The Tennessee Titans closed out mini-camp on Thursday morning with a short practice before players leave for their six-week vacation.
Here are some observations from today’s practice.
Kick, Pass and Punt
As a reward for the progress the team has made through the offseason, Head Coach Mike Mularkey gave his team the day off. But first, the players had to beat the coaches during a kick, pass and punt competition.
“Short practice,” said Mularkey. “A little competition to see who was going to practice or not practice or who had the day off tomorrow or who has to work tomorrow. Coaches are in and players are off.”
Offensive lineman Dennis Kelly kicked a 20-plus yard field goal to win the challenge. However, second-year tight end Jace Amaro kicked a 70-yard punt to set it up.
“Soccer just playing in high school, middle school and childhood. I just always had a knack for kicking the ball,” said Amaro on the kick. “I was actually supposed kick-off but Coach Mularkey switched it all up to make it difficult on us.”
Amaro said he hadn’t practiced punting hardly at all.
Conditioning, studying will be key
With almost six-weeks of time until training camp, Coach Mularkey wants his team to keep their focus. There cannot be a setback when training camp starts.
“I think a lot of these guys, the majority of our team is in very good shape,” said Mularkey on the break. “To play at the level we want to play at and we expect to play at, they need to be well conditioned as good as any team in the NFL.”
Mularkey said he’s seen an extra preparedness and lack of mental mistakes, but it has to continue its’ growth in the offseason.
“They’ve got their iPads,” said Mularkey. “They have film and installations. They just can’t walk away and come back in here and think we are going to continue improve as a team or as a player without looking at their stuff. Those are all of the messages at the end of practice.”
Day off is a sign of Mularkey’s confidence
After one-year in the same system and with many of the same players, imrpovement has been noted from the coaching staff and players. Throughout OTA’s and the entire offseason program, Coach Mularkey believes this year’s approach has been different.
“Not as many mistakes,” said Mularkey on the progress. “Obviously we are in the same system. It’s much crisper of practices than we’ve had and much fewer penalties than we’ve had in the past. We’ve average three penalties a practice . . . it was just much cleaner. Everything was very sharp and detailed. Everyone was locked in and we got a lot of work done.”
Following a 9-7 season and missing the playoffs by one game, the hard work and mature approach in the offseason is providing a new outlook going into the dead period.
“I feel confident and comfortable that they are walking away without the practice,” said Mularkey. “Because of the way they have approached practice and the work they’ve put in.”
The Titans will continue their offseason program when they report for training camp at the end of July.
