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Akeem Ayers | Linebacker

Team: Tennessee Titans
Age / DOB:  (23) / 7/10/1989
Ht / Wt:  6'3' / 254
College: UCLA
Contract: view contract details
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The Titans plan to feature SLB Akeem Ayers as an edge rusher on passing downs just as they did in the second half of 2012.
Ayers registered five of his six sacks over the final nine games. Per Pro Football Focus, Ayers rushed the QB on 29 percent of his passing-down snaps, the third-highest percentage among 4-3 outside linebackers. Ayers' emergence as an edge threat may explain why the Titans didn't target defensive ends in free agency. Apr 1 - 8:25 PM
Source: Nashville Tennessean

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Date:
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers played middle linebacker in nickel packages during the team's regular season finale.

Ayers more than held his own, racking up eight tackles, a sack, two QB hits, and a forced fumble. Colin McCarthy will return to his starting job at middle linebacker in 2013, but this look gives Tennessee some options to consider during the offseason. With Ayers at SAM, McCarthy at MIKE, and impressive rookie Zach Brown at WILL, the Titans theoretically have the makings of a highly promising young linebacker corps entering next season.
Source: Nashville Tennessean
Sun, Dec 30, 2012 10:22:00 PM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

The Titans used SLB Akeem Ayers almost exclusively as a defensive end in passing situations in their Week 8 loss to the Colts.

Ayers worked in a rotation with Kamerion Wimbley, playing just 34-of-77 snaps. The move came as a result of the Titans' lack of depth at DE with Dave Ball, Leger Douzable and Keyunta Dawson all landing on injured reserve. Aside from starters Wimbley and Derrick Morgan, Pannel Egboh and rookie Scott Solomon are the only other defensive ends on the roster. Owners in IDP leagues who have relied on Ayers thus far may want to consider other options going forward due to his decreased time on the field.
Source: Nashville Tennessean
Sat, Nov 3, 2012 11:31:00 AM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers is expected to line up as a pass rusher with regularity this season.

Ayers started all 16 games as a rookie last year and racked up 88 tackles, but managed just two sacks and seven quarterback pressures. This offseason, he worked on his pass-rush technique with specialist Keith Millard. It sounds like Ayers is going to line up at the defensive end spot on passing downs.
Source: Nashville Tennessean
Mon, Jul 23, 2012 11:07:00 AM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

Titans SLB Akeem Ayers is concentrating on improving his pass-rushing skills this offseason.

Lacking playmaking ability, Ayers had just two sacks and seven QB pressures to go with 88 tackles as a rookie. New pass-rushing coach Keith Millard is helping Ayers improve his technique, which was often "completely wrong" in 2011. Ayers and DL Jerry Gray both realize it's "real crucial" for the second-year linebacker to improve his sack total.
Source: Nashville Tennessean
Fri, May 18, 2012 10:23:00 AM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

New Titans defensive assistant/pass-rush specialist Keith Millard specifically mentioned SLB Akeem Ayers as a player it will be "fun to work with."

The former Bucs defensive line coach, Millard was hired by Tennessee on Monday. A 16-game starter at strong-side linebacker in his rookie year, Ayers emerged as an every-down player during the stretch run, finishing with 76 tackles and a pair of sacks. Millard will work closely with the 2011 second-round pick, as Ayers will play defensive end in pass-rush situations.
Source: Nashville Tennessean
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 03:42:00 PM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

Rookies Akeem Ayers and Colin McCarthy have picked up snaps while staying on the field in nickel packages.

The Titans want Ayers on the field as much as possible now that he has a command of the base and nickel packages. McCarthy is playing well enough that Barrett Ruud may be the odd man out once he returns from a groin injury. McCarthy had 11 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception in Week 12.
Related: Barrett Ruud, Colin McCarthy
Source: Nashville Tennessean
Fri, Dec 2, 2011 01:32:00 PM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

Second-round rookie Akeem Ayers is the Titans' projected starter at strong-side linebacker.

Ayers' extreme athleticism is going to give him a versatile role on defense. He can rush the passer off the edge or stand up over the tight end. Look for Gerald McRath to back up all three linebacker spots and play in nickel situations.
Related: Gerald McRath
Source: Nashville Tennessean
Thu, Aug 18, 2011 08:55:00 AM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

Second-round pick Akeem Ayers is already running as a starter in Titans camp, displacing Gerald McRath at strong-side linebacker.

The competition shouldn't be over, but Ayers has been an absolute terror in early practices. McRath can play all three linebacker positions and was on the second team Thursday, working behind Barrett Ruud in the middle. The Titans suddenly have linebacker depth with rookie Colin McCarthy also backing up.
Related: Gerald McRath
Source: John Glennon on Twitter
Thu, Aug 4, 2011 08:14:00 PM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray plans to use second-round OLB Akeem Ayers at multiple positions as a "jack-of-all-trades" playmaker.

Ayers will primarily stand up "over by the tight end" as a strong-side linebacker, but he's also going to occasionally line up on the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher. The Titans plan to keep the 4-3 scheme intact under new coordinator Jerry Gray, but they're going to mix in some 3-4 looks as well -- with Ayers as an edge rusher.
Source: Nashville Tennessean
Sun, May 1, 2011 03:59:00 PM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

Titans selected UCLA LB Akeem Ayers with the No. 39 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

We love Ayers' production, and he will fit in at one of Tennessee's outside linebacker spots, with the ability to stick his hand in the dirt and rush like an end on third downs. In 28 career starts, the underclassman prospect racked up 29.5 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and six interceptions, two of which he returned to the house. Ayers finished third in Butkus Award voting as a third-year junior last season. He's a certain value pick at 39.
Fri, Apr 29, 2011 06:44:00 PM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

ESPN New York's Rich Cimini has UCLA OLB Akeem Ayers going to the Jets at No. 30 overall in his final mock draft.

Cimini has linked the Jets to Ayers, Brooks Reed, and Phil Taylor for over a week now. He suggests Reed is still a possibility, as is trading down. The Dallas Morning News' Rick Gosselin is sending Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod to the Jets in his mock draft.
Related: Jets
Source: ESPN New York
Thu, Apr 28, 2011 12:47:00 PM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

NFL Films guru Greg Cosell believes UCLA LB Akeem Ayers has "competitive red flags."

Cosell believes Ayers is an "athletic stud," but is worried by the fact that he didn't always play like one at UCLA. NFL teams must be thinking the same thing, as based on his athletic ability alone, he's clearly a day-one player, and not the bubble pick he's turned into.
Source: Greg Cosell on Twitter
Sun, Apr 24, 2011 09:37:00 AM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

Beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter thinks the Falcons' most likely target at No. 27 is UCLA LB Akeem Ayers.

He believes Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn, Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh DE Jabaal Sheard and Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt will all be considerations, but that Ayers' versatility could be the deciding factor. Rotoworld's latest mock draft has Atlanta passing on defensive ends in favor of Baylor G Danny Watkins.
Related: Falcons
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sat, Apr 23, 2011 02:39:00 PM
Akeem Ayers - LB - Titans

ESPN New York's Rich Cimini is "hearing" three names connected to the Jets at No. 30 overall: Akeem Ayers, Phil Taylor, and Brooks Reed.

The best value of the group is probably Ayers, at least in terms of dominance at the college level. Reed is arguably a step down from Ayers, and Taylor would fill a need at position of lower impact. We suspect the Jets will value Ayers' versatility, although Taylor and Reed are very much in the mix.
Related: Jets
Source: ESPN New York
Thu, Apr 21, 2011 01:04:00 PM

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