Linebacker Cameron Wake hasn’t played a down for the team, but he has already made an impression on some of the Tennessee Titans players in a short time.
Cameron Wake is large & in charge.
The "large" part is pretty self-explanatory, but today he took charge and did a lot of teaching. He's an asset in more ways than one for the #Titans. pic.twitter.com/i68wHaaiOd
— Emily Proud (@emily_proud) May 21, 2019
Tuesday was the start of OTAs in Nashville. According to some of the videos, Wake was seen taking charge and doing a lot of teaching on the defensive side of the ball. After Tuesday’s practice, Wake told reporters that some he enjoys teaching younger players what he has learned during his 10-plus seasons in the NFL.
“I think part of your role as a veteran, the wisdom that you’ve gained over the years is to pass on to the younger generation, so they can, in turn, do the same to the guys behind them,” Wake said. “I got that same treatment when I was coming into the league from guys who are obviously no longer playing, the Jason Taylor‘s, the Joey Porter‘s of the world, who I got under there wing and asked them the questions of how they were so good of what they do and I’m getting some of those same questions. It has been obviously fun passing some of the same knowledge and a responsibility as well.”
Wake’s time in Miami
After 10 seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Wake signed with the Titans as an unrestricted free agent. Despite being second on the team in sacks with six in 2018, the Dolphins decided against re-signing the 37-year-old pass rusher. It is also worth noting that Wake missed two games in 2018 because of a knee injury.
In 14 games, Cameron Wake generated 54 pressures on 313 rushes in last season, per PFF. Additionally, Wake recorded an overall grade of 81.6 on 517 defensive snaps last season and was among the league’s most productive pass rushers.
Unlike in Miami, Cameron Wake will play at the outside linebacker spot for the Titans in their 3-4 defense. Although he is older than a lot of the players he will be playing with, Wake says he has enjoyed getting to learn a brand new defense in Nashville.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Wake said. “Bit of a learning curve from what I’m used to, but if you look at the big picture, all the players and all the pieces are in a position to make plays. The fast guys know where they need to be, and the big strong guys know where they need to be.”
It is easy to see why Titan players would gravitate towards Wake. He is a five-time Pro Bowler, who could potentially have a bust in Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame once his career is finished. In Miami, Wake was named the winner of the Don Shula Leadership Award three times (2013, 2014, 2016), and he was the 2016 recipient of the Dolphins Ed Block Courage Award, a season after he tore his Achilles’ tendon in 2015.
Wake’s career production
During his 10 seasons in the league. Wake has posted double-digit sacks in five of them, including in 2017 where he recorded 10.5 for the year. Wake’s 98 sacks are the second-most in a Dolphins uniform, only behind Jason Taylor, who had 131 during his 13 seasons with the club.
In the meantime, Wake’s hopes he can continue to find new ways to improve his game while continuing to set a good example for the younger players.
“I’ve always been a guy that takes a lot of pride in my craft and what I do,” Wake said. “And I’ve always been a guy to look around and see other guys that I respect in this league and other teams where it is. Obviously, you see other things you can pick and choose that you can take from their game. So, I think any guy that’s serious about their game, would do the same.”
New era with the Titans
Although he is in a new different uniform for the first time in over a decade, Cameron Wake says he doesn’t feel any difference.
“Just a different color, that’s all,” Wake said. “Same number, same guy, during in essence the same game. Ball is ball as they say. So it is just a different color in a new city.”
Tennessee hopes Wake will help bolster their pass rusher as the team lost veterans Brian Orakpo, who retired, and Derrick Morgan, whom the Titans chose not to re-sign. Harold Landry, Kamalei Correa and Sharif Finch hope to improve on the Titans’ 39 sacks in 2018, which was tied for 16th in the NFL.
Cameron Wake’s resume speaks for itself. If that is enough to help the Titans improve on their 9-7 record from a year ago remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Wake’s leadership can only help the Titans’ defense in 2019.