Titans beat the Raiders in week one tuneup
The Titans beat the Raiders in preseason week three action, aka a week one tuneup.
This is the second game that the Titans offensive line was excellent. The Raiders have a nice young defense with a powerful front, so that’s somewhat of an accomplishment for this unit. The Titans had arguably the worst offensive line in football last year and look ready to erase that from our memory.
MVP-
Quenton Spain. It seemed outlandish for coach Mike Mularkey to challenge him prior to the game and suggest Sebastian Tretola or Brian Schwenke could steal his starting spot. Spain has been running as the starter at left guard since midway through the 2015 season. The challenge worked and Spain was excellent.
Please note, I’ll probably never choose Mariota or someone typical here each week.
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LVP
Antwan Blake continues to allow big plays to wide receivers. It’s really out of hand right now and he needs to be cut. I understand there’s plenty of bubble players, but when a cornerback allows a couple hundred yards to his wide receivers..it needs to happen. Mularkey has previously stated that he has a role due to special teams. I don’t see him doing much on special teams. If he makes the team, some young corner doesn’t.
New Injuries
Bishop Sankey looked like he had a bothersome knee. He was rubbing it on the sideline and making an “ooh” face like people make with a stinger. It wasn’t reported after the game nor in the followup presser, but the announcers spoke of it during the game. Maybe he banged it? I don’t know, but it seemed minimal. Delanie Walker was out of breath and left the game. Mularkey mentioned in the presser today that he was simply congested.
The Titans lost both of their backup offensive line swingmen this offseason. I would not characterize the injuries this preseason as a fortuitous.
Play of the game
Tajae Sharpe caught a short pass from Mariota. The ball somehow was not intercepted by Shaun Smith and slipped by him. Sharpe showed great concentration then “took off” for 60 some odd yards.
Next game
The Titans backups will play the Miami Dolphins backups on Thursday. The starters may play a series. Mike Mularkey stated in today’s presser on titansonline that he expects the backup runningbacks to get some work in this game.
Coaching Critique
The Titans have had 11 and 12 wide receivers all offseason. This was the deepest group, possibly ever, with 1st and 2nd rounders that hadn’t panned out, as depth. In week one, he wanted to establish his exotic smashmouth system and they ran an awful lot. This past week, the backup quarterbacks threw the ball five times. Five. In two of three preseason games, he has done almost nothing to genuinely evaluate the wide receiver depth.
Notes:
Sean Spence is still getting caught in the wrong spot in coverage. It’s so obvious with either the other linebacker or a defensive back looking over their shoulder expecting someone there. His error allowed another easy touchdown. He made a nice hit to force a fumble, but after giving up a touchdown it was hardly exciting.
Mularkey was bursting with praise for Derrick Henry yesterday. He really loves that player’s potential. He made a PC sort of oops and got a little too excited during the presser. That is not a coach that would struggle to bench DeMarco Murray.
Justin Hunter got in the game plenty. He only got one pass his way though. Andre Johnson looked young. Mariota’s option play was so sweet.
There is no truth to the rumor that the Titans have asked the NFL to consider allowing them to spot a team even points each week. It just seems that way.
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