Training camp is winding to an end, and the Tennessee Titans are looking like it.
The team took the field at Vanderbilt Health Football Center on Aug. 25 for what'll function as the last true training camp practice of the summer. Sure, the Titans
will practice again on Aug. 27, but that'll be a joint session with the Chicago Bears. Then, following a preseason game on Aug. 29, it's time for roster cut down day on Aug. 30.That means when the Titans take the field by themselves next, it'll be as a much smaller unit, with more of a focus on preparation for the actual regular season.
For now, though, the Titans fought through a fairly lethargic practice for the offense, one where the defense capitalized with interceptions from top-level contributors
like cornerback Alontae Taylor, mid-tier contributors like safety Tony Adams and folks competing for bottom-of-the-roster jobs like CB Mario Goodrich III.
Most of the focus fell on red zone and two-minute drills, and other than one goal line touchdown pass from Cam Ward to Wan'Dale Robinson, there wasn't much to hang on to from the top-line offense.
Red zone practices usually favor offenses; it's easier to score from close up. But the clampdown from the defense does represent a modicum of growth. The Titans' defense struggled mightily in red zone drills against San Francisco a couple of weeks back, and has been wearing plenty of criticism for its performances in preseason games against the 49ers and Seahawks.
Seeing big performances from Taylor, who drew praise from defensive coordinator Gus Bradley before practice for starting to play like the cornerback they signed him to be this offseason, and the rest of the secondary in a small-range practice is an encouraging sign.
Still, the question of what the offense needs to improve remains. Prior to practice, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll talked at length about the ways the Titans will be able to capitalize more on intermediate and chunk plays that Ward has seemed to be off-aim on throughout camp. Ward found success on a few crossing routes to Robinson and Carnell Tate early in the practice before the drills shrunk the field, but couldn't recapture that magic when the offense couldn't advance the ball on a practice-ending two-minute drill.
The second-team offense, for what it's worth, had a little more success on the hurry-up drill. QB Mitchell Trubisky connected deep with tight end Kylen Granson up the seam to advance the ball into the red zone.
Worth noting: RB Nick Singleton returned to practice after missing the better part of two weeks. He wasn't limited and participated in team activities.
What's next? The Titans host the Bears for the final joint practice of the preseason on Aug. 27.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Big interceptions, slow Titans offensive performance at practice on Aug. 25
