NASHVILLE – Titans coach Mike Vrabel held a video conference call on Friday, one day after the team's 34-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.
Next up for the Titans is a game against the Ravens next Sunday in Baltimore.
Here's a look at some of the hot topics from today's call:
Making Changes?
The Titans have now lost three of their last four games, and after a 5-0 start, the team is now 6-3 with a tough stretch coming up.
Vrabel was asked on Friday if he might be considering some changes to provide a spark.
"You have to be able to evaluate some of that stuff," Vrabel said. "When you say wholesale changes, I don't think that's necessarily the answer. We have to play better. We have to get healthy. We have to learn from some of these mistakes and where they're coming up and how we get back to playing more complementary-style football, play with the lead. There were some things that we did well, huge stop coming out of the half down there on the goal line, guys fighting, competing. We're going to try to get better, and obviously some of those things may happen, changes may happen. Hopefully the changes are that we coach and play better."
Punting Switcheroo
After having a constant for so long at punter in Brett Kern, the Titans have had two punters in the past two games after placing Kern on Injured Reserve.
Prior to Thursday's game, the team promoted Trevor Daniel from the practice squad, and he punted instead of Ryan Allen, who handled the job vs the Bears.
Things didn't go very well against the Colts – Daniel shanked a punt that traveled just 17 yards, and he had another punt blocked and returned for a touchdown.
Vrabel discussed the decision.
"We evaluated him last week," Vrabel said of Daniel. "We evaluated those guys extensively and we made a decision. I think some of the hang time, probably, that's part of the evaluation process when you're talking about kickers, punters.
"We're going to have to keep working and be confident in the decisions that we make based on the evaluations in practice and try to get that that area shored up, whether that be with the guys that are protecting, the guys that are covering, the guys that are snapping, or the guys that are kicking."
Gostkowski's Struggles
Titans kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed a 44-yard field goal after making one from 50 yards out earlier in the contest.
On the season, Gostkowski is 12-of-20, with many of the misses coming from shorter distances.
"Every number that would tell you whether you're shooting in basketball or whether you're trying to make a putt, the closer you get to the target, I guess, the numbers would say that – and they do say that you have a better chance of making it. So, I can't tell you (why he's missing those)," Vrabel said. "Certainly, just have to kick better on all fronts."
What's Next?
The Titans face the Ravens on November 22, and then they'll face the Colts the following week in Indianapolis.
The Titans will play five of their last seven games on the road.
It's time to kick it in gear, Vrabel said.
"No matter where we play, we're just going to have to play better," Vrabel said. "We going to have to coach better and be ready to get going. We're in this thing but you're going to have to win games against a really good Ravens team and that's our focus. So, no matter where they are, we're going to have to play better and coach better and find ways to win football game."
