Titans’ Arden Key gives modest review of Week 1 performance

Outside linebacker Arden Key had a phenomenal Tennessee Titans debut. According to Next Gen Stats, Key finished the day with a league-high 11 pressures, four more than the next closest pass-rusher.

Key also recorded 1.5 sacks, but he knows that he probably could’ve gotten even more.

“I definitely felt like I was a little disruptive,” he said, per AtoZ Sports. “[However,] this game I left something out on the table after watching the film, but it’s good to build upon it.”

The former LSU Tiger was then asked to elaborate on what exactly he felt he missed out on.

“Just a couple of sacks,” Key said. “Just a couple of the small details where it’s plays where it could’ve been a sack instead of a quarterback hit, whether it’s from me or [Denico Autry]. But it was just certain things where I could’ve done better on my step to be able to get him down.”

The Titans pass-rusher also emphasized that he still believes the controversial incomplete pass should’ve been a fumble, even after watching it on film.

One of the funnier parts of Key’s press conference came when he was asked if he expects to be chipped more often going forward after his impressive Week 1 performance.

The Titans defender stated that he hopes not while smiling and laughing.

He was then asked to explain the challenge that goes into facing Los Angeles Chargers quarterback, Justin Herbert, considering he faced him last year in the Jaguars’ playoff victory.

“You just got to stay at it for all four quarters,” said Key. “Just being able to play against him last year, he’s a great quarterback, got great skills, great talent, great arm, and he can deliver the ball anywhere on the field.

“It’s just about doing what we do; he’s going to get his plays because he’s a talented guy, but you just have to stay with the course.”

Tennessee’s talented pass rusher was also asked about the difficulties that come with facing double teams and how he goes about trying to beat them.

“Just fight and just keep going,” said Key. “They ain’t going to double team you forever. And then just being on this front-seven, you got Jeff [Simmons], you got Nico [Autry], you got Harold Landry, and you got me. So if they doubling me, [expletive] somebody else better be going. And if they going hot that game and get the double teams, then now it’s my time to step up. That’s just the blessing of being a part of this organization and this front-seven. We got so many guys, you can’t double team us all.”

Towards the end of his Q&A session, Key was asked what’s gone into his recent success, considering he’s currently third in the NFL in quarterback pressures since Week 14 of last year, per Next Gen Stats

“Just being in San Fran, I know November and December, that’s when the real pass-rushers and the real ballers come out,” said the LSU product. “Just knowing that it’s time to really play ball, it’s playoff football, [where you’re] trying to get into the playoffs or just trying to separate ourselves at the end of November, December. I learned that, so now I’m just trying to start off hot now, knowing that November and December is where you really have to step out, but also focusing on September and October.”

Arden Key generated a league-high 11 pressures in his @Titans debut, four more than any other player league-wide in Week 1.

The Titans signed Key this offseason just a few months after Key recorded 9 pressures in Week 18 against Tennessee, his previous career-high.#Titans pic.twitter.com/2TVZFFlTC1

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 12, 2023

Lastly, Key was asked to address how he wants to approach being one of the main tone-setters for the Titans’ defense.

“I want to be in front of everything,” Key stated. “It’s good for people rushing the quarterback to get a sack early to get that monkey off your back. But once you get that first sack, you kind of get yourself into a rhythm where you’re able to get sacks, get quarterback hits, get pressures, all those [things] that affect the quarterback, and that’s what I did last Sunday.”

Arden Key on his big game in New Orleans & being more productive than he ever has. #Titans pic.twitter.com/lucvflSkrs

— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) September 13, 2023

One thing is for certain: if Key is able to keep up this type of production along the edge, Tennessee will have itself one of the most impactful and underrated defenders in the league.