3 Biggest Questions the Titans Defense Must Answer in Training Camp
Dennard Wilson’s unit must find a way to gel early.
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans hired Dennard Wilson to his first defensive coordinator job under Brian Callahan this offseason. The longtime defensive backs coach has been ready for this moment for some time.
Time to kick off the training wheels.
What Kind Of Defense Will Dennard Wilson Run?
Thinking that Wilson plans to implement a scheme similar to the 2023 Baltimore Ravens has been a popular opinion this offseason.
However, he spent only one of his 12 prior years of NFL coaching experience working in Baltimore. Wilson was an instrumental part of last year's Ravens defense under coach John Harbaugh and then-defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. That unit ranked first in points allowed (16.5 per game), sixth overall (301.4 yards allowed per game), sixth in pass defense (191.9 yards per game), first in sacks (60) and third in interceptions (18).
Baltimore's blitz percentage on opponents' dropbacks last year was only 21.9% (25th) under Macdonald.
Last season's Ravens and this year's Titans defenses are not similarly constructed. Wilson's previous influences like Gregg Williams and Todd Bowles put a higher emphasis on bringing additional rushers. For all of Wilson's offseason messaging about "attacking" and aggression, what the defense will more closely resemble in Tennessee is as big a question as any.
T'Vondre Sweat's Presence
General manager Ran Carthon went "beef" in the first and second rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft with Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham at No. 7 and Texas nose tackle Sweat with No. 38.
The latter has not been available to practice since the team's rookie minicamp in mid-May.
Sweat will be available to participate when the team takes the field for training camp on July 24. His conditioning, his work ethic and everything in between will be hyper-scrutinized at every step as he tries to disprove any narratives around him. A five-year college player in Austin, Sweat did not break through as a top pro prospect until his final season.
In that 2023 campaign, Sweat recorded 45 tackles with eight tackles for a loss and two sacks.
He won the Outland Trophy as the nation's best interior lineman, and was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Sweat did spend the pre-draft process trying to convince teams that he was ready to meet the moment before being arrested for DWI in the weeks leading up to the draft. Carthon, Callahan and their respective staffs felt comfortable in their vetting process taking a player like Sweat with multiple red flags.
Tennessee needs Sweat to break through as a legitimate three-down player next to Jeffery Simmons, Harold Landry and Arden Key as they try and field a more competitive front this year.
Safety Help
As of Sunday, the Titans had added only veteran Jamal Adams on a one-year, veteran minimum prove-it contract to their safety competition.
Adams famously is more linebacker than defensive back at this point in his career, and would serve better as a nickel backer or situational pass rusher. Elijah Molden has taken the bulk of the reps alongside Amani Hooker during OTAs and minicamp. Molden played 274 snaps at free safety last season after the team traded veteran Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles before the deadline.
Expect additional help at the position ahead of the regular season, whether that is an unrestricted free agent or a roster cut casualty remains to be seen.
3 Biggest Questions the Titans Offense Must Answer in Training Camp
A new era of offensive football begins in Tennessee
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
