SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Titans beat the 49ers by a score a 19-13 here on Thursday night in the preseason opener.
Senior Writer and Editor Jim Wyatt takes a look at six things that stood out from the contest:
Ward's Up and Down Night
Titans quarterback Cam Ward had some positive moments, with completions to Calvin Ridley (18 yards), Gunnar Helm (16 yards) and Wan'Dale Robinson (19 yards). The 11-play, 95-yard opening drive touchdown was a great way to start the preseason. But Ward also misfired on attempts to open targets, and he was called for grounding. He finished the contest 5-of-12, for 57 yards. The preseason is all about finding ways to improve, and this game provided some good, and some areas to clean up. "I think we're real good in the run game, real sound," Ward said after the game. "I think we have to continue to clean things up in the pass game, myself included with the receivers, seeing eye-to-eye. We have to continue to give them better chances to make plays. Once we get that, I think we'll be really good."
Spears Shows Burst
The preseason opener was one to forget for Titans running back Tyjae Spears a year ago, as he was injured in Tampa, paving the way for him to be placed on Injured Reserve to start the season. The preseason opener provided a better outcome for Spears on Thursday night. A 25-yard run by Spears put the Titans deep in San Francisco territory, and they cashed it in for a score. Spears carried the ball three times for 36 yards in the contest, a 12-yard average. "Knocking off the dust, knocking off the rust," Spears said after the game. "We're going to keep on building."
Carmona Starts, and is Surging
The Titans still need to sort through some things on the offensive line, but one development last night provided some intrigue. Rookie Fernando Carmona Jr. started the contest at right guard, after also working with the first group in the Tuesday practice with the 49ers. Veteran Cordell Volson began the week No.1 on the depth chart at right guard, but the competition is clearly undecided. Coach Robert Saleh and Ward complimented Carmona after the game, when Carmona said he wants "to be known as a hard worker, somebody who plays with a lot of violence. Everything else will figure itself out from there."
Room for Improvement on Defense
First, the good: The Titans held the 49ers without points on their first two possessions, and they allowed just one touchdown the entire night. But it wasn't pretty from start to finish, with most of the areas of concerns showing up on an 11-play, 68-yard drive by 49ers back-ups against a Tennessee defense with all its starters on the field except for defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. The Titans secondary gave up too many plays, and didn't get the third down stops it needed on this drive. Let's chalk it up as an area that needs improvement. "I am always looking forward to correcting myself, we all correcting ourselves as a group," cornerback Cor'Dale Flott said after the game. "We hold ourselves to a standard. … We are still improving, still getting to know each other as a group."
Quiet Night for Carnell Tate
Titans rookie Carnell Tate has been the talk of training camp – at least he's generated a lot of buzz – so naturally a lot of folks were interested in what he'd do in the preseason opener. Well, Tate didn't have a catch, which was at least noteworthy. Tate was targeted three times in the contest, all by Ward, but the two weren't able to connect. Wan'Dale Robinson and Xavier Restrepo led the Titans with two catches each while eight other Titans had at least one catch in the game.
Joey Slye a Perfect 4-of-4
The Titans want to see some consistency from kicker Joey Slye, and the trip to Santa Clara provided some positive signs. Slye was a perfect 6-of-6 in the joint practice against the 49ers on Tuesday, and he made field goals from 39, 53, 55 and 58 yards in Thursday's game, along with a successful PAT. The 4-for-4 night was a good development for the Titans. Slye's night wasn't perfect, however – he sent a kickoff out of bounds. But he appears to be back on track kicking field goals. After the game, Slye said he studied on some of his recent failures, and made corrections. "I know what I can do," Slye said. "And I know what I need to do, I am not naïve. My job is pretty simple, make kicks, and tonight I did that."
