Titans Assistant Coach Brings the Fire: Aaron Whitecotton’s approach will only create “buy-in” that goes beyond football
Robert Saleh’s defensive philosophy is a perfect match for Aaron Whitecotton’s style, on and off the field. The Tennessee Titans defense will be better for it.
When Tennessee Titans new defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton first met with local media this spring he was asked to describe his coaching style at practice.
“Like a raccoon on something,” was his answer.
He declined to say what that “something” was, nor do I know if he realizes the Tennessee state animal (and Titans mascot) is a raccoon. It’s not relevant. It does seem accurate, though the only rabid raccoon I’ve seen is the Titans mascot eating the cheerleader back in the day.
Aaron Whitecotton’s practice style aligns with Robert Saleh’s plans for Titans defense
It’s great when you see a plan come together.
Titans head coach Robert Saleh said during OTAs that if one of their defensive lineman can plan four snaps in a row “they aren’t doing it right.”
The goal is to go so all-out for every snap you can’t physically play more than three plays in a row. It sounds crazy. It sounds like a great idea in theory. But can it actually be executed?
Whitecotton’s individual drills for his defensive lineman are forcing the players to practice at that same intensity. Defensive linemen cycle through drills with a pace that looks exhausting while watching. Each player gets one, maybe two reps in a flowing drill. Then it’s directly on to the next drill. No walking.
To up the level of intensity, defensive tackles and ends then split up to work simultaneously, which makes the line shorter between your reps.
Whitecotton’s emotional reaction to Marshawn Kneeland question
As hard as Whitecotton works his guys it would be easy to see some players start to wear thin on the intensity unless a personal relationship is nurtured.
I noticed Whitecotton was wearing a pin on his hoodie during his press conference Wednesday. I had to zoom in tight to notice it was a “KNEELAND 94” pin.
Marshawn Kneeland played on Whitecotton’s defensive line for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025, until he lost his life to suicide in November. I was able to squeeze in the last question of the press availability to give him an opportunity to talk about his former player.
āI miss Marshawn every day,ā Whitecotton said as his eyes welled. āI love him. Iām really thankful that we have his baby boy to carry on his legacy. Because Marshawn was a special guy, man. He was a special guy to me.ā
Whitecotton and Kneeland knew each other for less than a year, and you could feel the emotion and impact that relationship carried.
āIāll leave it at that, I miss him every day,ā Whitecotton followed. āI know his family misses him every day. This world misses him every day. He was an amazing young man, like I said I miss him but so thankful that I got to meet him and be around him.
June is Men’s Mental Health Month, and new Titans defensive lineman Soloman Thomas played on that same Cowboys unit last season. Tuesday Thomas opened up about his experience losing family and a teammate to suicide.
It’s clear to see that Whitecotton does things one way: all-out. It’s the way he coaches, the standard he expects from his players, and the way he creates relationships.
“Buy-in” comes naturally to a football philosophy when coaches create an atmosphere like that.