Tag: Ola Adeniyi

Titans’ Ola Adeniyi reacts to impressive Week 3 showing

Titans OLB Ola Adeniyi continues to earn more opportunities on defense.

Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi has been the most surprising defensive player through the first three weeks of the season, as he currently leads Tennessee with 2.5 sacks after registering 1.5 in Week 3.

Adeniyi was brought on for his expertise on special teams, but he’s recently been earning more opportunities thanks to his standout play on defense.

Adeniyi continued his hot streak on Sunday, racking up 1.5 sacks and four combined tackles one week after notching his first career sack versus the Seattle Seahawks.

Aside from the combined effort with fellow linebacker Harold Landry in the third quarter, Adeniyi also took down Wentz near the end of the first half.

“You know when I came here, they told me to create a role for myself, and I feel like that’s what I came here to do,” the 24-year-old noted. “Like I said, they brought me here for special teams and that’s what I’m focused on. But at the end of the day, guys gotta step up – next man up.

Coach Vrabel even said it today, ‘I don’t care where you came from as long as you produce and you do what you gotta do. And that’s what God sent me out here to do.”

After playing on just 11 snaps over the first two games, Adeniyi accounted for 27 against Indianapolis.

He should continue to see an increased role with the organization even when fellow outside linebackers Bud Dupree and Derick Roberson return to the lineup.

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Tennessee Titans’ Week 3 Player of the Game: The defense

The Titans’ defense, led by Ola Adeniyi and Harold Landry, gets the Week 3 POTG honors.

If not for the defense, the Tennessee Titans might have let one get away from them during the Week 3 contest against the Indianapolis Colts.

As a result, this week’s Player of the Game honors go to the entire unit for what was an outstanding performance overall. Tennessee’s defense held the Colts to just 265 yards of total offense, including 178 through the air.

In three red-zone trips, the Titans managed to keep Indianapolis to just one score, and the Colts were a putrid 3-for-12 on third downs.

Of the 16 points Indy scored, 10 of them were following a turnover, and its lone touchdown came on the drive following one of Ryan Tannehill’s interceptions that set the Colts up near midfield to start the series.

The area of the defense that shined the most was the pass-rush, led by Ola Adeniyi and Harold Landry. Adeniyi notched 1.5 sacks and three QB hits, while Landry posted 0.5 sacks and an impressive five QB hits.

With Denico Autry’s two QB hits, the Titans totaled 10 on the afternoon and had Carson Wentz under pressure all game long, forcing him to get rid of the football thanks to his limited mobility that would have led to more sacks.

Tennessee’s secondary did a solid job in coverage, led by Kristian Fulton, who helped hold the Colts’ No. 1 receiver, Michael Pittman Jr., to just six catches for 68 yards.

There were still a few big completions of 36 and 27 yards, but that’s a big improvement after what we saw last week, and there didn’t appear to be any communication issues on those plays.

It’s rare we give credit to defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, but he deserves it here.

Granted, he certainly didn’t call a perfect game by any stretch and is still calling puzzling coverages here and there, but there’s no question this Tennessee defense is showing major improvement from week-to-week.

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Titans’ Mike Vrabel: Ola Adeniyi is earning more opportunities on defense

Billed as just a special teamer upon joining the Titans, Adeniyi is flashing enough in the pass-rush to garner more snaps on defense.

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In the overtime period against the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi chased quarterback Russell Wilson into the end zone and notched his first career sack, which was a huge play in the 33-30 victory.

While it should have been a safety, officials ruled Wilson down at the one-yard line. Regardless, what a way for Adeniyi to earn his first sack in the NFL.

Facing a fourth-and-long, the Seahawks punted the ball back to the Titans, who marched down the field for the game-winning field goal.

During Wednesday’s presser, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged Adeniyi’s strong play — something we also saw in the preseason —  and hinted it could lead to more defensive snaps.

“He plays extremely hard [and] takes advantage of the opportunities that he had,” Vrabel said. “So, like we always say, that earns more opportunities.”

The undrafted free agent out of Toledo originally signed with the Steelers in 2018, making just one start in 32 career games.

But even in a limited role with Pittsburgh, Adeniyi made the most of his opportunities, forcing three fumbles and racking up a combined 25 tackles, including one for loss.

“You know, when I got here, they basically told us [to] create a role for yourself,” Adeniyi said after practice on Wednesday. “I came out here everyday, whether it be pass rush, and I felt like I did enough to stand out in that area a little bit. And just getting that opportunity to go out there on Sunday and show them what I can do. [I] ended up getting a sack. I’m happy, and we got the win.”

The 24-year-old has primarily been a special teams player through his first three seasons while battling through a number of injuries. In 2018, Adeniyi landed on Injured Reserve with a hamstring issue, and he suffered a torn meniscus in August 2019.

He’s played in 11 defensive snaps this season, including three against the Seahawks last week. As noted, he makes his presence felt in limited action. It will be interesting to see how Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen incorporates Adeniyi into the defensive schemes as the season unfolds.

But if you ask him, Adeniyi is still fine-tuning his skills in the role that has gotten him to this point.

“Honestly, I’m more focused on my special teams aspect of play right now,” the Titans linebacker admitted. “I feel like I got to step it up a little more and do more in that aspect. We got to get our kick return going — our kick return and punt return game going. We got to keep our returners safe back there, so I feel like I got to step that part of my game up first.”

Billed as just a special teamer upon coming to Nashville, Adeniyi is flashing enough in the pass-rush to garner more looks on defense.

Titans’ winners and losers from preseason Week 3 loss to Bears

Which Titans helped or hurt their stock ahead of final cuts on Tuesday?

The Tennessee Titans closed out their preseason on Saturday night with a 27-24 loss to the Chicago Bears, but more importantly we got some clarity on some positional battles ahead of final cuts on Aug. 31.

While some players thrived in what was a big moment for them, others faltered, leaving their status for the initial 53-man roster up in the air.

With the preseason in the books, the Titans will first have to make decisions about who will and won’t make the roster, but then it will be time to turn their attention to the regular-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, which will take place on Sept. 12 at Nissan Stadium.

That’s right, we’re two weeks away from real football and a first look at what should be one of the most exciting offenses to watch in the NFL — but I digress.

Here’s a look at which players emerged as winners from the preseason finale, and which ones went in the opposite direction.

Tennessee Titans agree to terms with OLB Ola Adeniyi

The Titans have added a special teams ace in free agency.

The Tennessee Titans have been busy on Monday, first with the signing of wide receiver Josh Reynolds, and now with the inking of former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker, Ola Adeniyi.

While Adeniyi did see 144 snaps in Pittsburgh’s defense last season, he has spent the vast majority of his career playing on special teams. In 2020, he compiled 286 special teams snaps, finishing with 16 combined tackles (11 solo, one for loss).

The 23-year-old played his college ball at Toldeo, where he spent three seasons as a defensive end.

He tallied 118 total tackles (28 for loss) and 12.5 sacks over 29 career games with the Rockets. Adeniyi’s best season came in 2017 when he notched 66 tackles (20 for loss) and 8.5 sacks.

As far as his role with the Titans in 2021, Adeniyi figures to be a bottom-of-the-depth-chart reserve on defense, but could have a significant role as a special teams ace if he makes the roster out of training camp.

Adeniyi is the second former Steelers players to come to Nashville this offseason, as fellow outside linebacker Bud Dupree has also signed to play with the Titans.

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Steelers unable to tender special teams ace, OLB due to salary cap restrictions

Pittsburgh Steelers feeling the repercussions of the salary cap situation.

Repercussions of the salary cap situation in Pittsburgh are being felt as the team is unable to re-sign restricted free agent, outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi. He’ll be on the market when free agency begins on March 17.

Adeniyi signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He spent much of his rookie year on injured reserve. Since the 2019 season, he’s played sparingly on defense (215 snaps or seven percent) but has been a factor on special teams.

On special teams, Pro Football Focus grades Adeniyi at 88.1. He’s contributed 63 key plays and 14 tackles on 503 plays.

Adeniyi was solid as a special teamer but didn’t add much value as a reserve defender. With free agency starting Wednesday, expect to see more salary-cap casualties come from the Steelers.

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Steelers LB Ola Adeniyi being evaluated for a concussion

The Steelers are already dealing with an injury.

It didn’t take long for the injury bug to bit the Pittsburgh Steelers. After going three and out on their first offensive drive the Steelers punted to the Cleveland Browns and on the ensuing return, Steelers’ linebacker Ola Adeniyi planted his helmet into the shoulder of the Cleveland return man and went down in a heap.

Adeniyi went off under his own power but the team announced he is questionable to return as he is being evaluated for a concussion. Pittsburgh is already thin at outside linebacker with Anthony Chickillo and this leaves only newly re-signed Jayrone Elliott to back up T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree.