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Hot Topics from Titans Coach Mike Vrabel's Monday Presser

Nov 30, 2020 at 03:53 PM

Jim Wyatt

Senior Writer/Editor

NASHVILLE – Titans coach Mike Vrabel held a video conference call on Monday, one day after the team's 45-26 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Next up for the Titans is a game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

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

Working from Home

Due to rising COVID-19 cases across the country, the NFL banned in-person activities for all NFL teams on Monday and Tuesday.

As a result, Titans coach Mike Vrabel is working from his home office on Monday, and the organization continues to operate while gearing up for the start of the practice week on Wednesday.

"As far as working from home, the process hasn't changed," Vrabel said. "We're trying to prepare for Cleveland. I met with (GM) Jon (Robinson) and (director of sports medicine) Todd Toriscelli about the roster, and just keep getting ready and be able to get these guys back in here on Wednesday and operate with whatever the league tells us is best and safest for our players."

More from David Long Jr.?

Titans linebacker David Long, who came off the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday, stepped in and played significant snaps on Sunday vs the Colts opposite fellow inside linebacker Rashaan Evans.

Vrabel said Long, who was credited with three stops, and a break-up, should see more action moving forward. The Titans lost linebacker Jayon Brown to an elbow injury against the Ravens, and a week ago in Baltimore it was Will Compton who got the majority of the snaps at Brown's spot inside.

Long played 36 of 74 defensive snaps vs the Colts despite not practicing all week. Compton played 30 of the defense's 74 snaps.

"His ability to continue to improve, and when you play behind a good player, and somebody that is playing a lot of snaps for you (in Jayon) and is the signal-caller on defense, it is sometimes hard to create opportunities," Vrabel said of Long. "I think David will be prepared and will be a large part of what we do going forward.

"It was good to see him back out there, and we're anticipating he should have a great week of practice this week and help us against the Browns."

Now, the Hunted

Two weeks ago, the Titans were on the outside looking in at projected playoff spots.

As a result of Sunday's win, the Titans now lead the AFC South with a record of 8-3, and the team is currently the No.3 seed in the AFC playoff picture.

Considering last year's team also needed a late season push to make the playoffs, these Titans are in a different position right now compared to the past, as the hunted and not the hunter, with five games to go.

Vrabel, of course, isn't paying any attention to this kind of talk.

"Every year is different, every week," Vrabel said. "Whether you are 6-5 or 8-3, I'd say that it just comes down to how you play, how you play each week. I don't ever look at it as like, 'you're the hunted.' Hopefully we are going out there with the attitude that we're going to be hunting every single week, regardless of what our record is."

Vrabel added: "All we've done is taken a few steps to put ourselves in a position to continue to play meaningful games here in December."

Next up: Browns

The Titans will face a different Browns team compared to the one they saw in the season opener in Cleveland last year.

These Browns are also 8-3, and they're led by two dangerous rushers in Nick Chubb (115 carries, 719 yards, six touchdowns) and Kareem Hunt (157 carries, 706 yards, four touchdowns).

Quarterback Baker Mayfield has thrown for 2,108 yards, with 17 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.

"We're preparing for a new opponent, one that we don't know as much about, just because of the new coaching staff, and the time in which we've played this team last," Vrabel said of the Browns. "This is a talented team, excellent running the football. … They're really good on both sides of the ball in the red zone. So there's a lot of things we're going to have to be prepared for and hopefully we can build off the things we've done well the last few weeks."