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With rookies reporting to Tennessee Titans training camp in less than a week, Titans Wire is in its home stretch of putting together our training camp previews.
Yesterday, we wrapped up the offense with our breakdown of the offensive line and looked at all of the competitors along the interior, which will be a definite area of focus for everyone once pads go on and the real competition can begin.
Today, we will turn our attention to the defense and look at the different positions in Robert Saleh’s attacking 4-3 scheme. As with some of the positions on offense, there will be battles that are a focus throughout camp. One of those is at linebacker, where there are questions on how it will shake out and who will be starting Week 1.
Entering camp, it appears that Cedric Gray and Cody Barton would be two of the three starters in the base defense, although some outsiders do wonder about Barton’s fit. The other starter will likely come from a group that includes James Williams Sr., rookie Anthony Hill Jr., or Mohamoud Diabate, with Dorian Mausi and Shad Banks Jr. battling for depth positions or special-teams recognition.
Gray is coming off an outstanding first season as a starter, appears to be ascending, and should be viewed as a building block in the new scheme. Add in rookie Anthony Hill, and the Titans have a talented duo to build around. The question is how fast Hill can work his way into the lineup.
Barton is a bit of an unknown at this point after struggling with inconsistent play in the Titans’ defense in 2025. If he can hold off Hill or Williams, he must improve from his performance last season.
Williams could be a wild card; the former college safety appeared to be ascending ahead of training camp in 2025, but lost his competition to Gray and never made the impact many expected. Heading into camp, it is possible that Hill beats out Barton, and if Williams can prove to be a consistent playmaker, he slides into the lineup.
Tennessee signed Diabate this offseason as a free agent, and he would appear to be locked in as a solid depth and special teams option, but Mausi will be in the mix.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans training camp preview: Interesting linebacker competition ahead
Continue reading...
Yesterday, we wrapped up the offense with our breakdown of the offensive line and looked at all of the competitors along the interior, which will be a definite area of focus for everyone once pads go on and the real competition can begin.
Today, we will turn our attention to the defense and look at the different positions in Robert Saleh’s attacking 4-3 scheme. As with some of the positions on offense, there will be battles that are a focus throughout camp. One of those is at linebacker, where there are questions on how it will shake out and who will be starting Week 1.
Entering camp, it appears that Cedric Gray and Cody Barton would be two of the three starters in the base defense, although some outsiders do wonder about Barton’s fit. The other starter will likely come from a group that includes James Williams Sr., rookie Anthony Hill Jr., or Mohamoud Diabate, with Dorian Mausi and Shad Banks Jr. battling for depth positions or special-teams recognition.
Gray is coming off an outstanding first season as a starter, appears to be ascending, and should be viewed as a building block in the new scheme. Add in rookie Anthony Hill, and the Titans have a talented duo to build around. The question is how fast Hill can work his way into the lineup.
Barton is a bit of an unknown at this point after struggling with inconsistent play in the Titans’ defense in 2025. If he can hold off Hill or Williams, he must improve from his performance last season.
Williams could be a wild card; the former college safety appeared to be ascending ahead of training camp in 2025, but lost his competition to Gray and never made the impact many expected. Heading into camp, it is possible that Hill beats out Barton, and if Williams can prove to be a consistent playmaker, he slides into the lineup.
Tennessee signed Diabate this offseason as a free agent, and he would appear to be locked in as a solid depth and special teams option, but Mausi will be in the mix.
This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Titans training camp preview: Interesting linebacker competition ahead
Continue reading...
