NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have most of their roster set in place as they head towards training camp. Now is the perfect time to examine the roster and see who is the Titans most overrated player based on the expectations and conversation around the player from fans and media alike.
Most Overrated — Monty Rice, Linebacker
The third-year linebacker out of Georgia is entering a pivotal moment in his career. Rice is poised to be a starter at inside linebacker after two seasons of inconsistent play and injuries. However, some of the talk around Rice this offseason feels like projection more than reality.
Rice has shown signs of being a plus run-defender. He improved his tackling in 2022. Going from a missed tackle percentage of 18.4% in 2021 down to only 4.7%. Rice had a run defense grade of 73.8 last season which ranked in the top 25 among all NFL linebackers who played 200 snaps or more.
The issue is, we have only seen flashes from Rice. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel even mentioned the fact that the team needs to see more consistency from the former Bulldog. Although, consistency in run defense alone won't be enough. Rice must improve in pass defense in a hurry.
In both of Rice's seasons in the NFL, he has allowed a passer rating of over 100 when targeted. Rice allowed 25 catches out of 29 targets. His coverage grade of 53.6 in 2022 was 65th among all linebackers.
Even if you look at just the Titans' defensive players, Rice ranks low. Out of the 14 players on the Titans defense last year that played more than 100 snaps, Rice had the third-lowest pass coverage grade. Only above fellow linebackers Jack Gibbens and Dylan Cole.
Rice will not only need to be more consistent, but he will need to improve if he hopes to live up to not only his draft position, but to the opportunity he is being given as a starting linebacker.
Some have touted Rice as someone the Titans should be excited about and a guy who will be the Titans top backer, but I am not so sure. To this point, I don't seen an every-down starting linebacker. Even if there have been some flashes.
Rice will have a ton of competition at the position this year as well. Veteran Azeez Al-Shaair was signed as a free agent and is the clear top option at the position in my view. Depending on how Monty Rice progresses in coverage, other linebackers can threaten his snaps as well.
Another veteran signing like Luke Gifford or second-year Gibbens both have been better against than run than the pass during the limited snaps they have played in their careers.
Not only that, but linebacker Ben Niemann has been very solid against the run while being even better against the pass. Niemann has the ability to challenge Rice for that starting spot next to Al-Shaair.
This is a critical juncture for Rice as he chooses whether he establishes himself as a starting linebacker in the league or falls back into a pack of nameless depth in the NFL at his position. Time will tell, but for me, I think the certainty around Rice is a little overcooked.
*All Statistics/Grades Courtesy of Pro Football Focus
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