Story By: Brady Trapnell
When the Titans took the field for warm-ups at Saint Thomas Sports Park Monday morning, corner Logan Ryan looked over at reporters and said, “You won’t be talking about the offense today.”
He was not kidding. With pads on and the defense raring to go, there was a heightened intensity on the field for day three. Head Coach Mike Mularkey took notice.
“The communication is outstanding. We are doing a lot,” said Mularkey on the defense. “We are in a lot of places and have a lot of different people in a lot of places. We have a lot of new guys in a lot of different places. The communication has been great. You can see the value of the offseason work.”
The communication has been coming from MTSU product, safety Kevin Byard. The young safety has been shouting out coverage looks and giving directions. In most cases a third-round pick is not thrust into that role so soon, Mularkey said he’s earned it.
“It’s doesn’t seem like he is going into his second year,” he said on Byard. “He looks like a long-time vet the way he makes his calls and gets everybody in the right place.
“Offensively we do a lot of things, there are a lot of moving parts that you have to adjust to and make sure everyone is on the same page to adjust to what we do. He has done very well with that.”
In 2016, Byard finished with 51 total tackles, four passes defended and a sack. However, he did not have an interception, which was something he was known for in college. He hopes to change that this season, as he assumes the job of starting free safety.
“It was tough,” said Byard on having no interceptions. “I know for sure it will be different this year. The more I am on the field, the more I’ll be around the ball, the more the plays are going to happen. I am not worried about it … I have good ball skills. The ball is going to come.”
The ball did find its’ way into the hands of strong safety, Da’Norris Searcy on Monday. In his third year with the Titans, Searcy picked off quarterback Marcus Mariota in team drills for his first interception thrown of camp.
“He is very steady and very consistent. Just like Kevin Byard he is a guy who does a lot of communication for us,” said Mularkey on Searcy.
Mularkey said the team was especially excited after winning the turnover battle in day three. The coaching staff is giving the defense an opportunity to leave 30-minutes early from tonight’s meetings.
With a good day from the offense on Sunday and now an improvement from the defense, the overarching story: everyone is improving.
That is what the head coach wants to see.
“I’ve been really pleased with our defense the last three days,” said Mularkey. “We’ve got three good days of work in, we’ve gotten better every day.”
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