NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the bulk of his time in the NFL, Kevin Byard has been really good as a free safety.

Sure, it’s entailed time in the box and plenty of plays stepping up to stop the run. The 2017 First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowler is a versatile player.

He’s coming off his worst year and a terrible team defensive season, one during which the Titans deployed him and Kenny Vaccaro/ Amani Hooker as left and right safeties far more often than they did in prior years.

Byard was on the left side of the field a lot, though matchups, formations and calls could change things. Sometimes, of course, being on the left side and being the free safety were not mutually exclusive.

Pool photo George Walker, The Tennessean

What’s ahead for Byard in his sixth season?

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans had a lot to sort through in the offseason. There was a bit of a turnstile for the defensive roster because the unit was so bad in 2020, and some keep pieces moving in and out because that side of the ball was quite good a year ago.

They also signed Matthias Farley and Ola Odeniyi expecting premium special team contributors and three draft picks who will be looked to on those units– Monty Rice, Racey McMath and Brady Breeze – with Breeze no lock for the roster.

Tucker McCann pool photo: George Walker, The Tennessean

Morgan Cox is the new long-snapper.

But for the third offseason in a row, the franchise has been utterly nonchalant about kicker.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans' best front four has been reformulated, and there is cause for optimism about Bud Dupree, Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry and Harold Landry as a group.

But as with Jonnu Smith, the Titans didn’t make a move to replace DaQuan Jones, who played a lot of snaps on the defensive line over his seven years with the franchise.

I think you’ll be surprised at just how often the Titans had three linemen on the field in 2020.

Even if they are in nickel more often or if their front multiplicity leads to less use of three-linemen, there are snaps to be filled.  The candidates to take them are either inexperienced or unproven or were on the street not long ago.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – He plays a problem position for the Titans, where their record of developing players is poor.

So Harold Landry is at a crossroads as his fourth NFL season approaches.

Pool Photo: Tennessee Titans, Alison McNabb

As a second-round rookie out of Boston College in 2018, he had a couple of true pros to model his game after in Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan.

Since then, he’s been part of a thin position and while he’s tracked upwards, he’s not become a standout pass rusher.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Greetings and welcome to an overdue edition of the mailbag. Good to hear from some of you.

I'm always open to your questions and will stockpile the good ones for the next time I answer, so hit me on Twitter or the public Facebook page. 

Pool photo Mark Humphrey, AP

Now onto the best stuff you sent in...

What can we expect/speculate to be the biggest change in offensive scheme, with a new OC and the addition of Julio?

— Nick Grace (@NLgrace) June 21, 2021

NASHVILLE, Tenn. --Welcome in people.

We had a lot to talk about with minicamp concluded, the roster largely set and a good sense of who this team will be heading into training camp.

So I invited you to head to the private Facebook group or below the line as we dove into the Titans' offseason which has wrapped outside of some remaining rookie work.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There are still items in the notebook and quotes on tape that will show up in this space over the next six weeks. 

But as Titans’ veterans dispersed Thursday with minicamp over and the NFL’s real dead period begins, I wanted to offer a few thoughts…

Pool photo Mark Humphrey, AP

Efficient, disciplined, creative, physical: Offensive coordinator Todd Downing said it’s for others to decide or label the offense a Todd Downing Offense. For him, it’s the Tennessee Titans offense.

But as he wrapped up the official offseason, though rookies remain around, Mike Vrabel discussed just what he wants that side of the ball to be as it forges ahead under Downing.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There is only so much Bud Dupree’s been able to do so far as a pass rusher rehabilitating his repaired right ACL.

There is only so much he can feel the urgency of the holdovers from a group that produced a paltry 19 sacks in 2020.

The Titans’ big new addition to the pass rush group seems to have a really good feel for his place at this stage of his onboarding.

“Just being around them, being in meetings is different from being on the field,” Dupree said. “Being in meetings is different from being on the field as far as, you know, feeling the urgency, feeling the real pressure that's built up from those guys who (were) here last year. The chip on their shoulder is different from guys who are just getting here.