Akeem

Ayers

The Titans want Ayers on the field as much as possible now that he has a command of the base and nickel packages. McCarthy is playing well enough that Barrett Ruud may be the odd man out once he returns from a groin injury. McCarthy had 11 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception in Week 12.

The former Bucs defensive line coach, Millard was hired by Tennessee on Monday. A 16-game starter at strong-side linebacker in his rookie year, Ayers emerged as an every-down player during the stretch run, finishing with 76 tackles and a pair of sacks. Millard will work closely with the 2011 second-round pick, as Ayers will play defensive end in pass-rush situations.

Ayers started all 16 games as a rookie last year and racked up 88 tackles, but managed just two sacks and seven quarterback pressures. This offseason, he worked on his pass-rush technique with specialist Keith Millard. It sounds like Ayers is going to line up at the defensive end spot on passing downs.

Lacking playmaking ability, Ayers had just two sacks and seven QB pressures to go with 88 tackles as a rookie. New pass-rushing coach Keith Millard is helping Ayers improve his technique, which was often “completely wrong” in 2011. Ayers and DL Jerry Gray both realize it’s “real crucial” for the second-year linebacker to improve his sack total.

Ayers worked in a rotation with Kamerion Wimbley, playing just 34-of-77 snaps. The move came as a result of the Titans’ lack of depth at DE with Dave Ball, Leger Douzable and Keyunta Dawson all landing on injured reserve. Aside from starters Wimbley and Derrick Morgan, Pannel Egboh and rookie Scott Solomon are the only other defensive ends on the roster. Owners in IDP leagues who have relied on Ayers thus far may want to consider other options going forward due to his decreased time on the field.

Ayers more than held his own, racking up eight tackles, a sack, two QB hits, and a forced fumble. Colin McCarthy will return to his starting job at middle linebacker in 2013, but this look gives Tennessee some options to consider during the offseason. With Ayers at SAM, McCarthy at MIKE, and impressive rookie Zach Brown at WILL, the Titans theoretically have the makings of a highly promising young linebacker corps entering next season.

Ayers registered five of his six sacks over the final nine games. Per Pro Football Focus, Ayers rushed the QB on 29 percent of his passing-down snaps, the third-highest percentage among 4-3 outside linebackers. Ayers’ emergence as an edge threat may explain why the Titans didn’t target defensive ends in free agency.

Ayers missed the Titans’ final two preseason games with an ankle injury, but it was never a major concern. He’s expected to take on more of a pass rushing role after finishing with six sacks in 2012. Zach Brown (shoulder) is also on track to be ready for Week 1.

“They have some special pass-rush guys ... but they played linebacker, they were linebacker-type guys,” Gray noted. “We’ve got some similarities.” Sort of a poor man’s Von Miller, Ayers posted five of his six sacks in the final nine games last year, and Gray is predicting a true breakout campaign in 2013.

Ayers was carted off, but only as a precaution. Optimistic Titans coaches believe Ayers can be their version of Von Miller in a new hybrid-style, attacking defense under Jerry Gray and Gregg Williams. Ayers is on the LB3 IDP radar.