Titans’ DC Shane Bowen compliments surprise player at position of need
The Tennessee Titans went into training camp this fall with a lot of question marks about the depth of their secondary. More specifically, the Titans did not have many established pieces behind Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker at the safety position. Even with one of the best safety tandems in the NFL, Tennessee's passing defense […]
The Tennessee Titans went into training camp this fall with a lot of question marks about the depth of their secondary.
More specifically, the Titans did not have many established pieces behind Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker at the safety position. Even with one of the best safety tandems in the NFL, Tennessee's passing defense was the worst in the league last season. So what would the Titans' secondary look like if Byard or Hooker went down and they were left without options?
Tennessee needed an answer, and they may have found one in second-year safety Mike Brown.
After five seasons in the MAC playing for Miami University (OH), Brown signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Throughout the 2022 season, Brown bounced between three team's practice squads. He spent time with the Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Cleveland Browns before being signed by the Titans on January 2, 2023 to add depth on special teams coverage units.
Brown did not suit up for the Titans in Week 18, but played in three total games on special teams for Cleveland last year.
So far in training camp, Brown has been working primarily with the second team defense. That may indicate that he is viewed as the "next man up" behind Byard, Hooker, and hybrid defensive back Elijah Molden at safety.
Brown reinforced that possibility with a big performance in Tennessee's preseason opener against the Chicago Bears on Saturday. The 24-year-old safety recorded two tackles and caused a turnover when he delivered a hit on Bears punt returner Velus Jones Jr., forcing a muffed punt.
"I think coming in, that was kind of a big question mark for us," said Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen of Tennessee's safety depth.
"Mike [Brown] has done a good job. Special teams, he's done a really good job carving out a role for himself. He showed up Saturday," said a complimentary Bowen. "I've been pleased with Mike and how he's progressed here and I think he's a guy that's been a riser throughout camp that we were a little uncertain of going into it."
Shyheim Carter was also praised by Bowen for his physicality, but if the Titans are only keeping one safety behind Byard, Hooker, and Molden, I think Brown is the guy currently winning that competition.
It will be interesting to see how Tennessee handles this position of need with cut day looming.
Ultimate underdog making a strong case to crack Titans’ roster
He’s doing everything the right way.
