What Jurrell Casey Will Bring to Von Miller and Bradley Chubb

Johnny Kinsley

Fewer Tennessee Titans players were as cherished over the last ten years than defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. A consistent star up front, Casey earned five straight Pro Bowls as a member of Tennessee’s defensive line and was a Second-Team All-Pro member in 2013.

Much to Casey’s confusion and disappointment, he was sent out of Nashville in a trade. As he was a fan favorite in Nashville, he gave the same love back to the fans and community. It’s not all bad, though, as he ended up getting traded to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft.

That’s right, Casey gets to play on the same defensive line as Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.

2019 wasn’t exactly a glorifying year for both Miller and Chubb, as the two started the first three games of the season with zero sacks and three QB hits combined (all three of those QB hits came from Chubb, though he also had four TFLs up to this point). Miller ended up picking up the slack in the last 13 games of the season with eight sacks, ten TFLs, and 20 QB hits, but Chubb never made it out of the fourth game, tearing his ACL against Jacksonville and prematurely ending his season.

The addition of Casey upfront gives the pass-rushing duo a little more help, and honestly, this could be one of the league’s scariest defensive lines when all is said and done.

In his final season at Nashville, Casey didn’t exactly have a dominant IDP showing, as he had 26 solo tackles, five sacks, five TFLs, and ten QB hits in the regular season, putting him at 43rd among all defensive linemen on FantasyData’s metrics. He did, however, put up 2.5 sacks in three postseason games, including two on the league MVP Lamar Jackson in the Divisional Round.

Such an addition to a pass rush that has Miller and Chubb has allowed comparisons to the 2015 Broncos to be made. That defensive line was loaded with talent, and included Miller, DeMarcus Ware, Malik Jackson, Shaquil Barrett, Shane Ray, and Derek Wolfe. Combined with a deadly secondary, the defense earned the ‘No Fly Zone’ label and ended up as the year’s best.

Obviously this year’s edition might not be in the same ballpark as that squadron, but this could be the best defensive line the Broncos have had since those days thanks to the arrival of Casey. Casey himself may not be the biggest dynasty asset, but his individual efforts will help Miller and Chubb rack up more sacks, hits, and pressures, and that should also be perfect for your dynasty team.

For more, let’s check Casey’s tape to see what he can bring to the Mile High table.

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Though not quite as consistent as he used to be, Casey can still be a disruptive force against the pass with enough fuel left in the tank to start. He turns 31 in December, so there’s time for him to continue to produce. For example, Casey is able to not only blow up this play fake on zone blocking against the Falcons, but he’s also able to strip-sack the ball out of quarterback Matt Ryan’s hands, and ends up recovering the ball himself.

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You may have noticed that some sites tag Casey as more of a defensive lineman than a traditional defensive tackle, and that’s because he’s had some plays where he’s actually lined up as an edge rusher. With Cameron Wake hurt, it was inevitable that Casey would step up and line up opposite of third-year edge rusher Harold Landry.

Against left tackle Anthony Castonzo, Casey shows a pretty violent pass rush as he combines a counter chop with quick feet and a rip move to get past the tackle. He can’t sack Jacoby Brissett on his snap, but he’s able to let him feel some heat anyway and gets a QB hit out of the ordeal.

Casey’s work both in the interior and as an edge rusher gives head coach Vic Fangio a versatile option when dialing up rushes, and again, that’s having Chubb and Miller on the edges in the first place.

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It’s inside the interior, however, where Casey is the most at home. Who could’ve guessed that for a defensive tackle? The Saints offensive line allowed the third-fewest sacks in 2019 (25) and the second-fewest QB hits (59), but thanks to this stunt Casey is able to get by with a rare sack of Drew Brees.

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Casey’s best game of the season came during the season’s biggest upset in Baltimore. It’s here that he has arguably his best play of the year against Ravens center Matt Skura. Initially, it seems like Skura has him contained, but once Casey realizes he can’t create pressure on the right A-gap, he executes a devastating spin move and busts through the left A-gap, immediately finding himself in the proximity of Jackson, taking him down for the sack. Despite Jackson’s reputation as a runner, the Ravens only allowed the fifth-fewest sacks (28) and the third-fewest QB hits (64) in the regular season, so this was no easy feat for Casey.

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Lastly, Casey is once again on the edge, and as this article began with a strip-sack, it ends with one as well. A rip move against the left tackle gets him free up the B-gap, and though Jackson is able to escape his pressure initially, he can’t escape twice as Casey jars the ball loose as the Titans recover the ball.

Having written on the Titans for a couple of years, it’s easy to say that the fanbase will miss Jurrell Casey, who will always be a legend in Nashville. Even so, he should find a Broncos fan base that will also appreciate his talents as he has the fluid athleticism and quickness to create pressure inside (and occasionally on the edge). His versatility is huge for Von Miller and Bradley Chubb’s chances not just on the field, but for your IDP teams as well.

Casey himself can be scooped up at a low price, and those with Miller and Chubb on their rosters will feel the most rewarded from this interior addition.

johnny kinsley