NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- For the bulk of what’s behind them, the Titans ran their first-team offense against the first-team defense.

For what’s ahead of them, that won’t happen.Malik WIllis

Pool photo/ Donald Page, Tennessee Titans

Now, when the Titans’ offense works, it will be against a defense composed of backup defenders, running sets it looks at on a card prior to each play, meant to imitate an upcoming opponent.

Similarly, the Titans’ defense will be running against a scout-team offense running carded plays that are what coaches have seen from the team and/or coordinator who will be on the field for the next game.

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Paul Kuharsky has covered the Tennessee Titans since 1996, first for The Tennessean, then ESPN.com and now independently at paulkuharsky.com. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee and one of the longest-tenured Titans beat reporters in the franchise's history.