The Tennessee ***** ans kicked off the opening salvo of training camp when rookies reported on Thursday and are just days away from taking the field.
The ***** ans changed almost everything during the offseason, with an upgraded staff led by head coach Robert Saleh, a retooled roster, and even a new organizational brand, setting higher expectations heading into the 2026 season. With so many new faces, it will be interesting to watch the team come together and build a solid foundation.
This is also true of the staff, the new coordinators, and the position coaches. Where Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic believes new nickelback coach Dalton Hilliard could be a coach to watch on Saleh’s staff.
Tennessee ***** ans: Dalton Hilliard, defensive backs/nickels
Hilliard will be in his first NFL coaching season after a decade in college football. While Tennessee’s new coaching staff is a bit of a wild card, its structure shows real potential — and part of my reasoning starts with Hilliard. To split the three DBs coaches (safeties, cornerbacks, nickels) into more specific designations is interesting in itself and extremely in tune with the modern game. But to have a coach in Hilliard who will specialize in nickel players (whether corner, safety, or hybrid linebacker) speaks even further to how head coach Robert Saleh wants to react to the latest offensive evolutions that force defenses to cover “move” players of all sizes, from tight ends (including out of heavier personnel groupings) to fullbacks and large slot receivers. This might be a really smart way to structure a defensive staff in this era, and Hilliard will play a key role in that.
#hilliard #staff #coach #tennessee
The ***** ans changed almost everything during the offseason, with an upgraded staff led by head coach Robert Saleh, a retooled roster, and even a new organizational brand, setting higher expectations heading into the 2026 season. With so many new faces, it will be interesting to watch the team come together and build a solid foundation.
This is also true of the staff, the new coordinators, and the position coaches. Where Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic believes new nickelback coach Dalton Hilliard could be a coach to watch on Saleh’s staff.
Tennessee ***** ans: Dalton Hilliard, defensive backs/nickels
Hilliard will be in his first NFL coaching season after a decade in college football. While Tennessee’s new coaching staff is a bit of a wild card, its structure shows real potential — and part of my reasoning starts with Hilliard. To split the three DBs coaches (safeties, cornerbacks, nickels) into more specific designations is interesting in itself and extremely in tune with the modern game. But to have a coach in Hilliard who will specialize in nickel players (whether corner, safety, or hybrid linebacker) speaks even further to how head coach Robert Saleh wants to react to the latest offensive evolutions that force defenses to cover “move” players of all sizes, from tight ends (including out of heavier personnel groupings) to fullbacks and large slot receivers. This might be a really smart way to structure a defensive staff in this era, and Hilliard will play a key role in that.
#hilliard #staff #coach #tennessee
3 months ago
