Saleh: Playcalling, Cam Ward among priorities with Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Robert Saleh mentioned Thursday that he’ll name the defensive performs for the Tennessee Titans, one thing he did not do in his first go-round as head coach of the New York Jets from 2021 to 2024.

Saleh mentioned not calling performs for the Jets is one thing he regrets as a result of it did not enable him to really feel the move of the sport and hook up with the gamers as a lot as he needed. New York was 20-36 in his time there.

“Calling performs, for me, it isn’t essentially about management, nevertheless it’s about connecting with the gamers,” Saleh mentioned at his introductory information convention. “When you find yourself calling performs, you’re feeling the pressure that you just’re placing on them with every name. You feel the connection and what each goes by. To name performs and preserve that connection, that really feel for what the gamers are going by, is essential for my seat. It is simply one of many many issues that’ll change all through my time.”

Discovering a solution to maximize quarterback Cam Ward, final 12 months’s No. 1 choose, shall be one in every of Saleh’s most crucial duties. That is why the defensive-minded coach employed former New York Giants coach Brian Daboll to be his offensive coordinator. Daboll has a historical past of working with profitable quarterbacks resembling Brett Favre, Tom Brady, Josh Allen and most not too long ago Jaxson Dart.

Saleh known as Daboll the “excellent man to match up with Ward” and emphasised how Daboll’s scheme all the time will discover run/cross conflicts in opposing defenses, then “assault the s— out of it.”

Saleh did not have success with the Jets partly because of the workforce’s incapacity to develop Zach Wilson right into a franchise quarterback after New York chosen him with the No. 2 choose within the 2021 draft. On reflection, Saleh mentioned he felt he did not do sufficient to assist Wilson with a correct protection and a correct run sport. Saleh referenced Brady’s first 12 months with the New England Patriots for instance of easy methods to carry alongside a quarterback. Brady had 413 cross makes an attempt in 15 video games that season, ending with the primary of six Tremendous Bowl-winning seasons.

“He was backed by an elite protection with an unbelievable run sport and a system that allowed him to only type of transfer the sticks on third down, be nice in two-minute, be environment friendly within the purple zone and rating factors,” Saleh mentioned. “The easiest way to develop a quarterback is to offer him a workforce that does not make him really feel like he must be Superman. However, I do not need to put a straitjacket on him both.”

Saleh and Titans basic supervisor Mike Borgonzi may have over $100 million in cap area to spend on free brokers subsequent month, together with 10 draft picks, together with the No. 4 choice.

Saleh mentioned he only recently talked to Ward for the primary time, however Saleh appears to have an early grasp on what it is going to take for Ward to enhance on his rookie season, when he had 3,169 yards passing, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

“For Cam, it is simply serving to him perceive what’s most necessary in that second and serving to develop a mindset that he does not should be the hero,” Saleh mentioned. “It is OK to depend on your teammates.”