How former Titans coach Mike Vrabel helped Eddie George improve Tennessee State football's defense

Brandon Fisher's father, Jeff Fisher, was a longtime coach of the Tennessee Titans, but it was the Titans most recent coach, Mike Vrabel, who helped Brandon achieve some of the success he's experienced this season as Tennessee State's defensive coordinator.

While he was still coaching the Titans, Vrabel sent Fisher and Tigers coach Eddie George, the Titans all-time leading rusher, a video showing the best ways for a defender to take the ball away from an offensive player.

Fisher studied the video titled, "The Ski Mask Way." then showed it to his players. Simulating the takeaway methods became part of the Tigers' daily practice routine, and those drills have paid off this season.

TSU, which has the No. 24 overall defense in FCS, is tied for 11th in turnovers (11). The Tigers (4-2. 2-1 Big South/OVC) have forced and recovered six fumbles in the past four games heading into their homecoming against Eastern Illinois (1-5, 0-2) on Saturday (5 p.m., ESPN+) at Nissan Stadium.

Defensive back Boogie Trotter, a former Pearl-Cohn star, returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown against Tennessee Tech on Sept. 21. Trotter is tied for first in the FCS with Tarleton State's Kasyus Kurns in fumble recoveries (3) and leads the Tigers with two interceptions.

"The video coach Vrabel shared with Coach George showed some of the techniques to get the ball out," Fisher said. "You've got the punch, the tomahawk, the chop. It had practice clips and then game clips of what the Titans are taught. Every coach preaches turnovers in their own way, and this was something Coach Vrabel teaches. Obviously, our guys love seeing the Titans clips of practice and games of guys raking at the ball and knocking it out."

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Vrabel, who was let go by the Titans after the 2023 season, sent the video before last season. It took awhile for TSU's defenders to learn the techniques well enough for them to show up in games, but it started to happen early this season. The Tigers caused two fumbles in the opener against Mississippi Valley State and Trotter had an interception as well.

"Turnovers have always been a point of emphasis on every defense, always have been and always will be," Fisher said. "But I think our guys this season have taken it to heart, taken a lot of pride in it, and you're seeing the results on the field."

The Tigers had a total of 11 turnovers (seven interceptions and four fumble recoveries) in 2023, which was next-to-last in the Big South/OVC. They already have that many turnovers (eight fumble recoveries and three interceptions) this season, which leads the conference.

"The biggest difference with our defense between last year and this year is they're getting the ball out," George said. "We talk about it. We preach on different techniques how to punch the ball out. I’m constantly reminding them in practice to work on their technique to punch the ball out no matter what.”

In last week's come-from-behind win at Lindenwood, the Lions took possession trailing 24-20 with 56 seconds remaining at their 31. On the first play, Lindenwood quarterback Nate Glantz ran 11 yards before TSU linebacker Ahmad Nelson hit him and knocked the ball out. Trotter recovered it at the Lindenwood 27.

In the fourth quarter against Charleston Southern two weeks ago, TSU was clinging to a 13-9 lead when the Buccaneers drove to the Tigers' 9-yard line. On second down, TSU linebacker Spencer Roof stripped the ball from CSU running back Autavius Ison and Trotter recovered it in the end zone.

"Our players have bought in; they see how big turnovers can be and especially at key points in the game," Fisher said. "And it's like the more they get the more they want."

Reach Mike Organ at 615-969-1742 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How former Titans coach Mike Vrabel helped Eddie George improve Tennessee State football's defense