New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Joe Woods says his team’s upcoming game against the Tennessee Titans will definitely be physical and won in the trenches. The Titans’ objective is no secret: hammer Derrick Henry into the teeth of the opposing defense until something gives way.
Woods said Thursday he expects the Titans to play “smash mouth football”, but he feels the Saints defensive line has the size and strength to handle this type of game. They’ve made big investments up front this offseason, adding defensive linemen like Khalen Saunders, Nathan Shepherd, Bryan Bresee, and Isaiah Foskey to a group that was already one of the NFL’s biggest.
Buy Saints TicketsThat physicality extends to the Tennessee defense as well. When asked what to expect from the Titans, Saints quarterback Derek Carr called them “physical” three times. He labeled that quality as a calling card of the team and of their players as individuals. He also said head coach Mike Vrabel has those players aiming for physical domination every week.
This standard is represented by their premier players. Henry is the face of the Tennessee offense. He is arguably the most physical running back in the league. Jeffery Simmons, the biggest name on the Titans defense, mauls offensive linemen on a weekly basis. Physicality is a defining quality of the Titans team, and it starts with their stars. The Saints have to be ready to meet that physicality with physicality of their own. Enforcers like Trevor Penning and Cameron Jordan need to live up to their reputations.
