NASHVILLE – Titans coach Robert Saleh conducted a zoom conference call with reporters on Monday, one day after the team's 26-3 loss to the Houston Texans.
The Titans will return to action this Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts.
Here's a look at some of the hot topics from today's call:
-Saleh said the lack of a run game on offense, and a lack of third down execution, contributed to holding the offense back on Sunday, while later mentioning other areas where the offense came up short. Saleh said it was a step back for the entire offense while admitting the offense is still searching for an identity (more on this later).
-After playing what Saleh considered one of his better games of the year against the Ravens, quarterback Cam Ward also took a step back, Saleh said. "Was yesterday a step back? Sure," Saleh said. "Was it all Cam? It's not. It's an 11-man game in terms of offensive football, and even defensively. … It was a step back as an entire offense, not just Cam."
-Receiver Carnell Tate had just one catch for six yards against the Texans, who "took him way by feasting up front," Saleh said when asked why he wasn't more of a factor. "They had a heck of a day up front with their front four, which is one of the best in football, and they made it very uncomfortable for everybody."
-Asked about making changes to shake things up, Saleh said, "when you make wholesale changes … you are showing a sign of panic" and this is not the time, he said. "We are in game five of year one," he said. "And, I get it – it hasn't been good, we're 0-5." Saleh said he's seen both ends of the spectrum in building football teams and where the team now, what's most important is building a foundation and getting better. But in terms of "just trying to throw gas on the fire just to see if you can spark something, I've always felt like that's a sign of panic where you've lost all answers" and he thinks the focus should instead be on getting better. But, Saleh bluntly reiterated: "Yesterday was a step back, 100 percent. It was shitty, for a lack of a better word. We got our asses kicked, especially up front. But will a step back discourage us from taking two steps forward? No."
-Ward was sacked four times in Sunday's game, and he was hit on seven occasions. During the second half, there were serious breakdowns on the offensive line. "We were playing clean ball up until then," Saleh said, "and yesterday it was nowhere near good enough to be qualified as a NFL offensive line."
-Asked about the identity of the offense, Saleh said: "It's going to reveal itself. Every team is different. I'll go back and just try to grab hold of what I think you guys all saw during training camp and our joint practices. I felt like our offensive line played a very physical brand of football. I felt like we protected well, I thought we ran the ball well in those joint practices. So I do think the heart of our offense is the offensive line. Unfortunately, yesterday wasn't good enough and I think they recognize that. But again, I go back and I'm not going to look at one game and just say, 'Welp, that's what they are.' They've been our most consistent piece on the offensive side of the ball for four weeks. And yesterday, I'll keep reiterating, it was a step back. But it doesn't define who they are. So when you talk about identity, the identity of our offense is going to run through our offensive line. And I felt like we established that during training camp and we just need to make sure we stay connected to it."
-Saleh did not have updates on safety Kevin Winston Jr. (quad) and cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (chest). "We're still getting some evaluations done on them to assess the length of their injuries," Saleh said.
