Vrabel Wants "Clean Operation" as Titans Kick Off Minicamp

Apr 24, 2018 at 03:32 AM

Jim Wyatt

Senior Writer/Editor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mike Vrabel was hired as head coach of the Titans three months ago.

He's been a busy man since.

After hiring a staff, he turned his attention to the Senior Bowl, and NFL Combine. He's attended pro days, and interviewed players during pre-draft visits leading up to this week's NFL Draft. He's gotten to know returning players, and new ones signed in free agency.

When the Titans kicked off their offseason program earlier this month, he was finally able to meet with them as a team.

But today's another day he'd been looking forward to since getting the job. The Titans kick off a three-day voluntary minicamp on Tuesday at Saint Thomas Sports Park, and he's finally allowed to coach them on the field.

During the first two weeks of the offseason program, players focused on strength and conditioning under strength and conditioning coach Tom Kanavy and his staff. Players were also involved in meetings with coaches during those weeks, but on-field work wasn't allowed under the terms of the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement.

This week, Phase 2 of the offseason program began, which opened the door for coaches to be allowed on the field with players.

"I think we want to have a clean operation," Vrabel said. "I think we want to be able to go out there and look like a football team and have an understanding of how we are going to conduct practice. This is going to be very similar to the OTAs that we run, I have told them that.

"I think it is going to be an opportunity for them to see their coaches on the field, what their drills are going to be, what their individual drills are going to be, what the development plan is for these players to make them better on the field. We've tried to make them better the best that we could in the meeting rooms, and in the weight room.

"But it's going to be a good opportunity to see how practice is structured, and what the warm up is going to be like, what the individual (period) is going to be like, how are we going to do the team period," Vrabel continued. "That is what I am looking forward to, guys bouncing around, running around, and also having a clean operation."

This week's minicamp is scheduled to run Tuesday through Thursday at Saint Thomas Sports Park.

Wednesday's session will be open to media.

The team will begin organized team activities next month (OTAs) during Phase 3 of the offseason program. The team's mandatory minicamp is scheduled for June 12-14.

On Monday, Vrabel said he planned to meet with his coaching staff later in the day to finalize the plan for this week. He also planned to meet with Kanavy about the conditioning level of players.

The plan was to discuss a depth chart -- and where players would line up in the pecking order -- with the players this morning. Further discussion will take place between Vrabel and his coordinators – OC Matt LaFleur, DC Dean Pees and ST Craig Aukerman.

"And we'll find out where guys are going to fit, where Matt and Dean and Craig are going to put them. So there is going to have to be a depth chart," Vrabel said.

"I would imagine everybody is going to get equal reps. We are really just focused on seeing if we were able to learn something about the system offensively and defensively, and then what the operation looks like."

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Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, presents Alabama's Rashaan Evans with his Tennessee Titans jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans is introduced by Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson, left, head coach Mike Vrabel, right, at a news conference Friday, April 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the Titans' top pick in the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Wade Payne

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans, center, speaks at a news conference as general manager Jon Robinson, left, and head coach Mike Vrabel listen Friday, April 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the Titans' top pick in the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Wade Payne

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans, left, laughs with Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel at a news conference Friday, April 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the Titans' top pick in the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Wade Payne

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FILE - In this Friday, April 27, 2018 file photo, Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans speaks at a news conference in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the Tennessee Titans' top pick in the NFL football draft. The Titans have agreed to terms on a deal with their first-round draft pick LB Rashaan Evans, Tuesday, May 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Wade Payne, File)

Wade Payne

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans, right, speaks at a news conference as Tennessee Titans general manager Jon Robinson listens Friday, April 27, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. Evans is the Titans' top pick in the NFL football draft. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Wade Payne

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans poses with his jersey on stage after being selected by the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)

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Alabama's Rashaan Evans poses with his Tennessee Titans jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans on stage after he is selected by the Tennessee Titans during the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Perry Knotts via AP)

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans on stage after he is selected by the Tennessee Titans during the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Perry Knotts via AP)

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Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, greets Alabama's Rashaan Evans after he was selected by the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans walks on stage after being selected by the Tennessee Titans during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans in the green room during the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)

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Alabama linebacker Rashaan Evans in the green room during the 2018 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)

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Commissioner Roger Goodell presents Alabama's Rashaan Evans with his Tennessee Titans team jersey during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 26, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

David J. Phillip

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