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Mailbag: Weighing the Titans' opener, anticipating the run-defense response and more

Mailbag: Weighing the Titans' opener, anticipating the run-defense response and more

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Greetings from Western New York, where I am optimistic about the NFL television viewing options that await as I got up incredibly early Sunday to be here.

Titans fans should certainly have an interest in what goes on with the Colts visit to Jacksonville this afternoon. Indianapolis is without Michael Pittman and we know what happened the last time the Colts were in North Florida.Ryan Tannehill and Mike Vrabel

If you haven't heard the podcast yet, you'll want to set aside 30 minutes between not and kickoff. Avenues to it on all the major platforms await you here. We'll do a members broadcast at halftime of the Bears-Packers Sunday Night Football game.

Onto your mail. 

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Podcast: How the Titans might attack the Bills, cornerback choices, Todd Downing

PodcastArtNASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A new podcast episode awaits you and you can find it through the very friendly and helpful Linktree.

Whichever platform you prefer, please subscribe, rate and review.

Subjects I delve into:

  • One way to attack the Bills' defense that forces lesser personnel on the field
  • The strong feelings about Todd Downing right now
  • Cornerback choices against quality receivers
  • Buffalo rolling through pass rushing but working without the exotic third-down stuff the Giants had
  • Getting to Austin Hooper
  • My plea for intentional drops league-wide in hurry up when only minimal gains are available
  • A couple of stats to know
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Scout's take: Slowing Josh Allen, booting Ryan Tannehill, Von Miller's moves

Scout's take: Slowing Josh Allen, booting Ryan Tannehill, Von Miller's moves

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Going from the Giants to the Buffalo Bills as an opponent is an enormous talent leap.

The Bills have a franchise quarterback in Josh Allen, a top-10 wide receiver in Stefon Diggs, a very athletic tight end with Dawson Knox and a solid offensive line.

Titans Receiver Huddle

The only level of the offense that is below league average is their running game, but they have potential with the players in the backfield.

Historically the Bills do not use their run game enough, relying heavily on Allen and his big arm.

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Zach Cunningham's bad game and how defenders choose their path to the ball

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans missed double-digit tackles while playing some terrible run defense against the Giants.

Some of the misses came when players ran around blocks only to see Saquon Barkley disappear out the other side before the defender could close. Blake Beddingfield pointed this out in his scouting review column on Monday, with a specific emphasis on Zach Cunningham.

Saquon Barkley and Zach Cunningham

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

I noticed him running around blocks and shooting through the backside of blocks hoping to have enough speed to catch the runner from the backside of the block. But a number of times Barkley was gone through the hole when he finally worked around the block.

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Jeffery Simmons now playing very cheaply for Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Jeffery Simmons started his fourth NFL season with a strong game, disrupting the Giants with two sacks and a forced fumble of Daniel Jones to go with six tackles.

He was disappointed in a poor run defense effort that keyed New York's upset.

Jeffery Simmons

Pool photo: Cameron Faulkner, Tennessee Titans

But the Titans got very cost-efficient production.

Pro-rating Simmons' base salary over the 18-week season, he made $123,437 -- a small figure by star NFL standards.

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Mike Herndon: Titans' first-and-10 handoffs to Derrick Henry are a coaching issue

Mike Herndon: Titans' first-and-10 handoffs to Derrick Henry are a coaching issue

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The NFL is a league of parity. The “bad teams” are never quite as bad as most believe and the good teams are not as invincible.

Week One was a sharp reminder of that fact. Underdogs went 10-6 against the spread and won outright in six of those 10 as the Browns, Bears, Steelers, Vikings, Giants and Seahawks all pulled opening day upsets.

Derrick Henry

Pool photo/ Cameron Faulkner, Tennessee Titans

However, Titans fans won’t likely find much solace in those facts as their team started the 2022 season with an extremely disappointing home loss to a rebuilding Giants team in a game that they controlled for 58 minutes out of 60.

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Wrap on Titans' loss: End-of-game scenario, Treylon Burks was open, three ILB package

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Some lingering thoughts about the 0-1 Titans.

While Mike Vrabel insists the end-of-game scenario went just as he wanted, it’s hard to fathom that taking a timeout after a 21-yard Ryan Tannehill-to-Kyle Philips connection went out of bounds and stopped the clock was him deciding to be very clear about what they wanted to do.

Kyle Philips

The entire offense was trying to hurry to get a play off with Mike Vrabel only calling time right as the clock neared zero.

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Scout's take: The biggest concerns coming out of the Titans' ugly loss

Scout's take: The biggest concerns coming out of the Titans' ugly loss

BY BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The New York Giants have been one of the worst teams in the NFL over the past five seasons.

When the 2022 season is over they will again.

Kristian Fulton and Zach Cunningham

The Giants are rebuilding and not up for a 17-game run. But in their game Sunday they were able to dismantle a team in the Titans that has high hopes for a playoff run.

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