This Tennessee Titans defense is something else. They’ve quietly become one of the best in the entire NFL. Sure, they’re allowing a lot of yardage. But, when it counts, in the red zone, they are a veritable stone wall. Allowing just 18.3 points per game, the Titans are the 6th best when it comes to keeping points off the board. While there is plenty of praise to go around, one guy who is sneaking up on people is Jayon Brown. Everyone is (rightfully so) gushing over Jurrell Casey, Harold Landry, and the secondary, but Brown has stepped up in a major way. There’s room to pat him on the back as well.
The Titans drafted Brown in the 5th round a year ago to help improve a linebacking corps that struggled to cover opposing tight ends. His speed and coverage skills are excellent, and the former UCLA Bruin got reps in every game a season ago. But, Brown is becoming more of an all-around linebacker than just a specialist brought in on certain downs and distances. It seems his work this offseason has paid dividends already.
When stalwart linebacker Wesley Woodyard went down with an injury against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, you couldn’t help but groan. Injuries have plagued the Titans this year so far, and you could almost hear the entirety of Nashville saying, “here we go again.” But, Brown has been playing well all season – not sure why it feels like he hasn’t been. But, that’s the sense I get from the Titans community.
You may have seen the RW blurb that with Wes Woodyard hurt Jayon Brown is the next man up.
Nope.
Brown was already a starter [if not a full time player].
When Woodyard got hurt it opened the door for rookie Rashaan Evans.#TitanUp pic.twitter.com/52L3JszoMY— Tom Kislingbury (@TomDegenerate) October 1, 2018
Right after Woodyard went down, it was like a fire ignited from the linebacking corps. Everyone was getting pressure. Brown got in the face of Carson Wentz, forcing the Eagles to punt. When Jay Ajayi got open at the goal line, Brown positioned himself well enough to cause an incompletion on what would have been a sure touchdown. He pressured the Eagles signal-caller on numerous occasions, and he got his first sack of the season as a result. Brown finished with 10 total tackles, two of which went for a loss.
Protection issues started early.. Casey on Wiz is a mismatch which Casey won immediately, then the delayed LB blitz w/Jayon Brown is missed by the OL. pic.twitter.com/ugAlfEqGYp
— Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) October 1, 2018
All around, just a big day for him, but, it wasn’t just the Eagles game. It may not feel like it (hence the reason I say “quietly”), but Brown has become one of the key cogs on this Titans defense. He was one of Pro Football Focus’ highest graded players against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a grade of 75.5.
#TitanUp LB Jayon Brown continues to stave off rookie LB Rashaan Evans for now w/some help from this play, nice job sniffing it out and attacking for a TFL – pic.twitter.com/cJhjfw1Ppl
— Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) September 27, 2018
It’s time we start giving this guy credit. His 23 tackles on the season are tied with Kevin Byard for third on the team. Only Malcolm Butler and Woodyard have more. He and Casey are the only Titans defenders with more than one tackle for a loss. And, those are just the measurables! Take into account the stuff that doesn’t show up on the stat shit – the positioning, the coverage, the speed, the pressures – and Brown is starting to play like a top-notch linebacker. If Rashaan Evans, Sharif Finch, Landry, and he can continue on this trajectory, this is going to be quite the unit for years to come.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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