Titans veterans detail Dennard Wilson's 'seamless' transition as defensive coordinator

Dennard Wilson commands the room as Titans DC

"If you'd have asked me, I would have assumed that he'd been a DC multiple times before," edge rusher Rashad Weaver said on The Buck Reising Show. "It was seemless for him. He has control of the room, as it should be, as a DC. I think its all coming together quickly, honestly." 

Wilson chose the Titans over several other opportunities with 12 years of NFL coaching experience, with nine seasons of coaching defensive backs.

In his one year with the Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore ranked first in points allowed (16.5 per game), first in sacks (60) and first in turnover differential (+12) with 31 total takeaways. Prior to joining the Ravens, Wilson spent was with the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons as a Defensive Backs coach (2021) and then added Defensive Passing Game Coordinator to his responsibilities in 2022. Philadelphia made it to the Super Bowl that season.

Bringing Wilson to Tennessee might even represent an upgrade over former coach Mike Vrabel's staff.

"The intensity he got, the attention to detail," pass rusher Arden Key said of Wilson last week. "We don’t move on until everything is fixed. The detail he got, the swag that he comes in with every day. Aw man, I’m excited.”

Asked if he felt the past regime "moved on" on before everything was fixed in a Titans defense that was middle-of-the-pack in 2023, Key responded: “Hell Yeah!” 

Callahan has also relished the work that his new offense has gotten. Wilson's this defense is one he's faced many times as a former coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.

"I've always disliked playing against Baltimore's red zone defense," said the head coach on the final day of mandatory minicamp work. "And so, it was challenging. So we had some moments that weren't as good as they need to be. And then, we came back today with a much better energy and approach to the seven-and-seven period. So I wouldn't say there's any separation between the two. I'm really happy with where those guys are at."

There's not question both units could stand to improve upon their performance of the last two losing seasons.