NASHVILLE – The Titans started the preseason on Saturday night with a 17-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Here’s a look at six things that stood out in the competition:
1-2 hit in the running game
The Titans look different without Derrick Henry in the backfield. On Saturday night, the team took the field without its workhorse of seasons past as the tide officially turned. However, I thought the tandem of Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears looked good against the 49ers, and the Titans hope that’s a sign of things to come. Pollard carried the ball four times for 35 yards in the game (8.8 yards per play) and Spears scored a nifty four-yard touchdown run in the second quarter when he bounced outside and found the end zone. “He was a great brother to work with,” Spears said of Pollard. “We’re still working and still have a lot of things to get right. But we’re off to a great start.”
Levis debut and its big hit
Titans quarterback Will Levis got a chance to show his progress in the season opener, and he played long enough to make a few plays. Levis completed 4 of 5 passes for 35 yards, including a 22-yard toss to receiver Calvin Ridley. Levis also managed to find the end zone. Before that scoring run: Levis was hit hard by 49ers linebacker Dee Winters on another run while trying to score. My take: Levis has to pick his battles as a runner because the last thing the Titans want is Levis getting injured in the preseason. Levis was pleased with the first-team performance, but admitted he got some free advice from others after the hit. “Some people told me: It’s preseason, get your act together,” Levis said. “I tried to make a difference, but I need to be smarter.”
Calvin Ridley’s explosiveness
Ridley didn’t play much in his preseason debut, but he was around long enough to show why the Titans signed him as a free agent. Ridley caught a short pass from Levis through the middle and escaped pursuit to run 22 yards for a first down, showing off his quickness. Ridley has shined in training camp, and Titans fans got a little taste of what’s to come Saturday night. “We tried to get the ball to Calvin two or three times,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said. “It was good to just get Calvin going and you see how explosive he can be with the ball in his hands.”
