[FREE] Who is the Alpha Linebacker for the Titans?
Looking at the inside linebacker depth for the Tennessee Titans and figuring out who is the alpha.
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Throughout the spring and early summer, there have been plenty questions surrounding the Titans and their…..let’s say peculiar roster situation.
Of course, the big question resides at receiver — although the Titans could get some help with that if a certain Pro Bowler decides to rep the two tone blue — but other questions at edge, corner, and even safety can’t be ignored either.
However, despite these ongoing questions fans and pundits alike have, there’s one position on this team that hasn’t been given the proper examination it probably deserves. And no, I’m not talking about quarterback you bloodthirsty heathens.
The position I’m gradually trying to ease into, is lineback. Specifically inside linebacker, where a lot of the dirty work resides within the Titans’ defense.
With long time starter David Long Jr. out of the picture, and Zach Cunningham wandering the universe looking for a job, the Titans’ inside linebacker group appears to be thinner and less talented than before.
That’s a problem considering just how important inside linebacker play is to the Titans’ scheme defensively, but also a problem considering that there’s no readymade solutions set to effectively end the concern surrounding this group.
Sure, some of these guys are talented, but are they talented enough to grab the horns of this group, and establish themselves as the true leader it needs?
Honestly, it’s almost impossible to say, especially now since we won’t get a clear answer until the season starts anyways.
But that won’t stop us from discussing the idea and thinking about which obvious starting candidate, could reign in the bull and settle the nerves.
So, let’s discuss, before you all get bored and decide to click off this article in the next two seconds.
The Candidates
For now, the only candidates that’ll be able to rise and become the alpha of this inside linebacker group, are a mix of new names and familiar faces that have been in this group for a little bit of time.
You can start with Monty Rice, the fast and physical run stopping backer that has had his moments in the past, but hasn’t been able to build upon them due to injuries.
Rice is what Mike Vrabel wants from his inside linebackers, which is physicality and a will to play downhill. But his range in pass coverage is still a bit on the average at best side, so it’s hard to see him becoming the force at inside linebacker that the Titans need.
Well, unless the Titans don’t value range from their backers, in which case Rice would certainly be the top dog. But we all know that isn’t true, so it isn’t even worth mentioning to be quite honest.
The next candidate is Chance Campbell. But I’d it really fair to label him as one given how much time he missed during his rookie year? On one hand, Campbell is a bit like Rice in terms of the basics of play style, which is to get downhill and get physical and wreak havoc up front.
But also like Rice, he isn’t a world beater in pass coverage, this dating back to his days at Ole Miss. Just because he doesn’t have the range of someone like Fred Warner though, doesn’t mean he’s a bad player.
Far from it in fact.
It just means Campbell is a bit more one dimensional that what you’d like, and at that point it’s more about picking your poison if Campbell does in fact get on the field this season.
The final candidate is a new face, but for Ran Carthon, a familiar one indeed.
Azeez Al-Shaair signed a short term deal with the Titans this past off-season and looks to be in line for a lot of significant playing time defensively.
If he does get the playing time we expect him to receive, he’ll bring a different skill set to the group and actively conflict with the Titans’ past philosophy for their inside backers.
Azeez fits what the Titans want from their inside linebackers from a physical standpoint — 6’2, 228 lbs. — and unlike Campbell and Rice, he has the speed to run down ball carriers when plays get wide.
But like Campbell and Rice, Azeez still isn’t the best when it comes to pass coverage. His athleticism can still carry him when he’s up against pass catching backs and some tight ends, but he’s still not the best in coverage.
Other candidates include Jack Gibbens — unlikely — and Luke Gifford — no — but those are special teams and practice squad bodies only. So we can leave those out for now.
When looking at the 3 main candidates, you senses common theme among them. Their physicality remains a strong suit, but their ability to effectively help out in coverage still has some holes.
Honestly, why the Titans don’t take chances on speedier and rangier backers? It’s a head scratcher to me. It’d open up a few more pathways for the Titans defensively, more so in the idea of being able to call a more vast amount of coverages using your inside linebackers as secret chess pieces. .
But alas, the Titans can’t have fun things easily, right?
Getting back on topic, that old school linebacker brand isn’t the best thing when you’re going to be relied on to step back in coverage and help out the remaining defensive players in the middle of the field.
But the Titans will have to live with it, since they need a leader to emerge from this group, flaws and all.
Why?
It’s easy.
Why This Group Needs an Alpha
Inside linebackers are probably the core of a defense. Sure, having elite shut down corners and stout front sevens are great as well.
But having a solid inside linebacker, one that can set the tone as a run defender and provide security in coverage when called upon, is something every team across the league covets. You see how reliant the 49ers defense is on Fred Warner and his ability to be a sort of do it all chess piece that opposing offenses can’t really prepare for.
And you also see the results of that reliability, which speak for themselves.
That isn’t to say every linebacker can be the type of player Warner is, because players of his caliber don’t come around so often. But it’s a damn good blueprint for how you want your backers to present themselves in the field.
Especially within this Titans defense, which prides itself on smart, physical football being their forte.
So, Who’ll Be the Leader?
Honestly, it’ll probably come down to Al-Shaair and Rice, since both of those will likely be the Titans’ starting inside linebackers whenever the team rolls those packages into the field.
Of course, they can still be switched in and out, but that really depends on Rice’s ineffectiveness and an ascension of a player or players.
In the end though, it’s a bit of a toss up.
If I had to choose right now though, I’d probably got Al-Shaair, but that’s me basing the decision off traits and how well they should translate to this defense. Plus, he still has some room to grow in the coverage aspect, and he has the measurables to do just that.
This isn’t a firm conclusion, but the one that made the most sense to me.
The Bottom Line
The Titans will need their inside linebacker play to not miss a beat due to the departure of Long Jr.
With how much this defense asks of their linebackers, I don’t think the team can afford to miss a beat in that specific area.
For that reason, someone needs to rise above the others and become the new standard the Titans are trying to set. If someone does, then you’ll be looking at another defensive puzzle piece that the Titans won’t have to spend millions of years finding.
If someone doesn’t, then you’ll be looking at a revolving door at the position, which isn’t something the Titans want at this point in their so called “glow up”.Some Quick Words
The main reason why some have some pushback about starting Brewer again, is simply because his lighter frame isn’t close to being ideal for an NFL interior offensive lineman.
At 6’1 and 295 lbs., Brewer stands as the lightest offensive lineman I’ve seen get snaps like these. Of course, there are others who’ve possibly played at this weight, and of course some that have — I.E. Jason Kelce of the Eagles plays at 282, but he’s such a unique player — but Brewer is the first one I’ve been able to extensively watch with a close eye.
With such a light weight as an interior lineman, you get concerned about Brewer’s ability to hold up against bigger and much strong defensive linemen.
You know why they place their beefy and meaty offensive lineman inside? Yeah, to handle the big guys like a Kenny Clark, like an Aaron Donald, like a Quinnen Williams, like a Dexter Lawrence, and like a local favorite like Jeffery Simmons.
Sticking a lighter guy there just raises a bunch of red flags in terms of potential performance, so it’s not overly common to see such a smaller guy there in a position dominated by big guys.
Speaking of, Brewer ran into this exact problem last season, as he was regularly overpowered by guys bigger and stronger than him, which of course led to these concerns we’re discussing in the first place.
Despite that though, Mike Vrabel and his staff have said they like Brewer’s toughness inside. Which is a valuable trait of course, but toughness can only get so you far if your own physical traits can’t match up well with the toughness you’re praised for having.
This isn’t to say I know more than Vrabel and staff, which couldn’t be farther from the actual truth. But I do think that leaving Brewer as a starter at center certainly isn’t a decision I’d personally make on my own.
Not only due to the massive size limitations, but also because of Brewer’s past performance there.
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