Star defenders and new offensive weapons alike are rallying around a "fast and violent" philosophy, fueled by a high-IQ approach that prioritizes recovery and explosive physical play.
The Tennessee Titans hired Robert Saleh in January, and the players were bought in very quickly.
Not too long after the San Francisco 49ers were knocked out of the playoffs, the Titans brought in Saleh. The 49ers reached the Divisional round of the playoffs last season and lost to the Seattle Seahawks 41-6.
That loss was on Jan. 17, and the Titans didn't take very long to hire Saleh. He was announced as the head coach just five days later.
In his first press conference, Saleh said that his philosophy is to play fast and violent. That was one of the first things that stood out to linebacker Cedric Gray.
The Titans linebacker just had a tremendous season last year, finishing fourth in the NFL with 164 total tackles. He also had seven TFLs and one sack.
Gray shared this in a recent interview with NFL Analyst Jordan Schultz. It's no wonder the defenders liked Saleh from the get-go.
"I think one thing that we always talk about here is playing fast and violent," Gray said. "That can correct some of your mistakes, if you just go fast and be violent and blow things up. So, that's just one of the things that he teaches here, and I think that fits into my play style very well. I'm a thumper. I like to get downhill. I love to be violent."
Schultz also got the perspective of an offensive player for the Titans in Wan'Dale Robinson. Robinson is a newcomer to the franchise after joining the team in free agency this offseason.
Robinson was surprised by Saleh's football IQ. Even though people associate playing fast and violent with defense, it can be used on offense as well. Both sides of the ball are using that mantra, it seems.
"Just how smart he is," Robinson said. "You know, everything. Just how he's always thinking about us. Just the best way to put us in the best position to be successful. He always has science and everything to back it up. Just the way that he set up our practices. Basically, we never go with pads on like two days in a row. He wants us to get the most out of our practice. Have basically 48 hours to recover, and, like, at the end of the day, our practices have to be fast and violent, like he likes to call it. Feels really good."
There's no doubt that Saleh is a player's coach. Look at how fast players like Gray and Robinson have bought in to what he has been preaching all offseason.
These Titans are ready to run through a wall for their new head coach before the season opener.
