Story By: Brady Trapnell
Training camp is about ebbs and flows. One day a star player performs well, another day the last player on the depth chart shows up to play.
After a tough day three of Titans camp, the offense wanted to make sure they came back on the practice field and rebounded. They did.
“I think you want to see how they’re going to respond to really getting punched in the mouth yesterday,” said Head Coach Mike Mularkey on the offense. “Our defense came out and out-physicaled our offense, and they came back and responded. It doesn’t surprise me with the guys in that locker room. It was good to see the competition that there was today.”
Physicality was the story on day four. The first scuffle of camp, thus far, started off team drills. Linebacker Avery Williamson and Left Tackle Taylor Lewan got into it after a questionable hit. Rookie tight end Jonnu Smith received a hit from safety Jonathan Cyprien going across the middle that garnered after-play festivities.
Mularkey appreciates the energy but said his team has to be careful.
“We had a couple of hits that we want to be smart about with our own team. I appreciate the toughness and the physicality, but not with your own teammates,” he said. “All day Sunday, absolutely, but not out here. Got to be smart.”
The offensive line also had a good performance. They opened up holes across the field for the running backs on multiple plays. Running back Derrick Henry found his way through the line for a touchdown early on in the team period, and followed up with a couple long runs later.
In 1-on-1 blocking drills between the O-Line and pass rushers, Lewan held his own against linebacker Brian Orakpo. Then, GM Jon Robinson brought a championship belt for the winning group into the drill, a tradition started last season. Lewan and Company came out on top.
“I think before that drill came up, before we came down as a team, I think the defense was dominant in the past for us,” said Mularkey. “And then, all of a sudden you put the stakes of that belt on the line and all of a sudden that offensive line responded and won four out of the five rushes. So it’s all about competing for those guys.”
All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin said it’s no surprise his group came out on top.
“We usually keep the belt. It is fun to go against them every once in a while just to show them what’s in our room.”
The Titans will take Wednesday off before taking the practice field once again on Thursday morning at Saint Thomas Sports Park. Practice begins at 8:55 a.m.
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