There's a lot of newness around Tennessee, but one steady piece in the Titans' secondary through the recent changes has been veteran Amani Hooker.
The safety is set to play his sixth season this fall as one of the longest tenured members of the Titans. Having seen the squad through ups and downs in the last half a decade under former head coach Mike Vrabel, Hooker now enters the new era under Brian Callahan excited for an "aggressive" defensive approach and for his fresh-faced teammates joining him on the field.
Most important among the defensive changes are the additions of cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie, a pair of high-value players who should elevate a Titans secondary that struggled often in 2023 and lost three starters this offseason.
Sneed was acquired via trade fresh off of his second straight Super Bowl win with the Chiefs, and signed a four-year deal with the Titans. Awuzie, who spent the last three seasons with the Bengals and Callahan, also signed a three-year deal.
By adding the duo, the Titans' pass defense -- which ranked 18th last year in yards allowed -- should be in a much better position to succeed going forward, with Hooker saying they're already setting an example for the rest of the team.
"We have two dogs -- we have Chido and Sneed out there," Hooker said recently, via the team website. "I can't wait to go full speed with them, with the pads on. I have been watching them make plays for the other team against us, so I am excited that they're on our team now and it's going to be a lot of fun.
"These guys have proven they can be in the right position to make the plays, and when I'm out there I am able to do my job now, and start searching for plays as they come to me. Knowing you have guys that are aggressive out there, it makes me as a safety have that same mentality that they have and bring it to our defense."
With all the recent changes in personnel and scheme brought about this offseason, Hooker views it as his responsibility as the veteran of his position group to help everyone else adjust, even if it's just as new a scheme for him.
"It's all about accountability, with me as well," Hooker said. "This is all new for me -- it's a new style, a new defense, new scheme, so just like everyone else is learning, I am doing the same thing. But my job is to make sure everyone learns at a progressive level and we're doing it together as a unit."
Hooker, Sneed, Awuzie and Co. will take the field when players report to training camp on July 23, giving fans a first glimpse at the potential of this new-look secondary.
