Titans Defense Still Looks To Be The Strength Of The Team In 2023

Entering 2023 the defense still appears to be the strength for the Tennessee Titans.

Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

NASHVILLE - As the Tennessee Titans prepare for the coming 2023 NFL season, much of the talk surrounding this team has been about their offense, particularly their lack of top-level receivers and the offensive line. 

While this team still must answer those questions before the season begins, there is one area of this team that has few questions, and even those questions seem to have answers in place. 

The defensive side of the football is, without question, the strength of this team entering the season. 

DEFENSIVE LINE

It starts up front for the Titans defense, where Jeffery Simmons and his new contract anchor arguably one of the best defensive fronts in the league. Simmons is supported by end/linebacker Deico Autry, along with Teair Tart and Naquan Jones. 

Tyler Shelvin, Jayden Peavy, Shakei Brown, Jaleel Johnson, and Curtis Brooks are the defensive linemen on the roster.    

This unit is the strength of this team, with Simmons and Autry leading the way and the remainder of this group adding substantial depth to defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's unit. 

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

As for the linebackers, there is a question concerning who will start alongside free-agent addition Azeez Al-Shaair. Monty Rice is the odds-on favorite but will be challenged for that role. 

Jack Gibbens, Chance Campbell, Ben Neimann, Luke Gifford, and Otis Reese IV round out the remainder of those in consideration for a place on the team's opening 53-man roster.  

While Rice is likely to secure the starting spot beside Al-Shaair, Gibbens played well late last season and appeared to have a strong minicamp. This competition could continue into and during the season, especially if Rice suffered more injuries. 

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

The return of Harold Landry from his ACL injury that ended his season in 2022 should be a boost. However, the potential excitement would be tempered because of the time since his surgery and the fact that a player often takes more than a year to recover fully. On the other hand, the arrival of Arden Key should provide another level of excitement as the pass rusher has shown his explosive ability during the OTAs and minicamp. 

Rashad Weaver is the leading backup and can effectively play either side. A thin group of inexperienced players, including Sam Okuayinonu, Caleb Murphy, Thomas Rush, and Zach McCloud, supports him.     

If Landry is back close to form, along with Key and Weaver- and they can stay healthy and on the field- this unit will be ok. However, depth is certainly a question that must be answered by those on the roster, or by some addition, either via free agency or by adding players when cuts begin. 

CORNERBACK

Kirsitan Fulton, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Roger McCreary are in place, and two of the three will prove to be the starters on the outside, while the other will likely settle into the nickel role. That's a comforting thing entering the season to have three corners capable of starting. 

Caleb Farley is the biggest question among this group. When healthy and on the field, his talent is top-level, but he has been unable to avoid injury and is once again returning from significant surgery. 

Tre Avery has proven a capable depth player while Elijah Molden, Josh Thompson,  Amari Marsh, Shyheim Carter, Eric Garror, Chris Jackson, Steven Jones Jr., LJ Davis, and Anthony Kendall are all vying for a place on the roster. 

During the recent OTAs and minicamp, all of these players battling for a roster spot flashed ability and turned in plays that garnered attention.  

SAFETY 

Kevin Byard is as good as any in the league, and Amani Hooker is a solid running mate on the back end.  

Behind the starters, depth is somewhat of a question, which has caused Bowen to experiment by moving Molden to safety, where he seemed to fit in, though there is a learning curve for him. Matthew Jackson and Mike Brown round out the safety depth, but there are some questions they must answer in the coming training camp.

CONCLUSION 

The defensive line's strength and ability to impact the quarterback should help the secondary, mainly the corners, should this team encounter another rash of injuries like they have faced the last two seasons. 

If this group can stay relatively healthy, they could see their No. 11 ranking from a season ago should improve. 

However, it could be a long season if this unit sees a continuation of their injury woes.  

Titans Related Stories

• TITANS DRAFT PICKS AND THE ROLES WE SEE FOR THEM THIS SEASON: The Titans added six draft picks in April's draft, so what roles will they fill this season? CLICK HERE
• THE GREAT RYAN TANNEHILL DEBATE RAGES ON FOR TITANS FANS, AND MEDIA ALIKE: When it comes to Ryan Tannehill as the starting quarterback, both fans and media continue to debate him and his play as the starter and where he can take this team this season. CLICK HERE
• DENICO AUTRY GETTING BETTER WITH AGE FOR TITANS: The veteran defensive end/linebacker has continued to improve, even though he will turn 33 in July. CLICK HERE