Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans ALL TIME DEFENSE: Jurrell Casey v Jeffery Simmons, Bulluck & Byard Forever At Top

Episode Date: July 7, 2025

The Tennessee Titans have been a team historically led by the run game and defense, so it is no surprise the defense talent is robust. Especially on the defensive line where there is only room for one of Jeffery Simmons and Jurrell Casey and while Simmons has the edge, his lead is slowly fading as the years go by. At linebacker, Keith Bulluck will always have the top spot, but Harold Landry should be next in line. Finally, in the secondary, things are pretty clear cut and Kevin Byard being the best defensive back in team history is also pretty clear. Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitans TicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop/tictactitans-gear/C3AAPNWXSXA6SBYG3USV2I7R?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=asc Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitans Follow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPod Subscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videos Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) 

I have Jeffrey Simmons over Jarell Casey on the Tennessee Titans all-time defense, but I think Jeffrey Simmons might be losing his lead. I'll explain on today's edition of Locked On Titans. Your daily Tennessee Titans podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your team every day. Welcome to the Locked On Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland. Titans fans. Today's edition of the Locked On Titans podcast is brought to you by Game Time.

Download the Game Time app. Create an account. Use the code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. On today's show, I'm going to be doing my all time starting Tennessee Titans defense. On yesterday's show, we did the starting offense. Go check that out if you missed it. But I am going to start by talking about Jeffrey Simmons against Jerell Casey, which is actually getting closer as we've gone throughout the last few years, which doesn't make sense But I will explain we'll also talk about why Harold Landry now that he's gone

Deserves his flowers and I'll tell you why it's not even close Kevin Byard is the best defensive back in Tennessee Titans history before we get into all of it do want to thank you again For making locked on Titans your first listen each and every day. Remember Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day. Speaking of every day, shout out to my every dayers out there tuning in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys. If you are an every dayer, now is the perfect time to be one. Tennessee Titans training camp kicks off in two weeks and on tomorrow show I am going to begin the

2025 locked on Titans training camp positional preview series I'm gonna go position by position throughout the entire roster Tell you every single person who's on the Titans heading into training camp who I think is a lot to make it Who's on the bubble to make it? Who's a long shot to make it great discussion coming over the next few weeks make sure that you don't miss any of that and we're getting closer and closer to 20,000 subscribers so if you're on YouTube make sure that you hit subscribe but with that being said when we look at the all-time

Tennessee Titans starting defense we have to start with the defensive line the O line the defensive line the Titans have had some pretty good players now the number one defensive lineman in Tennessee Titans history to me Easily we started defensive advantage Javon curse the freak not only because of his incredible rookie year performance in 1999 the Super Bowl year where he had 14 and a half sacks was defensive rookie of the year all-pro, but and a half sacks was defensive rookie of the year all pro but like he just set the standard for what the Tennessee Titans want to be on the defensive line seven years with the team 231 tackles 52 sacks three Pro Bowls to go with the one all-pro year. Javon Kurs the freak he was the final piece that led to that Super Bowl run season.

Like he was what put them over the top. Then you look at the other defensive end position and to me it's not very hard either. I go with Kyle Vandenbosch. Kyle Vandenbosch spent five years with the team, 270 tackles, 38 and a half sacks, 14 forced fumbles, three Pro Bowls spread out throughout a few different years. His five years with the team, like Vana Boss was just a constant presence, was just a constant contributor. Absolutely the top two defensive ends for the all-time starting defense. To me, it's not really that close when we start to get to the next guy.

But when we get inside, things start to get a little more complicated. Albert Hainsworth to me gets one of the defensive tackle spots. Seven years with the team, 272 tackles, 24 sacks, 6 force fumbles, 2 Pro Bowls, 2 All Pro Seasons. He was one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL for a few years. In the first decade of the 2000s. Albert Hainsworth deserves his spot. But the next spot, again, that's where it gets complicated. For the last few years, I've said Jeffrey Simmons coming off the 2021-2022 season. He was a two-time all-pro,

he was dominant, three sacksack games, biggest stage against the Bengals in the playoffs, the Rams in prime time, like Big Jeff was just making all the plays. So although he didn't have the stat accumulation that Jarrell Casey did during nine seasons with the Titans, Simmons has only been with the Titans for six years. So Jarrell Casey, nine seasons, Of course, Jeffrey Simmons didn't have the numbers that Casey did because he had played so much longer with the team. But it seemed pretty clear, hey, Big Jeff is gonna be the best interior defensive lineman in the history of this franchise, and it won't be very long. But here's the

reality. Jeffrey Simmons has taken a little bit of a step back in the last couple of years. We've seen only 10 and a half sacks combined in two seasons. 16 games last year, but 12 games the year before that. Just hasn't quite been as consistent coming out of the gate strong. He's taken a step back as a player player and he needs to jump forward this year. Big, big opportunity for him. He needs to. That's why I made him a make or break player last week.

Not that it's going to make or break for his career, but who he is to this new era of the Tennessee Titans will be decided this year. I think he'll be traded. If the Tennessee Titans don't see the level of play from him that made him an All-Pro those two seasons because he's just not going to be worth the money and with where the Titans are at as a team probably wouldn't make sense to have him. But again as the years go by and Big Jeff kind of takes a step back from that step back from that level of production that he had. You look at Jarrell Casey, nine seasons, 493 tackles, 51 sacks, 51 sacks. Big Jeff has 31 and a half in six years. Casey had

51 and nine. Is Big Jeff going to get there? If Big Jeff plays three more seasons, is he going to have 20 sacks in three seasons? It's not a guarantee he should, but we've never seen a double digit sack season from Big Jeff. I've been asking for it for three years and we haven't got it and it's gotten lower. 84 tackles for loss for Jarrell Casey. Jeffrey Simmons in six seasons, only 49. He ain't going to catch him. Casey had five Pro Bowls. Simmons had three, two All-Pros. Jeffrey Simmons at his peak is a better player than Jarrell Casey. But Casey seems to be much more consistent than Jeffrey Simmons. And Jeffrey Simmons gets his credit for being a part of, you know, that three-year stretch of great football,

and he was the biggest reason on defense. Well, I would say he's the second biggest reason. Kevin Byard, we'll talk about you in a second. But my point is I'll still take Jeffrey Simmons. I'll go curse Vanden Bosch, Haynesworth, Simmons. But if Big Jeff were to have another disappointing year and then potentially get traded at the deadline or get traded next offseason, and he only has seven seasons with the Titans. I'm switching it next year. I would switch it back. I would switch Jarrell Casey to be over Jeffrey Simmons because Simmons seemed like he was on the path and never lived up to it. So that is something that again, it's a make or break year in terms of what his Tennessee Titans career is going to be going forward. Is he going to be just another guy who was pretty good? Another Albert Hainsworth? Pretty good player? Or is it going to be, you know, something more than that? That's what I'm, that's what I'm looking for. Big year for Jeffrey Simmons ahead, but Drell Casey maybe has gone underappreciated because Big Jeff was so good for those couple of years, but hasn't been able to duplicate that in

quite some time, so we need to see it. But now we need to talk about the linebackers near and dear to my heart some of my favorite Tennessee Titans players ever including what I would say is a top three favorite player of all time of mine and Mr. Monday Night Keith Bullock. Today's episode is brought to you by Game Time. Have you ever decided at the last minute to head to a ballgame with friends and family? Maybe it's game day and you suddenly realize you want to be in the stands. That's exactly where Game Time comes in. It's the easiest way to grab last minute tickets without the stress.

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use the code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply, again, create an account, redeem the code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off, download the Game Time app today. Last minute tickets, lowest price, guaranteed. map today. Last minute tickets lowest price guaranteed. Titans fans. Let's continue today's edition of the locked on Titans podcast. Looking at the all time Tennessee Titans starting defense We have our defensive line in place with Javon Kurs and Kyle Vanden Bosch at defensive end Albert Haynes worth and Jeffrey Simmons on the interior, but Jarrell Casey might be getting that spot back very very soon

Now we look at linebacker before we do though do want to remind you That I appreciate you making locked on Titans your first listen each and every day make sure you get subscribed stay subscribed our positional preview series training camp preview series is starting on tomorrow's episode with quarterback and I think running back I might just do quarterback and running back in the same one I think that makes sense for everybody but with that being said let's talk about linebackers. Because the number one linebacker in Tennessee Titans history, the GOAT linebacker in Tennessee Titans history, and quite frankly, no one's even close. It's not even a competition. It's Keith Bullock, Mr. Monday Night. I used to wear the arm shivers back they didn't have like how they

have them now where they're literally like Nike compression sleeves that go to your elbow mine had like pads on the front it was hilarious uh but I wanted to be just like Keith Bullock and I used to wear the pads and I had gloves I was a linebacker and I just loved Keith Bullock. My absolute favorite. Him and Ray Lewis, by far my favorite linebackers of all time. I looked up to those guys. They were big, big favorites for me. But Keith Bullock deserves the love. I mean, 10 years with the Tennessee Titans, had over a thousand tackles. 1,078 tackles. 50, um, not 51 sacks. That's certainly not the case. 19 interceptions. 1000 tackles 1078 tackles 50

Not 51 sacks. That's certainly not the case 19 interceptions his ability to play in pass coverage. Like he was just like the ultimate athletic long Linebacker could do it all was physical in the box but could play pass coverage again 19 interceptions like absolutely fantastic. Made tons of Pro Bowls, two-time All-Pro. Keith Bullock is a dog, okay? Just no doubt about it. Keith Bullock is a dog. Best Titans linebacker of all time, no question. But dog, best Titans linebacker of all time, no question, but I'm going to cheat a little bit with my number two because you could say he's an edge. Maybe I should include him in the pass rush D line conversation with Kurs and Vanden Bosch and all that, but I think that Harold Landry's versatility earns him a spot here.

I think Harold Landry, it just happened. He just left. He's still in the league, but I think we look back. Harold Landry is the second best linebacker the team has had. Six years with the team, critical seasons too. Critical, he was drafted 2018. Critical seasons with the team. 397 tackles.

Physical against the run, would set the edge, fell off quite a bit last year in that regard, but for most of his career, the versatility. 397 tackles, 50 and a half sacks. We talked about Javon Kurs. Javon Kurs has 52 sacks in his Titans career in seven seasons. Harold Landry has 50 and a half and six. Three force fumbles. Could have done a little more there. Two interceptions. Again, the versatility of Harold Landry. When Harold Landry was looking for a contract, I was a big proponent of giving him a new deal. Not only because he's a good secondary edge rusher, of course the Titans never paired him with a good number one, tried to sign Bud Dupree who was also a number two at best, but he never had a true number one edge rusher to properly slot him in the right spot. But still, regardless, multiple seasons of 10 plus sacks, a 9 plus sack, or 9 sack season,

he just was super productive. And the versatility to play against the run, rush the quarterback, he could drop back into coverage when the Titans would run those zone blitzes and those different pressures. The Landry loop, he was so good at the loop stunt where you would have nose tackle and Jeffrey Simmons is a three technique, both slant to the outside towards the offensive tackle and then Landry would loop right behind him off their butts through the A gap in to get the quarterback. He was so athletic the way he could bend that edge like a motorcycle going around a curve. Just beautiful bend from Harold Landry, beautiful versatility, always put the football team first, always was a hard

working guy, always showed up. I was a huge fan of Harold Landry and I know that, you know, last year he really fell off the cliff in terms of pass rush production not in the sacks He got the sacks and that's confusing to some people But if you look at like his pressure rates, he got lucky if we're honest with some of the sack numbers that he got Nine sacks last year. He got a little lucky with some of those sacks. He didn't earn all of them necessarily But with some of those sacks. He didn't earn all of them necessarily. But on the down-to-down basis, it just wasn't there with him anymore. So some people will have the recency bias and all of that and then the ACL tear, he misses a season, that'll sour some people. But Harold Landry, to me, is a top three linebacker in franchise history and I'm gonna

put him as the number two linebacker in franchise history. Now the third linebacker spot, that's where it's a little more difficult. You have three people who are in the running in my opinion. You have Wesley Woodard, you have David Thornton, and you have Cedric Godfrey. Makes it tough. All right, but I'm going with Wesley Wood. So Thornton four seasons with the team, 369 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions from 2006 to 2009. So a pretty good season in there in 2008 with 13 and 3. Came over from the Colts as a free agent. Good addition. And then Godfrey, only three seasons. Now they were critical seasons. 2000 to 2002, critical seasons for certain. But only three seasons, 231 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, five sacks, only one interception.

And then look at Wesley Woodard, who doesn't necessarily get the credit that he deserves. Because again, he kind of was the first couple of seasons in the dead period, 2014 to 2009. But when I talked on yesterday's episode about the players who helped rebuild this team into a competitive football team again after the CJ 2K era died and the team was off, off. The guys who helped build this thing back up, they get immense credit in my opinion. Six seasons Wesley Woodyard is a starting middle linebacker. 517 tackles. 36 tackles for loss. 20 sacks good at blitzing. Three interceptions. So more seasons, more interceptions, a significantly more amount of sacks and tackles for loss, significantly more tackles in general. Now, Thornton racked up the tackle numbers, so maybe he could have had more if he had two more seasons. But, Wesley Woodyard crushes in the statistical categories. He was a part of rebuilding this franchise.

Wesley Woodyard gets the final linebacker spot for me. So Keith Bullock, Harold Landry, Wesley Woodyard. Those are my three linebackers to go with. Javon Kursk, Kyle Vanabosh, Albert Hainsworth, and Jeffrey Simmons on the defensive line. But now we got to talk about the secondary who are where there are a lot of guys who I really really loved as a fan growing up Titans fans, let's continue and cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We're doing my all time starting defense. We did offense on yesterday's show. Make sure that you check that out if you missed it.

Doing defense today. Tomorrow starts our training camp positional preview series. Going to go through every single position on the roster. Make sure that you don't miss that. Thanks for making locked on Titans. Your first listen for your second listen, check out locked on NFL scouting. As training camp gets closer, moves are being made. Host Kyle Kraus and Joe Marina will make you the most informed NFL fan this off season. Find locked on NFL scouting on YouTube or wherever you listen to

podcasts. So doing the Tennessee Titans all the time, starting defense, we have made it to the secondary. And when we look at cornerback, I think it's pretty clear cut. There are two cornerbacks that are at the top. Number one, Samari roll, who to me is by far the number one cornerback in Titans history. 297 tackles, seven seasons with the team, 79 passes defensed, 23 interceptions, made a Pro Bowl, made an All-Pro, one year as well. Samaree Roll

held it down throughout the best run of Tennessee Titans football and he looked awesome. He had so much swag out on the field. Samare Roll gave the Titans life. He made plays, took away passes. Big time player. Really loved Samare Roll. But number two is Cortland Finnegan, who might be one of the feistiest, if not the most feisty, Tennessee Titans player of all time. Known mostly for the fist fight he got in with Andre Johnson. But 6 seasons with the team. 472 tackles. Sabari roleplayed 7 seasons and had 297. Courtland Finnegan had 6 seasons with 472.

Now the Titans defense was way worse with Courtland Finnegan so he had to make more tackles as a defensive back anyway. But he also was so, so physical. He wanted to go in and make all those tackles. 68 passes defended, 14 interceptions. See, he didn't have the ball production that Samarae Roll did. Nine more interceptions for Samarae Roll, just more ball production, but excuse me, Cortland Finnegan also had one all-pro season and one pro bowl season. Excuse me. Courtland Finnegan also had one all-pro season and one pro bowl season.

So, they're tied in the accolade department. Courtland Finnegan is definitely number two, but he is definitely number two. Like, he's not close enough to Samarae Roll to really be in the conversation, but he's definitely ahead of anyone else. Number three at cornerback is Roger McCreary. Getting close as a solid player. Do we put Malcolm Butler in there, who had some solid seasons for the Titans? I don't know.

And we know that you want to go back to like Parish Cox and stuff like that. The mid teens Titans teams had some of the worst cornerback play of all time. So, um, Cortland Finnegan was the more of the cj 2k cornerback samari roll the eddie george steve mcnair cornerback and we haven't really had a a really really good one since that you know it's kind of been guys who had good seasons like a dory jackson had a good season or two with the titans malcolm butler had a good season you know but just not quite good enough. Moving to safety. There is no doubt, not only is he maybe my favorite Titan of all time, I think, I think, yeah, I would say so. Kevin Byron is my favorite Tennessee Titan of all time. But he is by

far the best offensive back in Tennessee Titans history. Like over Samare Roll, no question about it, don't let anyone lie to you. He is absolutely the better defensive back over Samare Roll. Eight seasons with the team, so more than Samare Roll. Two Pro Bowls, two All-Pro selections, which he probably should have had more if he wasn't a Tennessee Titan, the level of play he was at, he would have had more if he wasn't a Tennessee Titan the level of play was that he would have had more 674 tackles 27 interceptions also two touchdowns in those well

Had a touchdown pass as well if you want to throw that in there from the fake Punt that he threw to Dane crookshank that one time that was awesome But left-handed Kevin Byer left-handed by the way. But just hear that. Kevin Byrd, by far, the best defensive back in Tennessee Titans history and deserves to be considered one of the top 10, if not top 5, players of franchise history. Kevin Byrd is that great, was that great for the Tennessee Titans, deserves that kind of love. The production, the accolades, the winning teams that he was a part of, the catalyst on those teams that he was, it was Jeff and Byard and they made the defense around them. So maybe it's just my bias showing I don't

care Kevin Byard deserves all the love but the number two safety spot goes to Michael Griffin. Criminally underrated by the fan base Michael Griffin deserves more love. Nine seasons with the team, two Pro Bowl appearances, one All Pro appearance. And when I talk about All Pro appearances I include second team All Pros in those. 578 tackles, 25 interceptions. Michael Griffin made plays, man. Michael Griffin made plays. So to me, he is the number two safety in franchise history. Now, you want to get into some older guys like Blaine Bishop. Blaine Bishop deserves Nashville radio host now, you know what I mean? Blaine Bishop hitman deserves his credit deserves his love but I think Michael Griffin and Kevin Byard were better players they made more of

an impact on the team Chris Hope I was like him growing up you could throw him in there if you wanted to Lamont Thompson we want to mention way back when you know but to me there's Kevin Byard Michael Griffin Blaine Bishop and then there's a gap. But I have Michael Griffin and Kevin Byard. Kevin Byard, obviously, there's a big gap there. Ahead as the safety. So, starting defense... Javon Kurs, Kyle VandenBosch in defensive end, Albert Hainsworth, Jeffrey Simmons, for now, at defensive tackle, Keith Bullock, Harold Landry, Wesley Woodyard, Atlinebecker, Samare Roll, Cortland Finnegan, Michael Griffin, Kevin Byard in the secondary let me know your all-time defense down below again if you missed the all-time offense check that out yesterday's episode evergreen

for you guys there training camp in two weeks can't wait football's right around the corner that's gonna do it for me today though folks as always I am your host Tyler Rowland and this was Locked on Titans.