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Titans’ penalty woes and sacks plague rookie QB Cam Ward in residence opener loss
Titans’ penalty woes and sacks plague rookie QB Cam Ward in residence opener loss
In different phrases, they proceed being their very own worst enemy with an 0-2 begin.
Cam Ward, the No. 1 total draft decide, is paying the bodily value of these errors. He was sacked 5 instances and stripped of the ball on one Sunday because the Titans misplaced their residence opener 33-19 to the Los Angeles Rams.
“We simply obtained to cease taking pictures ourselves within the foot,” Ward said. “My turnover, penalties value us all through the sport either side of the ball. We’ve simply obtained to lock in.”
The Titans piled up 4 penalties within the seven performs after the opening kickoff and completed with 10 for 62 yards — not counting two that have been declined. That’s after being flagged 13 instances for 131 yards of their season-opening loss in Denver.
“It’s not difficult for my part,” left guard Peter Skoronski stated. “We can’t have them, particularly pre-snap with the false begins. We can’t do it. We’ve obtained to be disciplined. There’s not tips or something to not having them. We’ve simply obtained to be disciplined and don’t try this. It’s fairly easy.”
Coach Brian Callahan spent the offseason attempting to get his Titans to cease hurting themselves with the penalties they will management. Through two video games, they continue to be an issue he stated they need to get fastened.
“Just issues which can be irritating, very irritating to be in that spot,” Callahan stated. “It’s clearly one thing that we had an issue with final yr. It was an issue earlier than. It’s nonetheless an issue, and we’re attempting like hell to get it fastened. So far, we haven’t been profitable doing that.”
The Titans had a few false begins by proper deal with John Ojukwu, beginning instead of JC Latham. Veteran proper guard Kevin Zeitler was flagged for being an ineligible receiver downfield on the second offensive play, wiping out a primary down catch by Chimere Dike.
A defensive offside. A holding penalty on a kickoff return.
The costliest penalty got here on a late flag for a blindside block by linebacker Cedric Gray, which worn out a 57-yard punt return for a landing by Dike.
“I suppose they stated that I led with my shoulder,” Gray stated. “I believed I led with my arms, however I simply need to eat it, need to be a bit bit smarter in that scenario subsequent time.”
The sacks are extra harmful to a franchise attempting to rebuild with a rookie quarterback. The Titans gave up six sacks to the NFL’s prime go dashing workforce within the opener, and so they almost matched that Sunday. It did not assist that proper deal with JC Latham was out with a strained hip.
Ward confirmed indicators of progress, scrambling away from a go rusher, throwing again to the left to fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor for his or her first NFL landing within the second quarter. Ward additionally took what he may get below strain, scrambling up the center to present Joey Slye a greater distance to kick.
The rookie’s one fumble changed into a landing when the Titans trailed solely 20-16 early within the fourth quarter.
Ayomanor, who stated the ball for his TD would go to Ward, stated the quarterback’s constant character helps the rookie and the remainder of the Titans.
“Everybody’s going to make a foul play,” Ayomanor stated. “But the factor that’s very distinctive about Cam is he makes a foul play and that’s it, he has a really short-term reminiscence.”
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