NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — New Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor looks at the Titans ' revamped defensive line and one word comes to mind.
Nasty.
All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons
has had an offseason to familiarize himself with what new coach Robert Saleh wants with a defensive scheme now asking the veteran and all his teammates to attack opposing offenses rather than rely on technique fighting through double-teams.“That’s my game," Simmons said
Wednesday. "I like to play on the other side of the line of scrimmage.”
Linebacker Cody Barton believes the scheme change will be huge for Simmons.
“Jeff is one of the best to do it, and he’s just going to be causing havoc every play,” Barton said.
Simmons had a career-best 11 sacks last season. A second straight 3-14 record led to Saleh being hired as the Titans' latest new head coach, and he has a strong record of putting together top NFL defenses by freeing up players to read quarterbacks and attack.
Saleh said Wednesday that San Francisco switched in 2019 from a six-technique and a more old school 4-3 front. He said they brought in Kris Kocurek, a disciple of longtime defensive line coach Jim Washburn whose career included 12 seasons with the Titans where he rotated linemen and pushed them to be faster off the ball.
That 2019 49ers' defense wound up third in fewest yards allowed per game and second against the pass helping San Francisco reach the Super Bowl.
The Titans spent the most money in free agency to help play this new defensive style. The Titans traded for defensive end Jeremiah Johnson II, signed veterans like John Franklin-Myers and Solomon Thomas for their toughness and traded back into the first round to draft lineman Keldric Faulk.
“I imagine a guy like Jeffery will enjoy playing next to him because very similar in how they attack things and how they approach things," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said of Franklin-Myers.
Tennessee also signed Taylor and cornerback Cor'Dale Flott and Joshua Williams along with veteran safety Tony Adams to anchor the secondary. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was a second-round draft selection to join Barton and third-year linebacker Cedric Gray.
The defensive line will set the tone with a planned rotation limiting Simmons and his fellow linemen to 60% of the snaps. Saleh, who plans to also call the defensive plays in games, said the payoff comes in the fourth quarter when the Titans hopefully have worn out opposing offensive lines.
That also keeps the Titans fresher and faster.
“The faster the rush is, the faster we can get our feet in the ground, the faster we can anticipate where the ball is going,” Saleh said. “It also dictates whether or not the coordinator and the quarterback can call plays that are deeper developing and whether or not the quarterback can hold it.”
Coming out of games won't be easy for Simmons. The four-time Pro Bowler prides himself on staying on the field, and Simmons got his right elbow cleaned up this offseason after being unable to straighten out his arm fully for well over two and half years and forced to wear a brace during games.
“My goal to come into this season is just to make sure I’m in the best shape of my life,” Simmons said.
Simmons also is in line for a contract extension with his current deal good through 2027. He signed a four-year extension in April 2023. As the Titans wrapped up their offseason Wednesday with the last open session of a mandatory minicamp, Simmons sounded focused on what's next on the field.
“This organization been nothing but good to me, so I’m not so focused on the contract right now," Simmons said. "Like I said, my goal this offseason is let me go work my tail off and get ready for training camp.”
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