Paul Kuharsky | Tennessee Titans News and Analysis

Scout's take: Breaking down the Titans on third down in London

: October 22, 2018 10:53 AM

Blake Beddingfield was a Titans' scout for 19 years, through the 2017 draft. He was the team's director of college scouting for his final six years. Follow him on Twiiter at @BlakeBeddingfi1. He’s brought to you by Party Fowl. Eat hot chicken and drink boozy slushes in The Gulch, the Boro or in Donelson.

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special contributor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The opening drive for the Titans was a good mix of run and pass, using Marcus Mariota’s legs and two quick passes to Derrick Henry and Dion Lewis which helped move the chains.

But the Titans again could not find the end zone and had to settle for a field goal.

The Titans shortened the game and held the critical stat of time of possession with a strong run game by Lewis and a very accurate passing day by Mariota. Corey Davis and Taywan Taylor each had big drops that stopped critical drives. These are players the team is relying on, but unfortunately, they are not consistent enough to be put in those big positions each week.

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Why not a Derrick Henry carry on the 2-point conversion?

: October 21, 2018 5:47 PM

LONDON – A few final thoughts on a loss the Titans really have to be sick over at Wembley Stadium.

The run game: It was a good day for the running game, which finally showed signs of life. The 33 carries were the second-most outside of the Jacksonville win, the 164 yards were the most this year and the 5.0-yard average was the highest.

HenryPortrait Dion Lewis did the most with 13 carries for 91 yards (and six catches on six targets for 64 more). He was electric and the Titans best player in London, which is why it would have made sense to win or lose with him on the 2-point conversion, certain once it was moved, by penalty, to the 1-yard line.

Derrick Henry had some good runs and two good catches. Because of his size, people overrate him as a short-yardage threat. Many figure a 6-foot-3, 247-pound back should simply be able to get a yard.

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Mike Vrabel wouldn't second-guess the 2-point conversion attempt, but I will

: October 21, 2018 1:58 PM

LONDON – Going for it paid off huge against the Eagles. The Titans could have attempted a field goal for a tie, but risked a loss on fourth down in order to get in position for a glorious overtime win.

At Wembley Stadium they were in position likely to force overtime with a PAT, but instead went for a 2-point conversion. And when they missed it and got a second chance thanks to a penalty, they tried it again and missed it again, absorbing a 20-19 loss.

Thus they return to Nashville at 3-4, holders of a three-game losing streak heading into a bye.

Mike Vrabel said he wouldn’t second-guess it, that doing so is a job for those of us asking the questions. And so I am happy to oblige.

How I became a Chelsea fan Saturday

: October 20, 2018 5:44 PM

LONDON – I’ll tell my Chelsea story with a lot of pictures.

And I’ll spoil the ending:

I’m all in.

The ride

We woke up too late. I’d planned for Teresa and Simon and me to have an early breakfast and hit Westminster Abby before heading to Fulham Broadway Station. I set the alarm, I just didn't flip it to on.

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MDI Mailbag: Is it growing pains for the Titans' offense, or something else?

: October 19, 2018 5:12 PM

LONDON -- Greetings from England, where I'm near through the first day-adjustment and really excited for a family day touring the city and taking in the Chelsea-Man U game at Stamford Bridge.

The Titans' Friday practice was uneventful but for the pretty backdrop at the Great Hall of Syon House in Brentford. MaritaCastle

My thank to MDI Construction for sponsoring all my travel for the second year in a row, including this giant trip. MDI Construction: High-quality commercial, retail and industrial construction since 2003. Their building and bidding timetable can’t be matched.

Now onto your questions.

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Scout's take: Titans built to handle Chargers' front four

: October 19, 2018 1:49 AM

By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special contributor

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Chargers With Philip Rivers, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Tyrell Williams and Melvin Gordon will bring a very different challenge than the Ravens did.

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To keep things normal in London, Titans sent bacon

: October 18, 2018 7:30 PM

OVER THE ATLANTIC, EN ROUTE TO LONDON – The bacon is different.

bacon

Jon Robinson mentioned it in a training camp visit with the Midday 180 and I asked him about it before we all set out across the Atlantic for the Titans game Sunday at WembleyStadium against the Chargers.

Now I understand many might say, Oh the pampered NFL football team needs the perfect breakfast meat and can’t adapt.

But yeah, the pampered football team needs the perfect breakfast meat and can’t adapt.

The franchise’s goal is to maintain the routine, as routine is, in many ways the lifeblood of an NFL operation.

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Jon Robinson on the possibility of a Titans' deal before the deadline

: October 18, 2018 7:41 AM

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – An NFL GM isn’t going to talk very openly about trade possibilities a few weeks before the trade deadline.

But I had a chance to ask Jon Robinson about the idea of adding someone to the Titans roster via trade by Oct. 30, so now we have some stuff to parse.