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The Tennessee Titans are hoping to bolster their special teams ahead of the 2022 season with the signings of running back Trenton Cannon and safety A.J. Moore.
Cannon and Moore have spent the majority of their careers playing on special teams, with Cannon having experience both covering and returning kicks.
Head coach Mike Vrabel revealed that Cannon would also have a shot to see snaps as a change-of-pace back, while Moore could carve out a role for himself on defense, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
“Both of those guys wanted to be with us, wanted to be a part of our football team,” Vrabel said. “Clearly A.J.’s special teams resume speaks for itself. We talked to him about creating a role on defense.
“Trenton, with his ability to play gunner and to cover kicks, and his ability to impact the game on special teams with his speed, and his disruption. We’ll give him an opportunity as well to work at running back as a change of pace.”
With the departure of Dane Cruikshank to Chicago, Moore has a good shot to take over the No. 3 safety role behind locked-in starters Kevin Byard and Amani Hooker. Moore saw just 44 defensive snaps last season but had a career-high 356 in 2020.
At running back, the situation behind Derrick Henry is very murky, leaving the door open for Cannon to possibly grab a role there. However, after his rookie season in 2018, the 27-year-old hasn’t gotten much action at the position, with just 13 carries and three receptions since 2019.
The Titans also need help at kick returner, where Cannon 23.2 yards per return during his career. In 2021, Cannon averaged 20.5 yards per.
Earlier this offseason, the Titans re-signed one of their key special teams members from 2021, outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi, who also added 2.5 sacks and one pass defended as a reserve.
Vrabel discussed the impact Adniyi made in his first year in Nashville.
“Ola did a nice job, and he took advantage of his opportunity,” Vrabel said. “He impacted games, and did a nice job, whether that was Seattle or Indy. His first job will be as a leader, and a large presence on our special teams unit. But we want him to have a defensive role as well for us, and he wants that.”
The Titans are clearly prioritizing special teams this offseason, as they also replaced assistant special teams coach Matt Edwards with former NFL linebacker and Carolina Panthers special teams coordinator, Chase Blackburn, as its assistant special teams coach.
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