As first reported by Omaha radio host Matt Schick, The Titans made their second move in unrestricted free agency Saturday, signing MLB Barrett Ruud to a one-year contract.
Ruud spent the first six year of his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being drafted in the second round out of Nebraska. He was the Bucs’ starter at middle linebacker for the past four seasons, posting over 100 tackles each season because that’s the kind of thing middle linebackers do in many defenses. He may not have quite as many tackles as Stephen Tulloch, but is very assignment-sound and should be a big upgrade in coverage.
For more on Ruud’s abilities, see this post and this one by former Bucs DE Steve White (twitter). With only a one-year deal, the Titans probably see this year’s draft pick Colin McCarthy as the middle linebacker of the future, but Ruud’s signing seems to continue the defensive makeover from an aggressive one-gap scheme to more two-gap defensive line play in front of linebackers playing more read-and-react.
What do you think of this signing? Happy to see the Titans should improve in coverage? Already missing Stephen Tulloch?
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