The Chiefs prompted the Titans to re-evaluate the slot position, so where are they now?
NASHVILLE, TENN. – Roughly three months after the Titans lost the 2019 AFC Championship Game to the Chiefs, Logan Ryan was a floating free agent and Mike Vrabel was redefining what the Titans needed out of the nickel position.
He said a slot corner still has to be able to cover a speedy tight end, play man and zone and blitz.
“And more so now to be able to match up on some vertical routes inside,” he said. “I think for so long, in the slot there was this horizontal thought -- that guys had to work defenses horizontally.
Pool photo/ Tennessee Titans
“And now we’re seeing a lot more vertical routes that are coming out of the slot so I think that is something that is always a challenge when you are looking for players that do all those things and do them very well.”
Tyreek Hill struck fear into the Titans in that game, and they did reasonably good work against him, holding him to five catches for 67 yards. But his two touchdowns were a big part of the Chiefs 35-24 win.
Sunday the NFL’s top slot receiver will be a giant storyline against cornerback-depleted Tennessee at Nissan Stadium.
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