NASHVILLE – Titans coach Mike Vrabel held a press conference on Monday at Saint Thomas Sports Park, one day after the team's 42-20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Titans return to action on Sunday when they face the Colts in Indianapolis.
Here's a look at some of the hot topics from today's presser:
Tannehill's Success
Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed 14-of-18 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday, with a 155.8 rating.
Tannehill also ran for 40 yards and two scores, including a 21-yard touchdown run.
The Titans are 4-1 since Tannehill took over as the team's starter, and the offense has scored over 20 points in all five games while posting scoring totals of 23, 27, 20, 35 and 42. In three of the four games before Tannehill took over for Marcus Mariota, the Titans were shut out once and the team managed just seven points in two other contests.
Vrabel was asked what Tannehill has been able to do so well to spark the offense.
Vrabel said the Titans have played better around him, and he team has benefited from playing with a lead in some recent games.
"Guys made plays for him (on Sunday)," Vrabel said. "We ran the football, and the quarterback was decisive."
Kick Coverage
Vrabel singled out Dane Cruikshank, Daren Bates, Joshua Kalu, Amani Hooker and Chris Milton for the job they did on kick coverage vs the Jaguars.
Cruikshank and Hooker were credited with two special teams tackles each, while Bates forced a fumble he recovered.
"They had a 22-yard average on kickoffs, with a fumble, and we drew two penalties on kickoffs," Vrabel said. "Those can be big plays for us if we are able to cover them like we did yesterday. I think there's still room for improvement."
Vrabel was asked about whether he preferred touchbacks and he said the goal is to get them as close to the goal-line as possible. The Jaguars returned all seven of Ryan Succop's kickoffs on Sunday.
Health
Titans tight end Delanie Walker was inactive again on Sunday after practicing some during the week leading up to the contest.
"He was inactive," Vrabel said when asked about Walker, "and whether he was really close or further from being really close, he wasn't able to go this week and so we'll evaluate that moving forward towards the next week."
During the course of Sunday's game, cornerback LeShaun Sims and linebacker Cameron Wake left with injuries.
Vrabel didn't offer any updates on Monday.
"We'll find out about any injuries on Wednesday and as we move forward throughout the week," Vrabel said.
Blasingame Debut
The Titans signed Khari Blasingame off of Minnesota's practice squad earlier this month, and he played 28 snaps on Sunday – 15 at fullback and 13 more on special teams.
"I think he got better as the game went on," Vrabel said of the Vanderbilt product. "It was the first live action for him since training camp. Young kid, conscientious, willing to learn, willing to improve and help us in the kicking game and some roles in the backfield."
Next up: Colts
The Titans lost 19-17 to the Colts back on September 15, and that's the only part of the series history Vrabel is concerned with.
"We lost to them in a close game earlier in the season," Vrabel said. "When you look back, we have to be able to tackle (better). We played the run well up until late in the game, and they busted one.
"I don't think whatever we have done against them before I was here or while I have been here is going to have much bearing on the game on Sunday. The focus is going to be on this Colts team, our team here trying to go on the road against a division opponent. And the chance to get to 7 and 5 is really the most important thing."
