job of not putting so much on him in terms of play count.”"

If Landry plays less he will most likely get fewer sacks, right?

Not necessarily, it’s all about Landry being as close as possible to 100% every time he is on the field. If depth players such as Derick Roberson, Kamalei Correa, and Reggie Gilbert can play well enough to give Landry a break at times that will help keep him fresh throughout the season. In 2016 when Vic Beasley led the NFL in sacks he only played 60% of snaps. Whereas in 2019 Harold Landry played 83%. It’s all about picking a choosing the right times to send Landry on an all-out pursuit after the QB.

My projections for Landry in 2020 are: 11.5 sacks, 12 TFLs, 3 FF