The Titans are ditching the 3-4 scheme for a relentless 4-3 attack, forcing linebackers into new roles while unleashing defensive linemen to hunt quarterbacks without hesitation.
Before Robert Saleh came into the picture, the Tennessee Titans primarily ran a different defensive system under Brian Callahan and Mike Vrabel.
There was the noticeable presence of outside linebackers in the systems that Callahan and Vrabel ran, as they both used the 3-4 defense. The 3-4 defense is characterized by using two defensive tackles, a defensive end and two outside linebackers who can pressure the quarterback or drop into coverage.
Saleh is installing his 4-3 system as he prepares for his first season as head coach of the Titans. This means outside linebacker is going to be a thing of the past, and players like Femi Oladejo, who came in at that position out of college, will now be classified as edge rushers and play on the defensive line.
Saleh is planning on using two defensive tackles and two edge rushers. In this system, his linebackers typically won't be on the line of scrimmage, and the expectation is that defensive tackles like Jeffery Simmons will be extremely versatile.
It's going to be a transition for sure.
Players like Oladejo are going to have to learn how to play a new position. In college at both UCLA and Cal, Oladejo was a linebacker, and now he'll have to learn to pressure quarterbacks and get into the backfield by lining up on the defensive line.
Saleh went to the podium again on Thursday and dropped a quote that explains how his defense is going to work quite well. He said that if a defensive lineman dropped into coverage, defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton would probably blow up the building.
This was obviously hyperbolic, as Whitecotton would never do such a thing. However, it's a pretty good explanation of how Saleh's 4-3 system will work.
"Like I said, our nickel has maybe five techniques that he's gotta know," Saleh said. "I think Aaron [Whitecotton] would blow this building up if I dropped a D-lineman into coverage, even though it's gonna happen a couple of times, but that's not what they're meant to do in our system. Our system is meant for them to go forward, to set edges and attack the line of scrimmage and get to the quarterback."
This system has produced great seasons from versatile defensive linemen that Saleh has worked with in the past. Rookie Keldric Faulk was compared to Arik Armstead, who posted a career-high 10 sacks with Saleh as his defensive coordinator at the San Francisco 49ers in 2019.
There's also Jermaine Johnson, who is now with the Titans. He and Saleh were together at the New York Jets from 2022-24. Johnson had the best season of his career with Saleh at the Jets in 2023, accounting for 55 total tackles, 11 TFLs and 7.5 sacks.
The defensive line is going to set the tone for this Saleh defense. That much is clear after what was said at Thursday's press conference.
