As Dennard Wilson addressed the media during his introductory press conference as the new defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, it became evident that he is determined and focused on his goals.
Wilson expressed his eagerness to aggressively challenge and pressure opposing offenses, citing a quote from General George Patton to emphasize his approach. “General George Patton said this, ‘Nobody ever defended anything successful. You’re going to attack and attack some more,'” Wilson stated, highlighting his intention for the Titans to adopt an attacking style of defense.
Wilson has vowed to pursue offensive teams aggressively by using blitzes, but he intends to do so in a controlled manner. Given his background, it’s not surprising that Wilson is inclined towards a defensive approach that emphasizes aggression.
Wilson’s introduction to NFL coaching came with the Rams (then in St. Louis) under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Williams is known for employing aggressive 4-3 defensive schemes that apply significant pressure on quarterbacks.
While neither Wilson nor Titans coach Brian Callahan committed to a specific defensive formation (4-3 or 3-4) for Tennessee, Callahan admired Wilson’s background and the adaptability of the schemes he has been part of, which were able to adjust to challenges presented by opposing offenses.
“There has to be a willingness to be multiple, to play multiple fronts and coverages, to be able to blitz when it’s required,” said Callahan. “If you lock yourself into one thing, you tend to get exposed quickly.”
Wilson started his coaching career as a defensive quality control coach in 2012 under Williams, who was the Rams’ defensive coordinator at the time. He held this role until 2015 when he was promoted to defensive backs coach. Williams later left the Rams to join the Titans as a senior assistant defensive coach before returning to the Rams in 2014.
Wilson’s approach to blitzing evolved during his tenure as the defensive backs coach for the New York Jets from 2017 to 2018, where he worked under Todd Bowles, now the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Buccaneers blitzed on 39.9% of their defensive snaps last season under Bowles, ranking third in the league. In contrast, the Titans blitzed on 22.3% of their snaps, placing them 20th in the league.
Wilson emphasized his belief in the blitzing philosophies of the coordinators he has worked with in the past. He intends to incorporate blitzes into the Titans’ defense but stressed the importance of timing them correctly.
Effective coverage behind the blitz is crucial for any defense. The Titans struggled in pass defense last season, allowing an average of 227.4 passing yards per game, which ranked 18th in the league.
Wilson’s secondary with the Baltimore Ravens performed much better, allowing only 193.1 passing yards per game, the sixth-best in the league. Additionally, during Wilson’s tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, the team boasted the NFL’s top-ranked pass defense, allowing only 171.6 passing yards per game in 2022.
Wilson has earned praise from many of the defensive backs he has coached for his impact on their development. Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton commended Wilson’s intelligence, acknowledging his significant contribution to their success.
The Titans have room for improvement in turnovers, as they averaged only 0.8 takeaways per game last season, tied with the Rams for the second lowest. In contrast, the Ravens and the Chicago Bears were tied for the third most takeaways per game at 1.6.
Wilson emphasized the importance of aggressive ball pursuit, citing the need for a forceful approach to generating turnovers. He emphasized that creating turnovers requires a combination of population, technique, and aggressive play, similar to the philosophy he employed with the Ravens.
Wilson stressed the importance of cohesion between the defensive front and back, likening it to assembling a puzzle where all pieces must fit together. He emphasized the need for clear and constant communication among players, describing it as “obnoxious communication,” highlighting its critical role in team success.
On the offensive side, newly introduced coordinator Nick Holz echoed a similar sentiment of prioritizing effort and toughness. Holz emphasized the importance of speed, attention to detail, and execution in his offensive strategies, drawing from his experience with the Raiders and Jaguars.
While Holz and Callahan have never been part of the same coaching staff, they share a similar offensive philosophy.
Holz noted, “There’s a lot of similarities. I’ve been in a lot of systems, and I’ve worked for a lot of coaches — even though I was in one place for a long time. So, the one reason you get to kind of stay in one place the whole time is that you are adaptable.”
Their relationship dates back to their time at De La Salle High School in California, where Holz played wide receiver and Callahan was the quarterback. Despite pursuing separate coaching careers, they have stayed connected over the years, discussing common opponents and exchanging ideas.
Now, they will collaborate in more prominent roles. Holz expressed his surprise at the turn of events, saying, “If you would have asked me two weeks ago, I wouldn’t have imagined this.”
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