Tennessee Titans: Sifting Through the Logjam at Defensive Line

The Tennessee Titans signed fifth-round tight end Taylor Thompson and seventh-round defensive end Scott Solomon to four-year contracts on Tuesday, leaving only first-round wide receiver Kendall Wright as the last remaining unsigned draft pick.

With so many players under contract, there's an abundance of talent on the field for organized team activities. One unit that has been a major point of concern all offseason has been the defensive line.

The Titans finished the 2012 season 31st in the league in sacks (the defensive line accounted for 22 of the team's 28) and 24th in rushing yards allowed per game. All in all, the Titans have 16 players signed to play along the defensive line.

Expected starters

The way defensive coordinator Jerry Gray has spoken during OTAs, it appears that the starting front four will be newcomer Kamerion Wimbley at right defensive end, Derrick Morgan on the left, Jurrell Casey and either Sen'Derrick Marks or Shaun Smith at defensive tackle.

With Wimbley being the only real change to the starting group, Coach Gray is hoping some of his technique will rub off on Morgan.

"

We have to get Morgan to do the same things. Wimbley, your job is to get Morgan to get that double-team off you, to get that chip off you, because if you don’t they’ll chip you the whole year. That’s what you do with a good team. You can’t just think, "I’m going to be the best player and not help someone else get better."

"

Rotational and sub-package players

Dave Ball is the only other experienced defensive end on the roster and is capable of playing on either side of the unit.

Solomon will likely only step on the field in nickel situations along with second-year linebacker Akeem Ayers. Karl Klug is also more of a specialty player used to collapse the pocket from up the middle.

Third-rounder Mike Martin is sure to be on the roster after cut day and is expected to contribute early. He'll be relied on to be another guy capable of putting pressure on the quarterback from the inside, but the team hopes Martin can start.

The loser of the Marks/Smith battle could either end up being cut or see very limited playing. Neither player proved himself to be a reliable option, but Smith was the slightly better option. Smith also fits Gray's prerequisite for having size on the defensive line.

That marks eight or nine roster spots out of 53 for only one position unit. At most, only one more player can be expected to make the roster.

Fringe players

The guys left to fight for the remaining spot: Zach Clayton, Keyunta Dawson, Lamar Divens, Leger Douzable, Pannel Egboh and DaJohn Harris.

Titans coaches will likely want someone with the ability to play both tackle and end, effectively cutting this battle down to two players: Douzable and Egboh.

Douzable played in a very limited number of snaps last season—284, according to Pro Football Focus—for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but proved to be an elite run-defender when on the field.

Egboh has a bit more size at 6'6", 287 lbs. (compared to 6'4", 284 lbs.) but has never been on an NFL roster since being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 2009.

The clear choice should be Douzable, while maybe one or two of rest sign on to the practice squad. 

Fans may still want to see another defensive end signed to the roster, but the coaching staff appears committed to giving Morgan another shot. The real opening appears to be at defensive tackle next to Casey.

With that said, there does not appear to be many quality players, if any, left on the open market. The team seems content to ride with largely the same cast, but a different scheme. 

Time will tell if the results are any different.