TITANS HEAD COACH MIKE MULARKEY PRESS CONFERENCE TRANSCRIPT - September 13, 2017

(on if it puts his mind at ease that the game is being played as scheduled in Jacksonville)

You know what, it never was a distraction, never any concern to me. I wasn't involved enough to have anything bother me, I don't think anyone was on our staff. I'm glad we're playing on schedule, we were planning on doing in anyhow as far as the week went. Glad we're keeping it as is.

(on the Jaguars' 10-sack game)

They're good, they're good players. They've got a good scheme, play hard, play with great effort. They've built that defense to rush the passer, to be good up front, to have corners back there to hold up while the rush is going. It's a good defense by good players.

(on the team establishing a physical identity)

I don't know how you could recognize one over the other. I thought it was two pretty physical teams last Sunday. We'll continue to be who we are.

(on how Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette compares to Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch)

Good. Going to move the pile, going to move the pile, going to move the line of scrimmage if there's nothing there. Just big backs that you've got to have a crew there to tackle them. You don't want to get them in open space, that's where the yards after contact happen. I'll include (Chris) Ivory in that group too.

(on if the result of last season's Titans-Jaguars Week 15 game factors into his message to the team)

This is about a division game, this is not about what happened last year. This is about we have to win division games, we have to win them on the road. If we want to win the division, that's what we have to do, that's the emphasis. We've got a lot of new faces in our room, just like they do. It's about the division game.

(on if he talked to quarterback Marcus Mariota about his performance in the last meeting between the Titans and Jaguars)

No, I did not. Rarely do I go back and bring up things from the past if I can, and if I do, it's going to be positive, not anything negative about (them). We have guys that already know for a fact that they made a mistake or they didn't play good, they don't need me to reinforce it. He'll be ready to go.

(on the importance of winning games against division opponents)

That's how you win the division, you've got to beat the teams in it. I think it's six years that we've split with these guys, games. Last three they've won at their place, we've won at our place, it's been back and forth. Other than this last game since I've been here, they've been very close football games, very close, all the way down to the wire. At some point, that's going to stop. Somebody's going to have to win both of them to win the division.

(on what stands out to him about the Jaguars defense)

The number of sacks. The pressure, they're coming after the quarterback. That is their scheme, that's how they do things. They have good depth. They've been building this roster, this side of the ball, for a number of years and it's starting to really come together for them.

(on what Jaguars defensive lineman Calais Campbell did last week to make him so effective)

Line games that they ran against Houston. Just really beat the guy over them. They had some mismatches, they felt like they were moving him around the line, they moved him around a lot. Just really won some one-on-one matchups.

(on if Calais Campbell plays at the interior as well)

Yeah he plays all over. He's disruptive where he is, including special teams, where he's blocked six field goals in his career. Wherever he is, we've got to be aware of where he's at.

(on if facing Khalil Mack has prepared them to face Calais Campbell)

We always know where guys are. We'll have a plan for him.

(on if returning to the site of an injury affected him as a player and if the same will happen to Marcus Mariota)

No, I don't think it's a big deal. I really don't think it's a big deal. You'll have to ask him. I've never heard anybody talk about it or worry about where it happened.

(on if any players missed practice today)

Yeah, Jurrell (Casey), his low back is tightening up on him. Wesley Woodyard was ill, we sent him home. Tye Smith with a hand (injury), like I told you about after the game, and (Johnathan) Cyprien with the hamstring (injury).

(on if any decisions have been made about cornerback Tye Smith playing with a cast)

I think Friday we're going to look at it again, may take that cast off by then. I'll just have to see and wait by then. He's still a possibility for the game.

(on if defensive tackle Jurrell Casey was having problems with his back during the game)

No.

(on if Jurrell Casey was on the coaches stat sheet from Sunday's game against Oakland)

No.

(on if Jurrell Casey not being on the stat sheet is a testament to the Raiders' interior line)

That says a lot about it. It was Oakland and a little bit of us not being where we're supposed to be. This defense is designed specifically for guys to be in gaps, and that wasn't the case every time.

(on if he expects Jurrell Casey to rebound with a big game against the Jaguars)

I would think, knowing (Jurrell) Casey, I would think that.