3 minute read
Wreaking Havoc
As Titans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey prepared for his ninth NFL season, he looked even closer at himself.
He made getting bigger and stronger a priority – and it’s working. Casey is playing at a heavier weight this season, closer to 285-290 pounds. He feels stronger than he did last fall, when his weight dipped to 275 pounds – his lowest playing weight in the NFL. He adjusted his diet and training regiment in time to help.
Casey also focused on the big picture of the defense. “The biggest thing is really getting to know the guys around you, getting to know what their jobs are, getting to know their assignments,” Casey said. “If you understand what the guys next to you are doing, and what is coming beforehand, it makes your game go to another level and I think that is what this season is going to be about – understanding what my safeties are doing, what my corners are doing, understanding where the blitz is coming from beforehand. If you do that while understanding what you can do, it can take your game to another level and you can play 10 times faster.”
At the season’s halfway point, Casey already had 35 tackles, 21 quarterback pressures, and two sacks.
Casey finished the 2018 season with 72 tackles, a whopping 50 quarterback pressures, and a team-high seven sacks.
In the midst of the team’s four-game winning streak last season, Casey suffered a knee injury in the team’s December 22 win against the Redskins, and it robbed him of a chance to play in the season finale vs. the Colts, a game with playoff implications. The Titans lost that contest against Indianapolis, and their season ended short of the playoffs, and their Super Bowl dream.
During the offseason, Casey said the memory of that game – and being forced to be a spectator -- will motivate him all season.
It was definitely hard – very tough for me,” Casey said. “I probably cried the first couple of nights. I know it wasn’t too bad of a crazy injury, but just to know that I wasn’t able to help my team the following week, couldn’t participate in one of the biggest games of my career with my teammates, it hurt. It hurt me bad. But at the end of the day I have to get ready for another season. I have to chuck that behind me and get ready to go.
After a slow start to the season -- Casey admitted he was playing a little “timid” early because of the knee – Casey has once against been a disruptive force week in and week out. He wants 2019 to be a special one under head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive coordinator Dean Pees.
said Casey, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who has 646 career tackles and 48 career sacks. “I have been to the playoffs one time since I’ve been here. Our team has been good, winning nine games three years in a row. But we have to take it to another level. And I want to do my part to help get us there.
“We have a coach who understands football and understands how players should play. He’s putting is in great situations, and with two great defensive minds in Vrabel and Pees, we could be unstoppable on defense.”
