NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans interim coach Mike Mularkey wants to run the football, and he likes bruising backs who can move the pile.
Running back Antonio Andrews is his kind of guy.
"I think Antonio (Andrews) is the workhorse as we speak right now,'' Mularkey said on Wednesday. "As you've seen, Dexter (McCluster) has had his carries as a changeup for us. Bishop (Sankey), again, I know he hasn't had carries in the last couple of weeks, but we're trying. Based on the run scheme that we've had in these last couple of weeks, it hasn't called upon his ability. But if we were going to force it, it would be to Antonio right now."
That's music to the ears of Andrews, who leads the Titans with 202 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 54 carries, despite missing two games early in the season with a hamstring injury.
Andrews said Titans running backs coach Sylvester Croom told him earlier this week he was going to be the starter "from here on out."
Andrews, who starred at Western Kentucky, has started two of the last three games, but the Titans have used a number of backs. Andrews is under the impression he'll get a lot more work moving forward.
"I look at it as me reaching my goal that I set back in the offseason,'' Andrews said. "I told y'all I wanted to be a starter and I reached that goal. The new (goal) is to win out the rest of the season."
Andrews led the Titans with 64 yards on 16 carries this past Sunday in Houston.
Guard Chance Warmack said he likes Andrews, a 5-10, 225-pounder. In the near future, the Titans are also expected to move running back David Cobb from the injured list to the 53-man roster, giving the team yet another option.
Cobb has been practicing with the team in recent weeks.
"I like all of them," Warmack said of the backs, "they all bring different identities to the fold. I have known Antonio since he got here when he was a rookie, so we have a good relationship. He is a really good guy, he wants to be great, and I am happy for him. He's come a long way."
