When you have a struggling pass-rush and a budding star pass-rusher like the Tennessee Titans have in Harold Landry, you want him on the field for as many snaps as possible — but did Landry play too many snaps in 2019?
Titans linebackers coach Shane Bowen seems to think so, as he explained during a Zoom conference call last week, according to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
“I think (Harold) is still adamant about developing his body, his strength, his stamina, all of those things,” Bowen said. “But in my mind, he played too many plays. I’ve got to do a better job of not putting so much on him in terms of play count. Hopefully we get him at his best when we need him at his best down the stretch.”
Bowen also made it clear that the team needs to find ways to get other guys involved in order to be able to give Landry the extra breathers he needs.
“But we’ve got to find ways to get some other guys that can take some stuff off of him too, and I’ve got to get those guys developed where we are trusting them, putting them in the game, where we feel like they can make plays for us. I’ve got to do a better job of not putting so much on him in terms of play count.”
There’s no doubt Landry played a lot of snaps in his second season. In fact, the former second-round pick played on 86 percent of the team’s snaps last season, and 90 percent or more in five different games. That’s a big increase for a guy who played on a little more than half the team’s snaps in 2018.
Landry struggled to record sacks down the stretch of last season, which we chalked up to getting extra attention with Cameron Wake on IR. Perhaps Bowen’s comments indicate he may have been a bit run down, also.
After totaling nine sacks in his first 12 games, the Boston College product had none in the final four contests before totaling one in the playoffs.
As Wyatt points out, Landry was still getting pressure, though, so it’s not like he did a total disappearing act. After all, being an effective pass-rusher is more than just what you see in the box score.
In 2020, the addition of Vic Beasley should help take some of that attention off Landry, and if guys like Kamalei Correa and Derick Roberson can build off what they did at the end of 2019, the Titans might have more chances to give Landry a bit more rest during the season.
And, of course, if the Titans can land the big fish in free agency, Jadeveon Clowney, that would only help Landry and the pass-rush out even more.
While the Titans’ pass-rush was improved in 2019 as compared to 2018, it wasn’t by that much. Tennessee still needs to make more significant strides if it’s going to take that next step and become a Super Bowl contender.
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