Titans alter roles of Ayers, Brown

One of the more surprising snap-count stats to come out of the Titans’ loss to Indianapolis on Sunday was that rookie linebacker Zach Brown was on the field for 56 of the 76 defensive snaps, while second-year linebacker Akeem Ayers was on the field for only 36 snaps.

Titans coach Mike Munchak said there were a couple of reasons for those numbers.

One, the team has decided to use the speedy Brown as its primary linebacker in nickel situations.

“We felt Zach was ready to take over the nickel `Will’ linebacker spot off the ball,” Munchak said of Brown, the Titans’ second-round pick last April, who finished with four tackles and a quarterback hit. “He’s been doing some of that the last two or three weeks.”

Second, the Titans are using Ayers more often as a down lineman in passing situations, and they’re trying to conserve some of his energy so that he can be more explosive when he is on the field.

Ayers put up big numbers against the Colts with seven tackles (one for loss), a sack, two quarterback hits and a pass defensed.

“We’re letting Akeem … be more of a rush end and help as a defensive end,” Munchak said. “We used him more in those roles to where he could rush and get the sack as a defensive end. He beat the tackle on the corner and that’s a step we think he can (make) and add to the rotation there.

“He had some nice pressures, he was chasing the quarterback quite a few times. He had the one sack, he batted a ball, forced a fumble. So him not playing as many plays , I think increased his energy and productivity. Because in the past he was playing almost the whole game.”



Posted In: Team News

Source: Titans Insider