Anthony Hill Jr. made his NFL debut look a lot more like a player who already belongs in the lineup than a rookie trying to find his footing.
While the Tennessee Titans stumbled badly in a Week 1 loss to the New York Jets, Hill was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise rough afternoon. The Texas linebacker started with Cedric Gray sidelined by a concussion and wasted no time making his case for a bigger role.
Hill finished with 16 total tackles and four defensive stops, and he posted the top Pro Football Focus grade among rookie defenders across the league at 78.7. He also held up well in coverage, allowing a 50% completion rate and a 59.7 passer rating when targeted, while adding two pass deflections.
Head coach Robert Saleh, who has a reputation as a linebacker specialist, came away impressed after watching Hill in his first regular-season game. Speaking Monday, Saleh said Hill was everywhere.
"He's gonna be a hell of a football player, man," Saleh said of Hill. "He was all over the field, made a lot of tackles... I can't think of one glaring thing that he did wrong."
That kind of debut puts the Titans in a pretty straightforward spot heading into Week 2. Gray is expected back from concussion protocol for the game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and that should sharpen the picture even more.
Barton opened the season as the other starter next to Gray and didn’t play poorly, but the message from Week 1 is hard to ignore: Hill looks like the better starting linebacker. Barton may still have a place on special teams and could mix in for a few defensive snaps, but the rookie has already shown enough - in training camp, in the preseason, and now against the Jets - to push for the full-time job.
If Saleh and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley decide to change the depth chart, Gray and Hill would give Tennessee a more dynamic pairing, with run defense and pass coverage both covered. Barton, meanwhile, is suddenly in danger of losing his starting spot.
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Titans Fans Already Have One Big Brian Daboll Concern
The first game of Brian Dabolls Tennessee tenure did not offer much comfort for a Titans offense trying to find its footing. In the Week 1 loss to the Jets, Tennessee managed only 10 points and 195 yards, and the unit looked disconnected in key spots, especially when it came to staying on the field on third down and getting anything going on the ground.
Now the challenge gets steeper with the Eagles coming to town in Week 2, and that is where the early concern really starts to build. Daboll is still in the opening stages of trying to shape this offense, but if the same issues linger against a better opponent, the calls for faster answers are only going to grow louder, even if the long-term hope is that more time together brings a cleaner product. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Already Face One Big Concern After Another Week 1 Letdown
Another season opener came and went without a win for Tennessee, and the familiar frustration around Week 1 was only part of the problem. In their loss to the Jets, the Titans did get a promising debut from rookie linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., who led the team in tackles, but the defense had a harder time making life uncomfortable for the opposing quarterback and never really found a rhythm.
Cedric Grays injury status looms larger now as the Titans turn quickly to Philadelphia in Week 2, where the margin for error figures to be even smaller. Tennessee needs help up front and at linebacker, and Grays possible return would give the defense a much-needed boost at a time when the unit is already trying to steady itself after an uneven start. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Have A Week 2 Decision Fans Will Be Watching Closely
Anthony Hill Jr. made a strong first impression in his NFL debut, stepping into the Titans starting lineup and finishing with a team-high 16 tackles in Week 1. The rookie linebacker filled in for Cedric Gray, who was out in concussion protocol, and did more than just hold the line. He was around the ball all afternoon and even came away with a forced fumble before the call was changed to an incomplete pass on review.
Now Gray is back after clearing protocol, which creates an interesting Week 2 decision for Tennessee as it prepares to face the Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Robert Saleh said Gray is available, and that opens the door to a linebacker rotation or a tougher choice about how the Titans want to deploy Hill after the way he handled his first start. [Read more 🡒]