SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Titans returned to the practice field on Tuesday, this time in a joint practice against the San Francisco 49ers
Here's a look at 10 observations from the session:
-Cam Ward is still developing as a quarterback, and he did some good things in Tuesday's session while also showing areas that he'll have to improve. But Ward's already there as a leader, just by the way he handles himself around his teammates, and his willingness to defend them. Case in point: After rookie Carnell Tate got hit hard the sideline by a 49ers cornerback Renardo Green, Ward raced to the scene to defend Tate while players from both teams gathered for a lot of pushing and shoving. Coaches did their best to remind Ward to stay calm before and during the practice, and while he never lost his cool, this incident alone showed he's not about to back down. Ward said he's always going to have the back of his teammates, "because that's the brotherhood that we have in our locker room."
-More on Ward's day: I had him at 16-of-23 in the practice, with an interception. Ward completed his first five passes, and he was good in a red zone period when he connected with Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard for touchdowns near the goal line. Ward missed some throws, and his interception was a ball that was behind Wan'Dale Robinson. A Hail Mary pass fell incomplete in the final period of practice, when the Titans got the ball, down 25-21 with 50 seconds left, but failed to score. One issue that troubled Ward and the offense was the offensive line's inability to protect at times. There were 49ers in the face of Titans QBs on several occasions in practice as the team worked through a number of different combinations, for one reason or another. One reason is coming, so keep reading.
-I mentioned the early scrap, but there were several right out of the gate between the two teams. There was pushing and shoving after a Pollard run on play No. 1, and there were at least mini-scraps on three of the first four plays, and four of the first six. Titans tackle Austin Deculus was ejected from practice on the first series of practice, and tackle Dan Moore Jr. joined him in the locker room later after getting ejected. The jawing never really stopped, but cooler heads eventually prevailed and the two teams got some quality work in.
-Receiver Xavier Restrepo had a good day catching the football – I had him with a practice-high five catches, including two that went for touchdowns. I had Chimere Dike with four grabs, which was the next highest. Tate had three catches on the day, along with tight end Daniel Bellinger. I previously mentioned the Ridley and Pollard scoring catches. Tate might have made the best catch of the day, a spinning, acrobatic grab on the sideline.
-I have to admit, my vantage point was best watching the offense as I kept my head on a swivel, trying to keep up with the action on both fields. I saw linebacker Cody Barton knock a pass down, and he also blew up a play. I thought Barton had a good day.
-Nazeeh Johnson and Mario Goodrich III had interceptions for the Titans in the practice, and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. nearly had one himself. Cornerback Micah Robinson recovered a fumbIe, on a ball that was punched out. I also noticed the 49ers offense making a lot of plays.
-Running back Nick Singleton got a lot of work, and he continues to impress me. Singleton busted into space on a number of runs, just like he's been doing in practices in Nashville. He scored on a touchdown run in a red zone period. Tyjae Spears also had some nice runs, including one that went for a touchdown in a red zone period, and Julius Chestnut lowered his shoulder and ran physical.
-Kicker Joey Slye settled down and made all six of his field goal attempts, from 33, 35, 38, 40, 41 and 44 yards. Punter Tommy Townsend hit some booming punts in a special teams period.
-Ward and linebacker Fred Warner chirped at one another throughout practice, and at one point Titans receivers coach Greg Lewis grabbed the back of Ward's jersey and directed him away from Warner, who was giving it back to the Titans QB. Ward smiled when talking about the interaction after practice, and said the two actually chatted after the session, when the veteran linebacker gave him some pointers.
-Coach Robert Saleh said the plan is for every healthy player to participate in Thursday's preseason game, and said his plan is for them to play more than a series.
