NASHVILLE – Titans coach Brian Callahan spoke to reporters before Wednesday's practice.
The Titans face the Los Angeles Rams in the home opener on Sunday.
Some quick snippets on what Callahan said:
-Callahan called the 1-0 Rams "a really good football team" that's solid in all three phases. Callahan said the Rams play with great effort on defense, noting their relentless pursuit rushing the quarterback while also noting their disguises in the secondary. Callahan called Matthew Stafford one of the best quarterbacks in football, with talented receivers, and said the Rams do a nice job running the ball. "A good football team all the way around," Callahan said of the Rams. "You can tell they're a playoff-caliber football and it's another one we have to go handle."
-Callahan said the defensive game plan last week was designed to keep quarterback Bo Nix in the pocket. He said the team got good pressure, and "kept him in the well" with limited yards escaping the pocket, so he felt like the defense handled the assignment well. This weekend, the challenge is different, he said, with a true pocket passer in Stafford.
-Callahan said rookie edge rusher Femi Oladejo was "solid" in his NFL debut while setting some "violent edges" and being physical in the run game. Callahan acknowledged Oladejo is still working on some of his rush moves, but is showing improvement.
-Callahan was asked if he was disappointed with the performance of the offensive line on Sunday: "Disappointment is probably strong," he said. "I think we could have played better up-front in the game." The Titans allowed six sacks in the opener, and Callahan said, "it wasn't a one-person problem." Callahan said the group needs to play better, while acknowledging the Broncos are very good up front.
-Callahan also acknowledged the Titans need to be better with the pre-snap and post-snap penalties, which piled up in the opener, when the team was penalized 13 times for 131 yards.
-Callahan called special teams coordinator John Fassel the "most positive human being I've ever been around." Callahan said Fassel does a nice job with the energy of the special teams unit in general, and he has a great relationship with his players.
-Callahan said quarterback Cam Ward has freedom to make in-game adjustments. "He's earned the right to have control," Callahan said. "It's something you have to earn." Callahan said Ward made one or two adjustments in the game on Sunday.
-Coming off a 3-14 season, and with a loss in the opener, Callahan was asked about the "Here We Go Again" mentality. He doesn't see it. "This team is very different (than last year)," he said. "I understand where you are coming from, I know that feeling. … I love the makeup of our football team, they have the right mentality. … We have really good leadership. I really do like the makeup of our football team and where we stand."
-Callahan said he loved coaching Matthew Stafford while in Detroit. "He is like the quintessential quarterback," Callahan said. "If you could build one, they look like Matthew. Awesome human being to be around, great with his teammates. He's probably one of the toughest players I've ever been around and he is extremely talented on top of it I had a lot of joy coaching him for those two years."
