The Giants open up the season in Tennessee vs. the reigning AFC South champions who feature a stout defense that compliments running back King Derrick Henry’s offensive dominance.
By the Numbers
The Titans ranked 2nd in rush yards, allowing 64 yards per game (1087 total), only four more yards than the league-leading Buccaneers. They held last year’s leading rusher, Johnathan Taylor of the Colts to 10/64 and 16/70/1 in their two matchups. They also held San Francisco’s seventh-ranked rushing attack to 83 yards, and the 6th ranked Bill’s to 82 yards.
Personnel
That was last year, and there is no guarantee their run defense will be as good, especially without Pro Bowl linebacker Harold Landry who’s out with a season-ending knee injury. In fact, they were the 22nd-ranked rushing defense in 2020.
Fellow Pro bowler defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons remains as well as linebackers David Long (75 tackles), Rashaan Evans (57), and Bud Dupree who is looking to rebound from a down year. He has had two injury-plagued, low productivity seasons after his ten sacks in 2019. Since then, he has only managed 48 tackles and two sacks.
Giants May Need to be More Concerned With Rush Defense Than Pass Rush
3rd year Tier Tart takes over nose tackle and only has 18 games behind him. Defensive end, Demarcus Walker has 82 tackles in 5 years and just finished a one-year stint in Houston. Simmons is moving to defensive end from nose tackle while the other down linemen in the Titan’s 3-4 defense have very light resumes and are not that particularly big at 304 and 280 pounds. Yet veteran defensive end Denico Autrey tied his career high of 9 sacks last season and will be of greater concern in the pass game. It will be a good test to see if the Giants offensive line can get to the second level of the Titans defense.
Chink in Their Armor
Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard will likely come crashing down on Saquon Barkley, but all things considered, despite last year’s run stuffing defense, there could be an opportunity to move the ball with Barkley. The Titans were 18th in receiving yards from opposing running backs giving up 159 to Deebo Samuel, 61 yards to Mark Ingram and 43 to Chase Edmonds. The only three players they faced that habitually have success receiving out of the backfield were able to put the defense a little off balance.
The Daboll coaching staff has been using Barkley all over the field this offseason and with an improved offensive line the Giants have a chance to flip the script and let Barkley get the yards through the air if the Titans run defense proves too stiff.