Two Robert Saleh coaching hires bring something to Titans OTA practices that immediately stands out in the best way
This month is our first chance to see the Titans’ new veterans and rookies on the field together, but it’s also our first experience with how Robert Saleh’s staff runs their practice. Here are two things that stand out:
This past Thursday was the media‘s first opportunity to see Titans veterans and rookies practicing on the field together. But it was also our first chance to see what Robert Saleh and his coaching staff does differently from the coaches that preceded them. Every NFL practice I’ve ever been to looks roughly the same, but there are always some key differences. And a handful of the unique things I noticed from this group are worth mentioning. Here’s what happened:
Aaron Whitecotton’s high energy practice model
Now if you’ve been around the NFL long enough, you know that May is a particularly rosey time of year for everybody. Training isn’t that hard yet, the weather isn’t brutal yet, and nobody’s job is on the line yet. We’re all just excited to be back out on the football field again!
So there was definitely some of that in the air at Titans practice on Thursday. But a couple of individuals in particular really stood out to me, and I’m pretty sure we’re going to be talking about the way that they approach practice for the next couple of months.
Defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton ran over to join his group once individual period began, and he hit the ground with his tire spinning fast. Check out this video of the first drill the D-line group kicked things off with.
Whitecotton is the bald guy in the middle going crazy trying to hype his guys up. It took about 30 seconds for me to buy into what he was selling as I stood and watched on. It was immediately clear why players love to play for this guy. A light warm-up drill like this really gets the juices flowing and sets the tone, all led by this position coach.
Then in their second drill, Whitecotton had them practicing their get-off. Coach threw tennis balls at the heads of his defenders from behind them, trying to get them to jump. It might sound goofy, but it’s creative practice techniques like this that always catch my eye. And this one seemed pretty effective!
The tone of his entire program seems to be bringing the fun back to football, and as somebody who subscribes to the philosophy that your defensive linemen in particular should have a couple of screws loose, I like the psycho energy he’s trying to breed.
Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll has no chill
Speaking of psycho energy, OC Brian Daboll didn’t waste any time turning the heat up to 11 in team period. Something the Callahan regime did pretty intentionally this time last year was start small early, and then work to build in explosive plays later in the summer. The philosophy behind that was emphasizing taking what a defense gives you.
This is professional football, and there’s more than one way to skin a cat. So this isn’t to say that Daboll is doing things correctly by swinging in the other direction, but it’s something that we need to monitor as we head into the regular season. Because Daboll wasn’t having his guys simply take what was available by any means. They were pushing the ball and looking to create explosives all the way out here in May.
And as the players looked to create explosive plays on the field, Daboll’s personality was plenty explosive on the sideline. He already had his headset on for communication purposes, and he was every bit of that insane, wild man you’ve seen on your TV in the past when he got animated as a head coach. There was plenty said that I can’t repeat, but whatever you’re imagining right now is probably dead-on.
That’s another thing that players just love from their coaches. It gets interesting when things are tough, because that kind of energy can wear thin quickly if you aren’t winning. But in the offseason as a team is trying to get their mojo back, I can say with certainty that his players love what he’s bringing to the table in OTAs.