Browns All-Pro Joel Bitonio prepares for challenge of Titans Pro Bowler Jeffrey Simmons
BEREA — Joel Bitonio doesn't want to sound like he's complaining. The truth is, he's really not.
However, the Browns All-Pro left guard does admit he's getting a little exasperated at the challenges that have started to pile up for him and his fellow offensive linemen.
One week, it's the Cincinnati Bengals' D.J. Reader. The next, it's a player like the Pittsburgh Steelers' Larry Ogunjobi.
Now, this week, the Browns are getting ready to play host to the Tennessee Titans. That means, for Bitonio, lining up against Titans Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons.
"I feel like now every week I'm like, 'Where are these (3-techniques) coming from?'" Bitonio said Thursday. "You know what I mean? They're everywhere. It used to be the (defensive) ends and now the 3-techs are taking over."
Simmons is one of the better defensive tackles in the league. Now in his fifth season out of Mississippi State, he has earned a Pro Bowl berth after each of the last two seasons.
The numbers back up the honors. The last two seasons, he's had 107 total tackles, 16 sacks and 13 passes defensed.
Those numbers make Simmons one of only four players in the league to have a minimum of 100 tackles, 15 sacks and 10 passes defensed over the last two seasons. The others: the Las Vegas Raiders' Maxx Crosby and the Steelers' combo of T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward.
"He's one of their best players," rookie right tackle Dawand Jones told the Beacon Journal Thursday. "It's a no-brainer about it. We've got to worry about him."
Jones was introduced to Watt on Monday night when the rookie made his first career start in the loss to the Steelers. Watt, though, is an outside linebacker in the Pittsburgh 3-4 front, making him more of a priority for the tackles and tight ends.
Simmons is more apt to be a problem for Bitonio or Pro Bowl right guard Wyatt Teller. The bigger problem for the Browns is that 10-year pro Denico Autry, the other end on the Titans' 3-4 front, can be just as disruptive.
"Their whole line is really good, but he leads the way," Bitonio said of Simmons. "Autry comes in and plays end and 3-technique, they move around. They have a lot of games, but he does a lot of good things. I mean, against the run, against the pass, he's physical. They do a lot of good things and we got to have our A-game to compete with their front. I think it's the strength of their team for sure."
Simmons and Autry have already combined for 4.5 sacks and 15 quarterbacks pressures in two games. Autry had 1.5 of his 2.5 sacks, his 14th career game with at least that many, in the Titans' season-opening loss to the New Orleans Saints.
The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Simmons had a sack and four pressures on Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert in last Sunday's overtime win. It was the first time he had posted at least one sack in each of the first two games of the season.
Just to add to the challenge, much like the Steelers do with Watt and Alex Highsmith, Tennessee has two outside linebackers to go with their interior three down linemen. Harold Landry III was a Pro Bowler in 2021 before spending all of last season on injured reserve, while Arden Key has already tallied 1.5 sacks and 15 quarterback pressures this season.
"I mean, all those guys are just disruptive and very fast, very active, understands what (coach Mike) Vrabel is asking him to do and you got to respect them," said Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was familiar with the Titans after having played them twice a year between 2017-2020 while with the Houston Texans. "It’s definitely going to be a good challenge for us and we're excited to compete with them. And you got to give them credit for what they've been doing.”
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Joel Bitonio readies for Titans Pro Bowler Jeffrey Simmons
