USAT: Titans Wire audio clip

USAT: Titans Wire

Feb 6, 2022

While down at the Pro Bowl in Las Vegas, players around the NFL are getting a chance to see Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons up close and personal. - And, judging by the comments of Indianapolis Colts players, they are making a very good impression. - Colts linebacker Darius Leonard praised Vrabel and expressed his respect for the Titans head coach, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. - “I’m so glad you even asked me about coach Vrabel, man,” Leonard said. “Ever since I’ve been playing against him for four years, I’ve had the utmost respect for him. And it wasn’t even how he coached, it was more so how he talked to his players, how he interacted with his guys. When his guy is on the turf hurt, he’s the first one out there to check up on him. As a player, that’s what you want to see from a coach. Now, being out here with him, seeing how he carries himself, seeing how he has fun with his guys, I have nothing but respect for coach Vrabel. He’s a hell of a coach and that’s why they have the success they’re having over there in Tennessee.” - Indy defensive lineman DeForest Buckner heaped praise on Simmons as well, according to Wyatt. - “He’s going to be one of the really good, elite defensive tackles in this league as he gets older,” Buckner said of Simmons. “He had a great year this year; I love watching him play, his aggressive style of play. Honestly, it’s the way his mindset, the way he goes into games, and then just meeting him here, being able to talk to him on a personal level. He’s a really good dude. I told him, even earlier in the season, I just love watching him play, his play style and all that kind of stuff. So, it’s pretty cool to see the type of player that he’s forming into and becoming, and I’m looking forward to seeing him at Pro Bowls and stuff like that in the future.” - Simmons and Vrabel both had great 2021 regular seasons. - Vrabel led the Titans to a 12-5 record and the No. 1 seed despite a ridiculous amount of injuries and is viewed as the frontrunner for AP NFL Coach of the Year. He has already taken home two such awards, one from the 101 Awards, and the other from the Pro Football Writers of America. - Simmons emerged as one of the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL, posted a career-high 8.5 sacks, and is playing in his first Pro Bowl as an injury replacement. He also added three sacks in the playoff loss. - While the Titans ultimately failed at their goal of winning a Super Bowl, the team’s future remains bright, with Vrabel and Simmons playing a big role in that. - - RelatedReport: Titans' Jim Schwartz interviewed for Giants DC vacancyPFF suggests Tennessee Titans' biggest offseason needsNevada QB Carson Strong: Senior Bowl meeting with Titans went really well - - List - - 6 AFC South stories from last week for Titans fans to know - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Titans Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Titans Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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