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Tennessee Titans could use open coaching slots to promote diversity

By Will Lomas

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15: Head Coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans on the sidelines during a game against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Texans defeated the Titans 24-21. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 15: Head Coach Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans on the sidelines during a game against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Texans defeated the Titans 24-21. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee Titans DC, Dean Pees.
(Photo by NFL via Getty Images) /

Help wanted: Defensive coaches

This is going to be a focus on defensive coaches because that is where the most opportunity is, an I say that because the Titans have the exact same offensive coaching staff that they did last year and it worked out really well for them.

However, the defensive side of the ball is a completely different story and you could argue that they lost three of the four biggest voices on that side of the ball (excluding Vrabel).

As best as I can tell, this is a comprehensive list of the defensive coaches on the Titans staff in 2019 compared to an updated list from 2020:

[Note: The italicized names are coaches that returned from the last season in the basically the same role, while the names in bold are positions that have been replaced or are still open]

2019

Defensive coordinator – Dean Pees
Defensive line – Terrell Williams
Outside linebackers – Shane Bowen
Inside linebackers – Tyrone McKenzie
Secondary − Kerry Coombs
Defensive assistant – Scott Booker
Defensive assistant – Ryan Crow (new assistant ST coach)
Defensive quality control – Matt Pees

2020

Defensive line – Terrell Williams
Outside linebackers – Shane Bowen
Inside linebackers – Jim Haslett
Secondary − Anthony Midget
Safeties – Scott Booker
Defensive assistant – Matt Edwards
Quality control – Matt Pees

That means that two positions remain open: Defensive Coordinator and Defensive assistant #2.

Now, DC is probably going to be a combination of Mike Vrabel, Shane Bowen, Jim Haslett, and maybe even Terrell Williams, but be careful with that idea. The Titans don’t need to bring in a new coach (Jim Haslett) and expect him to be a position coach AND be able to float around from position group to position groups like a DC would normally do.

The Titans need bodies on the defensive side of the ball, by that I mean guys who can either float around and do a little bit of everything behind the main position coach, or someone who can step in and coach the EDGEs, DL or LBs so that one of those three position coaches can be more of a “floater”.

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