NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Jim Schwartz is back. Kind of.

It’s not in the role initially reported by Brent Dougherty, as a senior assistant. At least not yet. [UPDATE, Wednesday morning: The Titans announced Schwartz is their "senior defensive assistant." Hat tip to Dougherty who had it  Fresh story coming.]

Sources tell me that for right now it amounts to a consultant job that may entail a few days a week. Its final shape has not yet been determined, though Schwartz may have been at work for several weeks already.

As the 2020 season ended, reports said Schwartz would let his contract as Eagles' defensive coordinator expire and take a year off, perhaps contemplating retirement. Philadelphia wound up firing head coach Doug Pederson.

Schwartz maintains a home in Nashville and one in Maryland.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mike Vrabel has never really said anything particularly forthcoming, informative or illustrative about Shane Bowen.

He didn’t again Monday, when he spoke to the media for the first time since the 2020 season ended, answering questions about officially giving the defensive coordinator the defensive coordinator title by saying Bowen is the defensive coordinator.

Shane Bowen and Mike Vrabel/ Pool photo by George Walker, The Tennessean

Before I try to understand why that is, let’s take a look at some of what Vrabel had told us about Bowen since one of the head coach’s original hires got a bigger profile when Dean Pees retired as defensive coordinator following the 2019 season.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The restrictions of a COVID season complicated things for sure, and the idea that Greg Maybin may have set off their outbreak may have made the Titans shy about churning the bottom of the roster last year.

They also had to wait on guys to pass a lot of tests to get into the building.

Matt Dickerson: Pool photo/ George Walker, The Tennessean

But I often wondered how they didn’t see better options to their struggling depth at corner or outside linebacker on expanded practice squads around the league.

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans need another pass rusher to add to free-agent signee Bud Dupree and incumbent Harold Landry.

Dupree is coming off an ACL tear suffered late in the 2020 season and will likely be a PUP player entering training camp. He always lined up on the defensive right side for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harold Landry has also been an effective right-side rusher. 

 Photo courtesy Texas sports information

It will be interesting to see who moves to the left and whether he is as effective on the opposite side. I remember in 2001 when we (the Titans) traded for Kevin Carter and added him to Jevon Kearse.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – You eat up mock drafts. They get the clicks.

I understand.

Fans of every team see one and are compelled to open it, scroll to their team and see the selection.

For mocks from credible draft analysts, I often join you.

Here’s my issue.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans appear on personnel pause with a long list of needs still confronting them.

They could make another move, or a few, in lower-cost free agency between now and the draft. They could see how they do with their nine picks in the NFL draft, including four in the top 100 before looking to fill in remaining holes with available veterans, including players who could be cut loose after teams fill needs with draft selections.

One area we’ve not looked at is restricted free agency, where there really isn’t much to consider.

The one, star attraction there is Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans talk pressure, not sacks.

But Bud Dupree is making sack money and comes to Nashville with sack intentions.

He had 11.5 in 2019 and eight in 2020 before a torn ACL stopped his season after 10 games.

Sacks stall drives and affect games in a way pressure doesn’t, and the Titans were the worst third-down defense in modern NFL history last year. A revamped front headlined by Dupree can alter things for everyone.

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special contributor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans have a major need for wide receiver starters and depth after losing Corey Davis to free agency and releasing Adam Humphries and Kalif Raymond.

Davis was up and down throughout his career, disappearing in two of the most important games down the stretch of his final season.

Elijah Moore, courtesy Ole Miss sports information

Humphries battled injuries throughout his short career with the Titans and never established that role as an inside slot chain-mover they had hoped for when they signed him.

The Titans have one consistent producer in third-year wide receiver A.J. Brown.