NASHVILLE, Tenn. – When Titans defensive lineman Jurrell Casey looked back at his 2016 season, he didn't focus on the plays he made.
Instead, he analyzed the ones he failed to make. And he tried to figure out why.
One thing stood out, and it ticked him off.
"The biggest thing I focused on this offseason was my strength, getting stronger, and not really worrying about the agility like I have past years,'' Casey said on Wednesday. "Every year I talk about getting faster and a little bit smaller. This year it was really about building up strength. Last year, we did pretty well up front but we can be ten times better. And at the end of the day, to get better, I feel like it starts with me.
"I feel like I have to hold up better on the line of scrimmage than I did last year. There were a couple of times in games where I got pushed around a little bit. And when I get fatigued, I have to make sure I still stay stout. My biggest thing is working on strength and being able to stay in there when I was tired, and perform at a high level."
Casey spent the offseason training in Nashville.
He said he can tell a difference in the weight room, and he said it should pay off on the field.
Casey finished with 51 tackles and five sacks in 2016. He played in his second straight Pro Bowl at the end of last season. Heading into his seventh NFL season, Casey has 467 career tackles and 33 career sacks.
The Titans are scheduled to report to training camp on Friday. The team's first practice is scheduled for Saturday.
"I am 10 times stronger than I was," Casey said. "A lot of times I looked at the film (this offseason) and you see a lot of plays you can make. If you stay in your gap and use proper technique, if you have a little more oomph, then that is one split second in making the play and not making the play.
"I want to make sure I make every play I possibly can."
TitansOnline.com looks at 2016 Titans Walter Payton Man of the Year Jurrell Casey's work in the community this past year. (Staff Photos)
TitansOnline.com looks back at DT Jurrell Casey's 2016 Pro Bowl season. (Photos: Donn Jones, AP)
