A 'nasty' new front in Tennessee, and Jeffery Simmons is ready to live in the backfield

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — New Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor looks at the Titans ' revamped defensive line and one word comes to mind.

Nasty.

All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has had an offseason to familiarize himself with what new coach Robert Saleh wants with a defensive scheme now asking the veteran and all his teammates to attack opposing offenses rather than rely on technique fighting through double-teams.

“That’s my game," Simmons said Wednesday. "I like to play on the other side of the line of scrimmage.”

Linebacker Cody Barton believes the scheme change will be huge for Simmons.

“Jeff is one of the best to do it, and he’s just going to be causing havoc every play,” Barton said.

Simmons had a career-best 11 sacks last season. A second straight 3-14 record led to Saleh being hired as the Titans' latest new head coach, and he has a strong record of putting together top NFL defenses by freeing up players to read quarterbacks and attack.

Saleh said Wednesday that San Francisco switched in 2019 from a six-technique and a more old school 4-3 front. He said they brought in Kris Kocurek, a disciple of longtime defensive line coach Jim Washburn whose career included 12 seasons with the Titans where he rotated linemen and pushed them to be faster off the ball.

That 2019 49ers' defense wound up third in fewest yards allowed per game and second against the pass helping San Francisco reach the Super Bowl.

The Titans spent the most money in free agency to help play this new defensive style. The Titans traded for defensive end Jeremiah Johnson II, signed veterans like John Franklin-Myers and Solomon Thomas for their toughness and traded back into the first round to draft lineman Keldric Faulk.

“I imagine a guy like Jeffery will enjoy playing next to him because very similar in how they attack things and how they approach things," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said of Franklin-Myers.

Tennessee also signed Taylor and cornerback Cor'Dale Flott and Joshua Williams along with veteran safety Tony Adams to anchor the secondary. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was a second-round draft selection to join Barton and third-year linebacker Cedric Gray.

The defensive line will set the tone with a planned rotation limiting Simmons and his fellow linemen to 60% of the snaps. Saleh, who plans to also call the defensive plays in games, said the payoff comes in the fourth quarter when the Titans hopefully have worn out opposing offensive lines.

That also keeps the Titans fresher and faster.

“The faster the rush is, the faster we can get our feet in the ground, the faster we can anticipate where the ball is going,” Saleh said. “It also dictates whether or not the coordinator and the quarterback can call plays that are deeper developing and whether or not the quarterback can hold it.”

Coming out of games won't be easy for Simmons. The four-time Pro Bowler prides himself on staying on the field, and Simmons got his right elbow cleaned up this offseason after being unable to straighten out his arm fully for well over two and half years and forced to wear a brace during games.

“My goal to come into this season is just to make sure I’m in the best shape of my life,” Simmons said.

Simmons also is in line for a contract extension with his current deal good through 2027. He signed a four-year extension in April 2023. As the Titans wrapped up their offseason Wednesday with the last open session of a mandatory minicamp, Simmons sounded focused on what's next on the field.

“This organization been nothing but good to me, so I’m not so focused on the contract right now," Simmons said. "Like I said, my goal this offseason is let me go work my tail off and get ready for training camp.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tennessee Titans defensive end Jermaine Johnson II (11) and Jordan Elliott, left, listen to instruction from defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton during NFL football practice, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh spaeks to the media before NFL football practice, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons attends NFL football practice, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons works out during NFL football practice, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons speaks to the media after NFL football practice, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/John Amis)

DETROIT (AP) — Established veterans Hilary Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin helped deliver the Professional Women’s Hockey League a major post-Olympic boost coming out of the Milan Cortina Games in February.

On Wednesday, it was the youngsters’ turn to take the spotlight at the draft.

In being selected first overall by the Vancouver Goldeneyes, U.S. national team and Wisconsin defender Caroline Harvey kicked off a parade of 11 Olympians — five of them Americans — taking downtown Detroit's Fox Theater stage over the first two rounds of the six-round event.

The draft class was regarded as the league’s deepest and most talented, and represented a reason behind the PWHL adding four new markets, growing to 12 teams entering its fourth season. And it's a reason why Harvey experienced nerves before finally hearing her name called.

“There’s always this, you have no idea until you officially hear it,” said Harvey, who kicked off the day being named the International Ice Hockey Federation's female player of the year.

“This draft class is just so deep and so many phenomenal players. Anyone could get picked at any time,” she added. “It’s just a surreal feeling, and I had no idea. I mean it could have been anyone. But I’m grateful to have my name called.”

The draft was held in one of the PWHL’s new markets and featured its share of tears and cheers.

Seated next to Harvey, Laila Edwards grew emotional while congratulating her longtime friend and teammate upon being selected.

“It caught me off guard. After I gave her a hug I started crying, and I couldn’t stop,” said Edwards, who was chosen fourth by San Jose. The 22-year-old Edwards is from Cleveland, and became the first Black player selected in the first round of the PWHL draft.

As for the cheers, numerous went up any time Detroit or Knight — the expansion team’s star addition — were mentioned. And the biggest roar in the packed theater was heard when Detroit finally made its first selection in the second round by choosing Switzerland Olympic goalie Andrea Brandli.

“I had the whole crowd with me,” the 29-year-old Brandli said. “I just felt like a big family up there and I’m so excited.”

This was the atmosphere the PWHL has become accustomed to generating while growing its brand in the wake of the Americans’ thrilling 2-1 overtime win over Canada in the Olympic final. The win created a surge of attention for women's hockey in North America, with Knight and gold medal-clinching goal-scorer Megan Keller appearing on Saturday Night Live.

“Milan was just one of those amazing things that keeps happening to us,” PWHL executive board member Stan Kasten told The Associated Press. “You see what the city of Detroit is going to do for this team, right? We just think the more people that get exposed, the more fans we make.”

On Wednesday, Americans swept the top five picks and made up nine of 12 first-round selections, with the 23-year-old Harvey continuing to cement her reputation as being her generation’s most accomplished player.

She’s a two-time Olympian and was the tournament MVP in Milan. At Wisconsin, she won three NCAA titles and capped her four-year career winning the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award as college hockey’s MVP.

From Pelham, New Hampshire, Harvey is the second American player to go No. 1 after Minnesota chose Taylor Heise with the first pick in the league’s inaugural draft in 2023.

Fellow U.S. Olympians followed with Minnesota forward Abbey Murphy chosen second by Seattle, Penn State forward Tessa Janecke going third to Las Vegas. After Edwards went fourth, Wisconsin forward Kirsten Simms rounded it out in going eighth overall to Toronto.

“It’s a little bittersweet,” Simms said of watching her Badgers’ teammates go their separate ways. “I’m just happy for all of them. They’re unbelievable players and unbelievable people and so every team is super lucky. But, obviously, I’m gonna miss them.”

Finland national team defender Nelli Laitinen was the first European player selected, going No. 6 to Hamilton. The first Canadian selected was Ohio State defender Sara Swiderski, who went ninth overall to Minnesota.

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

FILE - United States' Abbey Murphy (37) challenges with Canada's Sarah Fillier (10) during a women's ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

FILE - United States' Laila Edwards (10) poses after the United States' women's ice hockey team was presented with the gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)

FILE - United States' Caroline Harvey shoots on goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between Switzerland and United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

FILE - Olympic-hopeful U.S. hockey player Caroline Harvey poses for a photo at Team USA Media Summit, Oct. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

FILE - United States' Caroline Harvey celebrates with teammates after scoring her side's first goal during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between USA and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek, File)