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How the Tennessee Titans can bounce back vs the Chicago Bears

By Brady Akins

NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20: Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans signals to the other teams after a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 33-30. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20: Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans signals to the other teams after a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium on September 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Jaguars 33-30. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 04: Desmond King #20 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on during the first quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 04, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 04: Desmond King #20 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on during the first quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 04, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) /

The (Desmond) King Has Arrived

Look, I’m an optimist, but I’m not stupid.

I know that the Titans problems in pass defense go far deeper than just the addition of one cornerback can fix. It really doesn’t take an expert to figure it out, when teams are throwing against you more than any team not named the Seahawks when they’re scoring more touchdowns on you through the air than almost every other team in the league when they’re getting sacked at the lowest rate in the NFL, it’s indicative of a problem much greater than anyone cornerback could fix entirely.

That said… replacing Johnathan Joseph with a former All-Pro in Desmond King certainly couldn’t hurt, right?

An underperforming pass rush has to get better for the defensive to improve a noticeable amount. Players like Harold Landry have not lived up to their reputation this season, while players like Jadaveon Clowney haven’t lived up to their price tag. But replacing a consistently torched cornerback like Joseph with someone who is a year and a half removed from a First-Team All-Pro season like King will help that struggling pass-rush start to produce more sacks. It’s a simple calculus; more coverage on receivers equals quarterbacks holding the ball longer equals more time Harold Landry to get past the offensive line and to the quarterback.

King does look set at this point to at least make an appearance for the Titans in Week 9, which will help against the Bears, but also has Tennessee sitting pretty for the remainder of the year. If King can establish himself as a star and Adoree Jackson can make a return to the field in Week 10, the Titans will have a talented starting three at corner, with a strong rookie in Kristian Fulton right behind them and an elite safety duo making the whole thing easier.

Again, Desmond King won’t solve the Titans problems. But it’s a start. With any luck, he can elevate the secondary to a point where Landry can wreck shop against Chicago.

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