One of the feel-good stories of 2008 for the Tennessee Titans was the return of Jevon “The Freak” Kearse. After an underwhelming tenure as a Philadelphia Eagle, Jevon decided to venture home to the place where his greatest moments as a pro were achieved.
With his days of being one of the game’s most-feared pass rushers long gone, the now thirty-something version of “The Freak” played solid football for the Titans last year. His most impressive ’08 stat: he participated in all 16 games for the first time since 2001.
What does 2009 have in store for Jevon Kearse?
Assessing Jevon’s performance in 2008 is a matter of perspective. If your grading criteria is based upon what he accomplished during his first Titan-tenure, then you were probably disappointed with his 3.5 sacks last year.
However, considering his advancing age and numerous leg injuries that have robbed him of some of the athleticism that was responsible for his unforgettable first few years in the NFL, I was more than satisfied with Jevon’s efforts last season.
During the Titans’ two meetings with the Texans, Kearse made life miserable for offensive tackle Eric Winston. Two of his three-and-a-half sacks took place against Houston. In addition to blowing by Winston to hit the quarterback, Kearse also amassed seven tackles, one forced fumble while defending two passes.
Outside of his on-the-field play, I was also impressed with Jevon’s leadership skills. He was often vocal and extremely demonstrative after the team made key defensive stops. His presence alone contributed to the positive team chemistry that played a significant role in the Titans’ surprising 10-0 start in ’08.
In 2009, I’m expecting a similar performance from Kearse. He should continue to serve as a valuable contributor in the D-line rotation. The rapidly-improving William Hayes and overachieving Dave Ball may rob Jevon of some snaps, but at this point in “The Freak’s” career, that may not necessarily be a bad thing.
Of course, as Andrew mentioned in a recent article, Kearse is one of the many Titan veterans seeking contract extensions. With fellow DE Kyle Vanden Bosch also yearning for a new deal, the team will have an interesting decision to make regarding their veteran DE’s next offseason.
However, we’ll cross that bridge when we encounter it. In the meantime, let’s hope that Jevon will continue to stay healthy and play solid football in 2009.
What are your expectations for “The Freak” this year?
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