NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One factor grew to become clear as new Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson started talking throughout his introductory press convention: Wilson is a person on a mission.
Wilson shortly revealed how a lot he needs to assault and get after opposing offenses. His artful reference of a adorned conflict basic’s quote drove the purpose house.
“Basic George Patton mentioned this, ‘No person ever defended something profitable. You are going to assault and assault some extra,'” Wilson mentioned. “We’ll be an attacking protection.”
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Wilson pledged to assault offenses by blitzing however doing so with out being reckless. Given his background, it is no shock that Wilson needs to convey the battle on protection.
Wilson’s first NFL teaching expertise got here with the Rams (whereas they had been nonetheless in St. Louis) when Gregg Williams was the defensive coordinator. Williams is infamous for orchestrating aggressive, punishing 4-3 schemes that put intense strain on quarterbacks.
Neither Wilson nor Titans coach Brian Callahan dedicated to operating a 4-3 or 3-4 in Tennessee. However Callahan expressed a passion for the locations Wilson has been and the way in which the schemes he is been part of had been capable of adapt to no matter challenges opposing offenses introduced.
“There must be a willingness to be a number of, to play a number of fronts and coverages, to have the ability to blitz when it is required to blitz,” Callahan mentioned. “Should you lock your self into one factor, you are inclined to get discovered fairly shortly.”
Wilson was employed as a defensive high quality management coach in 2012 when Williams was the defensive coordinator on the time and served in that function till he was elevated to defensive backs coach in 2015. Williams left the Rams to be the Titans’ senior assistant defensive coach earlier than returning in 2014.
Wilson’s blitzing philosophies advanced when he was the defensive backs coach for the New York Jets from 2017 to 2018. That is when he crossed paths with present Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles, who beforehand served the identical function for the Jets.
In accordance with ESPN Stats & Data, the Buccaneers blitzed on 39.9% of their defensive snaps final season beneath Bowles, the third most. The Titans completed twentieth at 22.3%.
“I have been round quite a lot of nice coordinators,” Wilson mentioned. “Numerous the philosophies they’ve had, I consider in. So, we’ll blitz, however once we blitz, it will be on the proper occasions.”
It is crucial for any blitzing protection to have well-executed protection behind it.
The secondary is a obvious space for enchancment. Tennessee’s go protection allowed 227.4 passing yards per sport final season (18th most).
Wilson’s secondary with the Baltimore Ravens was sixth greatest at 193.1 yards per sport final season. The Philadelphia Eagles had the NFL’s top-ranked go protection (171.6 yards per sport) in 2022 with Wilson because the defensive backs coach.
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Lots of the defensive backs that Wilson has labored with are fast to reward him for the way he is helped them.
“[Wilson] is a brilliant sensible dude,” Ravens security Kyle Hamilton informed Titans crew reporter Jim Wyatt on the Professional Bowl. “We would not be the place we’re with out him.”
Turnovers are one other space the place the Titans can stand to enhance from final yr. Tennessee’s .8 takeaways per sport was tied with the Rams for the second least. In the meantime, the Ravens had been tied with the Chicago Bears for third most at 1.6.
“We’ve got to assault the ball with violence,” Wilson defined. “The way in which you get takeaways on this sport is inhabitants and approach and the style wherein you play. The identical philosophies, by way of the Ravens protection, goes to be the identical philosophy I carry.”
The important thing to creating all of it work is marrying the entrance finish of the protection to the again finish. Wilson mentioned he seems to be at it as a puzzle that wants items to suit collectively.
Considered one of his targets is to have what he known as “obnoxious communication” — citing he needs everybody on the identical web page speaking to 1 one other as a result of “a crew that fails to speak and join is a crew that fails to win.”
Callahan vowed to have the identical strategy offensively by way of controlling the sport.
“We’ll do the whole lot we will to dictate phrases, tempo, type of play,” Callahan mentioned on Wednesday.
However as Callahan cautioned that there is a time and place for it. For instance, Callahan pointed to taking a deep shot on a play-action go. The purpose is to make a deep completion, however generally the protection takes that away. In that case, a verify down for a primary down will suffice. Because the saying goes, “You possibly can’t go broke making a revenue.”
Callahan will depend on new offensive coordinator Nick Holz, whom he launched to the media as nicely Wednesday, to assist put collectively the sport plan.
“Effort, toughness, we’ll stand for all these issues.” Holz mentioned of his philosophies. “However we actually wish to see guys enjoying with nice pace, element and execution.”
Holz began from the underside as an offensive assistant with the Raiders group in 2012 and held numerous roles till 2021, together with offensive high quality management and assistant vast receivers coach. He was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ passing sport coordinator final yr.
Though Holz by no means served on the identical teaching employees as Callahan, the 2 have a like-minded strategy on offense.
“There’s quite a lot of similarities,” Holz mentioned. “I have been in quite a lot of methods, and I’ve labored for lots of coaches — though I used to be in a single place for a very long time. So, the one purpose you get to sort of keep in a single place the entire time is that you’re adaptable.”
They performed collectively at De La Salle Excessive Faculty in California the place Holz was a large receiver with Callahan at quarterback. The 2 have stored in contact all through the years by discussing widespread opponents and sharing notes.
Now they will be a part of minds in larger roles.
Added Holz, “Should you would have requested me two weeks in the past, I would not have imagined this.”
