Tennessee Titans

With Jevon Kearse finally healthy, the defense is ready to, once again, get its freak on

By Jeffri Chadiha

Team Page | Schedule | Depth chart | 2002 Stats | Predicted finish: 1st in AFC South

Like most athletes dealing with their first significant injury, defensive end Jevon Kearse didn't handle his well. He says he went into a deep funk last season while waiting for his surgically repaired left foot to heal. He sulked. He wouldn't talk about the injury with his relatives. And he spent far too much time thinking about his life, pondering what he might do when his career ended, which only made matters worse. He couldn't think of a single option.

After a frustrating rehab, Kearse is back doing what he does best: terrifying quarterbacks. Elsa/Getty Images

The Freak is a different man today. He smiles easily, jokes often and generally thinks pleasant thoughts, often about returning to work with a defensive line that includes a Pro Bowl end (Kevin Carter), a monstrous tackle (Albert Haynesworth) and a second-year end who tallied eight sacks in Kearse's absence (Carlos Hall). "When I watched those guys play together last year," says Kearse, a three-time Pro Bowler, "I had one thought: What would it be like if I was out there and healthy?"

Tennessee can't wait to find out. A fracture of the fifth metatarsal in Kearse's left foot limited him to the season opener and the last three regular-season games, but the Titans finished 11-5 and won the AFC South. Now they can look forward to having Kearse back at full power, though he was slowed in training camp by a right ankle sprain. He first underwent surgery last September -- doctors put a screw in the broken bone -- but the foot didn't heal properly. Constant soreness late in the season forced him back to the operating table on Feb. 13 for bone-graft surgery. That seemed to do the trick. At the start of training camp Kearse said, "I already feel 100 percent better than I did at any time last season." When asked if anything should be read into the coaches' limiting him to one practice during the first week of two-a-days, Kearse said, "Trust me, if we had a game tomorrow, I'd be able to play the whole way."

If Kearse returns to top form -- he averaged 12 sacks during his first three seasons -- the Titans' defense should be even better than last season's unit, which ranked 10th in the league. His presence was undeniable when he came back last December. Tennessee surrendered a total of 20 points. "It was amazing how much faster quarterbacks were getting rid of the ball when Jevon was in the game," says defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

Adds coach Jeff Fisher, "Jevon dictates protection schemes. When he wasn't in there, we didn't have that rare speed coming off the edge."

The 6'5", 290-pound Carter certainly will benefit from Kearse's return. Carter had 10 sacks in 2002 despite facing constant double teams. The Titans have little depth at defensive tackle -- Haynesworth and Robaire Smith will play most of the snaps -- but Schwartz already plans to move Carter to tackle on passing downs. That would give Tennessee a line of Kearse, Carter, Haynesworth and Hall, a look the Titans used late last season. "The coaches will be able to juggle us all to create the best matchups," Kearse says. "We're going to have a lot of playmakers up front."

That's not the only place Tennessee will have playmakers. Samari Rolle is an excellent shutdown cornerback, and he has two ferocious hitters behind him in safeties Lance Schulters and Tank Williams. The linebacking corps features a pair of young stars on the outside. Peter Sirmon was so productive in his first year as a starter that St. Louis tried to sign him as a restricted free agent during the off-season. Keith Bulluck, who led the team in tackles last season, is telling his teammates to play with the same sense of urgency that they displayed in rebounding from a 1-4 start last year. "We started in a ditch and climbed all the way out," Bulluck says. "We called ourselves the Tyrants because we had to bully our way to the top. We still have to think of ourselves as underdogs."

Opponents will have trouble thinking of them that way. With Kearse bolstering the defense and ever-dangerous quarterback Steve McNair directing the offense, the Titans will be among the favorites for the AFC title. "With all the guys we have coming back," Kearse says, "we're going to be scary."

Enemy Lines: An opposing scout's view

"Steve McNair is obviously their MVP. He has a cannon, and he understands the game better. He's not trying to run as often, and when he does scramble, he's looking to make a play downfield. The big question is, Will he stay healthy?... Eddie George isn't as dominant as he used to be. When you're a punishing runner and you carry the ball as much as he has, you tend to decline pretty fast.... They really don't have impressive talent at receiver. Frank Wycheck is getting old. Derrick Mason has quickness and good hands, but he doesn't have great deep speed.... Benji Olson and Zach Piller are as tough as nails. They aren't very mobile, but they're superaggressive at the point of attack.... I think their lack of depth at defensive tackle will be an issue. They have to hope Albert Haynesworth can hold up while playing more snaps.... I like the young safety Tank Williams. They have a very complicated system, and they rely on their safeties to make a lot of adjustments. He picked it up pretty fast.... This team will be good as long as the starters stay healthy. If the Titans have to rely on too many second-line guys, they're in trouble."

Under the Gun

Because he's a breakaway threat, running back Robert Holcombe is better suited to the Titans' wide-open offense than Eddie George. A hip injury limited Holcombe to eight games last year, but he still averaged 5.1 yards on 47 carries. With George's durability in question, Holcombe needs to make the most of whatever opportunities he gets.

Issue date: September 1, 2003