Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel talks to defensive tackle Jurrell Casey (99) during a season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins.NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Titans aren't close to panicking over sloppy run defense.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will offer them a chance Sunday to show just how much better they can be.
Jaguars running backs Leonard Fournette and T.J. Yeldon are among five Jacksonville players listed as questionable for the game. Fournette missed last week's victory against the New England Patriots because of a strained right hamstring and was limited in practice this past week. Yeldon, who led the team with 58 yards rushing against the Patriots, was limited all week because of an ankle injury.
Tennessee defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, a three-time Pro Bowl pick, said the Titans (1-1) will come out with the same mindset no matter who the Jaguars (2-0) hand the ball to this afternoon.
"It's going to be our job to stop the run," Casey said. "We haven't really done that in the last two weeks. We have to make sure we improve a little better. But we're definitely prepared for it we understand their scheme. So it's going to be key for us to make sure we stay gap sound. We do that, we'll definitely stop their run game."
With Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator, nobody in the NFL was better than the Titans at stopping the run during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. They gave up an average of 88.5 yards per game the past two years and a league-low 2,833 yards rushing overall. Last season they ranked fourth overall and first in the AFC against the run.
First-year Titans coach Mike Vrabel brought in Dean Pees as his coordinator this offseason, and the veteran assistant brought in a few scheme changes.
Through two games, the Titans rank 25th in the NFL with an average of 134 rushing yards allowed per game. They gave up 120 rushing yards in a season-opening loss to the Miami Dolphins and 148 in a victory over the Houston Texans last week.
"Whatever call is being made out there, we have to execute it," Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo said. "We can't have guys doing their own thing. That's playing for your teammate, making sure you play your assignment within that call. I think that's what's kind of been hurting us against the call. Guys just trying to do a little too much.
"Do what you're supposed to do within the defense, and everything else will take care of itself."