Mike Vrabel is set to begin his sixth season as head coach of the Tennessee Titans in 2023. In this time, he has led the Titans to 50 wins, 3 playoff appearances, back-to-back Division titles, and an AFC Championship Game appearance. During his tenure with the Titans, the 3x Super Bowl-winning Linebacker’s teams have been most known for their tenacious defenses. The 2023 team looks to be no different, even with hype building for the offense following the signing of veteran Wide Receiver Deandre Hopkins. Let’s dive into a preview of the Titans defense heading into the new season!
The Titans are coming off a 2022 season where the defense ranked first in run defense and third in third-down defense. While stars Jeffery Simmons, Kevin Byard, and Harold Landry are now locked into long-term contracts, the team’s new General Manager Ran Carthon faced a tough challenge this off-season of replacing David Long Jr, Zach Cunningham, and Bud Dupree. He did just that, however, with the signing of Azeez Al-Shaair and Arden Key. Both of these players are thought to be high-energy, team-first players; the exact type of players that thrive in a Mike Vrabel system. Carthon also signed veteran Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting to bolster a secondary with emerging stars such as Kristian Fulton, Roger McCreary, and Amani Hooker, to go along with 2x All-Pro and arguably the best safety in the NFL, Kevin Byard.
THE NEW GUYS
Azeez Al-Shaair is a four-year NFL veteran who has played his entire career with the San Francisco 49ers. Before an injury-ridden 2022 season, Al-Shaiir started 13 games in 2021, finishing 2nd on his team with 102 tackles, to go along with 2 sacks, an interception, 2 fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble. Going into his 5th season, the 6’2” Middle Linebacker is looking to be a force for the Titans’ defense.
Arden Key might be the most “key” addition to the defense in 2023 (pun intended). The Titans love their former SEC players (see Jeff Simmons, Derrick Henry, Kristian Fulton, Roger McCreary, and more), so it’s no shock to see another one sign with the team. The former LSU standout struggled to gain traction in the NFL in his first 3 seasons with the Raiders. In 2021 with the 49ers, however, Key began to blossom, totaling 22 tackles and 6.5 sacks without starting a single game. In 2022, Key played his only season with the Jaguars, upping his tackles to 27, while adding 4.5 sacks on a defense that carried the Jaguars to their first AFC South title since 2017 and only their second in franchise history. Key has plenty of support in a Titans defense that is anchored by its strong defensive line. The 6’5” Defensive End is looking to have a breakout season for the Titans in 2023.
Sean Murphy-Bunting is a four-year, Super Bowl-winning NFL veteran. He has played every season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to this point, totaling 188 tackles, 1 forced fumble every year, 1 touchdown, and 6 interceptions. Murphy-Bunting adds valuable depth to a secondary that desperately needs it. He gives the Titans an outside Cornerback option that allows Roger McCreary to play inside where he is much more comfortable. With Murphy-Bunting and Kristian Fulton on the outside, Roger McCreary on the inside, and Amani Hooker and Kevin Byard backing them up at the safety positions, the Titans secondary is poised to be better than it has ever been.
THE COMPETITION
The biggest competition in training camp on the defensive side of the ball is between Monty Rice (another SEC guy) and Jack “Dr. Gibby” Gibbens for the 2nd starting Middle Linebacker position. Monty Rice is a former 3rd-round pick entering his 3rd season in the NFL, all with the Titans. Rice has amassed 102 tackles in 2 seasons with 10 games started and 23 games played. Jack Gibbens, or “Dr. Gibby” as Coach Vrabel calls him, was an undrafted free agent signing in 2022. He appeared in 5 games as a rookie, starting 2 games. He totaled 16 tackles, 1 pass deflection, and 1 interception in his short time on the field.
The key differences between these two players are athleticism, length, and pass defense. Monty Rice is a heat-seeking missile on the field, and you are bound to see him around the ball on nearly every play. His athleticism is astounding and makes up for his undersized frame, standing at only 6’0”. Jack Gibbens, on the other hand, is 6’3” and can defend the pass as well as any linebacker I have seen in recent memory.
My guess is that, like most things, the answer to this battle lies somewhere in the middle. I would love it if we could mash up these two players and create another Ray Lewis. Since we’re not going to be able to do that, the Titans are most likely going to rotate the two young Linebackers in situational settings. Nonetheless, the future is exciting at the Middle Linebacker spot for the Titans with two budding monsters going at it for the 2nd starting spot.
WHERE WE STAND
Led by Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen and Head Coach Mike Vrabel, this Titans defense is one of the most talented I have seen in my almost 25 years of being a Titans fan. Even with most of the training camp hype surrounding Deandre Hopkins and the rest of the Titans’ offense, the defense is looking stronger than ever. We all know the age-old saying “offense wins games, defense wins championships.” Even in an offense-dominant league, this saying still reigns true. If the Titans can get there healthy, I’ll take my chances betting on this defense to carry the team deep in the postseason!
