Should Titans have added a pass rusher?

Discussion in 'Tennessee Titans and NFL Talk' started by Titans Insider, Apr 1, 2013.

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  1. Titans Insider

    Titans Insider Titans News

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    The Titans have been extremely aggressive in free agency, signing 10 players to bolster a variety of positions on offense and defense.

    One question I still hear a lot, however: Why didn’t the Titans make improving the pass rush more of a priority?

    Tennessee did make a run at Chris Canty, who would have played defensive end here, but the team didn’t go hard after the guys with big sack numbers – such as Elvis Dumervil, Cliff Avril, Osi Umenyiora or Michael Bennett. There have not been any indications the Titans are currently chasing older vets like Dwight Freeney or John Abraham either, though they have expressed some interest in Israel Idonije (7.5 sacks last year).

    Here’s what the Titans’ thinking appears to be:

    • By the time the season ended, the Titans didn’t feel the pass rush was a glaring weakness. Tennessee finished tied for 9th overall in sacks with 39 last year, making a big improvement from the first half of the season to the second. The Titans posted just 11 sacks in the first eight games and then piled up 28 sacks in the second eight games (an average of 3.5 per contest). It’s probably also worth noting, however, that 14 of those 28 sacks in the second half of the season were produced in two games against a very bad Jacksonville offensive line.
    • The Titans feel the increased use of linebacker Akeem Ayers in pass-rush situations will pay dividends. Ayers recorded six sacks last year, five of which came in the final nine games, after the Titans made the decision to have him rush from the edge more often in passing situations. Speaking of pass-rushing linebackers, don’t forget about Zach Brown, who racked up 4.5 sacks in the last six games of his rookie season last year.
    • The Titans believe the increased use of Ayers, the addition of free-agent defensive end Ropati Pitoitua and even the re-signing of Keyunta Dawson – who showed some preseason potential last season before getting hurt early in the year – will make for better rotation possibilities at defensive end. That means starting defensive ends Derrick Morgan (6.5 sacks last year) and Kamerion Wimbley (6.0 sacks), who both played 81 percent of all defensive snaps in 2012, would get more rest and be fresher during the late stages of games.
    • There’s also the possibility that the hiring of senior assistant/defense Gregg Williams, known for his aggressive defenses, will lead to more pressure on opposition passers. That’s not out of the question, but Williams’ defenses in New Orleans didn’t rank among NFL sack leaders, finishing tied for 13th in 2009, tied for 18th in 2010 and tied for 19th in 2011.
    So were the Titans correct in not making the pass rush a top priority during free agency?A case can certainly be made the Titans were already moving in the right direction in that department during the second half of the 2012 season.

    Still, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Titans go after a defensive end with one of their earlier picks in the draft later this month. After all, as much as Morgan and Wimbley came on later in the season, it’s worth remembering that Morgan has only been fully healthy for one of his three years and that Wimbley’s sack total last in 2012 was his lowest of the last four years.

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    Posted In: League News, Team News

    Source: Titans Insider
     
  2. Riverman

    Riverman That may be.... Tip Jar Donor

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    Still think we might see Barkevious Mingo as a Titan.
     
  3. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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  4. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    Options...

    2nd: Tank Carradine
    3rd: Corey Lemonier

    would love one of them.
     
  5. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    Effective pass rushers are still high on my board.

    Opponent - passing ranking - number of sacks
    New England - 4th - 1
    San Diego - 24th - 0
    Detroit - 2nd - 1
    Houston - 11th - 0
    Minnesota - 31st -1
    Pittsburgh - 14th - 1
    Buffalo - 25th - 1
    Indy - 7th - 2

    Chicago - 29th - 3
    Miami - 26th - 2
    Jacksonville - 21st - 7
    Houston - 11th - 0
    Indy - 7th - 4
    New York - 30th - 4
    Green Bay - 9th - 1
    Jacksonville - 21st - 7

    As you can see, we're good vs lousy teams, and half our sacks came vs the Jaguars. We still need pass rushers. Unless of course Jerry Gray and Greg Williams plan on our DE's acting as DT's and taking on blockers to free up the LB's. But it took nearly 3 months before we even thought to do that last year.
     
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  6. RavensShallBurn

    RavensShallBurn Ruck the Favens

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    Gotta take Ansah if he's there (which is very unlikely at this point).
     
  7. xpmar9x

    xpmar9x The Real Slim Shady

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    14 sacks against Jacksonville, that's why are sack #s are so high - 36% of our sacks came against one team....

    :jagsbite:
     
  8. JCBRAVE

    JCBRAVE goTitans 2019 Survivor Champion

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    And the reason for that isn't because they're terrible, it's cause Jerry Gray isn't afraid to blitz them, he's terrified of Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, but the funny thing is both those HoF QB's make mistakes under pressure, Jerry Gray doesn't realize this though, F'king moron.
     
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  9. Deuce Wayne

    Deuce Wayne NOW Y'ALL GET THE MESSICH?!

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    We definitely need a pass rusher.
     
  10. Two Kings

    Two Kings NJ Titan

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    I'm all about Warmack but I do like Ansah if he's there. If we take a DE I would not complain at all.
     
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