Which Titan on Defense Will Step Up and Lead?

I addressed which Titan would step up on offense here Which Titan Will Step Up on Offense?. Now lets talk about which Titan will step up on defense. In my opinion, there are more likely candidates on this side of the ball than on offense. I'm not sure what that says about the Titans defense of 2012. Draw your own conclusions. I didn't really see anyone step up, in any major way at least, on the defensive side of the ball. So who are my prime choices? Here they are in alphabetical order.

Linebacker Akeem Ayers has really had two solid seasons since the Titans drafted him in the second round in 2011. Ayers has led the team in tackles since his rookie year, playing primarily at the linebacker position. A versatile young player, he can also line up as a pass rusher, and has 8 career sacks. He is an engaging guy with a great personality and seems a natural choice to be a leader on defense.

Rookie linebacker Zach Brown had an outstanding rookie campaign for the Titans. He was third on the team in tackles with 93 and added 5.5 sacks to boot. All this despite playing in limited packages until assuming the starting role in week 8. Need more evidence the rookie is poised to be a leader on this defense? Watch the last game of the season when he had a very serious coming out party. The team was lethargic and lifeless until Brown intercepted a Chad Henne pass late in the second quarter and returned it 79 yards for a pick six.

Jason McCourty is a guy I think the Titans need to step up especially in the defensive backfield. The Titans have sorely missed Chris Hope's leadership in that group, and while safety Michael Griffin has greatly improved in the leadership category, he has not proven to be the leader the Titans need in the secondary. McCourty had a very nice 2012 season and is poised in my opinion to be a really good cornerback in the National Football League. Can he step up and be a leader in the secondary? That is my only question about him.

Defensive end Derrick Morgan has finally recovered from the ACL injury he suffered in his rookie season in 2010. The 3rd year player had a very good 2012 season, leading the team in sacks with 6.5. Morgan carries a quiet confidence onto the field, doesn't talk much and came across as a guy who prefers to let his play speak on the field. Is Morgan capable of taking that demeanor and translating it into an effective leadership amongst his peers? I think he can.

Fellow defensive end Kamerion Wimbley is another good candidate to be a leader on the Titans defense. The Titans added the 7 year veteran in the 2011 offseason. Like Morgan, Wimbley projects a quiet business like confidence. Not to take anything away from any of the other defensive players, but Wimbley has a motor that never quits and while it took a while to adjust to his new role in the Titans defense, he finished the season with 6 sacks. He brings it every play and has exactly the kind of attitude this Titans defense needs.

Honorable Mentions:

I already mentioned Michael Griff and I would also add Jordan Babineaux to the list of possible candidates. Obviously, the problem is that safety was the weakest position on the Titans defense last season and neither guy is assured of a role in 2013. Still, both guys have shown leadership qualities.Sen'Derrick Marks is also a guy I think could step up and bring leadership qualities to the team. Unfortunately, he is a free agent and it is unclear whether he will return to the Titans in 2013.

Note:

I didn't put Colin McCarthy on this list simply because he has already been a leader on the defense. Unfortunately, his injuries have prevented him from being on the field and that void showed in the Titans defense last season.

Matchups To Watch on MNF - Jets at Titans

While the Titans are now eliminated from playoff contention, the Jets are still very much in the wildcard hunt for the playoffs in the AFC. The Jets are 6 and 7 (3-2 on the road) and have a 3 game win streak at LP Field. The Titans are a measly 2-4 at home this season but can play the spoiler role.

Quarterback Mark Sanchez is back under center, but the passing game still remains an issue for the Jets. While it doesn't appear Rex Ryan is going to insert Tim Tebow into the lineup, the circus atmosphere still very much surrounds the team. Ryan certainly deserves some criticism for some of the problems the Jets have faced, but you have to give him some credit for keeping the team focused enough to win 6 games and remain in the AFC playoff picture.

Speaking of circus, the Jets just brought back wide receiver Braylon Edwards, who recently criticized the team calling them "idiots" for the handing of Sanchez. Given that, the decision may or may not justify his words.

 In any event, Edwards, recently released by Seattle for non production, probably will not provide a big impact.

Sanchez does love him some Edwards though so the Titans would be well served to devote some attention to him. However, the main guy to watch and their leading wide receiver is slot receiver Jeremy Kerley. Linebackers Zach Brown, Akeem Ayers and cornerback Jason McCourty could have their hands full with  him.

In preparing for my radio spot to talk about the Jets game, I took a good look at the Jets and one of the bigger surprises I found was how well the offensive line was blocking particularly in the run game. Running back Shonn Greene has pretty amazing stats considering how poorly the passing game has gone.

The Jets feature two undrafted free agents on their offensive line in the form of Austin Howard and Brandon Moore and they are having really nice seasons. Center Nick Mangold keeps doing his thang and is having a great year as well.

Austin Howard

Brandon Moore

Nick Mangold

Greene does particularly well running off center, right guard and right tackle so one of the better matchups to watch will be Derrick Morgan versus that part of the run game. Morgan is assuredly the Titans best defensive end versus the run and he is quietly having a very solid season.

While the passing game has struggled left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson will test Titans defensive end Kamerion Wimbley who currently leads the Titans in sacks with 6. Wimbley has settled into his new role with the Titans and is very good at getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. A toe injury has slowed him but this is still a matchup that is sure to be exciting to watch.

On the flip side, Jets defensive end Muhammed Wilkerson is having a great year particularly against the run and the Titans run game has struggled in that department. Calvin Pace is also having a pretty solid year and the Titans are likely to have their hands full with those two guys.

Safety LaRon Landry leads the team in tackles with 68 with middle linebacker David Harris a hair behind him at 66. Certainly the Jets defense has struggled but they are still ranked 3rd in the league versus the pass and that is an area the Titans are definitely a work in progress so I expect the Titans to struggle passing the ball.

A 3-4 defense can be a nightmare for any quarterback and particularly so for a young quarterback and this will be a real test for Jake Locker. The Jets defense is ranked 29th against the run and I feel certain the Titans will attempt to get their running game back on track as Chris Johnson's carries and numbers have dropped substantially in the last two games.

Finally, this is a game that will test the mettle of two head coaches who are without question on the hot seat and under siege. Rex Ryan and Mike Munchak have quarterbacks who are struggling offensively. Their teams are largely considered to have underperformed. The difference is that Ryan is coaching for a playoff spot and Munchak is coaching for his job. It is hard to say who has more at stake as this situation plays out on the national stage.

Sharona's Shots from Titans vs Dolphins - Defense

The theme of my look at the Titans offense versus the Dolphins was the return of Jake Locker, and a similar theme carries into my look at the Titans defense. It's no secret Colin McCarthy is the leader of the defense and that his presence makes a huge difference. Since McCarthy suffered a high ankle sprain, he hasn't been the same and neither frankly  has the Titans defense. This was McCarthy's best game of the season, and the best game the Titans' defense has played all year. McCarthy played 41 of 60 snaps, had a beautiful pick six, 3 tackles, 2 stops, 1 pass defended and 1 tackle for a loss.

The defense set a tone early on in the game, and it was clear the unit was determined to redeem itself from what happened at home versus the Chicago Bears.Having lost the takeaway battle miserably against the Bears, the Titans came out of this game with 4 takeaways. It also had 4 3 and outs and generally made life miserable for Ryan Tannehill who threw 3 interceptions. Miami manages to score only 3 points.

That stop on 3rd and 1 on the first drive by Sen'Derrick Marks and company set the tone for the game.

The defensive line has been gradually coming on and I thought Sen'Derrick Marks had one of his best games of the season. He registered his first sack of the year and was around the ball all game. He played 43 of 60 snaps and was credited with 2 tackles (1 for no gain) and 1 tackle for a loss. He also had 1 quarterback hurry and 1 stop.

The sack was really nice to watch. Marks gets set and the center takes a peak at the formation and then looks back down. Marks then takes a peak at the offensive line and gets set again.

The ball is snapped and Marks gets off the ball quickly, blows past his block, and gets to Tannehill.

So pretty.

After struggling for a few games Mike Martin was active as well and had 1 quarterback hurry, 1 tackle for no gain, and 1 stop. This stop of Lamar Miller was really nice.

The defensive ends have played well for the past several games and that didn't change significantly. Derrick Morgan and Kam Wimbley got consistently good pressure on Tannehill. Newly acquired defensive end Jarius Wynn recorded his first sack of the year, and generally the ends played very well. Morgan lead the bunch with 3 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, a pass defended and 1 quarterback hurry. 

In addition to the sack, Wynn recorded 2 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss.

I have already mentioned Colin McCarthy but I have to give some love to all 3 starting linebackers who had excellent games. Not to let McCarthy outdo them, Akeem Ayers and Zach Brown had interceptions of their own albeit not for a pick six. As a group they were simply outstanding and I cannot say enough how impressed I am with how well Zach Brown plays in coverage. I also want to give credit to the defensive coaching staff for starting to be creative with Ayers and Brown and allowing them to play to their strengths.

Ayers actually tips the pass that McCarty returns for a touchdown in addition to the interception of his own. He only plays 23 snaps but records a tackle and 2 passes defended.

Brown added an interception of his own that he returned for 47 yards. Tannehill saved a pick six by making the tackle on the play. Brown plays 51 of 60 snaps and is credited with 4 tackles, 1 pass defended

Derrick Morgan gets credited with this tackle for a loss but it is Zach Brown who makes this play on Reggie Bush on 2nd and 10 with 9:19 to go in the first quarter. To be fair, ProFootballFocus grades this as a missed tackle but if he doesn't trip Bush and slow him Morgan likely doesn't have a shot at the tackle.

Brown and McCarthy kept the middle pretty much locked down the entire game. Tight end Anthony Fasano recorded 1 reception for 4 yards which was well defended by Brown and was only targeted 3 times.

In my opinion the defensive backs are generally playing much tighter coverage and I think this makes a huge difference. Cornerback Jason McCourty returns to his playmaking ways by forcing a fumble on Miami's second offensive series of the game. He lead the team in tackles with a total of 9, and also had 1 pass defended.

McCourty did a very good job with Brian Hartline who is an excellent receiver.

Alterraun Verner is so quietly good I know he wanted badly to make this interception. He played 55 of 60 snaps and was credited with 3 tackles and 1 pass defended.

Rookie cornerback Coty Sensabaugh is going to be a playmaker for this Titans defense. In fact, he already is making plays and if he hasn't opened eyes he soon will. He has gradually assumed the nickelback position and is a mainstay in the Titans dime package. He played 27 of 60 snaps against the Dolphins, and quarterback Tannehill wasted no time in challenging him with very little success. Tannehill did manage to draw a pass interference on a call that I think was ticky tacky and could have gone either way. Sensabaugh plays tight coverage and isn't afraid to challenge the receiver.

He recorded 3 tackes and 2 passes defended. Keep an eye on the rookie from Kingsport, Tennessee as he continues to be a playmaker for the Titans.

The win against the Dolphins was a great team effort by the Titans and hopefully the momentum will continue when the team returns from its bye week to face the Jacksonville Jaguars.