2) Jadeveon Clowney: Jevon Kearse 2.0? Jadeveon Clowney might've shed his preferred No. 90 for No. 99 in Tennessee, but that's not going to stop Titans fans from wondering if the veteran can reprise the role of "The Freak" from the franchise's great teams of the late 90s/early 2000s.
It's been a minute since we've talked about the three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro who sported the No. 90 jersey in Nashville, but Jevon Kearse sparked a Titans Super Bowl run with his disruptive playmaking skills.
Like his predecessor, Clowney is a freakish athlete with the size, strength and explosiveness to create chaos as a designated disruptor off the edge. The 6-5, 255-pounder is like a bull in a china shop as a rusher, employing a rugged game that overwhelms blockers. He utilizes his length, strength and power to bully offensive tackles on the way to harassing the quarterback. Despite his pedestrian sack numbers (32 sacks in 75 games), Clowney creates consistent pressure, as evidenced by his 80 QB hits in six seasons.
That said, the veteran is an unpolished pass rusher without a dominant signature move. He wins on sheer strength, power or athleticism, nottechnique. Whether he's jumping the snap to shoot the gap or deploying a powerful bull-rush maneuver that rocks the blocker, Clowney wins with his natural physical tools. If he is unable to win, it's because he lacks a repertoire of moves to prevail after an initial stalemate. Clowney's limited toolbox is one of the reasons why he's failed to reach double-digit sacks in a season.
As a run defender, the seventh-year pro is a disruptor at the point of attack, particularly when he is put on the move. Clowney explodes through cracks on "Pirate" stunts (defensive end shoots through inside gaps) and "long stick" movements (defensive end runs through the A-gap after initially aligning opposite the offensive tackle). With Clowney also possessing a high-revving motor, he really makes his mark in ground defense.
Looking at Clowney's potential impact on the Titans, he should fit right into a defensive line that features a number of rock-solid defenders with brutish games. With Harold Landry, Vic Beasley and Clowney joining Jeffery Simmons and a few other house-wreckers, Tennessee has the depth and versatility to pummel opponents with a variety of D-line combinations in a multi-faceted scheme.