NASHVILLE – The Titans showed some positive signs early on Sunday, but all the good feelings went away in the second half.
Now it's back to work, and a big challenge this week against the Colts.
This mailbag remains hopping, with lots of questions and opinions.
Let's dive into this Tuesday's edition…
Here's the link to submit questions: CLICK HERE.
Dom O'Leary from Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Question: Hey Jim. Beyond the obvious offensive mistakes plaguing the team, firing of a HC resulted in a glimpse of positivity in the first two drives and then all composure disappeared. McCoy badly fumbled the last drive before half time. How do you not use any of the three timeouts to preserve clock?!
Finding it hard to switch on in the early hours from down under this season.
Butterfingers Ward is proving to be more frustrating than fruitful.
Can we actually amass any more wins than last year or is this season a write off now? Feeling like it from here. Cheers.
Jim: Hey Dom. I think I'm with you on all fronts – I liked what I saw early, didn't necessarily like the look of the possession at the end of the first half, and Cam has to find a way to keep from turning the ball over. I do think the approach at the end of the half would have been different if the team had hit for a bigger gain on the Tyjae Spears run on first down. When that went for just three yards, I suspect there was some concern that the offense would give the ball back to New England, and they'd score again before the half, which would have been a doomsday scenario. Instead, the doomsday scenario played out at the beginning of the third quarter. Can the team get to three wins this year? We'll see.
Chris Haney from Sparta, Tennessee
Question: What do you think about making Tyjae Spears the starting running back? Tajae only has 14 carries on the season, but is averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
Jim: Hey Chris. I like Tyjae, and I think you'll see more from him moving forward. He's now healthy, and I expect him to be more and more involved. But the Titans are going to have to stay in games for the running game to have much of a chance. The Titans had to abandon the run on Sunday because they were playing catch-up.
Tim Worthington from Herriman, Utah
Question: I DONT BELIEVE IN YOU!! Thats exactly what our interim head coach Mike McCoy said when he didnt call the timeouts( WE HAD 3 of em, in case you missed it!!) WHAT A F!$&;! travesty!! Traitorist!!!some straight up stab a guy when he aint lookin stuff!! Guess were just gonna throw in the towel and go for picks. Anyways, thanks for giving us a place to air our frustrations Jim!! I just got one question! What do we do about our coaching staff? Do we go with another rookie coach or take a failed coach from another team? Seems like us titans fans opinions dont matter much to this team, bein they keep smackin us in the face sunday after sunday with head scratchin decisions that make no sense at all!! really was hopin we figured somethin out after lettin cally go. PLEASE!! give us some kinda direction as far as what this teams doin!
Jim: Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Tim. I can't help but wonder of some of the mistakes Cam has made has caused the coaches to be a little more gun-shy in some situations. … Personally, I'd like for the new coach to have some previous head-coaching experience. But I need to see who all the candidates might be, and we're not going to know this for a while.
Rod Peckett from Rockhampton, Qld, Australia
Question: Through the first 7 rounds of this season, it is clear to me that Will Levis was unfairly treated last season and shouldered considerable if not the largest proportion of the blame for how poorly the Titans played. This was largely due undoubtedly because as fans we could see the number 1 pick on the horizon and felt that Cam Ward would ride into town and immediately turn the Franchise around - better things were definitely ahead for the Titans.
Lathan moved to right tackle, Moore given a truck load of cash to start at left tackle, Cushenberry back from injury, Simmons and Sweat trimmed and hungry, Sneed back from injury and a number of free agents and a pretty fair draft class.
Now given I am from Australia and have not been brought up playing the game or indeed immersed in it from childhood, but from where I sit the Titans have not progressed at all from last year and many US commentators believe they may even be worse. Now Levis was absolutely lambasted for some of his turnovers last year and some of them were comedic, but the turnover from Ward in the third quarter last week that led to a Pats turnover is a bad as I have seen. Yet it seems the commentary around Cam is that he is a work in progress, he's getting better and he needs to be given time and protected better. Levis would have been ridiculed.
Does being a number one draft pick give you more time and less critique or is that the public have come to the conclusion this year that the Titans are just awful and the blame is being spread evenly, not just on the Round 3 Rookie QB?
I live in hope that one day I will get to see the Titans/Oilers in another Superbowl and winning as the AFC representative. I guess there is always next year.
Thanks Jim - obviously never met but you feel like a friend, such is your talent with the pen and your ability to connect.
Jim: Good to hear from you, Rod. And I love seeing two questions from Australia in here. At least a part of me agrees with you on Levis. I always thought he took on too much blame, and hate, quarterbacking what was a bad football team. Now I'm not letting him completely off the hook, because he was responsible for some bad mistakes himself. But I think what we've seen with Cam has proven it's not easy when things aren't great around you. I do think folks will be more patient with Cam, and I think they should be. He's a talented young man who is focused on football, and being the best he can be. He hasn't been distracted by other things away from the field. The Titans need Cam to be good, and in time everything thinks he will be. If not, the process will eventually start with someone else. Appreciate the kind words.
Jack Walker from Calabasas, California
Question: Hey Jim, well... It's another Titans Sunday. As you know, I'm not one of those professional football folks... Like a coach or GM... But I've been concerned about Cam Ward warning signs since the Spring watching his pre-draft highlight videos. He's very cool and calm back there but that also means there's not much "grind" in him. I thought it might be coaching, keeping the training wheels on him but the more I watch, the more I don't think so. And those turnovers, statistically he's more turnover prone than Will Levis. I hate to be that guy who goes back to pre-draft but I was firmly in the camp of trade back 1-2 spaces and take Carter plus a R2 OT and WR and a prospect QB like Shedeur or Riley Leonard and sign Aaron Rodgers. Go into 2026 draft with 2 R1's... Tell me Jim, do I go through Titans HR to apply for the GM job?
Jim: Not sure what you mean by saying there's no grind to Cam Ward. Don't mistake his calm, cool demeanor for being a guy who is nonchalant in his approach. I can promise you he is busting it.
Richard Colestock from St. Cloud, Florida
Question: Hi Jim. 31-13.....but we look like a different team! We'll lose...but we look competitive, a LOT sharper, faster and with more pep in our step......the change was needed and the game refected that!
This will be a learning....and probably a losing season, but I believe.....unless the folks in the ivory tower don't mess things up......we're on the right track!
TITAN UP!
Jim: This is a very optimistic take, Richard. I don't get a lot of these in here!
Dick Clodfelter from Bell Buckle, Tennessee
Question: No question this time, Jim. Just a comment about today's game v. Patriots. Such a promising, hopeful beginning, which was ruined by the same old, same old, hopeless ending. Looks to me like the coaches and most of the game plan and play calling are not the team's problems, but there are too many players' deficiencies in executing the plays. Let's hope that some of these issues can be remedied as the season goes on. 🤞
Jim: Good to hear from you, Dick.
Jeremy Rodriguez from Winchester, California
Question: Well Jim it was a strong start. I liked how McCoy went up tempo after gaining a First Down. Cam has got to take better care of the ball. Having a turnover every week is inexcusable. Mark the time and date, Sneed will request to leave Tennessee. He has checked out. Every #1 opposing WR has made him look average. The lack of effort he gave on some possible tackles should be noted. He will want out. Who knows maybe this Bye Week will help him find his way.. Enjoy some R&R Jim and as always TITAN UP!
Jim: Don't see a lot of R&R on the horizon, Jeremy. Sneed is now hurt, and I agree, he had a tough day on Sunday.
Jason Vesely from Mosinee, Wisconsin
Question: There are going to be some good candidates for the Titans to bring in for head coach. I think, now this is just my guess but Borgonzi is going to bring in the Giants OC (Mike Kafka) he was the quarterbacks coach with the Chiefs so he coached up Patrick Mahomes, and then went to the Giants as OC and Jaxon Dart looks good. Besides Kafka, another candidate would be Arthur Smith, who was the Titans OC under Mike Vrabel, he did such a good job as OC that he deserves a return as head coach. Eddie George should get an interview because of the leadership he brings to the table. As a college head coach he is doing good. Kafka looks like Borgonzi's choice
Jim: Thanks for weighing in, Jason.
Tom Meyer from San Antonio, Texas
Question: Well, Something will need to be done after this season. Ownership isn't going to change like some people want, but front office, coaching staff and a lot of players. The Titans have some good rookies but they have too many older players and just some players that are not that good. I can count maybe seven starters they need to keep but the rest need to step up or get gone. This team reminds me of the old Oilers teams that went back to back 1and 13. Bad coaching and a pile of players that could not or would not produce. Dan Pastorini was a good quarterback with very little help form the guy's around him. Deja Vu ...... Welcome to the show Cam. I just hope the Titans can get the right people to right this sinking ship. The good news they aren't the Jets Titan up folks every team goes through these bad times and always come back strong. Keep the faith!!
Jim: Good to hear from you, Tom.
Jefferson Pendergrass from Rainsville, Alabama
Question: Hi Jim. I mean this as a serious question. This is not an attempt to bash or disrespect the Titans. How do you think the Titans would do against a top-notch college football program like Ohio State, Indiana or Alabama etc.? I have just always been curious as to whether or not there is much of a difference between the bottom-tier NFL programs and the top-tier college football programs? Thank You.
Jim: C'mon, Jefferson. The worst team in the NFL would smoke the best team in college football.
Tracy West from Marshall, Texas
Question: I believe that Jon Gruden would be a great coach for you! Thx.
Jim: I have received several votes for Gruden…
John Cox from Camden, Arkansas
Question: Seeing how much money the Head Brass has thrown away the past two years for just four wins, I don't suppose they would mind too much reimbursing me for my NFL Sunday Ticket subscription. I'm in south Arkansas and the only way I can see the Blue Boys is by purchasing it for $400 per year, the past two years. That's $200 per W, if my calculations are right. My wife is getting kinda mad at me for spending that much money too, so would you please have Amy send me a check for $800. Thank you so much and I'll be watching the mailbox.
Jim: Nice try, John. 😊 I know the team appreciates your support.
Rich Davidson from Paducah, Kentucky
Question: I think we can all agree that the Titans are going to have a high draft pick in the 2026 draft. We need so much, especially offensive linemen. Do you think the Titans will make some trades for more draft picks before the trade deadline?
Jim: I wouldn't rule anything out, Rick.
Cliff Stephens from Smyrna, Tennessee
Question: Good morning Jim hope you haven't been overloaded with negative mail. I don't have a question but just wanted to make a statement. I don't know if the Titans will win another game but I do think they were a little bit improved Sunday. They just don't have all the pieces to be competitive. I think as an organization they have good people in place to find and hire our next head coach. Everyone should know and realize this fact. The Vrabel era is over and not coming back. If people claim they are true Titans fans then we know this year is bad and won't get any better until we as a team gets enough new players to be competitive. So everyone needs to just Titans fans Up and go on. Thanks Jim.
Jim: Thanks for chiming in, Cliff.
Have a great week everyone!
