NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Against the Dallas Cowboys' big offensive line, the Tennessee Titans' inside linebackers struggled to shed blocks. That was a big part of Tennessee’s struggles in run defense.
That led me to consider whether the Titans' starters inside, Wesley Woodyard and Zaviar Gooden, are good enough to make up for their lack of size.
Woodyard is 6-foot, 233 pounds; Gooden is 6-1, 231.
“I don’t think size and getting off blocks is a problem for Jurrell Casey or Ropati Pitoitua at end or either starting outside linebacker,” ESPN.com’s resident scout, Matt Williamson, said. “But it would worry me very much with both of those two smaller athletic inside linebackers.”
Gooden replaced Zach Brown, who suffered a pectoral injury in the opener and is on IR. Brown is 6-1, 248. A 17-pound difference with the move from Brown to Gooden is significant.
Ken Whisenhunt has been dismissive of size questions.
“I think it’s based on what they do well,” he said. “You look at London Fletcher, he played a long time in this league. How much did he weigh? To me, if they’re needed to fill a gap and they can do it, they’ll do it. We have physical characteristics for each position, and we try to place those guys in those positions, but it’s still about playing the defense.”
Now retired, Fletcher was listed at 5-10, 242 by Washington in his most recent bio.
I asked Williamson to list the top 3-4 inside linebackers in the NFL.
Here’s that list with their sizes:
NaVorro Bowman*/49ers/6-0/242
Patrick Willis/49ers/6-1/240
Lawrence Timmons/Steelers/6-1/234
Karlos Dansby/Browns/6-3/251
Brian Cushing/Texans/6-3/249
Derrick Johnson*/Chiefs/6-3/242
Daryl Washington/Cardinals/6-2/230
* -- injured
Kamerion Wimbley qualified as a small defensive end the last couple years in the Titans' 4-3. Now back as an outside linebacker in a 3-4, he’s a better fit at 6-4, 258.
“If you’re not big, you definitely better be able to run and hit like a big guy,” said Wimbley said. “I think whoever we put out there, we have confidence they’ll be able to do their job and we don’t worry about size.”