We’re about a week or so into Tennessee Titans training camp and some of the questions we had about this team are starting to clear up just a little bit. I mean, who the kicker is going to be for this team is maybe even cloudier than it was before – your guess is as good as mine – but otherwise, we’re starting to learn some things about this team. One of the encouraging things that I’ve seen is that, as reported, the revamped secondary seems to be jelling. It was a huge liability in 2020, and the Titans brass decided to practically blow the whole unit up because of it. But, when you’re basically starting over, and especially if you’re counting on a draft pick to come in and immediately become a pillar of the defense, there’s at least a little bit of concern (from a fan’s perspective) as to how this whole rebuild is going to go. Now, I’d say, “hey – it can’t get much worse than 2020,” but I understand why the apprehension exists.
The Titans brought in free agent Jackrabbit Jenkins, who has been one of the best pure cover guys in the NFL, to help alleviate the need. His addition is having an impact two-fold. First, we’ve heard since he made his Titans debut at mini-camp that he plays aggressively and passionately, and that’s rubbed off on the other defensive backs. Hell, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was at the podium on Tuesday, talking about how Jackrabbit has instilled a sense of swagger on this defense – one that the unit desperately needed after looking so flat for most of 2020.
#Titans DC Shane Bowen feels Jackrabbit Jenkins has added a degree of swagger to the defense. Says his willingness to compete rubs off on everyone on the team even the guys on the other side of the ball. pic.twitter.com/mtoTV5vRhI
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) August 3, 2021
Bowen mentioned that Jackrabbit is “constantly coaching guys up” – that is incredibly useful for a guy like Caleb Farley, who has all the physical tools in the world, but will be thrust into a starting role at a position that is incredibly difficult to play with all the receiving talent in the NFL. Emily Proud reported that Jackrabbit was working closely, one on one, with Farley, off to the side at practice on Monday, and I’d imagine that’s going to be a recurring theme throughout camp. It’s obvious that Bowen and the defense are going to lean on Jackrabbit’s experience and attitude to help rebuild a tough and competitive mindset.
But, Jackrabbit is also just, plain and simple, making plays. He picked off Ryan Tannehill twice in Saturday’s practice, and is flying around all over the field. This is important because it makes that swagger real. He’s playing with passion and the results are backing up his approach to practice.
Then, there’s Farley. Plenty of people in the national media were critical of the pick because of Farley’s injury status, and a lot of folks seemed ready to sound the alarm whenever he started training camp on one of the injury lists that always find a way to sound made-up. But, the Titans were well aware of this possibility when they drafted him. Everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief once he made his practice debut. All eyes have been on him since.
The Titans have never had a CB with the physical gifts of Caleb Farley…will be fascinating to see how his skills evolve at this level pic.twitter.com/7gN89C5qAy
— Buck Reising (@BuckReising) August 4, 2021
.@MikeMiracles just mentioned on the @FWordsPod Twitter Space (LIVE NOW) that looking at Caleb Farley around the other defensive backs was like looking at Derrick Henry around the other running backs. Quite the physical specimen – “they just don’t make guys that look like that.”
— The Unofficial Titans Podcast (@TitansPod) August 3, 2021
Of his practice debut, Jim Wyatt wrote:
“Farley looked good in his practice field debut, when he showed no lingering issues after months of rehabilitation and recovery from back surgery. Farley is big and athletic, and there’s no doubt he as all the physical tools. Farley ran well, and he looked fluid. He showed good footwork in a WR/DB releases drill, and he used his hands well. Farley did let a football go off his hands in a tip drill, but otherwise it was a pretty impressive start.”
The way they’ve practiced with Farley so far makes me think they are already all in on the guy – like, he and Jenkins are the guys, no doubt about it. But, even beyond those two, we’re seeing encouraging things from the other guys. On Kristian Fulton, Luke Worsham reported: “Kristian Fulton dominated in today’s practice. 3 PBUs including an INT that would’ve been a pick six in a real game.” Elijah Molden is lookin’ sticky as all get out, too:
Elijah Molden is that guy‼️ #Titans
— Wes on Broadway (@TitansDraftTape) July 29, 2021
: Jim Wyatt pic.twitter.com/H9jHGdhXts
Even Chris Jackson is getting some praise from the head coach. Jackson has added quite a bit of muscle to his frame, and is playing aggressively at camp. I like Jackson as a depth guy that can play corner or safety when called upon. When you factor in the safeties – specifically that Amani Hooker is carving out his starting role next to Kevin Byard well, and that Byard seems to be on track for a solid rebound season – and I think there’s adequate reason for optimism with this unit. The talent and attitude is there for a quick turnaround in the secondary.
It’s an encouraging start for a unit that desperately has to be better in 2021. Mike Vrabel would be quick to remind you that a few practices don’t mean shit in the NFL. But, I would say that it’s certainly a better start than the alternative.
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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