New Tennessee Titans DB Coach Kerry Coombs can bring out the best of the Titans’ young and experienced defensive backs.
New Tennessee Titans defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs is the embodiment of intensity. Video clips recently surfaced of Coombs leading the DB drills in OTAs and the echoes of his roars helped amplify the intensity.
His tone made it clear. Coombs set the tempo. The cadences of his cues demanded speed, tenacity and movement. The mission of grooming his unit to play fast, smart and sound is off to a good start.
The group he has to work with is filled with talent at both the cornerback and safety positions. Kevin Byard will aim to improve on his league-leading production. Johnathan Cyprien is focused on showing that the injury that sidelined him last year is healed, and that he is ready to bring physicality to the strong safety position.
Adoree’ Jackson heads into his sophomore season with the expectation of taking his game to another level. Ex-Patriots Logan Ryan and Malcolm Butler will rekindle their chemistry and help solidify the secondary.
Add feisty rookie Dane Cruikshank to the fold; a versatile prospect whose tape is solid and was complemented by a solid combine showing. Cruikshank will likely see most of his snaps on special teams. However, if his grasp of the game evolves at a desired pace, he could buy snaps on defense at either the cornerback or safety position. He is equipped to play both.
All the right ingredients are on the roster, and the group is primed to evolve. Youth, veteran presences, playoff experience and leadership will help the unit take a step forward.
Coombs has a knack for bringing the best out of his group. A contributing factor is the passion and desire oozing from his pores. His love for the game is embedded in his bones and players will feed off of that energy.
.@Titans DBs working with secondary coach Kerry Coombs pic.twitter.com/O2MFQ8nROZ
— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) May 22, 2018
He was instrumental in building first round talent during his tenure at Ohio State. Coombs has already stated he will approach the game with the same coaching style and intends to give the Titans and his players everything he has.
The Titans secondary – on paper – has the potential to be a top secondary in the league. Coombs is tasked with helping bring what is on paper to life. With a convincing approach and unrelenting conviction, he will work closely with DC Dean Pees to assemble a well-rounded defense.
A tight-knit group of defensive backs will help the defensive line find their footing. A suffocating, no-plays-off approach combined with a “that’s my ball” mentality will be a tremendous help, and will provide the defensive line a little more time to cause disruption in the backfield.
The talent is on the roster and it will be up to Coombs to help mold it into the quality level it is destined to be.