The Tennessee Titans have turned the page.
With Robert Saleh stepping in as head coach and veteran coordinators Brian Daboll and Gus Bradley joining the staff, Tennessee enters the season with one of the most experienced and player-focused coaching groups in the league. The trio brings more than 116 years of combined coaching experience and a shared reputation for developing talent rather than forcing players into rigid roles.
For two young Titans in particular, the timing could not be better for linebacker James Williams and tight end Gunnar Helm.
Williams, a former seventh-round pick out of Miami (FL), was drafted with the expectation that he would grow into a reliable special teams player and linebacker. While his production has been sparse, his strengths have always been evident. He plays fast, diagnoses well against the run and excels in pursuit.
That skillset aligns cleanly with the defensive philosophies of Saleh and Bradley.
Both coaches are known for maximizing linebacker versatility and putting players in positions that highlight what they do best. In a hybrid 4–3 defense, Williams could play as the SAM linebacker where he can attack gaps, cover space and play downhill without being overexposed.
On the offensive side of the ball, Daboll provides a similarly encouraging outlook for Helm.
Daboll has long been regarded as a teacher and a schemer who adapts his offense to his personnel. His system, rooted in the Erhardt-Perkins framework, emphasizes flexibility, communication and matchup creation — particularly through the tight end position.
Helm’s profile fits that vision well. He is a dependable route runner, a willing blocker and a player who understands spacing and leverage. In Daboll’s offense, Helm could be utilized in a role similar to Dallas Goedert or Hunter Henry, creating problems for defenses that are forced to choose between heavier personnel or coverage mismatches.
That usage would not only elevate Helm’s production but also help open the run game and give quarterback Cam Ward more quick-strike options in the middle of the field.
As the Titans begin this new chapter, Williams and Helm represent exactly what this coaching staff values; young versatile players with defined strengths and untapped upside. If development is the priority in Tennessee, these two could quickly move from solid contributors into genuine building blocks and potential breakout names under the new regime.
