NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt addressed reporters today to discuss the team's 10-7 loss to the Falcons, and also look ahead to this Sunday's game against the Texans.
Here's a look at the biggest topics discussed:
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Mariota's health**
I mentioned this is another post, but can't ignore it here. Not when Whisenhunt offered it up at the start of the press conference.
Whisenhunt said the Titans plan to reevaluate quarterback Marcus Mariota on Tuesday. Zach Mettenberger started at quarterback in place of Mariota on Sunday against the Falcons.
Mariota suffered a sprained MCL against the Dolphins.
"Right now he is doing well. We are going to see tomorrow kind of where he is and that will give us an idea going forward about practicing,'' Whisenhunt said of Mariota. "He has been here, he has been working and doing some things. So it is more about football stuff, seeing how that feels and where he is in his progression."
Whisenhunt said he's optimistic.
"It is still early," Whisenhunt said, "and we'll get a better feel as the week progresses."
More Antonio Andrews?
Running back Antonio Andrews led the Titans with 57 rushing yards against the Falcons, and he did it on just 10 carries.
Why not more? Whisenhunt explained how the Titans were limited in their offensive plays in the game. Overall, he said he was pleased with Andrews.
"I certainly think Antonio deserve more carries,'' Whisenhunt said. "If you look at the way he played and the way he has run it lately, but let's not forget too he missed a couple of weeks of training camp, he missed the first couple of weeks of the season with an injury and he was largely an unproven commodity coming into the season.
"So what we've seen the last couple of weeks is really our first exposure to Antonio in the regular season and it's definitely a positive."
Play-calling
The Titans are ranked 28th in the NFL on offense, and 30th in points per game. The start prompted questions on Monday about play-calling, and whether Whisenhunt would be willing to give up the duties on game days.
Whisenhunt said he's not opposed to letting others have a hand in the play-calling, but noted the offensive staff regularly talks through the game plan each week and is very involved.
"Right now, I want to win a football game,'' Whisenhunt said. "I am a good play-caller. I don't have any questions about that. If sharing the play-calling duties will help us win a football game, I have no issues doing that.
"But like I've said before, when you have a play that's wide open that gets dropped, is that a bad play call? You always focus on a play or two that doesn't work, but there's a lot of plays that do work where nobody says, "That's a good call." That's the way it goes, that's a part of it."
DGB progress
Rookie receiver Dorial Green-Beckham played a career-high 36 snaps against the Falcons, but he didn't catch a pass.
In fact, Green-Beckham was targeted just once.
Asked for an assessment on the rookie, Whisenhunt said.
"There's things he does really well, but the more things that you put on his plate the harder it is for him to play fast,'' Whisenhunt said of Green-Beckham.
"So that is why you have to be careful with how much you are putting him in there for. But he has made progress. He is a big, fast receiver, and you want to see him on the football field, but that is part of the progression. On the NFL level there are pretty good guys that are going against you and it is important that you line up in the right spots and get to the right depths. Part of it is you just have to get reps and work through it."
Roster move
The Titans on Monday released receiver Rico Richardson and re-signed tight end Chase Coffman.
The team promoted Richardson from the practice squad over the weekend because the team was light at receiver with Harry Douglas out vs. the Falcons with a rib injury. At the time, Coffman was released.
Whisenhunt said the team hopes to re-sign Richardson to the team's practice squad.
