The Tennessee Titans recently placed underperforming rookie EDGE Femi Oladejo on IR. Veteran pass rusher Arden Key was also ruled OUT this weekend with an ongoing injury. Being shorthanded at EDGE would be a death sentence for most questionable defenses, but it doesn't have to be that way for the Titans against the New England Patriots in Week 7.
Key and Oladejo haven't been good pass rushers this season. The Titans' "best" pass-rushing EDGEs have been Jihad Ward and Dre'Mont Jones. In obvious passing downs where the Titans want to pin their ears back and rush the quarterback, those two players need to keep living up to the standard they have set in recent weeks.
However, the most effective way to utilize these injuries to make positive changes to the defense is to adopt a heavier defensive front. That strategy should start Sunday against Mike Vrabel and the Patriots.
Titans need to use injuries at EDGE as excuse to shift defensive focus
With T'Vondre Sweat returning from IR this week, the Titans should have another impact player in the middle of the defensive line next to Jeffery Simmons. Dennard Wilson and the defense should use that advantage to scheme up blitzes and simulated pressures that either force the Patriots to block Simmons and Sweat one-on-one, or to open up space for blitzers to knife into the backfield and get pressure on the ball carrier.
No matter which way they choose to attack the Patriots interior offensive line, they need to attack it early and often. Rookie starting left guard Jared Wilson has struggled in pass protection, and while center Garrett Bradbury has had a solid season so far, he has always been a player who struggles with power rushers.
Getting Sweat back makes the Titans heavier on the defensive front. The team should also take advantage of his return by having James Lynch and Sebastian Joseph-Day play more interior technique roles.
While those two are unlikely to generate much pressure, they should be strong at the point of attack. Lynch and Joseph-Day should help the Titans get into those obvious passing downs where they can take advantage of the mismatches Simmons and Sweat could provide.
The Titans can't worry about sustainability against Vrabel. If they play coy and sit back and wait for the Patriots to come to them, they will get punched in the mouth before they realize what is happening. Instead, the defense needs to be aggressive while playing technically sound football.
All eyes are going to be on the offense and what interim head coach Mike McCoy can do to help Cam Ward, but the defense can also do their share by taking the ball away and making life hard on the Patriots offense.