"As defensive line coach with the Buccaneers last season, Keith Millard watched UCLA's Akeem Ayers a lot on film leading up to the NFL draft.

He envisioned how Ayers might fit in with the Bucs as a defensive end, and fell in love with his athletic ability and potential.

Ayers wound up with the Titans as a second-round pick, but Millard will get to work with the young linebacker after all. The Titans hired the three-time All-Pro as a defensive assistant/pass rush specialist on Monday.

Millard is charged with helping revive a defense that was 31st in the NFL in sacks last season. And one of his projects will be helping Ayers, who had two of the team's 28 sacks last season, develop into a fierce pass rusher."