Titans Continue Preparations for Third Preseason Game

Tuesday, August 18, 2009
By Nick Gallo, Titans Online

 
http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-1/titans-continue-preparations-for-third-preseason-game/ee596f1b-a0b9-41b7-b17e-de990d18959e

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. --On this wet, drizzly Tuesday morning, the Titans put on their pads to begin their first of two practices on the day. The team was also scheduled to practice Tuesday night at Baptist Sports Park.

With the pads came a higher intensity level, and a good amount of emotion out of the players during drills. Even during a field goal drill, the defensive line was going all out, resulting in a Tanard Davis field goal block. The cornerback came off the end to get right in front ofRob Bironas’ kick, which ignited the rest of the defense into loud cheers.

“Today was great, the weather was perfect, a nice little cool mist to keep you cool,” linebacker David Thornton said. “Flying around, wet and icky -- all those things are what football is really all about -- playing in the elements.”

The Titans are sworking on getting more of their playbook implemented during practice as they inch closer to the regular season.

“It’s coming on, we’re making plays out here. We haven’t really put a lot in the game plans per say, but it looks good out here. It’s efficient,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “A good basis to judge it by is our defense because our defense is pretty good at seeing a concept once and taking it away.”

At the end of the day, however, it seemed that both sides were making lots of plays, stemming from the excitement and energy provided by the team. Cornerback Cary Williams peeled back from his zone position to intercept a Vince Young pass. A few plays later, the Titans’ “secret weapon,” long snapperKen Amato, who also plays linebacker, made an impressive leaping interception on a Patrick Ramsey delivery. The defense was ignited by both plays, which spurned the offense to work harder as the practice moved on.

“It picked up a lot today because we have a short week and the preseason games are counting down now,” defensive end Jevon Kearse said. “We only have a certain amount of time to get better. This training camp we aren’t going twice a day each time we go out there, so we have to make the most of our opportunities.”

MOUTON INJURED: The atmosphere turned from electric to quiet after rookie cornerback Ryan Mouton landed awkwardly during a one-on-one drill and injured his ankle. Mouton, who returned an interception for a touchdown in Saturday’s win vs. Tampa Bay, was carted off the field and later seen in walking in a boot.

“We’re checking on him. He has an ankle [injury], I don’t know to what extent it’s injured,” Fisher said.

READY FOR DALLAS: The Titans will open up the Dallas Cowboys’ new stadium on Friday. The stadium is reported to be a masterpiece, with large concourses for standing room only tickets, the ability to seat 100,000 fans and an HD Jumbotron that is nearly 60 yards long.

The Titans are eager to open the new stadium, but are looking to spoil the party.

“I dreamed about it last night, we’ll be the first people to play in Cowboys Stadium, so it’s actually exciting,” running back LenDale White said. “But we’re going in with every intention of winning the football game.”

For the team’s younger players, it’s a chance to get an idea of what the atmosphere in the season opener in Pittsburgh will be like.

“The fans are going to be cranked up, it’s going to be loud and it’s good work, ”quarterback Kerry Collins said. “It’s a different ballgame when you’re out there and you have to deal with all those things. It’ll be a good test for us, good practice.”