NASHVILLE – Titans head coach Mike Vrabel held a video conference call with reporters on Friday, one day after the team's 20-17 comeback win over the 49ers.
Here's a look at the hot topics as the team now turns its attention to the Christmas holiday, and the upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins at Nissan Stadium on January 2.
-Vrabel said the Titans will meet on Christmas Eve, and he'll also meet with the team's training staff to evaluate where the team is physically. "We'll grade the tape and look to see where we can improve, and where we need to address some things," Vrabel said. "And then I want these guys to spend as much time as they possibly can with their families. I think it's important that they get away and try and spend some time with their families."
-The Titans held 49ers Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle to just two catches for 21 yards. Kittle didn't have a single catch after halftime. "It was a huge key," Vrabel said of the job the Titans defense did on Kittle. "He's a fantastic player. We mixed some coverages in on them, and the guys that were responsible for him in man did a nice job." Vrabel said safety Dane Cruikshank was solid in his third-down coverage on Kittle.
-Vrabel said he thought rookie Dillon Radunz did a nice job in his first start at left tackle while playing part of the night across from 49ers sack specialist Nick Bosa. "He's continued to improve, and continued to prepare," Vrabel said of Radunz. "We talk all the time about how you want to be ready for your opportunity. It wasn't perfect, but he battled, and he really competed."
-Vrabel was asked for an update on running back Derrick Henry. He kept it short: "He's still rehabbing."
-Linebacker Zach Cunningham had four tackles, including one for a loss, on Thursday night. Vrabel said Cunningham has worked hard since being claimed by the Titans, and it's paying off. "He's made some nice plays for us," Vrabel said. "He's tried to play physical for us, and hopefully we can continue to progress with him and the rest of the linebackers."
-QB Ryan Tannehill completed 22 of 29 passes for 209 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions against the 49ers. On third down, Tannehill was 11-of-13 (84.6 percent) for 149 yards with a passer rating of 114.4. Vrabel praised Tannehill on Friday. "We also protected (him). He also wasn't getting hit every other play like maybe sometimes before," Vrabel said of Tannehill, who was credited with the 26th game-winning drive of his career, including a league-high 13 game-winning drives since joining the Titans in 2019. "When given some time, you could see that Ryan was able to deliver the football."
-Vrabel said the end zone interception by cornerback Jackrabbit Jenkins was a huge play. He said it was nice to see Jenkins was taught by the coaching staff in a defensive red zone meeting to the playing field what to expect in that situation. "It was really cool to see Rabbit take the information he got in the meeting onto the game field," Vrabel said. "It was a huge play at a huge moment."
-Vrabel said he'll watch football over the weekend, including a game with big implications for the Titans – the Colts vs the Cardinals, in Arizona. If the Colts lose, the Titans claim the AFC South before taking the field again. "But we can't focus on people losing," Vrabel said. "We have to focus on us trying to win. That's the most important thing."
