Is Harold Landry The Next Breakout Pass Rusher?

Johnny Kinsley

Khalil Mack’s rookie season: 4.0 sacks, 16 tackles for losses, 12 quarterback hits, 16 starts, 994 snaps

Harold Landry‘s rookie season: 4.5 sacks, 5 TFL, 14 QB hits, 3 starts, 593 snaps

A starter in only three games in his rookie season, Titans edge rusher Harold Landry is in a great position for a breakout campaign in year number two. With the retirements of Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan, Landry has been thrust into the starting role outside, hoping to show Tennessee they were correct in believing in his talents.

Landry’s rookie stats may not seem like much, but the fact they can be compared to the rookie season of otherworldly pass rusher Khalil Mack should make you take note.

Another comparison is in Denver’s Bradley Chubb, drafted fifth overall last year. He had 12 sacks, 14 TFL, and 21 QB hits in his debut season in the NFL, doing so in 843 snaps. Chubb had 0.014 sacks per snap, 0.017 TFL per snap, and 0.024 QB hits per snap. Landry, while posting 0.007 sacks per snap and 0.008 TFL per snap, tied Chubb in QB hits per snap with an average of 0.024.

Going back to Mack, he had 0.004 sacks per snap, 0.016 TFL per snap, and 0.012 QB hits per snap, with Landry’s sacks and QB hits per snap rates ranking higher. Now, I’m hesitant to say Landry is going to be as good as, say, Khalil freaking Mack, let alone better than him. What I am saying, however, is that Landry is on pace to be a special player in this league.

Stats aside, Landry is an extremely talented young pass rusher whose progression could take the Titans defense to the next level in the 2019 season as one of the better units. On a pass rush that includes star defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, rookie DT Jeffery Simmons, and the old veteran Cameron Wake, Landry can have his sights set on leading the way for the upgrade in talent upfront.

With that said, let’s break down the tape and detail what else makes Harold Landry an enticing option for your IDP leagues.

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In the first game of his career, Landry generated zero sacks, but his two quarterback hits and constant pressure on Deshaun Watson made a big impact in the Titans’ home victory that day. I counted four pressures that day despite Landry not starting at all.

I’ve previously compared Landry to Mack, but his skill set reminds me a little more of a much younger Von Miller due to one major trait: His bend.

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Landry’s bend makes this play happen. His sharp cut inside, combined with his balance, gets him to Carson Wentz in a flash, and the very first sack of his career is also a forced fumble which Tennessee recovers. It’s a crushing blow to the quarterback and one of the very best plays Landry made in his rookie season.

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Shown here, Landry also brings power to the mix. Stopped initially by Ezekiel Elliot, Landry bulldozes through to bring the smackdown on Dak Prescott for the second sack of his career.

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Landry’s bend is still good on this play, but his approach (dragging down Josh Johnson with one hand) stands out much more. Landry started the final three games of the season, delivering spectacular plays such as this to help put the Titans in position to make the playoffs as the sixth seed.

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Any way you put it, Landry’s bend is incredible. It’s been reported he’s working on adding more moves to his arsenal, and with his blend of bend, power, and speed, Landry has the potential to break out in his sophomore season. In a year where he’s been sent to the starting role, my expectations for him are high, and yours should be as well.

A later draft pick in your IDP leagues easily warrants a spot for Landry. It’s likely he’ll start way more than three games as he did in his rookie season, so expect his production to increase tenfold.

johnny kinsley