NASHVILLE – The Titans took the field for practice No.8 of training camp on Friday at Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Here's a look at what stood out:
-Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill connected on 13-of-21 passes in the 7-on-7 and team periods, and he's now 83-of-114 with just one interception through the first eight practices of camp. Tannehill connected with receiver Racey McMath for a deep ball in a 7-on-7 period, which was probably the prettiest play of the day.
-I've written about McMath, the team's second-year player from LSU, several times in camp because he keeps making plays. McMath looks much more comfortable in this year's camp, and he said so after the session. McMath's touchdown grab today came one play after cornerback Kristian Fulton, McMath's teammate at LSU, knocked the ball out on a deep ball. After today's practice, the players talked technique and more.
-Linebacker David Long Jr. had a good day. He was right there on an early running play, and he also showed up in the backfield later in a separate period as he blew up a screen pass from Tannehill to tight end Geoff Swaim.
-Big defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons showed his athleticism when he ran toward a scrambling Tannehill, and then batted the ball down.
-Running back Hassan Haskins did some nice, hard running on back-to-back third down plays, getting the necessary yardage each time. But later, Haskins lost the handle on one run, which resulted in a turnover.
-Quarterback Malik Willis once again had his moments, good and bad. Willis fumbled a snap early before falling on it. Later in the session he threw a beautiful strike to teammate Josh Malone for a score.
-Quarterback Logan Woodside's biggest play came when he found tight end Briley Moore streaking across the middle of the field on a misdirection play that resulted in a gain of plus-50 yards.
-Linebacker Jack Gibbens recorded just the third interception of training camp for the defense as he picked off Woodside on a ball that was tipped.
-Cornerback Shakur Brown made a nice stop early on a throw to receiver Kyle Philips, and later in practice he knocked the ball out of Swaim's hands after he made a catch.
-A comical moment came after receiver Mason Kinsey made a catch across the middle when two of his teammates – linebacker Chance Campbell and safety Michael Griffin II – held him in the air after greeting him at the football.
-I noticed defensive lineman Naquan Jones making a few plays.
-Receiver Treylon Burks has been mostly solid, but he wasn't able to haul in a high pass that went off his hands during a team period.
-Receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine continues to be consistently good, and he caught a beautifully thrown pass from Tannehill for a 30-plus yard gain.
-The first team offense was presented with this scenario at the end of practice: Start at the 45-yard line, 50 seconds left, one time out. Things started well, as Tannehill connected with Philips, Dontrell Hilliard, and Austin Hooper to get inside the 10. But Caleb Farley broke up a pass intended for Burks in the end zone, and on a play from the 7-yard line with just one second left, Burks couldn't get both feet inbounds after making a catch on the final play as the defense got a stop.
-Willis got a chance to lead the second-team offense with the same scenario, but that drive stalled as Willis threw an incompletion on the final play.
-Titans head coach Mike Vrabel acknowledged Nicholas Petit-Frere got some extra work with the first team at right tackle on Friday. Petit-Frere is competing against Dillon Radunz and others.
-Linebacker Dylan Cole was injured during an early period, and needed help getting off the field. Cole was moving better later, but he'll need to be monitored.
-In a kick return period, running back Trenton Cannon, Mason Kinsey, Kyle Philips, Terry Godwin, Brandon Lewis and Reggie Roberson all lined up deep.
-Running back Derrick Henry, who went through individual drills, did a lot of work in the sandpit on Friday.
-Receiver Cody Hollister and cornerback Elijah Molden, who've missed recent practices with injuries, remained out.
-Linebacker Bud Dupree, center Ben Jones, tackle Taylor Lewan, and Jeffery Simmons all returned to practice after getting a day off Thursday.
-Receiver Robert Woods, safety Kevin Byard, cornerback Roger McCreary, safety Amani Hooker and defensive lineman Denico Autry got the day off on Friday. Linebacker Zach Cunningham went into the weight room after appearing outside early.
-Defensive lineman Larrell Murchison and offensive lineman Jamarco Jones, who left Thursday's practice early with a trainer, were back on the practice field.
-Kicker Caleb Shudak and linebacker Monty Rice did not practice, as they're on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list at the start of camp. On Friday, Rice did some work on a side field with trainers.
-I chatted with defensive back Terrell Bonds, who played at TSU, after practice. Here's that clip below:
-Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk and Kenneth Adams IV from the ownership group watched Friday's practice from high atop Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.
-Former Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck and defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth attended Fridays' session.
-Analyst Charles Davis, who will work the team's preseason contests for WKRN, attended Friday's practice for the second day in a row. Davis and Titans play-by-play man Mike Keith interviewed players for a special training camp show that will air from 3-5 CT on Friday on SIRIUSXM NFL Radio.
-Sara Walsh of NFL Network and NFL on FOX was at Friday's practice.
-Roughly 200 fans who were fortunate enough to claim tickets attended Friday's session.
-The Titans don't practice on Saturday.
Next practice: Sunday, 9:30 a.m.
