Titans’ new DC Dennard Wilson claims the team’s defense will ‘be violent in their approach’

Wilson wants the cornerbacks to target the opponents’ wide receivers and challenge them upfront.

Titans’ new DC Dennard Wilson claims the team’s defense will ‘be violent in their approach’

Dennard Wilson (Via Imago)

This time, the Tennessee Titans are approaching the upcoming season with a new strategy. It appears the franchise’s new Defensive Coordinator Dennard Wilson has big plans for the defensive line, which he is coaching with an aggressive approach. 

Wilson recently opened up about his strategies and approach towards the Titans’ defensive line, who he wants to reciprocate with the same intense aggressive energy as his. He shared that in the upcoming season, the Titans’ defense will “be violent in their approach” in stopping the opposing offense, and for that, the new DC is going forward with more press coverage. 

Given the Titans’ defense inconsistency, Wilson intends to incorporate a crucial element that has been notably absent. While strategizing to attack the ball aggressively, Wilson wants the cornerbacks to target the opponents’ wide receivers and challenge them upfront, instead of allowing them to release into their routes. 

FS Video
If you get free access, it's easy for the quarterbacks to complete balls. So, what I do is I want to create hesitation at the line of scrimmage and make 'em earn it the hard way, make 'em earn it, throw the 50-50 ball, but everything else we're going to challenge.
Dennard Wilson said yesterday

In his experience as a secondary coach previously, Wilson has learned the importance of pass defense. Last season with the Baltimore Ravens as secondary coach, Wilson’s unit finished with the second least passing touchdowns allowed of 18– a tie with the Buffalo Bills. Their press coverage was fourth best in the league with 68%. 

Titans’ offseason moves signal a more formidable defense

The Titans’ new defensive coordinator is approaching the upcoming season with an entirely new strategy for the defense. The defensive backs have hardly gotten the chance to give the opposing receivers a sense of impending difficulty. 

L'Jarius Sneed at Titans' OTA
L’Jarius Sneed at Titans’ OTA (Via Tennessee Titans/X)

Additionally, the Titans have also made some crucial moves in the offseason and added fresh faces in the attacking group. They succeeded in acquiring L’Jarius Sneed through a trade deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, which has been widely appreciated. 

Sneed is coming from a group where they utilized press coverage 83% in the Chiefs, which is more than any team across the league in the last two seasons. This made him the perfect defensive player for Wilson to shape his aggressive defensive strategy. 

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