It is no secret that Brian Callahan will call offensive plays in his first year as Tennessee Titans head coach. Fans got a chance to see what the operation looked like for the first time in Saturday’s preseason 17-13 win for Tennessee over the visiting San Francisco 49ers.
It was the first exhibition for both teams of the year.
Firsts for Brian Callahan and his Titans Coordinators
“I was critical of the operation for the first time,” Callahan said on Sunday. I think there was plenty of things that, communication wise between me and our game management folks and special teams and some things that are minor that, that are worth cleaning up, I think on a communication perspective. Felt good calling plays. It’s a lot of fun. Really enjoyed it.
“I thought I did a pretty good job of making sure we got the plays in on time. We didn’t really have any—I think I had one or two kind of late-on-the-play-clock plays. I try to avoid that as best I could. Let those quarterbacks play, don’t have to worry about the clock too much. I thought it was a good first outing. Everybody that’s out there for the first time, Dennard (Wilson), me, Colt (Anderson), I think we all had enough nerves too, just the first time doing it. So, it was good to get one under our belt. I feel a lot better now than I did 24 hours ago.”
Tennessee’s first-team offense sans DeAndre Hopkins (knee strain) played two series against San Francisco . Both drives ended in touchdowns.
In total, the Titans out-gained the Niners in net yardage 336 to 286, picked up 19 first downs and converted on 53% of their third downs (9-of-17). Wilson’s defense did surrender an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive on San Francisco’s opening possession. Tennessee held their opponent to 67 yards rushing and sealed the victory with a Chance Campbell interception with one second remaining in the fourth quarter.
Offensive coordinator Nick Holz provided Callahan with an extra set of eyes from above in the coaches’ box while Callahan ran things from the sideline.
14 plays to get 14 points is a result Tennessee fans can be satisfied with as they prepare to host the Seattle Seahawks for a week of joint training camp practices in Nashville ahead of Preseason Game No. 2.
Yeah, it’s a huge benefit,” said Callahan of Holz’s vantage point. “You see the game so much different upstairs. It’s a 30,000-foot view, if you will, and it’s really helpful for that information coming down from upstairs, you can see more. I have a better feel on the field for body language and rotations, those things that I saw pretty well there in the game. But, just having another set of eyes upstairs that can help recommend plays and give you some more information on what’s happening is super helpful, which is the role that I played in Cincinnati for all those years.”
The Titans return to action at Nissan Stadium against Seattle on August 17. Watch/listen to Titans Radio’s pregame coverage starting at 3pm CT on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.
