The Tennessee Titans are a team in purgatory right now. They are improving and getting incrementally better every week, yet those improvements have not translated to victories on the field.
One player that is setting the tone for the defense is defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Simmons is in the midst of a string of outstanding performances. This is not just from a production standpoint, it is from an analytical perspective as well.
Jeffery Simmons among interior D-linemen in Week 11:
⚔️ 88.7 PFF grade (1st)
⚔️ 92.6 pass rush grade (1st)
⚔️ 7 pressures (T-1st)
⚔️ 22.6% pressure rate (1st) pic.twitter.com/t2GNuhBpKb— PFF TEN Titans (@PFF_Titans) November 20, 2024
This week, Simmons was ranked the top-rated defensive tackle in the NFL by PFF with an overall 88.7 grade. His pass rush grade, pressures, and pressure rate were also tops in the league. Overall he had four tackles and a forced fumble, but his impact goes far beyond the stat sheet.
Just weeks after the Titans rebuffed potential trade opportunities for him, Simmons is showing fans and opponents why he was untouchable at the deadline and why the team considers him a building block for their future. He is also a locker room leader who helps set the tone on a weekly basis.
Moving forward, Simmons and rookie defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat should only get better playing next to each other. Already a solid tandem, they should continue to grow into one of the most dynamic defensive fronts in the NFL and consistently anchor the Titans’ defense.
Simmons will be back in action on Sunday when the Titans head to NRG Stadium to take on the Houston Texans.
