Over the next few weeks, the Broadway staff will be taking a closer look at prospects the Titans could look to target based on positional need.
I am kicking things off with a player from the EDGE class, because nobody reading this is going to disagree with the need here.
Joe Tryon | EDGE | Washington
Height: 6-4
Weight: 251
Games I watched: Boise State (2019), California (2019) and Washington State (2019).
Strengths:
Washington EDGE rusher Joe Tryon, like many other top prospects around the nation, opted out of the 2020 season. We have to rely on his 2019 film to get a grasp on the player. With the NFL Scouting Combine also canceled, we aren’t going to get a very close look at what Tryon looks like in 2021. That lone opportunity will come at his Pro Day, assuming he participates, which is scheduled for March 30th.
I watched several of Tryon’s 2019 games to get a good read on the player. The first thing that jumps out at you when scouting Tryon on tape is how good of an athlete he is.
Tryon recorded an impressive 8 sacks in 13 games in 2019 while lining up as an EDGE defender in the Huskies’ defensive front.
What’s more important than the numbers is how Tryon recorded those sacks. On film, it’s his agility and impressive get-off ability that led to a lot of his pressures and sacks. Tryon possesses great snap anticipation to get off the ball in a timely manner and immediately threaten the edge.
As a run defender, Tryon possesses the length, effort and overall strength to disengage from would-be blockers to make plays in and around the line of scrimmage. Here’s an example of Tryon’s ability to shed blocks and make plays in the run game:
Washington also asked Tryon to drop back into pass coverage on occasion, where he showcased the ability to hold his own thanks to his length and the fact that he’s an easy, mobile mover.
To summarize, Tryon has some exciting tools as a pass rusher, but it’s his ability to set the edge and impact the run game that will allow him to get on the field quickly as a rookie.
Weaknesses:
It’s tough to poke many holes in Tryon’s game. If I’m going to have to nitpick, it’s that I think he’s a great athlete, but perhaps not an elite one. He’s not a player that’s going to showcase dynamic bend on a snap-by-snap basis. Instead, Tryon currently relies on his explosion, hand counters and length to apply pressure on the pocket.
There’s also a bit of a “buyer beware” element here. By using an early pick on Tryon, you’re betting on his one year of production. Tryon was a part-time player in 2018 that didn’t get many opportunities to impact the game. It was great to see him make of the most of his snaps in 2019, but I wish we got to see Tryon play football in 2020. It would have been helpful to see his progress from 2019 to 2020.
Does he fit the Titans?
Yes. Tryon is a scheme-versatile EDGE defender that would slot in very nicely opposite Harold Landry (and/or hopefully an exciting free agent signing). Tryon’s 2019 campaign proved that he’s capable of pressuring the quarterback with great success. Jon Robinson needs to acquire some QB hunters this offseason, and Tryon would certainly fit the bill. As stated above, Tryon also has the skillset to become a quality run defender at the next level, making him a nice all-around talent to add to your football team.
Tryon has been mocked all over the place, including in the first round. I ultimately think he comes off the board in the second round.
I can’t share my All-22 film here, but you can form your opnion on Tryon here by watching him against Boise State:
