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Rookie Harrell argues for bigger role in edge rotation

Jaylen Harrell had two sacks against Seattle on Saturday night and could push for a bigger role in the edge rotation. ANGIE FLATT

Jaylen Harrell's play in camp and preseason was very remarkable – in a positive sense for the rookie who was drafted in the seventh round.

The former University of Michigan linebacker had two sacks on Saturday night against Seattle and it is not out of the question that he could develop into the Titans' third edge rusher behind starters Harold Landry and Arden Key.

That will be evident on Sunday when the Titans face New Orleans. With Landry out of the preseason, could the rookie get a chance to start in Landry's place opposite Key?

Veteran Rashad Weaver has been the third man for most of camp, but Harrell's play is getting him noticed in a positive way.

“Jaylen is a very smart player. When he came into high school he played the Mike (middle linebacker) position, so it was easy for him to take over that position. He's a physical guy, he's tough, he's extremely smart. He can play both Sam (strong side) and rush, and last week against Seattle you saw him — he can win at the rim, and it was good to see him power rush early in the game,” Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson said. “He set the tone and he's a good young player. He's mature for his age and he's just getting better and better.”

Harrell said he applied some of what he learned during joint practices against the Seahawks offense to have some success in Saturday night's game.

“When you practice against them all week, you get a better idea of ​​a plan, like who you're going against, how you're going to attack them throughout the week, if there are things we're going to get beat at. So I enjoyed practicing against them to get a better feel for them,” Harrell said.

For now, Wilson wants Harrell to simply focus on his strengths as a pass rusher and not worry too much about expanding his arsenal just yet.

“Right now, I just want him to have two (moves) in the toolbox, and that's basically true for everybody, especially the young players,” Wilson said. “What do you do particularly well? Focus on that one and then do a second move. When you start to master those two, we can add another one to the toolbox.

“But I like it when they punch someone in the face at the beginning to get the message across, so to speak, and then win on the edge.”
Head coach Brian Callahan has seen similar things with Harrell and said playing in a top college program likely contributed to his accelerated development.

“He played in a similar defense and was coached. He came from a blue-blood program. Those guys tend to show up. They play in big games. They played in successful programs. They know what it takes. So, we've seen all that,” Callahan said. “He plays a physical brand of football in college, and it turns out he plays a physical brand of football here. He was really, really good in the run game. I think he's developing as a rusher. He's shown himself, he's made the quarterback productive, but he's learning how to rush the NFL way, and I think he's going to improve quickly in that regard, too. But he's developed from a seventh-round pick that nobody thought much of to probably being a pretty strong rotation player for us. It's been nice to see that.”

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