NASHVILLE – Titans head coach Mike Vrabel held a press conference on Monday, one day after the team's 25-16 win over the Colts.
Next up for the Titans in a game at the New York Jets on Sunday.
Here's a look at the hot topics from today's presser …
-Vrabel made it clear there is no issue with receiver Julio Jones regarding his attitude, or effort. Jones didn't play in the final stages of Sunday's game. He instead watched the game from the sideline after catching three passes for 47 yards earlier in the contest. Vrabel indicated Jones was dealing with some tightness (physically), and the team planned to use him in emergency use only. Vrabel said he's been pleased with Jones, and his physical style of play. "This is not an issue with his performance," Vrabel said of Jones. "This isn't an issue with anything other than me making a decision and saying, 'Hey man, let's see if we can get through this and survive and win this football game." Later, Vrabel hit on this topic again while saying the health and safety of his players is paramount. "I can't be more adamant that Julio's performance and what we've asked him to do – he's done what we've asked him to do," Vrabel said. "He has played with great effort."
-Vrabel said he expects receiver A.J. Brown, who left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury, to keep working. On a social media post by Brown, he vowed to work through a tough stretch to start the season. Vrabel gave no hints on a timetable for Brown. "I am confident that he'll do his best to get back out there and be the player and the person that we have come to expect," Vrabel said of Brown. "We all go through things throughout the course of a season, it is a long season. We all deal with a lot, and I am confident that everybody, including A.J., will be able to whether some of those storms."
-Vrabel loves quarterback Ryan Tannehill's effort, and toughness. On Sunday, Tannehill ran for 56 yards on five carries. But the head coach admitted he wants Tannehill to "get down and save yourself and save the equipment." Added Vrabel: "He's a great competitor, a gritty tough competitor," Vrabel said of Tannehill. "Just try to be smart when you are coming back into the middle of the field. You have to use great judgement. There's guys who are coming for you, safeties who are back there. He just has to know when the journey is over and to get down, but I really appreciate high toughness each and every day."
-Vrabel saw plenty of positives from the game. "Excited about the way we finished," Vrabel said. "We knew that this was going to be a battle. We knew that this was going to be a four-quarter football game. We executed in some critical situations. The defense was great on third down, and much better in the red zone." Vrabel noted return man Chester Rogers averaged 14.7 yards per return, "which was huge in the game."
-Vrabel indicated outside linebacker Rashad Weaver is expected to be out a while after suffering a lower leg injury in Sunday's game.
-Vrabel was pleased with the pass rush, even if the team sacked Colts quarterback Carson Wentz just twice. Ola Adeniyi led the team with 1.5 sacks, while outside linebacker Harold Landry led the team with five quarterback hits, and he added a half-sack. The Titans were credited with 10 QB hits. "I thought Harold played extremely hard, and Ola continues to help us," Vrabel said. "Harold is impacting the game – he is playing hard, trying to get around the quarterback."
-Vrabel gave props to linebacker David Long, who tied for the team lead with eight tackles. "(He's) playing fast, being productive," Vrabel said of Long. "He flies around, he beats running backs in protection."
-The Titans are now a minus-6 in the takeaway/giveaway category (1 takeaway vs 7 giveaways) after a three-turnover performance against the Colts. Vrabel said the Titans will continue working on trying to create turnovers. "They ain't letting me go out there and try and punch the ball out," Vrabel said with a half-smile. "We'll just keep practicing it, keep trying to look for situations where somebody is making a tackle and a second guy is coming in, looking for opportunities to make a break on the football, continue to try and tip the ball at the line of scrimmage. The more hands that we get on it, probably the percentages go up that we're going to be able to intercept it or turn it over."
-Vrabel gave no indication on whether any players might come off Injured Reserve this week.
