Tennessee Titans hire Giff Smith as defensive line coach

Dec 1, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) reacts after sacking Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (not pictured) at Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis defeats Tennessee 22-14. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Giff Smith, who coached defensive line for the Bills from 2010-12 and at Georgia Tech from 2004-09, as been hired as Tennessee Titans D-line coach under Ken Wisenhunt, per Curtis Crabtree of NBC Sports.

By hiring Smith, the Titans hope to develop more playmakers on a defensive front that has not had a dominant player since Albert Haynesworth left town in 2009. One reason Wisenhunt wanted Smith was because of his versatility coaching both 4-3 and 3-4 base defenses.

In the Mike Munchak era, Tennessee’s total defense had been average at best, and the run defense was subpar. Smith projects as a fix as a run-stopping coach, as he turned fifth round pick Kyle Williams into a Pro Bowler in Buffalo, and also helped develop blue chip talent such as Marcell Dareus.

With the Titans, developing playesr along the defensive line, and the defense as a whole for that matter, is key for success under Wisenhunt. The most notable player on the Titans D is probably Alterraun Verner, and even he isn’t well known to the casual fan. With Smith now heading the D-line unit, the Titans hope that he can improve the players they currently have, while also developing the rookies that Tennessee figures to draft in 2014.