A couple of weeks ago, I said that Derrick Henry was the x-factor on offense for the Tennessee Titans heading into the 2019 season. On defense, that distinction was much more difficult to mull over. Eventually, I landed on second-year inside linebacker Rashaan Evans.
It’s hard to reach such a conclusion when you look at a defensive unit that complements each other so well. The Titans were the 8th ranked defense in terms of yardage allowed in 2018, and were 3rd in scoring defense, allowing just 18.9 points per game (only the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens were better). That’s in large part due to having solid play-makers at every level of the defense – from Jurrell Casey to Jayon Brown to Kevin Byard. If he wasn’t hurt, maybe Jeffery Simmons is that x-factor…and hell, maybe he still could be if he returns from injury sooner rather than later. But, I landed on Evans for two primary reasons.
His potential trajectory
Evans missed the bulk of training camp and the preseason last year dealing with injury. When he did finally show up in games, the Titans used him – he was averaging 55.3 snaps per game from Week 4 to Week 6. But, he was practically invisible. His snap count was cut in half. People in Nashville were starting to panic, throwing around the term “bust” as if this guy’s career was already over. Bullshit.
The more he played, the more he developed, and the more opportunity he was given, Evans began to show immense improvement. By the time the end of the season rolled around, people were singing a different tune on Rashaan Evans. Suddenly, he was an up and comer. Fast forward to August of 2019, and now he’s surpassed Wesley Woodyard on the Titans depth chart (albeit, we’re talking about a fucking preseason depth chart).
Still, it feels like he’s one of the few guys atop the Titans depth chart that we still don’t really understand the ceiling on. So, if he continues on this upward trajectory, he could give this unit an all-around boost. Evans is a rangy linebacker who can cover sideline to sideline, but if he can add a pass rush dimension to his game….well….
His potential impact on the pass rush
A lot of folks say the Titans didn’t do nearly enough to help out the pass rush this offseason. Harold Landry, aka “The Bend God,” has been promoted to one of the OLB/DE positions. The Titans signed Cameron Wake to play the other. These two are stepping up to fill the holes left by Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo. Behind ’em, you have Sharif Finch and Kamalei Correa. The big question all spring and summer has been, “is that an improvement?”
But, the crux of the Dean Pees defense is multiplicity. How many different things can he get out of different players? Rashaan Evans is one of those guys that can do multiple things. If you hark back on his senior year at Alabama, he had six sacks! Hearing him talk about rushing the passer is like listening to a fat man talk about food. It’s like his mouth is watering. I figure Pees is going to figure out ways to get him involved in that aspect of the defense. He’s a wise guy, why wouldn’t he???
So, yeah – if Evans continues on this upward trajectory and if the Titans get him involved in the pass rush, he could become a real difference-maker that pushes this defense to the next level.
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, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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