NASHVILLE – Now that was brutal, there's no getting around it.
Sunday's 10-6 loss to the Jaguars was arguably the most discouraging loss of the Titans season so far, and there have been 10 losses so far, including a few pretty lopsided ones.
I knew this mailbag would fill up fast.
We might as well jump right into it…
Here's the link to submit questions: CLICK HERE.
Joe Allen from Gainesboro, Tennessee
Question: I thought we might have a chance against the Jags, since they are doing worse than us, but no, we found a way to lose this game as well. NPF is most likely the worst player we have right now and should be benched and cut at the end of this season if not sooner! Not sure how many false starts he has had this year and at the worst times in the game!
The only bright side I see out of all of this is Will Levis is looking like the game is slowing down for him and he looks more comfortable. We had 4 trips into the red zone and came away with 6 points. Hard to watch these games! My question is this: When is Cally going to let someone else call the offense? Started watching this team when they were the Oilers back in '64 and I can't remember any game so frustrating as this year's Titans games!
Jim: Oh, the team had a chance, Joe. But, like you said, it found another way to lose. And that's been the problem most of the season. Sure, there have been some ugly losses, like the games against the Commanders, Lions, Bills and even the Packers. But the Titans have been in a position to win nine games this season, and they've won three. And that explains why the team is sitting at 3-10. … A few other thoughts: You mentioned NPF, and he hasn't been very good. But the team has tried other options, and those haven't gone well either. The earliest the right tackle spot will be fixed will be 2025. … Levis isn't turning the ball over, which is good. But the team has scored 17, 13, 19 and 6 points in four of the five games since he's been back. Is it on Levis, the head coach/play caller? All this is up for debate in this mailbag.
Warnis Hightower from Arcola, Texas
Question: Hello Jim. Just finished being depressed by watching by far the worst game of all time. That is in the area of team play and play calling. How do you have the ball inside the ten yard line and not run the ball once? Especially the way Pollard was running the ball. Instead, you put the game in the hands of the worst quarterback in the league who threw the ball behind the receivers all day. How do you throw a minus six yard pass? Do the Titans have a defensive line on the field? Jeffery Simmons has been a no show all season. At seventy-three years old, I think I can tackle and cover better than most of the Titans defense. Fourth and three, with less than a minute in the game, and you throw a low percentage deep ball (on a covered receiver) in the back of the end zone. Bad coaching on both sides of the ball. This is not worth the money I have paid for the Sunday Ticket just so I could watch the Titans play bad game after game. Thanks for letting me vent. I still love the Titans. Just not this version of the team.
Jim: Hey Warnis. It was bad, no doubt. But that was not the worst game of all time. I do agree the red zone was a mess, all the way around. … Jeffery Simmons hasn't been a no-show all season. Not sure why he's become a target for some in the fan base … Appreciate you taking the time to send this. I know no one loves this version of the Titans.
Filip Vukovic from Spreitenbach, Switzerland
Question: Dear Jim, I'm a bit speechless after the last defeat. Against Washington it was clear what the reason was, but in this game I'm lacking something that was bad. Of course there were no touchdowns, but why? I actually thought we were better the whole game, not good but better, and we still lost. Are we afraid of failing in the red zone? We got through it well up until that point. And what do you think we would have done better if we had taken the 3 points on 4 down? Because then a field goal would have been enough in the end. Well, if only, if only…doesnt help. Keep your head up and carry on, there's nothing else you can do. Titan up forever
Jim: I have to admit: I liked the aggressive approach, going for the touchdowns. I didn't like how things unfolded, and the missed opportunities cost the team the game.
Craig Loewen from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Question: Hey Jim, I was one of the first Titans fans in Canada (there aren't a lot of us, but the numbers have grown since I first started cheering for the team in '99) and my my ten year old son and I are coming down to Nashville this weekend to see our first live and in-person NFL game when the Titans play the Bengals. Couple questions: What are some experiences we can take in over the weekend in the city or at the stadium? Is there anywhere we can stand to see the players walk into the stadium or be closer to when they come out of the tunnel and potentially get an autograph? Also, my son's favourite player is LJ Sneed - is he going to be off IR with a chance to play this weekend?
Jim: Hey Craig. Glad to hear you're making the trip. Looks like the weather should be pretty good on Sunday, so hopefully that will hold true. If you have a free day, or night, you might want to check out the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. It's a sight to see with all the lights, inside and out. "Christmas at Gaylord Opryland' is actually geared for kids, with a Frosty the Snowman ICE! exhibit, and a lot more. The hotel is a real spectacle inside, lit up with lights, a big fountain and more. Here's a link for more information: https://christmasatgaylordopryland.marriott.com/. It's become so popular at the hotel, I think they're now making anyone stopping by the resort after 2pm Friday-Sunday to look at the Christmas lights to pay for a ticket to get in, but I don't know how strongly they're enforcing this (I've heard of folks who've gone and had no trouble strolling in).
If you're staying downtown, it might be fun to walk around Fifth and Broadway and see the Christmas Market. It's open from 11-5 Thursdays through Sundays. Santa will be there. Here's the info on that: https://www.assemblyfoodhall.com/christmas-market/
As for Sunday, there will be pregame activities outside the stadium. This gameday page will be updated later in the week: https://www.tennesseetitans.com/stadium/gameday/
Best bet to get autographs or pictures of players will be pregame, but you'll have to get by the team tunnel where players come and go during warmups (near sections 141-143), and there's no guarantee you'll have luck. Some guys stop, others won't because they'll have music in and won't hear you. And there's usually a pretty good crowd of people down there. Gates open two hours before kickoff.
Don't get your hopes up on seeing L'Jarius Sneed, however. Haven't seen him on a game day in a while.
Have fun!
Scott Cardin from Portola, California
Question: Not really a question, more of an observation. I've been a Will Levis supporter but after this game I'm starting to lean the other way. Of all games, this was the one where he should have taken control and lead us to a (in my opinion) easy victory. Last place team, Back up quarterback, one of the worst pass defenses, and we are at home. The defense held the Jags to 10 points. Special teams actually had a mistake free game finally. Penalties didn't kill us. Yet Will could only muster up 6 points. He shows time and time again that his accuracy is poor at best. Occasionally a receiver catches a pass in stride but most of the time they are working way too hard at this level to make a catch. He plays slow and his pocket presence is not what you need at this level. This leads to a lot of sacks that should be avoided. And I'm not even going to get into his decision making. That was on full display when we turned the ball over on downs near the goal line in the first half because he passed on wide open receivers is his sight line and threw into coverage on 3rd and 4th down. Oh, and how about dumping the ball off for a 7 yard loss instead of just throwing it away. He claimed after the game that he thought it was his cleanest game yet. I'd like to know what he considers clean. Just because you didn't throw an interception or fumble doesn't mean you played well. It's time to think about a change…
Jim: Thanks for weighing in, Scott. I thought it was definitely a step back for Will after showing improvement in recent weeks. The team wasn't great around him on offense, but the offense didn't score a touchdown against what's been a bad Jacksonville defense. No excuses for that.
Ryan Alleyne Apopka, Florida
Question: This is exhausting isn't it? Every week feels like a heavy sigh. How does a team play below the worst team? They didn't even play down to them. Didn't look competitive in the least and it looked like the fan base knew this coming in. On the telecast it looked like a preseason game if you were to judge on attendance. My question is have you ever seen fan morale this low? I mean I remember the #suckfortheduck campaign but the fan base is in shambles.
Jim: The fan base is down on the team there's no doubt about it. I see it in here, on social media, and on the streets. The turnout on Sunday was embarrassing. Has morale every been this low? Well, I wasn't doing the mailbag in 2014, when the team finished 2-14 and lost 14 of its last 15 games, because I wasn't working for the team then. I started doing the mailbag in 2015, when the team finished 3-13, but I remember a lot of folks being optimistic about Marcus Mariota that year. But the team went 2-20 during a 22-game span during that stretch, so I don't remember fans being too fired up. I will give props to the loyal and diehard fans who showed up Sunday, and who show up every week.
Glenn Tomlin from Huntsville, Alabama
Question: Another pitiful performance by the Titans. How can the owner expect fans paying big bucks to be in attendance when this team is a mess. Need a quality NFL quarterback and running backs, as well as an offensive line that does not draw a yellow flag every other day play. Is there any reason to expect this condition to get better???
Jim: Probably not this year.
Cody Cook from Arp, Texas
Question: No question here, as there are toooooo many unanswered questions about this team. It's just a sad - sad day when you can't beat the Jaguars without Trevor Lawrence as their QB in front of your home fans. There is some kind of a SERIOUS overhaul needed on this team.
Jim: Thanks for taking the time, Cody.
David Dodson from Crossville, Tennessee
Question: Morning Jim. Another day another loss by the Titans. I always read the "Six things that stood out in the loss to the ____ " articles each week. Titan fans can count many more things that are wrong with this team.
1. We do not have an offensive line.
2. We do not have a productive or consistent QB.
3. We have way more injuries than we should have.
4. We do not have a coaching staff who can call plays or adjust to other teams.
5. We almost have the worst penalized team in the NFL.
6. Our team seems defeated after 1 quarter of play and they look like winning a game is unnecessary.
7. Our team ownership seems more interested in putting a losing team on the field than keeping an excited fanbase who supports the team.
8. As a Titan fan who has pulled for this team since coming to Nashville, I could care less about a new stadium for the team! We need a professional football team before a new stadium.
But, there is always next year?
Jim: Thanks for stopping at 8, David.
Steve Boxwell from Corpus Christi, Texas
Question: Jim.
Happy Holidays
Hopefully next draft we get Right Tackle
To protect Levis.
Unfortunately we lost a lot of players
With injuries it really made it hard on the
Team to perform like we should.
And we paid a lot of money to players
That basically we got the same results
Or worse.
Now next year with New Coaches have had
Time to gel with one another
Now 2025 should be a better year.
Thank you for keeping us informed.
Jim: I was really hoping for a Christmas poem, Steve.
Randy Porter from Hendersonville, Tennessee
Question: Hi Jim. Every thought on team play has been said and we all share that frustration. But today I wanted to comment on a completely different experience. We were offered the rare opportunity to visit the stadium home side tunnel, where the players enter the field at game time. This turned out to be an amazing experience and one that that thrilled our grandson to say the least. Staff were friendly, helpful and made the experience seamless. Once positioned just off field, inside the tunnel, we were greeted by Miss Amy Adams. She spent time greeting and visiting with as many fans as she could and even offered to take pictures with us. Amy stopped by our tailgating spot many years ago and greeted everyone, so she has a history of interacting with fans. For Amy to take the time to show her appreciation to the fans is thoughtful and classy. She was amazing to talk to and the most gracious and genuine person you will find. Also on hand in the tunnel Sunday was "Jelly Roll", who also made a point to say hello and offered pictures as well. When the players arrived, the excitement peaked. They high-fived and interacted with fans, one after another, as they walked down the tunnel. A standout was Big Jeff Simmons. Jeff made a point to say hello and actually stopped briefly to speak. His reputation as a great guy is certainly valid and we really appreciate his friendliness. I also see first hand where the "Big" in Big Jeff comes from. So Jim, please pass on our heartfelt "Thank you" to Drew (our amazing rep), the Titans event staff, to the players, and certainly Miss Amy, They all made the day possible and memorable, regardless of the score. This experience served to personalize the team a bit and left us all feeling a little more proud to be a Titans fan. Thanks Jim, have a great week !
Jim: Thanks for sharing this story, Randy. Glad you and your grandson had a good time.
Patrick Arthur from Miramar, Florida
Question: Hi Jim. This is my first time writing in. Hope all is well with you. I had to write in after yet another dismal performance by the Titans. Getting straight to the point. The head coach has to go!!!!! The fact that he keeps playing Levis instead of Rudolph, tells me he is clueless. Levis is not a good or even a competent qb. Rudolph has shown to be a competent qb more than Levis. Time to bench Levis for Rudolph that will give us a better chance of finishing out the season with our heads up high.
Jim: Hi Patrick. Dismal is another good way to describe what we saw on Sunday. As for Callahan, lately I'm getting a lot more contributors in here calling for his job. He was faced with those questions in Monday's presser as well. You really think this is all his fault? ... As for the decision to stick with Levis at QB, it's probably been more of an organizational decision than what you're thinking. The team knows what it has in Rudolph, who I do think is a solid QB. This year, however, was always going to be about finding out what the franchise has in Levis, whether he can be the guy moving forward or not. As each week goes by, we're getting our answer.
Joe Arcudi from Merrimack, New Hampshire
Question: Well Jim......Just when we all thought it couldn't get much worse. We lose to a division opponent at home with a worse record and a backup QB. We were actually favored in the game. It is gonna be a long slow rebuild and I do not think the current staff will be part of the turnaround. One thing I want to bring up. I am pretty sure the Titans wanted OT Joe Alt in the draft (Chargers grabbed him first). Then they went with plan B and created a project for themselves trying to turn Latham into a LT when he played on the right side at Bama. I wonder if the powers to be will look to get a quality left tackle and move JC to the other side. I am sure people would wonder why I say this.... My opinion Latham can be a decent LT but may just be an elite RT. Any thoughts on that Jim???
Jim: Everything I've heard, and everything the decision-makers have said, point to JC being a left tackle now, and in the future. He just needs to keep getting better. He's 21 years old. He's going to get better.
Joe Levickis from Joelton, Tennessee
Question: Hey Jim! There's no way to sugarcoat it---Sunday was about as brutal as it gets. The last time I can remember it being this bad around here was 2014. With an eye toward the future, one thing I can't understand is the lack of usage by some of our younger linebackers. Don't we owe it to ourselves to see what we've got in James Williams and Cedric Gray? With all due respect to Luke Gifford, I can't imagine there are any plans for him to play meaningful snaps in the future. I don't think he played poorly or anything, but seeing potentially useful reps go to players that aren't going to positively affect the future feels a little puzzling to me at this point.
Jim: It was bad, Joe. This is certainly a fair question. James has made strides in the eyes of the coaches, and he's earned work on special teams. Cedric is just having a hard time convincing coaches to play him, for one reason or another.
Jeffery Raney from Pittsburgh, Texas
Question: Hello Jim. Well my parents always told me if you don't have something good to say about someone then don't say anything at all so here it goes "job well done Folk". Jim I was wondering if the coaching staff has thought of giving Radunz a shot at right tackle? It may be easier to replace him at guard from within than finding a tackle.
Jim: Good advice from your parents, Jeffery.
Sam Bingham from Tuscon, Arizona
Question: I give up doesn't Mrs Strunk get tired of what she see every Sunday. Levis isn't the answer I'm pretty sure she more upset then we the fan base cause she paying all of these guys especially the left tackle and the Secondary. I guess we have to wait for another season to see what kind of decisions the Ownership and Staff make . And how they draft hit and miss and boy for the last ten years it's been more misses than anything. I bet Derrick is so happy and Dhop is more happy. Maybe one year hopefully before I die.
Jim: Hang in there, Sam!
James Richards from Sarasota, Florida
Question: Hey Jim hope all is well. My question is: Is it time the team starts thinking about Callahan as the future coach I personally don't think he's the answer? He was brought in to be a guru offensive coach and yet we haven't seen that yet I have seen some progress from Levis but haven't seen any in game adjustments when it comes to play calling I get you can point to other aspects such as the offensive line or even the defensive line not getting any pressure but it all boils down to the head coach and I'm starting to feel like Callahan isn't the coach this team needs.
Jim: This is above my pay grade, James. But, as I said previously, you really think this is all the head coach's fault?
Michael Thornton from Rock Hill, South Carolina
Question: Well, another Sunday and another "L". As Vrabel and some of the team members commented, "this sucks". This not only sucks for the team but the fans as well. I cannot put the blame wholly on the team but the coaching staff as well. Is it time to scrutinize the coaching staff at this juncture? It seems as if they are doing a deplorable job. My 2 cents worth and another $6 might buy you a burger somewhere.
Jim: I think everything is fair game at this point, Michael. Tough to find a burger at $6.02 these days, though..
Jonathan Wright from Bishop Auckland, England
Question: I've held onto this thought for a while now, but it seems to me we have never truly replaced Arthur Smith as OC. Once again our current HC/OC failed to show up. For the second time this season we have a 1st and goal from inside the 5 yard line and we've now failed to convert both attempts. He hasn't really learned from his failed 4 pass attempts and tried to throw 3 times. Why???? We have Tony Pollard who can surely run it in from that distance. I did think he'd learned when Big Jeff went in on 4th down. I envisaged him ploughing a hole for Pollard to run through, but no let's try to be clever and pass it. Way past time for a new OC, let Callahan concentrate on the job he's there for and give someone more able a chance.
Jim: Hey Jonathan. I know you're not alone in your thought process on the play-calling near the goal line. Plenty of others have suggested they'd like to have seen Pollard run it as well.
Tom Angora from Rochester, New York
Question: This is Ken Whisenhunt 2.0. The coaching malpractice continues every week with the same mistakes and the inept offensive calls. Callahan seems to be a good guy but he is just overmatched by this job. Brian Kelly's offense would have provided a blowout today and that tells me it's time to turn the page before there are multiple years of purgatory.
Jim: You know Brian Kelly is the coach at LSU, right? This is my first email longing for the days of Tim Kelly if that's who you mean.
Bud Stein from Jacksonville, Florida
Question: Good Evening Jim. Happy holidays and hope all well Another typical Titan game get blown out or find a way to lose midway thru the 4th quarter I chime in every mailbag and for whatever reason you have chose to blacklist blackball me from the bag. My emails are always polite and have only asked JUST 1 OVER AND OVER HONEST QUESTION Show me 1 thing from all the Einstein mgmt bonehead moves from coaches to players that the Titans are better than last year. Thats all honest question. Wouldnt you want an answer if it were you asking over and over.Honest question deserves an honest answer thats all!!! take care Sir
Jim: Don't get your feelings hurt if all your emails don't make it in here, Bud. I get a lot of them. You said to name one thing that's better: The defense is better than last year.
Johnny Long from Bowling Green, Kentucky
Question: Frustrated to realize the Titans-Jaguars game isn't showing in my area. I realize this may be one of the only games the Titans win for the rest of the season and would've liked to watch it. Are the Titans no longer being shown in Bowling Green, KY? I'd rather watch the Titans lose than have anything to do with the Browns and Steelers game.
Jim: CBS did you a favor on this one, Johnny. Take my word for it.
Jeff Martin from Friendswood, Texas
Question: Jim. This is a very serious question: Was this team actually truly trying to win? Really trying? If so I think as a regular reader of your Mailbag which thank you by the way it might be time to stop telling us all have seen worse? To what comparison? Winning vs a 4th stringer in Miami and almost losing to patriots doesn't make this any better than any other 2 win season. Let's face the facts. We can say this coaching staff had to "clean up what they walked into" but when you can't convert not even 1 TD vs what "was the worse team in then nfl" at home that sounds like excuses. So I really hope that wasn't our best effort, cause if that was us trying we are 3-5 years away from actually competing.
Jim: Jeff, I can promise you the team was trying to win. Crazy for me to think this is really a question.
Have a great week everyone!
