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Six Hot Topics from Titans Coach Mike Vrabel's Tuesday Presser

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NASHVILLE – Titans coach Mike Vrabel held a video conference call on Tuesday, one day after the team's 16-14 win over the Denver Broncos.

Next up for the Titans is a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

Here's a look at some of the hot topics from today's call:

What's Next for Gostkowski?

Titans kicker Stephen Gostkowski kicked the game-winning field goal with 17 seconds left on Monday night, but things weren't so pretty before the final kick.

After three missed field goals, and a missed PAT, Vrabel said the team plans to find ways to help Gostkowski, while the kicker tries to help himself.

"I think for a guy that is a career 87 percent field goal kicker, who has done it as long as he has, I think a lot of those corrections are going to be on him," Vrabel said. "But it's also going to be about us in the operation, and the ability for us to protect, and the ability to make everything around him better and have a lot of faith in confidence in Stephen moving forward."

When asked if he'd consider having two kickers on the roster for game days (Tucker McCann is on the team's practice squad), Vrabel replied: "I'm sure we'd consider a lot of possibilities with the 48 players we have available to us on the game day. That would be something that we'd always consider – whoever gives us the best chance every week."

End of Game Poise

Trailing 14-13 with just 3:05 left, the Titans took over at their own 10-yard line, needing a score.

Vrabel said the Titans were able to keep their poise because they work in a lot of situational periods in on practices that help in such scenarios.

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed 5-of-8 passes on the final drive, including four straight as the Titans got out of a hole.

"You try not to get too high, or get too low, and you try not to panic," Vrabel said. "You have faith in the players, trust what they are doing, and give them calls that you know they are going to be comfortable with and have confidence in, and being able to execute and being at our best in the critical situations."

Chris Jackson Progress

Rookie defensive back Chris Jackson stepped into the spotlight following an injury to Adoree' Jackson, who was placed on Injured Reserve on Monday.

A seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Chris Jackson logged 35 of the game's 59 defensive snaps in his NFL debut, working a lot in the slot.

"There's different calls, there's different coverages (in the slot), different routes that you get in there and you have to sometimes get in there and fit the run," Vrabel said. "There's some certain nuances to it that Chris has improved on and Kristian (Fulton) as well. Kristian has missed some time in there.

"One thing that Chris Jackson and those guys, they are willing to learn and continue to improve. And we will keep coaching them, and I know that they will continue to improve and help us in whatever role we ask them to play."

Game Balls

Vrabel mentioned after the game on Monday he gave receiver Corey Davis a game ball for his seven-catch, 101-yard effort against the Broncos. On Tuesday, Vrabel discussed his physical style of play, and his willingness to enter traffic to fight for footballs with defenders around him.

"I'm really proud of Corey, and his effort and ability to attack the football, and really help us there in some big situations," Vrabel said. "That was positive to see. … It was a big boost last night."

On Tuesday, Vrabel also singled out punter Brett Kern, linebacker Harold Landry, defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and special teams ace Chris Milton for his job on the coverage teams.

"We continue to get phenomenal punting from Brett," Vrabel said of Kern, who punted four times for a 51-yard average, with a 47-yard net. "I'll get here with the coaches and we'll put a bow on Denver and obviously we're all looking on to Jacksonville."

Plans to Support Isaiah Wilson

Tackle Isaiah Wilson is on the NFL's Reserve/COVID-19 list, and it's been part of a turbulent start for the first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Vrabel said the team plans to support Wilson, who he described as a "good-hearted, good-natured kid" in the wake of a recent off-field incident.

"There's good people that make mistakes, and there's bad people, and I don't think Isaiah is a bad person," Vrabel said. "I do think part of what we do as coaches is to be able to get these guys to help us and help the team win, but it's also about helping them off the field and … their growth and maturity and the men that they become.

"As long as there is an honest effort to improve, we are going to put forth that effort as a coaching staff and as organization to help any player with any issues that they have."

Next Up: Jaguars

The Titans face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

This past Sunday, the Jaguars upset the Colts 27-20 as quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 19-of-20 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns.

"We have a good football team coming in here, that played well on Sunday," Vrabel said of the Jaguars. "Their quarterback was 95 percent accurate and he gets the ball out of his hands very quickly as well."

The Tennessee Titans take on the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. (Photos: Donald Page)

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