{"id":40976,"date":"2018-03-27T19:38:33","date_gmt":"2018-03-27T23:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=40976"},"modified":"2018-03-30T17:14:53","modified_gmt":"2018-03-30T21:14:53","slug":"titans-set-to-win-with-new-personnel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2018\/03\/27\/titans-set-to-win-with-new-personnel\/","title":{"rendered":"Tennessee Titans Set to Win with New Personnel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that most of the dust has settled from the Tennessee Titans<\/a> free agency acquisitions it\u2019s time to dig into what this team will look like in 2018.\u00a0 The Titans boast a brand new coaching staff and several fresh faces on both sides of the ball.\u00a0 These new additions make the Tennessee Titans set to win with their new personnel.<\/p>\n

Tennessee Titans Set to Win with New Coaches & Players<\/strong><\/h1>\n

As our very own Josh McSwain wrote about in January, Mike Vrabel<\/a><\/strong> looks like a solid hire for the Titans<\/a> at head coach.\u00a0 However, now that the Titans have solidified the rest of their coaching staff and some player additions via free agency, let\u2019s take a look at how a few of them can help the team win now.<\/p>\n

Coaches<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Matt LaFleur (Offensive Coordinator)<\/h2>\n

Yes, Matt LaFleur was the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams<\/a> in 2017.\u00a0 And yes, the Rams completely turned around their offense in just one year under LaFleur (and head coach Sean McVay<\/strong>).\u00a0 But what does that mean for the Titans and perhaps Marcus Mariota<\/a><\/strong>?\u00a0 LaFleur has seemed to have the golden touch with quarterbacks everywhere he has gone.\u00a0 He was the quarterback\u00a0coach in Atlanta during Matt Ryan<\/a>\u2019s MVP season.\u00a0 \u201cMidas Matt\u201d turned Everett Golson into one of the best quarterbacks in the nation at Notre Dame in 2014.\u00a0 And before that, he coached Robert Griffin<\/a> III<\/strong> during the peak of his career in 2012 and 2013.\u00a0 Titans fans should expect to see concepts from both Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan<\/strong> offenses.\u00a0 Look for more 11-personnel (3WR, 1RB, 1TE) with route concepts that spread defenses out, push them vertically, and scheme plenty of space underneath.\u00a0 Expect great things for both wide receivers and receiving backs.<\/p>\n

Pat O\u2019Hara (Quarterbacks Coach)<\/h2>\n

As if Mariota didn\u2019t already have some great help coming in the form of Matt LaFleur, the Titans also added Pat O\u2019Hara.\u00a0 O\u2019Hara coached Deshaun Watson<\/a> in his breakout 2017 rookie year.\u00a0 And many already forget he also got the best out of Brian Hoyer<\/a> in his career season back in 2015.<\/p>\n

Dean Pees (Defensive Coordinator)<\/h2>\n

Pees has been one of the premier assistant coaches in the league since the 1970s.\u00a0 He\u2019s helped put together some of the best Patriots and Ravens defenses over the past couple decades.\u00a0 How did he do it?\u00a0 Pees’ defenses like to disguise themselves pre-snap by using strategic defensive alignments.\u00a0 Defensive backs shift into different coverages post-snap.\u00a0 The front seven uses versatility to bring exotic blitzes or drop into disciplined short coverage.<\/p>\n

The addition of Malcolm Butler<\/a><\/strong> allows the Titans defensive backs to change alignments snap to snap and adjust for a wider variety of matchups in Pees\u2019 scheme.\u00a0 The recent release of Sylvester Williams<\/a><\/strong> and Karl Klug<\/a><\/strong> could mean Pees is looking to add some quickness and alignment versatility along the defensive line.\u00a0 Pees himself mentioned that he looks for front seven players that offer \u201cmultiplicity\u201d in their skill set. Expect the Titans to add a do-it-all pass rushing option in the draft that fits that mold.<\/p>\n

Kerry Coombs (Defensive Backs Coach)<\/h2>\n

The defensive backs in Dean Pees\u2019 defenses are the key to communication and execution.\u00a0 Coombs\u2019 35 years of coaching will come in handy making sure that Kevin Byard<\/a> <\/strong>can quarterback the Titans defense amid a new (or at least adjusted) scheme.<\/p>\n

New Players<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Dion Lewis<\/a> (Running Back)<\/h2>\n

Lewis is coming off the best year of his career with 1,110 yards from scrimmage for the Patriots in 2017.\u00a0 He brings a dynamic to the Titans offense that hasn\u2019t been present in a long time: elusiveness.\u00a0 According to Pro Football Focus, Lewis was the most elusive running back in the NFL last year.\u00a0 That showed up in his 5.0 yards per carry average and all 32 of his receptions.\u00a0 However, Lewis’ receiving upside out of the backfield is what may be most interesting.\u00a0 Matt LaFleur’s quarterbacks tend to find running backs out of the backfield (Todd Gurley<\/a><\/strong> in 2017, Devonta Freeman<\/a><\/strong> and Tevin Coleman<\/a><\/strong> in 2015\/2016).\u00a0 Lewis could prove to be the most important offensive piece on the Titans in 2018.<\/p>\n

Malcolm Butler (Cornerback)<\/h2>\n

The most underrated aspect of this signing may be Butler\u2019s experience playing alongside fellow Titans cornerback\u00a0Logan Ryan<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0for three seasons on the Patriots.\u00a0 Their communication and well-established relationship should be a huge plus for the Titans secondary in finding chemistry.\u00a0 Butler can shadow almost any lead wide receiver in the league, slide into the slot, or lock up one of the outside cornerback positions just fine.\u00a0 Yes indeed, Butler could be the key to Dean Pees\u2019 secondary finding early success across the board.<\/p>\n

Re-signed Players<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Josh Kline<\/a> (Offensive Lineman)<\/h2>\n

The Titans offensive line was going to struggle mightily at offensive guard if Kline left.\u00a0 Kline may not be an elite interior offensive lineman but he can make all the necessary pulling blocks in the run game and offers stability in pass protection. Kline should also help secure adequate push on inside runs for Derrick Henry<\/a> and second level blocks for Dion Lewis.<\/p>\n

DaQuan Jones<\/a> (Defensive Lineman)<\/h2>\n

The Titans sorely missed DaQuan Jones down the stretch in 2017.\u00a0 Many fans may not notice him since he doesn\u2019t light up the stat\u00a0sheet, but he is an incredibly important player.\u00a0 He offers that \u201cmultiplicity\u201d that defensive coordinator Dean Pees looks for in his defensive line. Jones can play dirty work five technique in 3-4 alignments.\u00a0 He can play one technique in 4-3 looks. He can clog running lanes inside or set the edge outside.\u00a0 At 6\u20194\u201d, 322 pounds, Jones also boasts solid pursuit speed to pressure the quarterback or close on running backs given the right angle.\u00a0 Look for him to continue to grow as an important piece of the Titans defense in 2018.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to get excited about the Tennessee Titans.\u00a0 General manager Jon Robinson has put together a fantastic bunch of coaches and players.\u00a0 Everything looks great on paper.\u00a0 Now we just wait and see if the Titans put it all together and take the next step.<\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>