NASHVILLE – Titans head coach Mike Vrabel talked reporters during a press conference at Saint Thomas Sports Park on Monday, just one day after the team's 27-3 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Here's a look at the hot topics from the presser as the Titans begin to turn their attention to the Colts, who they'll face on Sunday in Indianapolis.
-Vrabel offered praise for linebacker David Long Jr., who was credited with eight tackles, two passes defensed, and a tackle for a loss in Sunday's game. Long deflected a pass that led to an interception by fellow linebacker Rashaan Evans. "David really wants to do well," Vrabel said. "You can sometimes look in a guy's eyes, and when he makes a mistake, it hurts. It bothers him. He wants to do well, and he puts a lot into it. I just think he just continues to make plays, be productive, plays hard, (with) energy. It would appear that he loves playing football, and I know that. And that is something that we can view. … It is never perfect, he makes mistakes like everyone else. But he plays fast, and he triggers. He has been doing a nice job in there for us."
-Defensive lineman Denico Autry had his best game as a Titan on Sunday. Autry recorded a pair of sacks, four quarterback hits, and three tackles in Sunday's win. "I think he has a versatility to be able to take on blocks, to make guys miss," Vrabel said. "When guys probably see him, first off they probably see a bigger bodied player that they may not think is athletic. He is instinctive, and when he has won, he has won from multiple different moves. … We ask him to play a lot of different spots and he has done that for us."
-The Titans face the Colts on Sunday in a rematch of the September 26 game. The Titans won that contest, 25-16. The Colts are currently 3-4, two games behind the 5-2 Titans. "The Colts have familiarity with the Titans, and the Titans have familiarity with the Colts. They have played well. We saw them in the game against the Ravens, that they were playing so well in (before losing the lead late), and last night (in beating the 49ers), and what they have done since they played us. They are a football team that has continued to improve, and I am hopeful that we'll continue to do the same thing." Vrabel said the Titans will focus on the Colts running attack, but he also mentioned the team's weapons in the passing game and the physicality of their offensive line.
-Rookie Dillon Radunz stepped in and played 22 snaps on Sunday at both guard spots. Vrabel said he thought Radunz did a solid, "and it was good to see him pop in there." Asked of Radunz is now out of the mix at tackle, Vrabel replied: "I don't know that. I just know that he went in and played right guard and left guard yesterday, and we'll see where it is this week."
-Vrabel complimented kicker Randy Bullock and punter Brett Kern for their performances on Sunday, which impacted field position. Bullock was 2-of-2 on his field goal attempts and 3-of-3 on his PATs, but he impacted field position by consistently kicking touchbacks. Kern also put both his punts inside the Kansas City five-yard line. "So that's going to be a huge part of who we are going forward," Vrabel said.
