The Tennessee Titans have struggled to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks through four completed contests. Heading into their Week 5 bye, the Titans have recorded nine sacks, with 17 teams out-producing that figure. It was an expected issue after the team failed to appropriately replace Denico Autry, last season's sack leader.
Things would be so much worse if it wasn't for Harold Landry. Landry has accumulated four sacks in as many appearances. That's a team-high amount, with the former Boston College standout tied for fifth in quarterback takedowns in the entire league. Only Aidan Hutchinson, Kyle Van Noy, Pat Jones II, and Will McDonald IV have totaled more sacks than Tennessee's premier edge rusher.
With his sack against the Miami Dolphins on Monday night, Landry moved into third place for career sacks in the Titans era.
And Landry has been consistent. He's racked up sacks in three of four games, including a two-sack performance against the New York Jets in Week 2. Landry has totaled just 10 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, but he's doing a terrific job turning those pressures into tangible production. He's often a second-effort player. The fastest of the two sacks against Aaron Rodgers occurred in 4.2 seconds, per Next Gen Stats, an actual eternity in an NFL pocket. Those 10 pressures are also a team-high amount, with no other Titans defender totaling more than six (Arden Key, Sebastian Joseph-Day).
Even the advanced metrics indicate the Titans are a below-average team when it comes to quarterback pressure. They've posted a pass-rush-win-rate of 39%, 17th-best in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Landry's consistency has helped the team survive slow starts by Jeffery Simmons, who has an uncharacteristically quiet two pressures and one sack in three appearances. Rookie defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat was dominant in Miami, putting forth a better showing than anything Simmons has displayed this season.
Even Key has seriously struggled despite being promoted to full-time starting edge rusher. Key finally turned in a season-best performance in Monday's victory over the Dolphins, accumulating one quarterback hit and one hurry en route to a personal-high PFF grade of 83.3 this campaign. In Tennessee's first two games, he totaled just one hurry.
For Landry, it's been the continuance of his strong form throughout the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. Dating back to last season, Landry has now recorded nine sacks in his latest nine appearances. The former second-round pick is on track to surpass his previous career-high in sacks (12 in 2021), though it'll take continued success and health to see that through.
The Titans are waiting for Simmons to regain his typically dominant form. The lack of depth opposite Landry is a legitimate problem that will go unaddressed until the offseason. Thankfully, Landry is performing at an incredibly high rate.
