Tennessee Titans 2020 season review: Defensive line
Despite the emergence of Jeffery Simmons as one of the more dominant young defensive players in the league, the Tennessee Titans’ defensive line as a unit was mostly underwhelming in 2020.
Outside of Simmons, none of Tennessee’s front line scared opposing offenses, especially once Jadeveon Clowney went down for the season with a knee injury.
Clowney may technically be considered an outside linebacker, but he is the epitome of a chess piece who can line up anywhere, as he displayed during his eight games. Despite not having any sacks while in the lineup, Clowney did have an impact on the team, especially for Simmons.
People tend to look at the numbers when it comes to Clowney’s production, and rightfully so, but his impact often goes beyond the traditional stat line. The South Carolina product has earned the respect of the league due to his game-wrecker reputation and that leads to consistently being one of the most double-teamed players when he’s healthy.
He was also ranked in the top-15 at his position in both quarterback hurries and hits prior to his injury. Once Clowney was gone, all that attention turned to Simmons, who started the year looking like a legitimate All-Pro candidate before eventually being relatively neutralized due to the inability for anyone else to make offenses pay for doubling and even triple-teaming Simmons.
Despite being given this extra attention, the former Mississippi State product was a force to be reckoned with throughout the season. Simmons finished with 49 total tackles, three tackles for loss, 14 QB hits, three sacks, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries.
Clearly the Titans’ young star was in a class of his own in 2020. However, both Simmons (83.9) and Clowney (74.9) were the two highest-graded players on the defensive line and were the only ones to grade over 70.
DaQuan Jones was the next highest-graded player on the defensive line with a respectable grade of 67.7. Jones was solid this season, but he may not have done enough to earn himself a new contract in Tennessee for 2021 and beyond.
The rest of the depth upfront, such as Jack Crawford, Teair Tart, Matt Dickerson and Larell Murchison, all had moments, but none of them truly made an impact on the season with the exception of Crawford, who was solid in spurts.
Tart also played well in moments, but they were few and far between and unfortunately his most memorable moment was when he stepped on guard Wyatt Teller during the team’s week 13 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
PFF was not generous to Tennessee’s depth pieces along the defensive line, as Crawford’s grade of 53.5 led the group, while the other three graded out in the 40’s.
Looking ahead
(AP Photo/Wade Payne)
One thing is for certain this offseason, the Titans must get legitimate help for Simmons on the front line. Clowney was nice in helping free up the Titans’ star defender, there is definitely value in what he brings to a defense, but his price tag must drastically drop or he won’t be back in Tennessee. Whether it’s through free agency or the draft, Tennessee must find a way to get another dominant body or two who can make offenses pay anytime they want to try and schematically take away Simmons the way teams started to have success with in the second half of the season. Tennessee must get better depth behind Simmons as well so it doesn’t become a one-man show like it felt for much the year. An ideal situation would be for the Titans to figure out a way to sign someone like Carl Lawson in free agency, while using their No. 22 overall pick on a prospect like Alabama’s Christian Barmore if he's available in that spot. Obviously those names can be interchangeable, but one thing is clear, Tennessee must get better in the trenches or they will once again have a limited ceiling in 2021. Related: Other season review articles Quarterback Running backs Wide receivers Tight ends Offensive line
