Following a lackluster preseason opener, Big Jeff is igniting a "fast and violent" defensive culture, challenging Tennessee to embrace a relentless standard of play against elite competition.
The Tennessee Titans were embarrassed even though they beat the San Francisco 49ers in their first preseason game.
At times, the defense didn't look like a defense.
Jeffery Simmons and the Titans took that personally when they welcomed the Seattle Seahawks to town at joint practice on Friday.
Alontae Taylor had a pick-six, and the defense rebounded with a good showing against the reigning Super Bowl champion.
Simmons was one of the players who went to the podium after the defense's performance. The Titans captain then made a fiery statement on the Seahawks.
He noted that he is of the mindset that you have to prove it again. Just because the Seahawks won the Super Bowl last year doesn't mean anything.
It's a new year, and a new chance to prove to the NFL that you deserve to be one of the best teams. What you did last year is irrelevant.
"Listen, man, I'm a firm believer that you've got to prove it again," Simmons said. "I don't care about the Super Bowl. I don't care. And that was my message to the team. Who cares? Who cares cause they won a Super Bowl? It's our standard. I don't care how Hard Knocks. Seahawks Knocks. Like, I don't care. They won a Super Bowl. So what? It's about us. The way we attack practice is our standard. We talked about it in the meeting. We talk about fast and violent. Like, that's what we saw today. I mean, three of their offensive linemen went down. I mean, that's the Super Bowl champs. So what? But we came with the right mindset today. Props to them. I mean, they're a good football team, and we got some good work today."
This is the kind of energy we've been needing to see from this Titans defense. Robert Saleh has definitely had a part in it.
We haven't really seen this kind of energy from the Titans' defense since the days of Mike Vrabel.
Playing fast and violent is at the forefront of this Titans' defense now that Saleh is the head coach. Saleh said that was his philosophy at his first press conference as head coach.
To some people, this may sound like Simmons is trash-talking the Seahawks. There were definitely parts that could be perceived that way.
In reality, Simmons was talking to the Titans.
This is how the team should go into an opportunity against a team like the Seahawks every time. After watching Saleh get amped up on the sidelines last year when the Titans played the 49ers, it seems that Simmons is starting to act like his head coach.
Simmons and the Titans needed this badly. Hopefully, this will start to turn things around in the organization.
