By Terry McCormick, Correspondent

NASHVILLE — The party line regarding Vince Young and the Tennessee Titans offense after last week’s lackluster exhibition performance against Oakland was that they had done only a minimal amount of game-plan preparation.

After Young went 4-of-13 for 37 passing yards, this week’s plan against the Atlanta Falcons apparently will include at least a bit more scheming in what the Titans hope can iron out some of the offense’s rough spots.

“We have to execute. We don’t have a full-blown game plan going into this week,” Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. “We only have one day to prepare for them. I think we should see more production out of the offense overall, although they’re a much improved defense.”

Young said he likes where the Titans are and noted that only a small portion of the offense has been revealed in preseason — by design.

“I feel like we’re all right,” he said. “To everybody else, we’re probably not looking all right, but to this team, the things we’re working on and the things we’re trying to get done, and some of the things we’re trying to get done with our receivers on the outside, it’s going good.

“When we bring everything into the offense and we start game-planning guys and different things that we take with us ... you’ll understand where we’re coming from.”

So as the Titans look to Friday’s game in Atlanta, will preparing at least somewhat for the Falcons defense change anything?

“It can only help,” receiver Justin McCareins said. “To prepare a little more, getting used to preparing for a real opponent is only going to help us in the long run. We’ll study a little bit more film and get to know our opponents on defense.

“We know we have things to clean up, but we have to move past it and watch the tape and figure out what you can do personally and get back to work.”

Smashing hit

Some onlookers were taken aback by safety Michael Griffin’s hard hit on running back Omar Cuff at the end of a play in team drills. Griffin then threw his helmet toward the sideline and celebrated.

“There was nothing do it. I’m not trying to make it into a big ordeal,” Griffin said. “Running to the ball and hustling to the ball is something the coaches have been preaching to us. For this defense to be a top defense, you’ve got to hustle to the ball.”

Running backs can often expect contact from the first defender, but usually not so hard and 10 to 15 yards past the line of scrimmage.

“It’s been talked over, and the thing is you make the judgment call of is he trying to deliver a hit,” Griffin said of Cuff. “You’ve got to make a hard judgment. You’ve got to protect yourself, but you’ve also got to protect a teammate.

“It’s a hard judgment when somebody is running in the open field full speed and you’re running full speed and the first person there thuds and the second person tags off. I can’t tell if he was prepared for it or if he wasn’t.”

Cuff said the hit was unexpected, but he didn’t think it was a big deal.

“I broke down a little bit. It was kind of unexpected, but it didn’t faze me in the least,” Cuff said. “I got right back up and went back to the huddle. It was probably my error not being more ready for it.”

Fisher said he did not see the hit but did admonish Griffin for tossing his helmet afterward.

“That was having fun, just being me. But then again, you’ve got to be smart,” Griffin said. “You realize it’s practice and not a game. I would never do that in a game-type situation. I would never do nothing like that in a game.”

Another fight

Receiver Edward Williams and cornerback Cortland Finnegan briefly exchanged blows after becoming entangled during team drills.

Finnegan threw a haymaker, and Williams’ helmet was removed as he retaliated.

“I was trying to block him, and he was trying to get loose, and I still had him. He took a little shot, so I took a shot back. That’s all,” Williams said.

The fight came one day after a battle between center Kevin Mawae and defensive tackle Tony Brown.

Injury updates

Kicker Rob Bironas won’t play against the Falcons but has been kicking in the team’s practice bubble with a target return of Aug. 28 against Green Bay.

“He’s kicking now, and he’s right at that critical stage where you don’t want any setbacks,” Fisher said.

Others out for Friday’s game are linebacker Keith Bulluck (calf), cornerback Cary Williams (quad), tackle David Stewart (knee) and receiver Lavelle Hawkins (ankle).

Several other players missed practice Tuesday, including cornerback Chris Carr (shoulder), linebackers Colin Allred (bruised knee) and Josh Stamer (bruised foot), running back LenDale White (flu), safety Vincent Fuller (excused), defensive end Jevon Kearse (rest) and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (rest).

Roster move

The Titans signed defensive back Tuff Harris on Tuesday and waived backup punter Josh Miller.

E-mail Terry McCormick at sports@timesfreepress.com

Comments