The Tennessee Titans got the win over the San Francisco 49ers, but the result didn’t hide the problem everybody could see: the secondary still isn’t close to where it needs to be.
Even with starters on the field against San Francisco’s backups, Tennessee looked shaky on both sides of the ball. The defensive backfield stood out for all the wrong reasons, especially in the first half when undrafted rookie quarterback Kurtis Rourke picked the unit apart.
After the game, Robert Saleh didn’t try to sugarcoat it.
"I'd love to tell you 'No concern' but definitely there is a sense of urgency with regards to making sure we get fixed and we continue to put our guys in those situations in practice so we can continue getting that work. But, we'll never panic, but urgency will always be high."
Rourke spent most of the first half working against Tennessee’s starting defense and made the most of the room he was given. He completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards and finished with a passer rating of 96.7. He wasn’t forced into anything flashy; he simply kept taking what the coverage allowed.
That’s where the Titans’ defensive approach becomes tricky. Saleh’s bend-don’t-break style asks defensive backs to stay on top of plays, surrendering short gains in exchange for limiting damage.
It can work, but only if the coverage is clean and the tackling holds up. Against the 49ers, neither part was sharp enough.
Tennessee has already spent heavily trying to solve this issue. Over the last few offseasons, the team has poured resources into the secondary, then added Cor'Dale Flott and Alontae Taylor this offseason to fill the two outside cornerback spots. The two veterans received a combined $103 million.
But the investment didn’t show up Thursday night. Flott and second-year cornerback Marcus Harris were both beat repeatedly, with multiple big plays slipping through in coverage. 49ers rookie De'Zhaun Stribling looked unstoppable at times, and Flott and Harris struggled to stay with him while also missing tackles after the catch.
If that doesn’t get cleaned up before the regular season, it could drag the entire defense down with it. The Titans have already committed the money. Now the pressure is on Saleh and his players to turn that spending into a functioning unit.
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Titans Linebacker Battle Just Put Unexpected Pressure On Cody Barton
The Titans entered training camp with Cedric Gray and Cody Barton positioned as the starting off-ball linebackers, but the first preseason game has already made that picture look less settled. Cody Barton had chances to make a clean early statement, and the staff had to notice when those opportunities came and went, especially with younger competition pressing from behind. What had seemed like a straightforward battle at linebacker has quickly turned into one of the more interesting evaluation points on the roster.
James Williams Sr. helped fuel that change with a strong opening showing, and rookie Anthony Hill Jr. also made enough noise to stay in the conversation as Tennessee keeps sorting through the depth chart. Robert Saleh and his staff have reasons to keep watching closely as the preseason continues, because the linebacker group now looks less like a pair of locked-in starters and more like a job still very much up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Already Have A Roster Problem They May Need To Solve Fast
The Titans went into camp hoping to sort out the swing tackle job, but the early signs have not been encouraging. Austin Deculus, signed to a one-year deal, was given a chance to make a case for the role against San Francisco in the preseason opener, and the performance did little to settle the competition. He and Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson have both spent time in the mix, but neither has put together the kind of steady showing that would let Tennessee feel comfortable about the depth behind the starters.
That leaves the Titans with a decision to make sooner rather than later, because the tackle spot is not one they can afford to leave unsettled. Deculus has shown enough issues in pass protection to raise concerns, and the overall inconsistency from both contenders suggests this may be a spot where the roster has to be adjusted outside the building. Free agency could become part of the conversation if Tennessee wants a more reliable answer before the season gets away from it. [Read more 🡒]