Tennessee Titans fans are excited for the Robert Saleh era, and a big reason for that excitement is that he has proven that whether he is a defensive coordinator or a head coach, he is going to bring an elite defense with him.
It looks like Saleh is gearing up for another elite defense by pairing guys like Jeffery Simmons, Cedric Gray, and Amani Hooker with big free agent signings like John Franklin-Myers, Jeremaine Johnson, Alontae Taylor, and Cor'Dale Flott. Then the Titans ramped it up even further by trading up to spend a first-round pick on EDGE Keldric Faulk.
As if all of that weren't enough, the Titans made one more big addition to the defense, and it is one many people are overlooking. That man is linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., and Matt Bowen explained why he was one of the 15 best fits in the entire draft.
NFL Draft: Titans LB Anthony Hill Jr. is Robert Saleh's missing piece
"Hill's range and speed fit as a stack linebacker in new coach Robert Saleh's defense. In addition to his ability to track the ball on the perimeter and strike blockers, Hill can impact coverage and pressure schemes. Look for him to match inside seams or roam the underneath zones in pass coverage.
Hill can also create ball production under Saleh, finishing with eight forced fumbles and three interceptions in college. In Saleh's overload fronts, Hill can attack the interior gaps and edges through stunts. He had 17 career sacks at Texas."
No one in the NFL knows linebackers like Saleh, and the fact that the Titans traded up for someone who clearly has a skillset that he covets is a very big deal. It is clear that this defense is trying to live up to its mantra of "fast and violent," and this has led to some speculation that the Titans should try to trade Cody Barton to open up a spot for Hill in the starting lineup.
While a lot was made about the Titans not making a heavy investment in a high-end "wide-nine" type of EDGE this offseason, it makes sense when you look at what the team did. This defense now has waves of defensive linemen who can get to the quarterback, and they also have second- and third-level defenders who can blitz effectively, which makes it a nightmare for offensive linemen and running backs when they have to pick up blitzes.
Hill joins Taylor, Gray, and Kevin Winston as defenders that pass protections have to take seriously when they mug the line of scrimmage, even though Saleh doesn't want to blitz too often. That threat can be as useful as a good pass rusher in the hands of a good coach, and Saleh is a great defensive coach.
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