Tennessee Titans: Jalen Ramsey the better option
By John Laird
Most mock drafts have the Tennessee Titans selecting Ole Miss tackle Laremy Tunsil with the first pick in this year’s draft. Here we’ll take a look at the other main option, Jalen Ramsey and how Ramsey can help take this team to the top of the AFC South.
Most draft experts have already put their money down on the Titans selecting the premier pass protector out of Ole Miss. While yes, Laremy Tunsil does look like a lock to be a dominant player in this league, don’t count Jalen Ramsey out as possibly being the first player taken in the 2016 NFL draft, if the Titans stay put at number one.
Jalen Ramsey is athletic, with great size and good ball skills. You see on tape he knows how to make the ball hit the turf every time the quarterback releases the ball. Ramsey puts his body in great position and possess the rare athletic ability to make these insane pass deflections. Along with that he has the body control needed to prevent cheap free yards given up on pass interference penalties.
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Along with that, Ramsey shows the instinct needed to be dominant on defense. You often see him lining up as a 3-4 outside linebacker, on the line of scrimmage sacking the quarterback or getting in the passer’s face to swat the ball down. You can literally line Ramsey up anywhere on the defensive side and say, “Go make a play”. And he’ll deliver.
That’s what you want from a play maker on defense. Ramsey has drawn body comparisons to Charles Woodson, while having the playing style of Tyrann Mathieu. If you watch the tape, that comparison couldn’t be any more spot on. Ramsey plays with a tenacity that can elevate the play of a team as a whole. His length makes it harder to get the ball over him and into the tight ‘bread basket’ of the receiver down the field.
That’s what you’re looking out of the number one selection in the draft. You want a talented player who can help lead your football team. Ramsey offers a rare chance to have a game changer in position that is always in need in today’s NFL. It doesn’t matter if you put Ramsey at cornerback or safety, he will be dominant.
With other Titans’ starting safety Da’Norris Searcy being an in the box type of player, it allows Ramsey to play freely under Dick LeBeau’s scheme. Remember the success LeBeau had with Troy Polamalu? Imagine that but with a player that can do it all.
Ramsey may not be able to dive over the line to stop a quarterback sneak, but he has the ability to truly lock down man to man. Wide reciever or tight end, Ramsey will be in the hip pocket the entire route. LeBeau would be smiling from ear to ear if he got to game plan with Ramsey manning the back end of the defense.
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I’ve heard way too much that it just doesn’t make sense to draft a defensive back with the number one overall pick. Why not? Today’s NFL is a pass first league, and when you can get a player that can eliminate the number one threat in the passing game, it only makes sense to have that weapon at your disposal.
This draft doesn’t posses a Von Miller or a Khalil Mack, so go after a player who can help shut down the pass in a different way. Jalen Ramsey would transform a Titans defense who was only a play maker in the secondary away from being a top 10 unit.
Assuming the Titans go after proven protection for Marcus Mariota, Jalen Ramsey can be a key to turning a team back around to the top of the weakest division in professional football.