Story By: Brady Trapnell
Another shade of blue took the field alongside the Titans at Saint Thomas Sports Park on Wednesday morning, as the Carolina Panthers participated in their first joint practice in preparation for Saturday’s preseason game.
Coach Mike Mularkey said dealing with increased competition and physicality in practice would be the key of this week. On day one, it was.
“It was pretty physical,” said Mularkey. “It was a physical practice, I thought, on both sides. Probably the hottest day we’ve had since we’ve been here, since the start. That was good to get that, let guys gauge where they are physically, not just mentally, but physically as well.”
At the start of the first team period, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly and left tackle Taylor Lewan were in each other’s face after the play. It seemed practice might not be as clean as Coach Mularkey hoped for.
But, despite a hard-hitting practice, Coach Mularkey was pleased there weren’t any post-play festivities.
“We’re out here to get better and work against each other,” said Mularkey following practice. “We want to stay away from conflict and things you can’t do in games, why do them out here, why waste the energy. Both Ron (Rivera) and I talked to the teams about it. It was very clean and that’s what we want again tomorrow.
The Panthers secondary set a physical tone early on in practice, bumping Titans receivers at the line in 1-on-1 drills. But, wideout Eric Decker made the most notable play of the period. He fought through a Carolina defensive back at the line for a deep one-handed grab down the sideline.
“We’ve had guys who’ve made plays off and on,” said Marcus Mariota on Decker’s performance. “But to be able to have that consistent presence outside I think it’s going to really benefit the room. All in all, I thought all those guys did a good job today. We were able to find ways to get open.”
Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s secondary seemed to hold their own against big Panthers targets, receiver Kelvin Benjamin and tight end Greg Olsen. During 7-on-7, the secondary forced a couple of coverage sacks and had tight coverage.
Rookie linebacker Jayon Brown flashed his talent again this training camp, snagging an interception in 11-on-11.
“I think he has stood out since he’s been in the OTAs, and for sure training camp,” said Mularkey on Brown. “He quietly goes about his business, but he’s always around the football. That’s been pretty consistent.”
One playmaker the Titans did not see on the field was quarterback Cam Newton, as he returns from a shoulder injury. The 2015 NFL MVP did not take any snaps in team drills but did participate in individual throwing drills.
Although he is not expected to play in preseason game two, Carolina Head Coach Ron Rivera said a decision has not been made.
“We are going to continue to work him,” said Rivera on Newton. “He threw the ball today in some of the stuff we had controlled. We’ll see how things go tomorrow and then on Friday we will decide.”
Coach Mularkey said not facing Newton in practice is not a missed opportunity for his defense.
Obviously, we’d liked to have what he brings with the ability to run the ball like Marcus (Mariota), that’s some of the things you wish you could get,” said Mularkey. “It’s not going to change. We may have to face a non-starter during the season, may have to adjust how we do things, it’s no different in this practice.”
The Titans return to Saint Thomas Sports Park for the second day of joint practice with the Panthers Thursday morning at 9:15 a.m. Practice is open to the fans, weather permitting.
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