Titan Sized
FanSided

3 troubling stats for the Tennessee Titans defense

By Jamisson Hiffner

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 27: Jadeveon Clowney #99 of the Tennessee Titans speaks with his teammates on the bench in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 27: Jadeveon Clowney #99 of the Tennessee Titans speaks with his teammates on the bench in the first quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 27, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
Titans defense needs more of this
Oct 18, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (99) and Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (98) combine to sack Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Team Sacks

If you thought the pass defense was the worst part of this defense, the pass rushers would like a word.

Through 7 games, Tennessee has only managed to collect an abysmal 7 sacks. For reference, Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett each have 9 sacks. Yeah, it’s bad.

The Titans leader in sacks is Jeffery Simmons, who has a whopping 2, which is actually impressive for a defensive tackle of his size that has missed a game. What isn’t impressive is Jadeveon Clowney, who is being paid $15 Million this year, has yet to record a single sack. The same goes for Vic Beasley, who is making $9.5 Million.

In team sack percentage, Tennessee ranks 31st, ahead of only Jacksonville and in sacks per game, the Titans rank 30th.

This team just cannot get to the quarterback, and the whole defense is suffering because of it. Harold Landry III, Vic Beasley, and Jadeveon Clowney are especially players who will have to step up in a big way as the season moves ahead.

Tennessee’s sack struggles in 2020 begs the question of “Is this a scheme problem?”. The Titans edge-rushing group, at least on paper, should be BETTER than in 2019, not significantly worse. If the this team has any hopes of making it back to the AFC Championship game, Clowney, Landry, and the like will have to start getting to the QB.

Home/Titans News