NASHVILLE - David Bass was understandably happy with the interception he returned for a touchdown in the final minutes of the Tennessee Titans' practice Sunday afternoon.
So was Mike Mularkey.
"David has really stepped up his game," the Titans coach said of the veteran linebacker. "Just look at the deflection and interception he made for a touchdown."
But Bass and Mularkey also know that interception occurred without pads, with helmets the players' only typical game-day equipment during this session. That changes with this morning's workout, one of 12 times in the preseason that full contact will be permitted.
"I'm hoping we'll do some popping,'" said Mularkey, a grin forming across his face. "I hope we'll be smart, but I do want to see who wants to hit."
Mark WiedmerBass last returned a interception for a touchdown in a real game as a Chicago Bears rookie in 2013.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," he said. "You learn a lot (about teammates) when you put the pads on. You can see a player's talent in shorts. But you need to have the pads on to learn about his technique. You also find out how tough they are."
Even without pads, the Titans look better than last season, when they finished 3-13, losing six games by a touchdown or less and four of those by three or fewer points.
"Just look at the guys we've brought in," said third-year linebacker Avery Williamson, no doubt referring to such free agent acquisitions as running back DeMarco Murray, receiver Andre Johnson and center Ben Jones. "We're definitely going to be better."
And in a division that once more appears to be mediocre at best, there's no reason to think the Titans can't jump from worst to first in the AFC South, especially if second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota can start running when he wants rather than running for his life.
Of Mariota's two rushes in Sunday's practice, Mularkey said both were "by design. There's no set number of plays. Just take what the defense gives us."
Mularkey said injuries as much as opposing defenses took away Mariota's running ability a year ago.
"Some of his injuries, we had to be smart about it," Mularkey said. "It's not smart to get him hit when he's not at full speed."
Yet the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner was so much at full speed Sunday, he broke into a Deion Sanders-esque high step after one of his rushing attempts.
"I'm shocked he did that," Mularkey said. "But you know, he's having fun out there. I'm glad to see that he's feeling as good as he is. Hopefully we can keep him that way."
Of course, Mularkey also had this to say about the team's offensive line play: "We got beat more on the physical part than the mental. For the most part, I've been pretty pleased with it - again, the mental. (But) I'd like to see us get a little better with that as we move forward."
This brings up an interesting question. The first week of practice, would you rather be better physically or mentally?
Which is more difficult to improve? In a league filled with players who will never be invited to join Mensa, would success not appear to be easier to achieve attempting to teach physical freaks of nature to learn plays rather than hoping bright guys can figure out a way to block a 270-pound defensive end who runs like a fullback?
Still, when you're coming off a 3-13 season that followed a 2-14 season, you can probably get better everywhere, including your practice facility's locker room, which owner Mary Adams Strunk had remodeled during the offseason.
"It's good to see she's all committed," said running back Dexter McCluster in discussing her two recent meetings with the team.
Mariota talked about the changes on Friday.
"The locker room is beautiful. It's very user-friendly," he said. "There is a lot of stuff in there that for us as players - whether it's charging your phone, being able to put your shoulder pads up top (to) let them air out - is nice to have. Some of those little things that you don't really kind of think about, our locker room has. It's going to be advantageous for us to have, and we're blessed to be able to see it and to use it."
Added Williamson: "(Strunk's) living up to her word. She says she wants us to be successful. She's definitely taking the team in the right direction."
He's right. A remodeled locker room might be the tipping point for some gifted free agent. Who could possibly want to play for a team that doesn't allow you to charge your cell phone in your own locker room cubicle or air-dry your shoulder pads?
But just to please the old-school fans who still think the road to a championship is paved by blocking and tackling, Mularkey might want to keep paying close attention to those players who want to hit somebody on the other team.
It seemed to work pretty well for the Super Bowl-winning Denver Broncos last season.
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.