NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For all the coverage issues the Titans cornerbacks had last season, one of the major points of emphasis through the offseason and into camp didn’t have much to do with balls in flight.
It’s been run support.
“That’s one thing we know, in order for us to get to where we’ve got to get to, that’s the No. 1 thing we’ve got to improve,” secondary coach Deshea Townsend said. “The pass is another one. But if we’re physical and we’re stopping the run, we’ll give ourselves a chance in games in the long run.
“No matter what level you play at, if you’re not stopping the run you’re not going to win many games.”
In the preseason opener against the Jets, Titans cornerbacks accounted for nine tackles at the end of run plays. Six of those runs were for 4 yards or less, where corners closed something down as opposed to where a run broke through to the secondary.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The first renderings of a MLS stadium at Fairgrounds Nashville are spectacular, and it’s hard not to get fired up at the possibility of it being a centerpiece of yet another neighborhood renaissance in Music City.
It’s far more difficult to get fired up about the possibility of it also being home to Vanderbilt’s football team.
Per The Tennessean: “The stadium is envisioned as a ‘dual-purpose’ facility in case Vanderbilt University wants to move forward with a proposal to share the stadium with MLS and make it the new home of their football team.”
The paper quotes Vanderbilt's vice chancellor David Williams as open to the idea.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The first edition of the mailbag here.
At ESPN.com, they made us cut it down to one question, maybe two. I thought that was weak as I like mailbags as a spot where I can address a lot of stuff in one place.
I will regularly pack these to whatever degree the questions warrant it.
PK: Corey Davis, Rishard Matthews, Eric Decker and Taywan Taylor are definites. I think it would be very hard for them not to keep Tajae Sharpe. That was a solid rookie season by a fifth-round pick who helped change the receiver room. He could be back from his foot stress fracture as soon as next week. So that’s five. That could be it, possibly with Eric Weems qualifying as a sixth in a pinch if he’s around as a return man and special teamer. Tre McBride and Harry Douglas would be next. Douglas would be a luxury if he’s inactive weekly but available if someone is hurt. McBride is younger, of course, and can do more on special teams, but is still too inconsistent. Depth or lack of it at other positions will influence the receiver number. But right now I say five plus Weems.
With Saturday's poor showing, are preseason games foreshadowing for the season? Should games produce negativity/positivity at all? #PKmail
PK: One game, and just a few series for starters, should not be much of a harbinger of things to come. Every year I tell people not to read too much into the preseason, then there are at least a few developments I wind up putting too much stock into. The safer play is to always work to minimize how much you let the preseason influence your expectations and feelings about a team.
Which do you dislike more? People who wear team jerseys or people who want a former player resigned after he's been cut? #PKmail
PK: Considering how so many people wear jerseys, a sweeping dislike would simply include too many people. Therefore I select B. I blame Jeff Fisher for this, in part. Because every time the Titans cut someone of note during his term as coach, he would say the team could bring the guy back. To him it softened the blow, but I think some people didn’t see through that and it gave them sentimental hope that their dear, former Titan would wear the colors again.
To what extent was Tajae Sharpe’s “rookie wall” a result of the coverage and game-planning he received as the team’s #1 or 2 corner? #PKMail
PK: It was a factor. But the fact is the Titans asked a great deal of a fifth-round rookie, partly out of necessity. His contribution was impressive when put in context. And while he’s probably the fifth guy once he’s back, which could be as early as next week, he’ll benefit greatly from all the additions on offense when he gets snaps. He’s not getting as many as he did last year barring a slew of injuries.
Why is Muhammed so low on the depth chart? #PKmail
PK: He’s just not been very good. I like the idea of him, and thought his dashy, darty style showed up a bit early on. But as camp has gone on he hasn’t shown much, except that he can’t field punts.
Do you think Titans put too much stock in Logan Ryan before he had a chance to prove himself covering deep balls or was he worth it#PKmail
PK: He played 15 snaps. A jersey guy who went to Rutgers, he said he let himself get a little overhyped as he was back home. He got kind of lost on a pass that was actually thrown accidentally further inside than it should have been and Robby Anderson made a good adjustment to make a 53-yard catch. It’s ONE play. We can make no judgment -- major or even minor – off one play.
#PKmail who do you want to see improve from last Saturday preseason game to this weeks game.
PK: Pretty much everybody. Here are a few guys who can do what they did against the Jets and be just fine: FS Kevin Byard, CB Kalan Reed, ILB Jayon Brown, OLB Aaron Wallace, WR Harry Douglas.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In conversations with many of you, I’m often asked how I can “not like” the Titans and still cover them.
The question drives me crazy, but it’s asked often enough that I felt like I should expound on the answer in this space. Now I will have something to point people to every time I am asked.
I did a similar thing at ESPN.com in 2011, with a piece on how people accusing me of being biased every time I expressed an opinion were not really getting what it was I was doing.
First off, the notion that I “don’t like” the Titans makes it seems like there are strictly two options: Liking them or not liking them.
It’s not that simple.
I like reporting about them. I like a lot of people with the organization, long-timers and newcomers. Right now I like their plan, direction and a good share of their personnel. But I don’t like them like most of you like them. I don’t like them where I root for them or have an emotional investment in their success or failure.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A lot of Titans had a hand in a horrible protection night against the Jets, in which Tennessee allowed eight sacks and quarterback Alex Tanney took plenty of hits beyond that.
He got leveled on his first snap when blitzing, unblocked linebacker Julian Stanford raced in.
Well, I gave this my best effort as a first-time experiment.
I watched the game closely and cobbled together my notes from Jets 7, Titans 3 in an attempt to offer an observation on everyone who played for Tennessee.
I watched the game a second time to fill in around the initial stuff. At 3:13 a.m. CT I’m as ready as I can be to post this and try to get to sleep.
Let me know what you think.
2 WR Mekale McKay – Did not play (hamstring).
3 K-P Jordan Gay – Punted twice with a long of 37 and an average and net average of just 34 yards. Hit the Titans second kickoff 5 yards deep into the end zone.
4 K Ryan Succop – Hit a 36-yard field goal for the Titans’ only points. Put opening kickoff just into the end zone.
5 QB Tyler Ferguson – Got in only for two snaps while Alex Tanney was evaluated for a concussion. Handed off to Derrick Henry on the first, completed a 5-yard pass to Taywan Taylor on the second.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- With DeMarco Murray out for Saturday night's game against the Jets at MetLife Stadium, Derrick Henry will be the first running back for the Tennesse Titans.
The guy who will come in after Henry has worked very hard to get in position to show he can help a 53-man roster.
David Fluellen spent some time with the Eagles and Colts befoe the Titans signed him at the start of 2015 training camp to add running back depth. He ranked way down the depth chart.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Warren Moon recently shared details on how crucial a fingernail was to his grip and throwing motion.
That led me to ask Marcus Mariota about how he holds the ball.
His hands measure 9 7/8 at the combine. Teams are generally happy with anything over 9 1/2.
During a great chat with The Midday 180, Mariota discussed his lack of desire to be on social media and his determination to keep his private life private, his close friendship with Titans center Ben Jones, his mentoring of Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the time he chose to run for punishment as opposed to yelling at a teammates at a high school practice, studying Aaron Rogers and waking up early in Hawaii to surf as part of Dawn Patrol.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Warren Moon recently shared details on how crucial a fingernail was to his grip and throwing motion.
