TITANS HEAD COACH KEN WHISENHUNT PRESS CONFERENCE
(on if they got everything done that they wanted to for this week)
It's a short week. It's always difficult. You try to do as much as you can. There's always a fine line between doing too much and making sure you get enough in. I don't think on a short week like this you ever feel comfortable with having everything in, but we got good work in today. We'll get another day tomorrow and hopefully get as prepared as we can for Thursday night.
(on if he takes on a more simplistic approach this week)*
You can't really do what you do in a normal week just because of time. We're 48 hours from the game. Our first practice normally we have four full days where we can clean things up and get extra reps. It does help that it's a division opponent just because of the familiarity of them. You know a little bit personnel-wise, you understand a little bit more tendency-wise and scheme-wise, but you still have to make sure that you don't do too much. I think you have to cut your plan down a little bit.
(on how they assessed Blake Bortles when he was in the draft)
We felt like he was a good prospect. I don't remember where we had him ranked in the whole thing, but I definitely remember that I felt like he was a good player.
(on a realistic expectation to have if Jordan Palmer has to play)
I don't know. I don't really know that much about him. I know he's been in the league, and he's been with teams. Coach (Mike) Mularkey has some familiarity with him. He's done a good job with the crash course, and if he has to go in, it's really no different than the tackles that have been playing for us the last couple of weeks, the tight end that we got in this week, as well. That's where we are, and we'll adjust.
(on if they are using a different scheme up front to protect Charlie Whitehurst more)
That's always the question you get asked. In this game, you always mix your protections. Sometimes a player misses his block. You can't account for that. They're working just as hard as you are to try to get to the quarterback. We did a pretty good job last week against the Jets. They had a good front and mixing things ups, and hopefully we do the same.
(on if he talks with Charlie Whitehurst about avoiding situations where he could get hurt)
I think you always have those kind of conversations, but these guys are competitors, and the competitor in them takes over in the heat of the battle. They're looking to make plays. There was one third down where Charlie (Whitehurst) did a great job scrambling, and there was a big third down conversion for us in the game. You don't want to take that element away.
(on if Charlie Whitehurst's personality allows him to flourish when he has to play in a game)
It certainly has appeared that way with us. I've been impressed with Charlie (Whitehurst) in my time with him in San Diego. He did there what he's done here. Every time he got an opportunity when he had to come in and play, he played well, so that was the reason we were interested in him, and he's certainly done that, in my opinion, here.
(on how difficult it is to play as a backup quarterback)
It's hard. Obviously, it's hard, because there's not a lot of guys that have done it and had success doing it. That position is so difficult to play that you want to get every rep. Maybe it is his personality. Charlie (Whitehurst's) laid back, but he's very smart, and he seems to be able to function without getting as many reps. Maybe sometimes that's better for him.
(on how motivating it is to have a chance to sweep a divisional opponent)
There's not a lot to hang our hat on from this season, but it's a Thursday night game. National games always seem to add a little more zest to it. I don't know if it's really sweeping a division opponent that makes that much as it is an opportunity to get a win. After last Sunday when we were so close against the Jets and felt like we did a lot of good things, this is a chance to maybe go and build off of that.
(on if he wants to establish the team as one that sweeps the Jaguars)
You go in always wanting to do that. Division games are important, just from the standpoint of if you win those games, you've got a pretty good chance of doing what you want to do. I don't think necessarily that you really think about making a case of saying we're going to sweep them. I think you just take it one game at a time. We won the game against them before, but we're going to go in and play hard and try to get another one.
(on Alex Tanney's trick shot video)
To be honest with you, I haven't really seen it. I've heard about it. I guess you could say I was aware just by word of mouth. Obviously, it's a popular video. I always kind of like getting in on a little joke like that or a little something guys are talking about. We've talked about it, but I haven't seen it yet. I'm sure I will.
(on how much he welcomes a chance to go to Florida and be in warmer weather)
I like it here. It's been good so far. I haven't really thought about it. I just came from a place where there was warm weather all the time. It doesn't matter to me.
