Titans' Takeaways: Unexpected Hero, O-Line Challenges and More

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There are bits to take from the Titans’ 16-15 last-second win over the Seahawks in their second preseason game, but the biggest one is this:

Thirty-eight Titans didn’t play, including 17 because of injury. Thirty-one Seahawks also sat, with just two Seattle starters playing, center Olu Oluwatimi and right guard Anthony Bradford each played 28 snaps.

Brayden Narveson
Brayden Narveson celebrates his game-winner/ Courtesy Tennessee Titans

Given that context, here are my takeaways: [Unlocked]

Huge kicker night: The North Carolina State undrafted rookie kicker Brayden Narveson had a night to remember, crushing a 59-yard field goal and hitting a 46-yarder to win the game at the end. He also hit a 21-yarder.

He was sick enough early in the day that he didn't think he would play.

Brian Callahan said he was ready to punt on fourth-and-13 from the Seattle 41-yard line, but special teams coordinator Colt Anderson urged the head coach to send on Nick Folk’s camp backup and so he did.

"Great call by Colt to push me to kicking it, and unbelievable execution," Callahan said. "Fifty-nine yards is no small feat. That's a grown-man kick in the NFL."

Callahan said Folk’s job is not at any risk, but Narveson certainly can catch the eye of some teams in need.

Only Rob Bironas has kicked a longer field goal in the Stadium. He beat the Colts with a 60-yarder in 2006.

Jaylen Harrell: The seventh-round rookie out of Michigan got a big review from Callahan before the Titans’ first preseason game. The coach said Harrell could be a three-down outside linebacker. 

They need one less now that Arden Key won the appeal of his pending six-game suspension, per Jeffery Simmons. But there is room for Harrell in the rotation and on special teams. 

He got to the quarterback for two sacks against Seattle as he continued to impress.

Harrell said he didn’t make the mistake of hesitating on his first good chance.

“I go power but I’m not really a power guy,” he said. “I didn’t really get to my freaky stuff.”

He’s not saving his freaky stuff, though. He said he won’t hesitate to use it in the preseason finale in New Orleans if the tackle he faces opens himself up for it.
 
O-line issues: Bill Callahan’s film review session won't be fun for the guys who played.

The line accounted for five of the team’s 10 penalties for 40 of the 90 yards. 

John Ojukwu had a false start and a hold.

Jaelyn Duncan had a false start.

Geron Christian was called for clipping.

Andrew Rupcich was called for a false start and had a holding penalty declined.

"The false start is completely on me,” Rupcich said. “I misread the cadence. I’ve got to be able to remember it when I get up to the line and just not jump. The holding, the ref said I essentially didn’t let go quick enough. I had a zero handle, he felt him get away from me, I let go, he said it just wasn’t quick enough.”

Said Brian Callahan: "That wasn't very clean on our offensive line up front. Things to take a look at, hand placement, things like that. But yeah, five penalties and having one declined, that's not great."

Some of the linemen who played may be serviceable backups under Bill Callahan, who's sure to express some serious disappointment in the penalties when they gather to review the game. As a unit, they didn't fare great.

Malik Willis was sacked twice, and one he could have found a quick outlet on, while Mason Rudolph went down once. The Titans ran for 116 yards with a 3.5-yard average.

Receiver review: Callahan said not to read into the fact that Treylon Burks didn’t play and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine did.

"Different guys, different situations," he said. "Different positions too."

NWI scored the Titans’ lone touchdown, catching a pass from Mason Rudolph and showing physicality during the run to complete a 15-yard score.

Kyle Philips didn’t play because of a hamstring injury. Mason Kinsey broke a pinky, per Turron Davenport, though he returned to play. Kearis Jackson suffered a knee injury Callahan said shouldn’t be serious.

Among the crowd vying for receiver spots who are primarily slot guys behind Tyler Boyd, Jha’Quan Jackson built on a solid showing from two joint practices against the Seahawks.

Jackson led all receivers with four catches for 57 yards and made a very nice catch of a ball from Willis for a 24-yard gain after which he immediately got popped by cornerback Carlton Johnson.

“Good blocking by the O-line, good job by the quarterback delivering the ball,” Jackson said. “I’m here to make plays and I’m grateful to catch the ball and put us in great field position. They played cover three and the corner fell off and my goal was just looking at the ball. Anything happens, I’m a receiver so I’ve got to catch the ball whether I get hit in the back or no matter where I get hit.”

Key’s appeal win: Callahan declined to say anything about Simmons’ Tweet announcing that Key won his appeal of the six-game PED he faced. As they left the locker room both Key and Simmons declined to talk.

I did speak to Rashad Weaver about it.

Running backs: Julius Chestnut worked ahead of Hassan Haskins as the two continue to battle for the third running back spot.

Chestnut finished with 13 carries for 45 yards and two catches for 29 more. Haskins had five carries for 13 yards.

"I think Julius has played well for himself, he's put himself out there," Callahan said. "Played well overall, done all the things we ask the running back to do. So, he got the first carries, and then I think Jabari Small's played really well too.

"We've got some competition there, and I think that those guys have played probably a little bit better than Hassan at this point. Obviously, Hassan is a special teams' demon and that matters too. So, that competition is ongoing. We've got another week to go."

Small had seven attempts for 13 yards, the worst night of everyone, though he tied Jackson with four catches, which he took 24 yards.

Love the candor of the coach, willing to say the obvious out loud.

Willis: Malik Willis was OK, better in the second half than in the first. 

But he didn't look as good in the game as he has in his best practice work.

His high pass for David Martin-Robinson late in the game "could have lost the game for us at that moment," Callahan said. 

Said Willis: "I think there was a lot to learn from, especially in the first half, understanding if we're having issues with picking up some of the twist games I just need to be able to get the ball out quicker and not get so stuck in staying to my read. Just getting the ball out and making sure we are staying on schedule. We've just got to fight the penalties. That comes with the preseason, that comes with guys rotating in and out."

He was 12 for 16 for 116 yards with the pick for a 68.8 rating while Mason Rudolph's 10-for-17 for 125 yards with a TD produced a 101.3.