NASHVILLE – Welcome to the bye weekend.
For the Titans, it's the last break until the end of the season.
Let's hope that's after the first weekend of January.
Time will tell.
This mailbag isn't taking a break.
Let's go…
Here's the link to submit questions: CLICK HERE
Rick Pinkerton from Terryville, Connecticut
Question: I have not written in for a while. I cannot see the Titans on TV up here in CT. I watched them on Monday for the first time. It seemed to me that Will looked very tense, watching his facial expressions. That is to be expected, considering how his season has gone so far. Does he show that tension in practice? How is the team responding to him? I fully trust that he will improve greatly this year. He seems to need some early success in games to get his confidence back. I firmly believe that had he not been injured, he could have done the same thing that Mason did. I think he needs a chance to succeed. It seems that the O line did much better. That can only benefit Will. We are going to the Colts game on the 13th. I pray that Will is recovered by then and has a breakout game. Hope to meet you before the game. It would be an honor.
Jim: Hey Rick. Good to hear from you again. I haven't necessarily noticed Will being tense. Has he tried too hard to make something happen at times? Yes. And that's where the mistakes come from. I think the Titans would have won that game with Levis on Monday night as well. But we'll never know. Mason Rudolph deserves a lot of credit for finishing the job. Safe travels. See ya on October 13th.
Joe Levickis from Joelton, Tennessee
Question: Hey Jim! How about those Miami Vibes?! Feels darn good to be in the win column.
This is more of a shoutout than a question, but I wanted to take a second to praise the team over at Titans House. My rep, Kyle Richards and the VP of Sales, Jim Rice are incredible to work with and I seriously couldn't be more impressed. From the moment you walk into the facility, you can be certain everything about your experience will be top notch. The customer service I received was impeccable and they were able to answer my endless questions with ease.
I encourage everyone to sign up for their PSL appointments to get set up in our new stadium. I'm confident this building will change the landscape of our franchise and will help our city grow in ways we haven't begun to imagine.
2027 can't come soon enough!
Jim: Hey Joe. When you get a little "older", you don't wish away the years – 2027 will get here when it gets here. 😊 With that said, the new stadium is going to be spectacular. I was at Titans House a week or so ago myself, and PSL sales are going great. I'm sure you saw the model of the new Nissan Stadium when you were there, so you know how cool it's going to be. And, you're right on Jim Rice and his crew. Very informative, and great to work with, all of them.
Richard Robles from Springfield, Tennessee
Question: Hi, Jim! In order to win games, we must start Mason Rudolph. Because I think Will Levis is not healthy with his shoulder because of his practice that you might want to think about it. Mason Rudolph will start for more games because Mason Rudolph does good. I saw that Brian Callahan and Mason Rudolph finally getting on the same page to get a win against the Dolphins last Monday. But Mason Rudolph has to start. Tony Pollard will start as Running Back in next game!
Thanks! Titan Up!
Jim: If Levis is healthy, he's the starter, It's really that simple, Richard. And, it doesn't matter who starts at running back. Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are both going to play.
Ron Plichta from Nashville, Tennessee
Question: Not really a question, but I just read through the mail bag and one of your responses was "I guess a lot of Titans fans expected them to go undefeated this season" or something along those lines. No, we don't. We expect a competitive product on the field, we expect an offensive line after years of drafting and signing to be at least above average, we expect that a QB who turns the ball over 8 times in 3 games and then turns it over again the first drive on MNF will not be the starter after the team puts up 30 with a different QB. I expect to have an organization that is not satisfied being average and is not okay with throwing away another season just to play out the Will Levis experiment. Yes I get it, he's young, so let's agree he isn't ready and move on. Try him again if the season gets away from us. So no Jim, we don't want undefeated, I want something to cheer for and I want some good decisions from the front office and from Amy.
Jim: I guess I should have included the #sarcasm hashtag for you, Ron. I guess not everyone gets my sense of humor. This is not sarcasm: It makes no sense to move on from Will Levis at this point. He's started 13 games, and nine of them were on a bad team last year, behind a bad offensive line. It's too early to make a definitive statement on him. And, it makes no sense to sit him and bring him back for meaningless games down the stretch "if the season gets away from us." This season was always going to also be about finding out what the organization has in Will Levis. I've said that in here from Day 1. We're four weeks into the year. It's early.
Christian Drolet from Quebec City, Canada
Question: I Jim, I think the actual problem with Will Levis and his weekly head-scratching plays is because he tries to make highlight reels "à la" Mahomes, without the talent. Stay focus and avoid that kind of plays would be a major step. I'm still confident he is the QB of the future, but unfortunately for him, the "future" won't be eternal...
Merci et bonne journée!
Jim: I hear ya, Christian. Mahomes is one-of-a-kind for sure. Merci et bonne journée!
Mike Knecht from Wappingers Falls, New York
Question: Hey Jim. Hope you are well. That was a great feeling Monday. Defense played great. Run game looked better. Mason Rudolph came in, and he managed the game well. I know I have been calling for his benching, but hope Levis isn't seriously injured. Never hope that on anyone. Looked like he was helping Mason on the sidelines too. Just wondering why we hardly threw the ball in the 2nd half? Wish I could have got this in the Tuesday mailbag. Thanks for always keeping us up to date o. Everything Titans. One last question, if it wasn't intentional grounding, do you think it was an interception by Brownlee? I think he had control, and his elbows were down.
Jim: Hey Mike. The reason the Titans hardly threw the ball in the second half (the Titans threw it just three times after halftime, to be exact) is because they didn't want a repeat of the Bears game. I felt like as long as they didn't turn the ball over or make costly mistakes, the defense would win it for them. I don't think that gameplan will work in many other games down the stretch. The team will undoubtedly have to do more on offense, but on Monday, hey, it still added up to 31 points. And that was Hooker on the sideline. I think the ball was moving – no INT.
John Hammond from Newcastle, Oklahoma
Question: Jim, just a comment. A little-known fact. Mason Rudolph holds the NFL record for being the only QB to win his very first two starts on Monday Night Football. Both wins of course were at Pittsburgh. I just wish this QB learning experience with Levis didn't have to happen at the expense of the other players and fans this year. I love your column, great job.
Jim: Thanks for reading, John. Interesting fact. Hey, I like Mason Rudolph, and I think the Titans could win with him. I'd like to see Will Levis prove the team can consistently win with him as well. No one knows for sure yet.
Dave Templeton from Morristown, Tennessee
Question: Wanted to ask if sometime in the future the Titans could have a scrimmage game with the Volunteers. The young men and the experienced men would learn from each other. Thank you.
Jim: Thanks for taking the time, Dave. But I don't want to get your hopes up – this will never happen.
Bob Miller from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee
Question: What was Troy Aikman's record his first year with Dallas?
Only good part is they beat Washington at home to finish 11-1
Give Will a break!
Jim: Thanks for chiming in, Bob.
David Kaczmarczyk from Conneaaut, Ohio
Question: I feel it's more the defense that isn't producing or holding the line every quarterback makes mistakes every quarterback I don't care how Elite they are those interceptions if the front line isn't producing and they throw interceptions I believe it's up to the defense to hold their end of the bargain and keeps to keep the other team from scoring that's their job obviously they're not doing their job I think the defense is more of the problem than the offense just my thoughts thanks I've been a fan since Houston Oilers to the present I see it all thanks
Jim: Good to hear from you off Lake Erie, David. The defense definitely needs to get more takeaways moving forward, but overall, I think they've been pretty stout. Four weeks in, I think the things that need to be better include Levis, pass protection, punt protection, and creating more turnovers on defense.
William Fonseca from Lorain, Ohio
Question: Hi jim thanks for taking my question im from ohio nope not a browns fan lol I started watching the houston oilers as a boy and fell in love with the oiler helmet I knew right they're i was born a titanfan from ohio I remember Warren moon and the run and shoot offense if the titans have a Crack at cam ward should they take him with ridley dhop and Boyd I know we have will and im a fan of him also thank you jim titan up !
Jim: Titans, and Oilers, fans are representing in Ohio! Back-to-back. Just curious: You guys run out of commas up there? 😊
Dale Smith from Ocala, Florida
Question: Hi Jim. I heard one of the so-called experts on television talking about DeHop being a perfect pickup for the Chiefs, esp. with their WR injury woes. With our team in the W column (finally), do you think Ran would be a "seller" (to borrow an MLB term) at this point in the season?
Jim: It's that time of year, Dale. As the trade deadline approaches, I'm sure you'll probably see more "rumors."
Have a great bye weekend everyone!
