Can Titans Protect Ryan Tannehill from Browns Pass Rush?
Even as bad as the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line was in pass protection, the Cleveland Browns might be facing someone worse in the Tennessee Titans. The Titans offense starts with Derrick Henry and the running game, but if the Titans are regularly forced into obvious passing situations, they could be in for a long day.
The Titans offensive line isn't great in the best of circumstances, but they have been without starting right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, who is serving a four-game suspension. If that's not bad enough, their first round pick Peter Skoronski, their starting left guard, had to have an appendectomy last week and is unlikely to be able to come back for this game.
The backup for Nicholas Petit-Frere is a familiar face, former Browns offensive lineman Chris Hubbard. Hubbard was instrumental in the Browns playoff run in 2020, stepping in at both guard spots as well as tackle, allowing the Browns to maintain continuity.
Unfortunately for Hubbard, he suffered a season-ending knee cap injury in 2020, then a triceps injury suffered in week one of 2021 kept him out all season.
Hubbard is a technician and true professional and has played well this season, but he's always been light in the pants, something that cropped up at times when he was the Browns.
The Browns have multiple power players on the edges and Hubbard can have some issues anchoring against those matchups. Beyond his old buddy Myles Garrett, Za'Darius Smith and Alex Wright are players looking to reset the line of scrimmage. That could problematic and they might get an opportunity to drive Hubbard into Ryan Tannehill's lap. Even if he doesn't give up the sack, it may limit where Tannehill can maneuver in the pocket, creating opportunities for teammates.
With Skoronski unavailable short of a miracle, the next man is Dillon Radunz, who stepped in against the Los Angeles Chargers. A former second round pick who played tackle of North Dakota State, Radunz was moved operated as a utility player as a rookie, playing both guard spots as a rookie along with a handful of tackle reps.
He was a miserable run blocker his rookie year, but held up well in pass protection. That said, when he had to step in and play last week against the Chargers, he had an awful day protecting the passer, arguably the worst of his career. Going against the Browns isn't any easier. Lining up against Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris only to then see Za'Darius Smith or Maurice Hurst is a difficult transition.
At center, the Titans have Aaron Brewer. And while he's listed at 6'1" 274 pounds, I refuse to believe he's not heavier than that as a fourth year veteran. Brewer has yet to be anything more than a mediocre center to this point. If the Browns utilize a 50 front, which makes sense given their intent to limit Derrick Henry, Dalvin Tomlinson could have 50 pounds on a center trying to prevent him from driving him right back into Tannehill.
They could employ looks that have Garrett over him with a running start. Garrett is about 280 pounds, but has the strength to simply forklift Brewer out of his way. Jim Schwartz, the Browns defensive coordinator, could be looking at that matchup in particular as one to attack.
Of the team's starters, former San Francisco 49ers right guard Daniel Brunskill has been the most reliable. Brunskill has length and decent size for the position and has been steady to start this season. Hardly a star and not someone the Browns will back down against, Brunskill is good cog as part of a productive front.
This other free agent addition the Titans made this offseason was signing Andre Dillard to play left tackle. Dillard was a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles despite being a first round pick and the Titans have quickly figured out the reason.
Dillard is an premier athlete and a road grading tackle even though he played collegiately at Washington State, a team that passed about 80 percent of time when he attended. Drafted in 2019, Dillard still hasn't developed and is a liability in pass protection. Per Pro Football Focus, Dillard has given up the most sacks and pressures on the team through two games. Myles Garrett will be spending plenty of time across from him with some Ogbonnia Okoronkwo thrown in into the mix.
The Titans will use their backs to help in pass protection, but they also like to utilize Trevon Wesco, who's pretty good in that department. Lacking ideal length for the position, Wesco is a tight end with heft weighing nearly 270 pounds.
For the most part, the Titans will be forced to do what the Pittsburgh Steelers did against the Browns front. Tannehill either gets rid of the ball quickly or he's gonna get whacked. He's coming off a winning performance against the Chargers where he was sacked five times. The Browns have to feel good about their matchup this week, giving them a great opportunity to keep their streak of dominant pass rushing performances going.
