Titan Sized
FanSided

Tennessee Titans: DC Dean Pees expected to return in 2019

By Matias Wodner

BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 2011: In this handout image provided by the NFL, Dean Pees of the Baltimore Ravens poses for his NFL headshot circa 2011 in Baltimore,Maryland. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - CIRCA 2011: In this handout image provided by the NFL, Dean Pees of the Baltimore Ravens poses for his NFL headshot circa 2011 in Baltimore,Maryland. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Tennessee Titans are expected to retain the same defensive coaching staff as the 2018 unit that performed admirably all season.

One of the biggest question marks heading into the offseason for the Tennessee Titans was whether they would have some continuity at the coordinator positions for the first time in a while. OC Matt LaFleur will interview for the Green Bay Packers HC vacancy, but he likely won’t be getting the job due to his relative lack of experience and up-and-down first season in Nashville. DC Dean Pees’ situation was a little different, as he had pondered retirement last offseason before joining HC Mike Vrabel’s staff in Tennessee. His future was up in the air following the conclusion of the 2018 season, especially considering he had a health scare during the road game against the Indianapolis Colts, but Pees informed the team yesterday that he plans to return for 2019.

A returning Pees is a huge boon for a Titans team that was able to win nine games and contend for a playoff spot mainly due to his defensive unit’s success. Tennessee’s defense ranked in eighth in total yards given up and third in total points given up. They ranked eighth in total tackles and 16th with 39.0 sacks. Pro Football Focus had the Titans as the eighth-best-graded defense in the NFL.

They accomplished all of that despite dealing with defensive injuries throughout the whole season. Starting SS Johnathan Cyprien was lost for the year before the season, OLBs Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan missed several games each, slot CB Logan Ryan missed the final two games of the season and other role players fought through nagging injuries that knocked them out of a game or two.

With Pees back for another year, Vrabel will once again be able to count on a stifling defense as the Titans aim for a fourth-consecutive winning season and another spot in the playoffs in 2019.

Home/Titans News