Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson debuted his defense in Saturday’s 17-13 preseason win over the San Francisco 49ers. The scheme was mostly “vanilla,” typical of preseason football, but there were instances of Wilson highlighting the aggressive unit we expect to see once the regular season begins. It was overall an impressive showing for Tennessee’s defense.
The 49ers converted just 4-of-13 third-and-fourth-down attempts. Wilson’s defense held Kyle Shanahan’s rushing attack to 67 yards and 286 total yards of offense. The 49ers punted five times and held a time of possession under 25 minutes.
Several ascending Titans defenders took advantage of their opportunities. We’ve identified four in particular.
Chance Campbell, LB
Third-year linebacker Chance Campbell was the MVP of Saturday’s defensive performance. The former Ole Miss standout was everywhere, recording eight total tackles, one sack, and one interception. Campbell flew around sideline to sideline, showcasing the athletic potential that made him such an intriguing prospect in the 2022 draft.
Chance Campbell has been EVERYWHERE today #TENvsSF pic.twitter.com/u0t4oDGujP
— Justin Graver (@titansfilmroom) August 11, 2024
Campbell’s sack was the result of a well-designed blitz from Wilson. He was shot out of a cannon into the backfield with second-year pass rusher Caleb Murphy. Campbell also hauled in the game-clinching interception on a desperation Hail Mary as time expired.
Campbell entered training camp firmly on the roster bubble. The Titans are deep at off-ball linebacker, with players like James Williams, Jojo Domann, Luke Gifford, and Otis Reese all vying for roster spots and playing time. Campbell played like someone that should be in the mix to start opposite Kenneth Murray.
Keondre Coburn, DT
Titans sophomore defensive tackle Keondre Coburn was added to the roster by general manager Ran Carthon last December in the midst of an unimpressive stretch. Coburn entered his first training camp with the Titans this offseason while attempting to impress a new coaching staff. The former Texas Longhorn looked explosive and strong on Saturday.
Keondre Coburn was HYPE after this TFL 😤
📱: Stream #SFvsTEN on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/deU8wuxClv
— NFL (@NFL) August 11, 2024
Coburn is trying to solidify himself as a rotational linemen in Dennard Wilson’s defense. He’s a true nose tackle that projects as a potential backup for T’Vondre Sweat, an ex teammate of his at Texas. Coburn (and his swarming teammates) helped take down 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs on fourth down to force a turnover on downs with under two minutes remaining.
Coburn’s determination to chase down a scrambling Dobbs was impressive considering he weighs approximately 335 pounds.
Jarvis Brownlee Jr., CB
With L’Jarius Sneed and Chido Awuzie sitting Saturday out, I figured we’d see a healthy dose of fifth-round rookie Jarvis Brownlee Jr. Brownlee ended up totaling 25 defensive snaps. Only Gabe Jeudy-Lally (30) and Eric Garror (28) played more snaps at cornerback.
Jarvis Brownlee Jr. good coverage downfield to force the incompletion #TENvsSF pic.twitter.com/KMkvk8xEAx
— Justin Graver (@titansfilmroom) August 11, 2024
Brownlee recorded an outstanding pass breakup deep down the field. The former Louisville performer displayed the patience of a veteran, matching the receiver stride for stride before getting his head turned around to relocate the football. Brownlee then played through the hands of the receiver to force the incompletion. It’s looking likelier that he’ll be Tennessee’s fourth cornerback this season behind Sneed, Awuzie, and Roger McCreary.
Otis Reese, LB
Titans sophomore linebacker Otis Reese has presumably had a “quiet” training camp, based on the lack of mentions he’s receiving on social media. Part of me wondered where the Reese that earned national acclaim for his late-season performance versus the Houston Texans last season had gone. That version of the player popped back up on Saturday.
Am I wrong to think that Otis Reese IV is a top two ILB on this team… #TENvsSF pic.twitter.com/037wZWXGLX
— Justin Graver (@titansfilmroom) August 10, 2024
Reese entered the game on the second defensive series and immediately made his presence felt. He recorded a signature tackle for loss on one of his first defensive snaps and made an excellent play in coverage on the next play. It’s a reminder that Reese thrives when playing actual football, and he should receive consideration from Dennard Wilson and the coaching staff to start opposite Kenneth Murray this season.
