Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson continues to elevate the little-known talent in the secondary
The Tennessee Titans had a vision for what their secondary would look like in 2024. Planning to field five defensive backs with regularity to slow down today’s pass-happy attacks, defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson would deploy L’Jarius Sneed and Chido Awuzie as his boundary cornerbacks, Roger McCreary as his nickel, and Amani Hooker and Quandre Diggs as his safeties. Life comes at you fast in the NFL.
Four of those secondary players were unavailable for the Titans heading into Sunday’s Week 12 AFC South showdown versus the Houston Texans. Sneed was recently placed on IR in a move that threatens to end his season after already missing multiple weeks with a quad injury. Awuzie has also been sidelined for the majority of the campaign. Diggs has a season-ending injury, and Hooker woke up Sunday with flu-like symptoms.
Tennessee’s starting safeties were Mike Brown and Daryl Worley, the latter of which initially joined the Titans via the practice squad earlier this month. The starting corners, as per usual this season, were Jarvis Brownlee Jr., Darrell Baker Jr., and McCreary. Brownlee Jr. recorded an interception and routinely battled with Texans superstar wideout Nico Collins.
First career INT for @JarvisBrownlee3!
: Watch #TENvsHOU on @NFLonCBS stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/xbXvjMAMJW
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) November 24, 2024
Wilson maximized the talent available to him despite the challenge against a Texans offense featuring CJ Stroud, Collins, Tank Dell, Joe Mixon, and Dalton Schultz. Stroud completed 20 of 33 passing attempts for 247 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Linebacker Kenneth Murray, who’s struggled in coverage this year, got Tennessee’s other interception.
No Texans receiver recorded more than five receptions or reached 100 receiving yards. Brownlee Jr. was tagged with allowing three catches on five targets for 91 receiving yards and one touchdown. The numbers are acceptable, given that he drew the Collins assignment in coverage.
Wilson has been an outstanding hire for head coach Brian Callahan. The defense has dealt with an abundance of adversity, particularly in the secondary via injuries, and that situation should have reached a boiling point versus the Texans on Sunday. Instead, Wilson continued maximizing the talent available to him. Credit to little-known names such as Worley, Brown, and Baker Jr. for playing quality football.