Titans sign LB B.J. Bello and DT Bruce Victor

The Titans made a pair of signings on the defensive side of the ball today. Firstly, the team is bringing in former Chargers linebacker B.J. Bello on a one-year deal, according to Ian Rapoport.

Bello (6-3, 229) is a four-year NFL veteran that has played for four different teams. He originally broke into the league as an undrafted free agent. He played his college football at Illinois State.

This is a special teams signing. Bello has played 528 snaps on special teams throughout out his career. He has just 86 defensive snaps to his name. The Titans have a trio of special teams linebackers that they’ve seemingly decided to move on from — Nick Dzubnar, Daren Bates and Will Compton. On the surface, it appears that Bello is a replacement for one of those three players.

The Titans also signed defensive tackle Bruce Victor on Thursday afternoon, according to Tom Pelissero.

Victor (6-2, 296) is a three-year NFL veteran that spent the majority of last season on Carolina’s practice squad. He’s played in 11 career games, starting one. Victor played his college football at South Florida. He’ll battle for a roster spot in training camp. If things go well, he could compete for snaps on the Titans’ defensive line with a couple of sophomores in Larrell Murchison and Teair Tart. The departure of DaQuan Jones has left a bit of a hole here.

What’s perhaps most notable here is that both Bello and Victor spent time with new Titans senior defensive assistant coach Jim Schwartz in Philadelphia. The tidbit was first pointed out by Broadway Sports’ Mike Herndon.

This likely isn’t a coincidence. Coaches love players that they’re familiar with. It appears that the Titans went out and got a couple of guys that Schwartz knows well.

What are your thoughts on these two signings?