Tennessee Titans September report card: Defense
Defensive Line
Jeffery Simmons has been a stud so far in 2020, just as predicted.
Unfortunately, that’s about the only bright spot for this group. DaQuan Jones, who’s long been a solid starter for the team, has a PFF grade of 58.6 and has been a non-factor in the pass rush.
The third and final starter on the d-line, Jack Crawford, has also been underwhelming to this point with a 61.9 PFF grade and 1 sack, though it should be noted that his best game was against the Minnesota Vikings where he was actually allowed to play defensive tackle instead of being shoved into an EDGE role. That is what was happening in the first two weeks as Vic Beasley and Derick Roberson tried to get healthy.
The Titans will surely have to get more production out of these players as the season goes along, but if this is a report card for September you have to grade what they have done and not what they might do.
Unfortunately, the defensive line will be even worse, at least for a week or two. Simmons and Jones are on the COVID-19 list, meaning Isaiah Mack and Matt Dickerson are now starters.
Yikes.
Here’s to hoping Dickerson or Mack step up and provide much-needed production on the d-line. The only other healthy d-lineman is rookie Larrell Murchison, who has looked atrocious in limited snaps.
Even with a healthy Simmons and Jones, this unit needs to be addressed in the offseason. The Titans can no longer afford to rely on bargain-bin free agents and undrafted rookies at these positions.