NASHVILLE – Titans coach Robert Saleh conducted a zoom conference call with reporters on Monday, one day after the team's 12-7 loss to the New York Giants.
The Titans will return to action this Sunday at the Baltimore Ravens.
Here's a look at some of the hot topics from today's call:
-Saleh said quarterback Cam Ward, who threw an interception in the end zone on a first-and-goal from the seven in the closing seconds, has been mostly "spot on" with his decision making. "When he sees the tape" from his late interception on Sunday "I'm sure he's going to want that one back," Saleh said. "He feels like he probably should have given him a better ball. I don't think he ever saw (the defender). I'm sure from Cam's perspective, he wishes he did something different with it." Later, Saleh said, "off schedule, (Cam) made a bad decision. I'd love for all of us to be 100 percent in all of our decision making, but it's just not going to happen. It's unfortunate that one of his critical mistakes came on the last play of the game. But for the most part he has been very, very good with the ball, he takes care of it. It's unfortunate the way it happened yesterday." Asked about the play again later, Saleh said Ward was not "reckless" with the decision. "He gave him a bad ball," Saleh said. "Bad decision, not a reckless decision, bad decision, which I'm sure he recognizes. But Cam is far from reckless."
-The Titans offense began Sunday's game with five straight three-and-outs, and the 54 yards of total offense in the first half was the fewest in a game since 2010. The Titans managed just 10 points against the Jets in Week 1, and the offense has lacked consistency through three games. Saleh was asked about the mindset of the defense, and whether the unit could get frustrated. "Shoot, two weeks ago we had a chance to win it on defense, and we didn't," Saleh said of the Eagles loss before listing the team's struggles across the board. "Inside five minutes, we're acting like a young team acts."
-Saleh vowed the Titans are going to learn how to win close football games. "We're two plays from being 2-1," Saleh said. "But we stand here 0-3, so you are who you are."
-Jackson Slater, who replaced an injury Fernando Carmona at right guard in Sunday's game, is being evaluated for what Saleh called "a pretty significant foot injury." Saleh said Carmona, who suffered an ankle injury in the game, is still being evaluated as well.
-Saleh said the offensive line did a great job protecting on Sunday, when the Giants were held without a sack.
-When asked about returner Chimere Dike, who has lost two fumbles so far this season, Saleh said he still has confidence in Dike, a Pro Bowler last season. "I know he is hurting, I know he is disappointed," Saleh said. "He is not trying to go out there and fumble. … Chim knows, it is important to him … and we have all the faith in the world in him to get it fixed."
-Saleh praised defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who was credited with 10 tackles, a sack, and two tackles for a loss and two quarterback hits vs the Giants. "He is special," Saleh said of Simmons. "His energy, how active he is, his power, his ability to win one-on-one in the pass rush. We win that game, and he should be defensive player of the week for the AFC. … His stat numbers look like something out of Madden. He's a special leader, he's a special man, he's an elite worker, everything about him … I know he is paid handsomely, but he deserves every last penny."
