Vrabel Stands By Late-Game Decisions

NASHVILLE – Suppose Mike Vrabel is kicking himself over the choice to accept a game-winning 47-yard yard discipline objective try Sunday?

Suppose once more.

Monday, the Tennessee Titans coach expressed full confidence in his staff’s strategy and execution after the New York Giants took a one-point lead with 1:09 to play in Sunday’s season-opener. The offense drove 36 yards to the New York 27 in 5 performs earlier than Ryan Tannehill took a knee (and gave up two yards) with a view to place the ball on the best hashmark after which spiked the ball to cease the clock with 4 seconds remaining.

The entire thing was for naught, although, when kicker Randy Bullock missed to the left, and the Titans got here up brief 21-20.

“I’ve mentioned that on the 25-yard line … we will kick the sphere objective,” Vrabel mentioned. “Now we have been on the 26 or 27.

“I am not upset in how that scenario occurred. I am upset {that a} man that we’ve got a whole lot of confidence in, missed. (Bullock) is upset, however he is made a whole lot of large kicks for us.”

Bullock made three game-winning kicks in 2021, his first season with Tennessee. The primary got here in his Titans’ debut, a 36-yarder in Week 2 at Seattle. He added one other in additional time at Indianapolis in Week 8 and was good from 44 yards with 4 seconds to play in opposition to San Francisco. That was nearly as many as he had in his first eight NFL seasons mixed (4).

Nonetheless, New York groups appear to deliver out the worst in him in these moments. He missed a 49-yard attempt on the finish of additional time in Week 3 that will have given the Titans a tie on the highway in opposition to the Jets. That one additionally missed to the left.

Towards the Giants, the ball was on the best hashmark as a result of that’s precisely the place Bullock needed it.

“I did not begin (the ball) far sufficient proper,” Bullock mentioned Sunday. “There’s somewhat proper to left [wind] once I acquired by means of it. Hit it exhausting, and it simply sort of moved on me.”

There’s a sense that Vrabel handed on a possibility to achieve floor and improve Bullock’s probabilities for fulfillment.

The Titans acquired to the 27-yard-line by way of a 21-yard reception by Kyle Philips, who ran out of bounds at stopped the clock on the finish of the play. Vrabel known as his ultimate timeout anyway relatively than maintain on to it, run one other play or two and use it then, if obligatory.

At that time, he believed the angle was extra essential than the space.

“That was me simply being very clear on the place we needed the soccer,” Vrabel mentioned. “Was it the left hash? Was it the best hash? This can be a game-winner. We wish to be sure that we’re on the identical web page. That was my choice.

“… Randy needed it on the best hash, so we put it on the best hash, acquired lined up, calmly clocked the ball after which sadly missed the kick.”

Plus, Bullock had made two different discipline objectives earlier within the recreation, together with one from 46 yards. So, confidence was excessive.

“Yeah, I felt nice about going into it,” he mentioned. “Sadly, it didn’t undergo. However I’ve had a very sturdy offseason, coaching camp, preseason, all the pieces. This one kick isn’t going to outline me.

“… I believe all people is saying, ‘You have made a whole lot of kicks right here and you may proceed to.’ I really feel the identical approach.”

And with time to replicate, Vrabel feels no in a different way about what led to that ultimate try then he did when it occurred.