How Titans' David Long Jr. is embracing a bigger leadership role

Welcome to Talkin' Titans. This is Tennessee Titans beat reporter Ben Arthur. In today's newsletter, I offer my thoughts on linebacker David Long Jr.

David Long Jr. admitted Tuesday that being vocal isn’t his nature. But in organized team activities, the Titans linebacker is talking to the rookies on the sidelines. He’s learning everyone’s job and communicating it to them.

With Rashaan Evans and Jayon Brown gone, Long knows he’s the new leading voice at inside linebacker.

The fact he’s willing to be uncomfortable in embracing the role should be welcoming news for the Titans.

“You can’t be quiet on the field, especially as a linebacker, as a leader on the defense, quarterback on the defense,” Long said this week.

Safety Kevin Byard and defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons man the third and first level of Tennessee's defense, respectively. They were the two captains last season of a unit which made drastic improvement, while simultaneously posting career years of their own.

Byard earned All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for the first time since 2017. Simmons emerged as one of football’s best interior defensive linemen.

The leap Long takes as the leader of the defense’s second level could be the X-factor in 2022 of a unit that was dominant at the end of last season.

The Titans' emotional leader, Long recorded career-highs in starts (9) and tackles (75) in 2021 in 10 games, a career low.

He’s expected to be a full-time starter at inside linebacker alongside Zach Cunningham, who was claimed off waivers in December.

Second-year pro Monty Rice, veteran Dylan Cole and seventh-round rookie Chance Campbell fill the depth behind them. It’s a room that battled injury issues last season.

“(Long has) taken that position, taken that role by the horns and running with it,” defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said last week. “He’s really the solidifying force in that room right now.”

At the beginning of the Titans’ offseason program, Long indicated that becoming an All-Pro is one of his next goals.

It comes from the confidence of growing responsibilities.

“I started last year. I played a lot over the years,” Long said in April. “So I feel like vocally, I feel like I’ve sat back because I had vets in front of me that could take that role.

“Now I’m here, and I’m in the spot I’m in.”

Any questions or inquiries about the Titans' offseason? Send me a note. I'd be happy to answer. My email is BArthur@tennessean.com.

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Titans’ David Long Jr. is embracing bigger leadership role