NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In one regard, Harold Landry is not big on the less is more concept. In another football realm, he is.
Shane Bowen said in early June he needed to find ways to reduce Landry’s snaps so he doesn’t get worn down and can be at his best on the Titans’ key third downs.
Conveyed that, Landry said he liked that Bowen wanted to take on any blame for it, but that it was “more me than him” that he tailed off after nine sacks in 12 games with none the rest of the way.
He called that a “cold spurt” he’s not worried about happening this year.
As for Bowen...
"I hold myself to a high standard, so whenever he wants me out there I should be able to perform at a high level,” Landry said in a Monday Zoom. “That’s on me. I just need to be able to perform at my best, full go, every single play. ..I appreciate him having my back.”
Landry had a home gym being finished up in the Nashville area just as the pandemic shutdown hit, so the renovations set him up perfectly for an offseason of home workouts. He said he feels ready to take the next step and that his goal of getting better every year remains in place.
While he’s not a buyer of less-is-more in terms of snaps, he does grab onto the philosophy in terms of pass rush moves.
"I’m not necessarily looking to have 1,000 moves in my repertoire,” he said. “I’m just looking to have two or three and being able to make those the best reps possible
“And another thing is being versatile, being able to rush not just on the edge but wherever they want me to rush from depending on the call. That’s what I feel like I need to do to take that next step.”
Mike Vrabel has spoken since his introductory press conference about deploying a multiple front. But Landry seems built very much in the mold of an edge rusher and I’d imagine set that use him elsewhere would be infrequent changeups. But we’ll have to see. Maybe he is tipping us off to something.
Since the Titans signed Vic Beasley in March, the vision has been of pairing the two speedy pass rushers opposite each other.
Jon Robinson addressed their similarities here.
But beyond being in offseason Zoom classrooms together, Landry has no feel for Beasley yet.
“Nah, not really,” he said when asked about developing any relationship beyond those group meetings. “But I’m looking forward to meeting him.”
There is no indication that Beasley has reported for his first COVID-19 test, which is the start of the reporting process. He’s been unexcused since failing to report on July 28 though he did make contact with Jon Robinson two days later and said he intended to come.