Brian CallahanNASHVILLE, Tenn. – Brian Callahan had to balance the present and the future with his roster this week as he talked players through trades that sent DeAndre Hopkins and Ernest Jones away.

He said it taught him a lot about approaching people and the situation.

And it will send him to one of three notebooks where he records running thoughts during his first season as coach of the Titans.

“I have a gigantic notebook from the time I got here until now and it’s full of all the things that I learned and lessons that have come up, things that I’ve handled well and maybe things that I could handle differently or better in the future,” he said. “I think that’s always the process of growing is finding the things that you’ve done well and where you could do better. When those opportunities come up force you into the spots to find out.

There are actually three notebooks. One is filled with Saturday/ Sunday notes on where he thinks the team is and things he wants to say to it. Another is used mostly in the early hours before a game when he’s alone at the stadium when he takes notes on the game, what he thinks, things that have come up during the week. The third is a decision-making notebook.

“I very specifically highlight what decisions were made and why,” he said. “It gives you a chance to go back and reflect.”

Callahan does most of his notebook reflecting on Friday afternoons, Saturday afternoons – especially on plane rides to away games – and those early Sundays when he gets some time alone. 

Sweat’s push: T’Vondre Sweat was limited Thursday and didn't participate with a hip injury and is questionable for Sunday's game in Detroit. Keondre Coburn has missed the last two games with a knee injury but is returning.

He has no sacks in his rookie season, but the Titans credit him with eight quarterback pressures. Pro Football Reference credits him with two hurries, no hits and no pressures.

“We’re always trying to improve the rush, in pro football that’s the thing everybody wants,” Tracy Rocker said. “We just have to keep working at it with him and keep getting better and I think he wants to, that’s the biggest thing about him. And then it evolves into situations. A lot of times we’ve been in games where everything’s just tight, tight, tight. We’re running it and they’re running it and running it. 

"Then you turn on other games and in some games, people are way ahead and guys just rush (the ball), they don’t have to worry about it. We still have to keep improving it, I think he wants to and we will.”

To be the guy the Titans drafted at 38 Sweat needs to influence the passing game more.

Quarterback: All week the Titans acted as if Mason Rudolph would start. The veteran talked Thursday about what an advantage it is as a backup to go into a game with a full week of work at the front of the line.

So reporters were surprised that Brian Callahan attempted to keep the possibility of Will Levis as a starter alive Friday. He said Levis will either start or be inactive.

Watch for a national reporter Saturday to “break” Rudolph starting against the Lions when it’s been clear all week that’s what will happen.