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Tennessee Titans: Dean Pees talks Kevin Byard leadership, progress on D

By Michael Moraitis

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 08: Dallas Goedert #88 of the Philadelphia Eagles is tackled by Kevin Byard #31 (bottom) of the Tennessee Titans as Titan teammate Rashaan Evans #54looks on during the first quarter of a preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 8, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 08: Dallas Goedert #88 of the Philadelphia Eagles is tackled by Kevin Byard #31 (bottom) of the Tennessee Titans as Titan teammate Rashaan Evans #54looks on during the first quarter of a preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 8, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees believes his unit is making progress in practice, thanks in part to safety Kevin Byard’s leadership.

The Tennessee Titans defense is in its second year under defensive coordinator Dean Pees, and the Titans coach is seeing his defense making progress during practice.

Pees spoke to the media after Sunday’s session and pointed out how safety Kevin Byard is becoming a more vocal leader on defense, and that the unit’s communication as a whole is improving from where it was a year ago because players are more comfortable in the system.

Here’s what he had to say, per Turron Davenport of ESPN.

“I think he’s (Byard) great, I’m very very pleased with him, as I am with all those guys back there. Again, I think the fact that we’ve been in the same system now and going into the second year, it’s a little easier for those guys to be more vocal because they’re more sure of themselves,” Pees explained. “Anytime that, you know, you’re familiar with something, it’s just going to be more comfortable. You’re going to play a little faster, you’re going to communicate a little faster and I think Kevin has certainly shown that, along with a bunch of other guys.”

The Titans defense got off to a great start in the preseason opener. Tennessee allowed just 10 points to the Philadelphia Eagles, and the only touchdown Philly could muster up was on busted coverage by cornerback Adoree’ Jackson that resulted in a 75-yard touchdown play.

Perhaps the best part of this whole Pees quote is the fact that Byard is playing a huge leadership role. Based on his character, it’s not surprising Byard shows no signs of slowing down after becoming the highest-paid safety in NFL history.

If the Titans defense is making progress the way Pees says it is, the league better watch out.

Tennessee Titans DC, Dean Pees.
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) /

After all, the Titans were the No. 3 scoring defense in the NFL last season. Any improvement on that side of the ball could give the Titans the undisputed best defense in the NFL in 2019.

And, as we’ve been saying all offseason long, it’s another reason why analysts sleeping on the Titans doesn’t make sense. Defense can cover for a lot of ills elsewhere, and the Titans roster doesn’t have many of those as currently constructed if the rest of the team can just stay healthy.

Does Dean Pees’ defense have any weaknesses?

If we’re going to point out a possible weakness on the defense, it would be along the defensive line. The Titans just activated defensive lineman Jurrell Casey off the PUP list, ending one of the bigger concerns upfront.

Now Tennessee will need DaQuan Jones to step up in the middle of the line, and the addition of defensive end Brent Urban during the offseason provides at least some kind of an upgrade from last season. Urban also has experience playing in Pees’ system when the pair were in Baltimore.

Urban, who totaled more QB pressures in 2018 than Jones and Austin Johnson combined, was listed as the team’s DE on the first unofficial depth chart, while Jones was listed as the nose tackle.

Jones’ position can change during the season if first-round pick Jeffery Simmons gets back at some point, though. Simmons has the potential to be a major shot in the this season, although best-case scenario has him returning in December at the earliest.

Tennessee Titans defensive end, Brent Urban.
CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 30: Brent Urban #96 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his blocked field goal that lead to a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 30, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore won the game 33-27. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The pass-rush is another area that needs improvement. The Titans got a combined total of two sacks from last year’s edge rushers, Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan.

Now that the pair of Tennessee Titans greats have retired, it paves the way for edge rusher Harold Landry to get a starter’s worth of snaps, and the Titans signed veteran rusher Cameron Wake to fill the void on the other side.

Together, Wake and Landry bring 8.5 more sacks to the lineup than Morgan and Orakpo had in 2018.

There is a ton to be optimistic about on the Titans defense in 2019. Whether its a budding group of young linebackers ready to take the next step, or one of the deepest secondaries in the NFL, the Titans defense is shaping up to be something special.

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