NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When defensive lineman Jurrell Casey was voted a captain by his teammates for the first time last year, he made it clear he wanted to let his actions speak louder than his words.
Casey's all-out effort while trying to track down Jets receiver Brandon Marshall in Sunday's loss should serve as Exhibit A.
Casey said he was just doing his job.
"With the season we are having, you want (teammates) to see your older guys, veteran guys still giving everything they possibly can on every play and every down,'' Casey said on Thursday. "That's just what I am. Once I am on that field, you have to give 110 (percent), no matter what… I am not going to quit on the team and at the end of the day I have to keep performing."
Sunday's breakdown against the Jets – when the team left Marshall uncovered on a play in the first half – is a play most everyone wants to forget. Yes, the team's headsets were down at the time, so there was no communication from the coaches to the players on the field. Still, none of the Titans noticed Marshall had been left uncovered until Casey spotted him standing by himself just before the snap.
Casey tried to get the attention of his defensive teammates, but it was too late. So he sprinted toward Marshall just as Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw him a pass that resulted in a 69-yard touchdown.
The play ended up on "C'mon Man!," ESPN's version of football bloopers. It was an embarrassing moment in a 30-8 defeat.
But Casey has since been lauded for his effort – and his speed. According to Next Gen Stats, Casey was clocked at 19.53 mph while running after Marshall. Marshall found Casey afterward.
"He actually complimented me on my speed,'' a smiling Casey said of Marshall. "It's a great feeling to know I can move that fast, but it sucks that I couldn't get it done.
"That's the thing that sucked the most, it was great to get the effort but you did all that for nothing, really, that's how I felt. You put all the effort in and couldn't get anything out of it."
Casey's effort didn't go unnoticed.
"We have high-caliber people on our team, competitors who want to win,'' defensive coordinator Ray Horton said. "And that is what you want to be known for, your big tackle is going to turn and chase the guys 60 yards down the field. I think that is a great thing to put on tape. Every play matters to him."
Said interim coach Mike Mularkey: "It was an unbelievable effort by Jurrell Casey. He's a special player."
Casey, a captain again this season, said he'd do it again.
"Everybody loves it, they are happy with the effort that I gave,'' Casey said. "A normal guy, they see him going and they give up on the play. My whole goal was to go out there and give my team one extra play. I'm just sorry I didn't (catch him)."
