Munchak open to 3-4 scheme as a change-up

New Titans coach Mike Munchak said he will stay with the 4-3 defense for now, as he searches for a new defensive coordinator.

But he also wants a coach who is open to teaching a version of the 3-4 to potentially give the Titans more of a hybird look.

“People get into this 3-4 or 4-3 thing. Well, a lot of teams play a lot of three-down (linemen) looks on third down, so they already have that scheme in, in a way,” Munchak said at his Monday introductory press conference. “It’s not as complicated as you might think, other than with personnel. You have to make sure you have the right personnel for it.”

The search for a defensive coordinator will begin immediately for the Titans and Munchak, no small task given the unsettled labor situation.

“When I’m talking to someone, especially this year, we want to have somebody that can come in and with the guys, assuming we don’t get a chance to meet with them until, whenever, July, that we can come in and the coaches can do the adjusting and let the players come in and play so there’s not a ton of learning going on,” he said. “Obviously if we don’t have any disruption, then obviously we’ll have a lot more time to spend with them and maybe do a little bit more. So as I’ve been looking for people to fit that role, that’s kind of how I’m looking, (with) an open mind because as an offensive guy who’s never coached defense.”

Linebacker Will Witherspoon welcomed the hiring of Munchak as head coach and also said that tinkering with the 3-4 to be able to give teams a different look on occasion was appealing.

“I think it's a great thing. I don't know all the details of his hiring, but it gives us a lot of consistency as far as what to expect,” he said. “It's a good move. You look at his body of work, and he's got an oppountiy to take shot at chance it at a place where he's already been coaching.”

As for adding in the 3-4 as a possible changeup, Witherspoon said, “I've done that before. I think we've got to start blending looks and opening up the defensive playbook.”

Munchak is believed to want an experienced coordinator. Linebackers coach Dave McGinnis is one option, but there will likely be outside candidates as well.