New defensive weapons, new coaching. What do you expect?

I expect more blitzes and a lot of accountability for players giving up big plays (Griffen and Hope take heed).

I expect Ayers to become our SAM LB and blitz a lot if he's as good as advertised (I'm not sold yet). If Tully comes back it will be an interesting LB battle on the outsides. Hope is a big liability in pass coverage so I'm hoping we grab a vet and cut him or perhaps Fuller can beat him out or come in on obvious passing downs.

I expect more man to man and better run d.

I expect some creativity on defense and most importantly - good in game adjustments and not allowing the offense easy favorable matchups by formation.

I expect our D to improve and if it doesn't, the pieces that are broken will be replaced!

I think we will see some more slightly different looks but nothing TOO exotic considering its a new defense and with likely little training camp and installation time, we may need time before we do anything drastically different.

It'll be interesting to see what we do with Finny. Does he match up with the other teams best WR all over the field or do we move him inside in nickel?

I expect to see Jason Jones playing a lot of DE on run downs and move inside on obvious passing situations.

I expect we will tackle a LOT better and not blow assignments too much (outside of learning the new d). This alone should be a big improvement.

I expect us to be middle of the pack statistically or better unless our offense stinks and our d is living on the field.

Gut

Gut

 

Gray was the DC for Buffalo for a few years so based on his philosophy there I expect some of the same.

In 03-04 the Bills D (they ranked #2 in the league) ran the 4-3, and had two monster DT's in Pat Williams and Sam Adams, Takeo Spikes and London Fletcher at LB and Nate Clements and Antoine Winfield at CB's. They were aggressive and were great at stopping the run, and they could get after the QB because of a good pass rush and good secondary.

So we can see Gray might really like to have two big DTs to block off the middle and allow LBs to make plays (which doesn't fit JJ). He also likes good CBs who can cover man on man to support his aggressive style which includes sending LBs after the QB. We drafted a couple of LBs (one who is good at rushing the QB) and a pretty stout DT. We have some CBs who can fit his scheme already although Verner might be more of a zone guy or need help over the top. It might come down to locking in either McCourty or Verner as the starter on the outside early and getting the other a bunch of reps in the nickel. I'd assume we will see a similar style to what we saw from Greg Williams and the SS might come closer to the LOS with the FS playing a deep middle.

LeBeau actually worked in Buffalo as a defensive assistant in 2003 (after being fired as a HC in 2002) so for that year anyway Gray had a good mentor. LeBeau left for the Steelrs DC job in 2004. So I think some of that aggresive style LeBeau likes to use has rubbed off on Gray. Even though we will run a 4-3 we will do some hybrid things that allow us to do things you do in a 3-4 so the Ayers pick makes sense.

 

A few shutouts would be sweet. When is the last time we kept our opponent from scoring a single point?

 

We have defensive weapons? Sadly, I don't see any right now...

 

The last titans/colts game I attended... I was sitting up in the upper deck and I could tell who Manning was going to throw the ball too just based on our scheme. Like back in 2009, Nick Harper is playing 7 yards off the line of scrimmage... What happens? Garcon runs a few yards, slants, 8 yard gain... Wash, rinse, repeat. I'm not calling out just nick harper... This has happened alot in the past few years and if I can sit up in the 3rd deck and figure out where the ball is going... Why couldn't Chuck Cecil figure it out?

 

I honestly think it's Christmas 2000 versus the Cowboys.

 

that's correct. also, that game was the week after the Titans bageled the Browns on December 17, 2000.

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=201217005

 

lol 79 yards passing.

 

I would say JJ is one at this point, and Verner if he develops has potential to be one. Also Griffin when he's playing good.

 

I dont know what to expect persay...but I certainly am hoping for some more creativity !!! I'm beyond sick of sitting at home and knowing what defense they're going to call. Whats that old saying "..cant continue to do the same thing and expect a different result?". Here's hoping the Titans take some risks next season...