Gray says Pitoitua’s hand won’t hinder him

Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray said he doesn’t think starting defensive end Ropati Pitoitua’s broken hand will hinder him during Sunday’s season opener.

Pitoitua has been wearing a soft cast, one that covers the majority of his right hand but still leaves the upper portions of his fingers free.

“I don’t think it will affect him at all – he’s got will,” Gray said. “He doesn’t hold anyway. Just knock (the offensive lineman back). That’s what we’re looking for – knock him back and create a new line of scrimmage.”

Pitoitua represents one of the key changes in the Titans’ defensive scheme, as the team is using a bigger defensive end on one side in order to get stronger against the run. The 6-8, 298-pounder will line up more over the defensive tackle in a five-technique.

Kamerion Wimbley, more of a pass-rusher, occupied that defensive end spot on all three downs last season and played more of a six-technique, lining up across from the tight end.

“Wimbley was more of an open guy, and we played more (edge rush), more stuff like that,” Gray said. “What Ropati is doing right now is that he can sit in there and play five or four, stuff like that. It almost gives you a look … like the old `46’ that Buddy Ryan used to run.

“It’s little stuff like that, where you’re big enough to sit in there and not get washed out and pushed down past the center. That’s the stuff every defense is looking for … You get bigger and you can win a lot of one-on-one battles.”

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Posted In: Team News

Source: Titans Insider