4 Titans on defense that exceeded expectations in preseason Week 1

Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson debuted his defense in Saturday's 17-13 preseason win over the San Francisco 49ers. The scheme was mostly "vanilla," typical of preseason football, but there were instances of Wilson highlighting the aggressive unit we expect to see once the regular season begins. It was overall an impressive showing for Tennessee's defense.

The 49ers converted just 4-of-13 third-and-fourth-down attempts. Wilson's defense held Kyle Shanahan's rushing attack to 67 yards and 286 total yards of offense. The 49ers punted five times and held a time of possession under 25 minutes.

Several ascending Titans defenders took advantage of their opportunities. We've identified four in particular.

Chance Campbell, LB

Third-year linebacker Chance Campbell was the MVP of Saturday's defensive performance. The former Ole Miss standout was everywhere, recording eight total tackles, one sack, and one interception. Campbell flew around sideline to sideline, showcasing the athletic potential that made him such an intriguing prospect in the 2022 draft.

Campbell's sack was the result of a well-designed blitz from Wilson. He was shot out of a cannon into the backfield with second-year pass rusher Caleb Murphy. Campbell also hauled in the game-clinching interception on a desperation Hail Mary as time expired.

Campbell entered training camp firmly on the roster bubble. The Titans are deep at off-ball linebacker, with players like James Williams, Jojo Domann, Luke Gifford, and Otis Reese all vying for roster spots and playing time. Campbell played like someone that should be in the mix to start opposite Kenneth Murray.