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3 Titans defenders playing their best football heading into the playoffs

By Will Lomas

Tennessee Titans defensive end Jack Crawford (94), strong safety Amani Hooker (37) and center Daniel Munyer (52) stop Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (32) during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.Gw58282
Tennessee Titans defensive end Jack Crawford (94), strong safety Amani Hooker (37) and center Daniel Munyer (52) stop Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift (32) during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.Gw58282 /
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Dec 20, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans inside linebacker David Long (51) and defensive end Jeffery Simmons (98) scramble to recover a fumble against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans inside linebacker David Long (51) and defensive end Jeffery Simmons (98) scramble to recover a fumble against the Detroit Lions during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

David Long, LB

For some reason that I will never understand, the Titans didn’t even entertain the idea of using David Long as the “11th man” when they wanted to go heavier in the front seven early in the year. Instead, they would leave Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown and then bring in an extra defensive tackle.

Sure…I guess that is a way to do it, but it made the Titans defense even slower and instead of running a fast 4-3 they ran a slow 3-4 and it was pretty pathetic.

Now though, they have been forced to play David Long more and more. In fact, it took 14 weeks and some injures, but Long finally played more than 75% of the defensive snaps for the first time against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In the last four weeks, he has 34 tackles, 19 solo tackles, 1 pass deflection, and 1 forced fumble.

He has been the Titans most active linebacker all season per snap and now that he is getting more snaps, it isn’t surprising that he is starting to get comfortable and make plays.

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