In a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh confirmed that one of the team's biggest offseason acquisitions will be filling more than one role for the team this upcoming season.
Alontae Taylor needs no introduction to the fine folks in Tennessee, but if you weren't aware, the former Tennessee Volunteers star has been one of the most impactful defensive backs in the NFL since entering the league.
During his time with the New Orleans Saints, Taylor was one of the NFL's leaders in havoc plays, a metric that measures tackles for loss, forced fumbles, sacks, interceptions, and pass breakups. Taylor already made his mark on the Titans in OTAs and minicamp.
Robert Saleh confirms Titans' plan for CB Alontae Taylor
Taylor is flexible enough to play inside in the slot and outside on the boundary, which allowed him to be used like a weapon as a blitzer. The versatile usage also provides him chances to cover top targets on the outside.
That is why fans thought that Taylor's flexibility would factor into his role in the Titans' defense this fall. However, for months, there hasn't been much talk about that being an option. In fact, it has been emphasized over and over that Taylor is going to play on the boundary this season.
While Taylor has all of the skills to be a full-time boundary cornerback, fans and analysts were concerned that this put too much pressure on second-year nickel Marcus Harris, who played limited snaps as a sixth-round pick last year.
For the first time since Taylor was signed, fans heard something different when Robert Saleh was wrapping up OTAs with Taylor Zarzour. A to Z Sports pointed this out, highlighting this line from saying, “He’s making a shift from a from a part-time corner, full-time nickel to a to a full-time corner, part-time nickel, and it is different out there."
This is a very smart move by the front office and the coaching staff, and it likely means that the Titans will have two different configurations for their three cornerbacks. Option one will have Cor'Dale Flott and Taylor as the boundary corners, with Harris in the slot. Option two will have Flott and Joshua Williams (a free agent pickup from the Kansas City Chiefs) on the boundary, with Taylor in the slot.
There is a reason why the Titans coveted Taylor enough to make him one of the team's highest priorities this offseason. Saleh's line of thinking confirms that the front office and coaching staff know exactly how special Taylor can be for this defense.
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