The Tennessee Goons? OLB Bud Dupree Preaching Toughness With Tennessee Titans

NASHVILE – The Tennessee Goons?

Outside linebacker Bud Dupree loves playing for the Titans, but he has another interesting nickname he thinks the team has earned with its aggressive, and nasty style of play.

After an 0-2 start, the Titans have now won four straight games.

“You have a bunch of goons on the team, (and) a goon head coach – that’s what it is,” Dupree said. “Everybody wants to win, and everybody puts in their mind they are going to go out there and play for it all.”

So, what it a goon on the football field?

“It’s the same thing it is in real life as it is on the field – we go out there and we are trying to hit people in the mouth as hard as we can,” Dupree said. “They are going to hit us obviously, but we have to be the one to get the last punch, and we have to make sure all of our punches count. And each and every day, having that mindset to go out there and dominate, and be dominant. Just bring energy and effort.

“We want to go out there each and every time we step on the field – you might be bigger than me, you might be stronger than me, you might be benching 600 pounds, but you’re not going to be tougher than us. We have to have that mindset each and every day.”

Dupree returned to action on Sunday against the Colts and he tallied three tackles, including a sack while adding a team-high eight quarterback pressures.

In four games this season, Dupree has 15 QB pressures and a pair of sacks.

“(I want) to challenge guys, and make it fun,” Dupree said. “A guy like (Mike) Vrabel, who is super-tough, he instills that in us every day. He thinks tough, and we have to live up to that.”