NASHVILLE – Titans coach Robert Saleh conducted a zoom conference call with reporters on Monday, one day after the team's 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The Titans will return to action this Sunday at the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here's a look at some of the hot topics from today's call:
-Saleh said he thought quarterback Cam Ward, who completed 20-of-31 passes for 181 yards with a touchdown and an interception, "played a good game, not an exceptional game." Saleh said Ward has things to fix, "but you can't possibly watch that film and say Cam Ward did not play good, winning football. You can't. Now there's things you have to fix, but if anyone is trying to pin this loss on him you are just trying to make shit up."
-Saleh said the Titans have a "finishing problem." The Titans have lost four one-score games this season, including a pair (Eagles, Browns) when they couldn't get stops in the closing moments. Ward threw an interception in the end zone in the final seconds against the Giants. "We are putting ourselves in position to find ways to win football games," Saleh said. "I love the mindset of the football team, because I do think it fights its ass off, but right now we have a finishing problem. Being 1-4 in these one-score games, flip the record and you are 4-3. It is so close, it is so close. … We are good enough to put ourselves in position to win, but we have to find ways to win in the final minutes."
-Cornerback Alontae Taylor was active for Sunday's game, but he did not play a snap. Saleh said the Titans are working with Taylor to try and get him going at nickel, "but Alontae has been great. He is attacking the heck out of it, and we'll see where he is at this week."
-Saleh said the defense was disappointing in a number of areas on Sunday, when the Browns racked up 491 yards of offense, including 308 through the air, and 183 on the ground. The run defense "wasn't up to snuff," he said, and "I thought our pass rushed lacked a little bit." Saleh said the coverage wasn't good enough. "We have up too many explosive plays," he said. "Definitely it wasn't our best day." As for tackling, Saleh said: "Our tackling sucked yesterday."
-Saleh said the Titans used veteran running back Michael Carter over rookie Nick Singleton on Sunday because "Michael has three-down value with regards to protections and being able to understand how to play the game on third down" and "Nick is still growing in that regard." Singleton was among the team's inactives on Sunday, while Carter played 16 snaps on offense. From a protection and route-running, overall three-down value, Carter is a better option for the team right now, Saleh said.
-Saleh did not have an update on punter Tommy Townsend, who left Sunday's game with a knee injury. Saleh said Townsend is still being evaluated.
