NASHVILLE – Titans Coach Brian Callahan held a press conference on Tuesday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park, one day after his team's 31-12 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Next up, the Titans have a bye weekend before returning to action on October 13 against the Colts at Nissan Stadium.
Here's a look at the hot topics from today's presser:
-The biggest topic of the day centered on the quarterback position, and QBs Will Levis and Mason Rudolph.
Callahan once again made it clear that when Levis is healthy, he'll be the starter.
Here's a separate story I wrote on that topic: CLICK HERE.
"I appreciate Mason's professionalism, and I appreciate how prepared he was, and ready to go into the game," Callahan said at his afternoon press conference on Tuesday. "But Will is our starting quarterback. I said it last night, and I'll reiterate it again: When (Will) is healthy, he is starting. And, hopefully he's healthy for Indy and we're ready for roll, and he's the starting quarterback."
-Defensive lineman Keondre Coburn, who suffered a knee injury in Monday's game, could miss a few games. "I don't think it's long-term," Callahan said of Coburn, "but I think it might be a short-term absence."
-Callahan raved about the performance of defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat, who was credited with six tackles, and two tackles for a loss, against the Dolphins. The Titans also credited Sweat with a pair of quarterback pressures. "He is playing better and better every week," Callahan said of Sweat. "Really impressive performance by him. Dominant performance. … Sweat was a force."
-Callahan said the team's offensive line showed improvement, and that included the play of right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere. Callahan noted the Titans didn't put the group in a lot of drop-back situations, by design, in large part because the team relied on everybody on offense in the running game.
-Callahan said the Titans opted to make tackle Jaelyn Duncan one of the team's inactives on Monday night because he missed time in Friday's practice with a shoulder injury. "I didn't feel that he was in the right place to be up and playing," Callahan said of Duncan. "He'd missed a significant portion of practice for the week."
-Callahan said receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who logged just 21 snaps on Monday, isn't on a "pitch count." Callahan said because the team focused so much on the running game, he felt it would smart to save Hopkins. "If we were throwing the ball a whole lot more," Callahan said, "I'm sure he would have been involved a whole lot more."
-Callahan said he felt like rookie cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. performed well while getting the start. Brownlee was credited with five tackles in the contest. "He showed well for himself," Callahan said. "That was a really good game from Jarvis. Played scrappy, played confident, played physical. For a rookie to come in and do that against those players … that's a tough assignment and I thought he answered the bell. I was impressed with Jarvis."
-Callahan said veteran safety Quandre Diggs, who recorded four tackles, and an interception on a two-point try by the Dolphins, was "fantastic" as well. "He flies around, and he loves playing football," Callahan said. "He's a really smart football player, and he's been a really good addition for us at the safety spot."
-Callahan said the team didn't get a good look at the replay in the stadium on the third-down run by Levis, that was marked a yard short. After seeing the replay, he said he likely would have challenged the spot, but acknowledged those are tough to get overturned.
-Callahan indicated the team could consider adding a practice squad quarterback at some point.
-Callahan said players will be off Wednesday through Sunday, and they'll return from the bye on Monday. Coaches will be in the building over the next few days, before having the weekend off.
