Titans LB Kenneth Murray is benefiting from better coaching, scheme change

Tennessee Titans linebacker Kenneth Murray has been the team's biggest surprise performer throughout training camp to date. Murray is flying around and making plays at practice as the team's standout off-ball linebacker. It's possible that the former first-round pick is benefiting from better coaching and a schematic change in approach.

Murray signed a two-year contract worth $15.5 million with the Titans earlier this offseason. It was an unpopular move by general manager Ran Carthon, with waves of Los Angeles Chargers fans taking to social media to wish the Titans "good luck." Fast forward a few short months later and Murray is rewarding the Titans for giving him an opportunity. He's quickly acclimating to Dennard Wilson's defense with both men benefiting from the other's presence.

Murray never met the Chargers' expectations as their 23rd overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. In April of last year, then-GM Tom Telesco declined his fifth-year player option. When free agency opened, the Chargers showed no interest in re-signing Murray, who signed a contract with the Titans that pays him $7.75 million annually. Not exactly what ex first-rounders typically have in mind for their second contract.

Murray was considered a liability versus the pass and run throughout his four seasons with the Chargers. As a downhill defender, he struggled to read-and-react and shed blocks. I.Q. in coverage with a failure to consistently beat receivers to his landmark was a recurring problem.

Earlier this week, Murray discussed how playing in Wilson's defense has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on his performance, something that's been evident at every Titans practice to date.

"I just think scheme wise, it's different compared to what I've been asked to do in the past," Murray said. "In the past, it was more of a stack-and-track fallback type of deal. We weren't based on pressure. I feel like in Dennard's scheme, he wants to be aggressive blitzing packages. It's just a different type of scheme."

"Absolutely," Murray responded to a follow-up question about Wilson's defense fitting his skill set. "I'm coming downhill and blitzing, getting on running backs, coming off the edge, being in the middle and flying around, it tailors to me," Murray concluded.

Wilson recently said he wants Murray to play with a "green light," to cut it loose and play distraction-free football. Titans cornerback L'Jarius Sneed called Murray "our leader" during Sunday's press conference with local media. It qualifies as high praise from one of the league's few elite cornerbacks, who is seemingly following Murray's lead on and off the field.

Murray was drafted by the Chargers in 2020 when Anthony Lynn was the head coach and Gus Bradley was the defensive coordinator. He finished his rookie season with a career-high 107 tackles, and a personal-best run stopping grade of 60.1 from Pro Football Focus, though his coverage grade was a lackluster 50.8.

The Chargers fired Lynn and appointed defensive-minded head coach Brandon Staley in 2021. The scheme changed dramatically, and Murray's play and numbers suffered. Injuries shortened his sohpomore campaign, and he never quite got comfortable under the new staff. In Murray's first full season playing under Staley (2022), his PFF run-stopping grade was an unfathomable 27.8.

Murray's recent comments and current form does make you wonder if Staley was the culprit. It's not like Murray was the only Charger that struggled under his tutelage. Despite being a defense-oriented coach, Staley's Chargers finished 29th (2021) and 22nd (2022) in points allowed per game during his two complete seasons in charge. They fielded bottom-five run defenses in both years.

Staley was fired this past December following a historic 63-21 Week 15 loss to the lowly Las Vegas Raiders. Staley compiled a 24-24 record in two-and-a-half-years as the Chargers head coach, but his tenure was worse than those average numbers indicate. In addition to the 63-point effort in his final game, his Chargers blew a historic lead in the playoffs against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, and his teams generally failed to take advantage of a roster that had a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert.

Every practice Murray shines at forces you to begin wondering if Staley's incompetence was the true reason behind his struggles. Murray clearly feels enlightened under Wilson, playing in a more aggressive scheme that he feels suits his abilities.

The story on Murray's tenure with the Titans is far from written, but it's beginning to look like Carthon discovered a gem that suffered from coaching malpractice.