The Tennessee Titans have seen a revival in their pass-rush in 2021 after being one of the worst teams in that area last season.
After nine games, the Titans have 23 sacks, tied for sixth in the NFL. Five of those sacks came in Week 9 against the Los Angeles Rams, which was Tennessee’s highest single-game total of the season.
In 2020, the Titans totaled just 19 sacks as a team.
Outside linebacker Harold Landry and defensive linemen Denico Autry and Jeffery Simmons are leading the way for this new and improved pass-rush, and each of those players are ranked in the top five in pressures.
According to Pro Football Focus, Landry is third with 47 pressures, and Simmons and Autry are tied for fifth with 42. Among interior defensive linemen, Simmons and Autry are tied for the most pressures in the NFL.
NFL leaders in total pressures per PFF:
1. Maxx Crosby 50
2. Myles Garrett 48
3. HAROLD LANDRY 47
4. Matthew Judon 43
T5. JEFFERY SIMMONS 42
T5. DENICO AUTRY 42
T5. Rashan Gary 42
T5. Trey Hendrickson 42Simmons passed Donald last night for most pressures among IDL.
— Mike Herndon (@MikeMiracles) November 8, 2021
As far as sacks are concerned, Landry’s nine, which is tied for his career-high, is tied for third-most in the league. Simmons (5.5) is tied for 19th, while Autry (five) is tied for 25th.
Simmons notched three sacks and six of his team-high nine pressures in the first half of the game against the Rams. According to Next Gen Stats, he is only the second player since 2016 to record at least three sacks and six pressures in a single half.
Jeffery Simmons is just the 2nd IDL in the NGS era (since 2016) to record 6+ pressures & 3+ sacks in a single-half (other: Calais Campbell in Week 1, 2017).
Stafford has been under pressure on 8 of 20 dropbacks (40%). His previous high? Week 2 vs IND, 22.6%#TENvsLAR | #Titans
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) November 8, 2021
Also per Next Gen Stats, Simmons (27) and Autry (20) are No. 1 and No. 2 in the NFL in pressures since Week 6.
The Titans’ three-headed monster will look to keep the good times rolling when they lead Tennessee’s defense into battle with the New Orleans Saints in Week 10.
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