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Tennessee's defensive line blended returning players with sizable free agents and a rookie in 2013, helping the Titans fare better against the run than the previous season.
The Titans allowed 1,795 yards in 2013, which was 240 yards less than the 2,035 allowed in 2012 and an average of 15 less rushing yards per game.
[ ](http://www.titansonline.com/media-center/photo-gallery/2013-Titans-Season-Rewind-DL/cd57a3dd-67c2-4109-bf7d-d800cdc602f1) |
Click here for photos of Titans defensive linemen in 2013. |
Jurrell Casey led all Titans with 10.5 sacks, and Derrick Morgan finished second with 6 in the third and fourth years, respectively, of their careers. Casey's career high in sacks placed him in a tie for 16th in the NFL and in a tie for second in the NFL among defensive tackles. Casey had 10 quarterback pressures, and Morgan had eight.
Casey came close to making the Pro Bowl and was recognized on the Associated Press 2013 NFL All-Pro Second Team. Click here for more on Casey’s season.
Tennessee added size in 6-foot-8 and 298-pounder Ropati Pitoitua at defensive end, and tackles Sammie Hill (6-4, 328) and Antonio Johnson (6-3, 328) during free agency. Poitua started a career-high 13 games of the 16 he played and had four sacks and deflected four passes.
Hill battled multiple injuries to play in 13 games and make 10 starts. He had 40 tackles and led the unit with seven pass deflections. Johnson recorded three QB sacks, three pressures and two tackles for loss in making six starts and playing all 16.
Karl Klug and Kamerion Wimbley each played 16 games, with Klug registering a sack fumble that he recovered in the end zone against the New York Jets in one of the most memorable plays of the Titans' season. Second-year pro Mike Martin played in 13 games, and rookie Lavar Edwards appeared in seven games with roles on defense and special teams.
The chart below highlights stats by Titans defensive linemen in 2013:
|
* * |
Tackles (from coaches' tally) |
QB Sacks |
QB Pressures |
Tackles For Loss |
Pass Deflect. | ||
|
G/GS |
Total |
Solo |
Assists | ||||
Ropati Pitoitua |
16/13 |
91 |
42 |
49 |
4.0 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
Jurrell Casey |
15/14 |
90 |
49 |
41 |
10.5 |
10 |
3 |
3 |
Derrick Morgan |
15/14 |
54 |
31 |
23 |
6.0 |
8 |
3 |
1 |
Sammie Hill |
13/10 |
40 |
26 |
14 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
Antonio Johnson |
16/6 |
35 |
19 |
16 |
3.0 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Karl Klug |
16/3 |
26 |
14 |
12 |
2.0 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
Kamerion Wimbley |
16/1 |
24 |
12 |
12 |
3.0 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
Mike Martin |
13/1 |
22 |
9 |
13 |
1.0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
Lavar Edwards |
7/1 |
10 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |