NASHVILLE Jeremy Kerley Jersey , Tenn. (AP) — Mike Vrabel knows any improvement this year on defense for the Tennessee Titans starts with how they finish games.
Not giving up an average of 8 ½ points in the fourth quarter would be a big step forward.
“We’re going to do a better job of finishing games and understanding that’s when you have to be at your best is late in those games,” the Titans first-year coach said. “And whether it’s offensively there was a turnover or what you have you, but if you look at the numbers 8 ½ points in the fourth quarter.”
The Titans finished 9-7 last season, not good enough even with a playoff victory to save Mike Mularkey’s job . Getting the most out of quarterback Marcus Mariota prompted the coaching change, but the Titans have plenty of room for improvement on defense where Vrabel’s 14 years’ experience as a linebacker and four years as an assistant coach in the NFL should pay dividends.
Vrabel looked at what Tennessee did last season and liked how the Titans ranked fourth in the NFL against the run giving up just 88.8 yards per game. Yes, that’s something where he wants them to be better too. They also tied for fifth with 43 sacks. All-Pro safety Kevin Byard led the league with 10 total takeaways.
But the Titans finished 17th in points allowed, giving up an average of 21.7 points per game. Tennessee struggled in fourth quarters, giving up 138 fourth-quarter points.
“Just going out there and finishing the games,” cornerback Adoree Jackson said. “Some games we start off strong, sometimes in the second half points got put on us and it was a battle going through. For us, keep pushing, fighting and everyone says, ‘Keep the pedal to the metal.'”
Vrabel lured Dean Peas out of retirement to be his defensive coordinator, replacing Dick LeBeau. Peas quickly won over the Titans with his plans to switch up the defensive fronts with the possibility of flipping outside linebackers Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan to chase quarterbacks Authentic Mike Cammalleri Jersey , and Orakpo loves what Peas wants to do.
“It’s attack-attack-attack,” Orakpo said. “That’s what it’s all about. You’re going to see all kinds of different packages. I’m not giving away nothing right now, but man, we’ve got a lot in store to free up a lot of guys, get some good matchups, flip-flop here and there, just all kinds of different things. I’m excited about this defense.”
The Titans also bolstered the defense by signing cornerback Malcolm Butler , who’s been installed as a starter opposite his former Patriots’ teammate Logan Ryan, and drafting linebackers Rashaan Evans and Harold Landry . Evans has missed most of the preseason with an undisclosed injury, but Landry has taken advantage of a shoulder injury sidelining Orakpo since the second day of training camp to get plenty of work.
Two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan has been giving Landry tips throughout the preseason. Morgan, who’s also been helping Landry, likes what he sees in how the Titans will be able to attack opponents.
“You always want to attack on defense and in an intelligent way,” Morgan said. “We have a lot of different things that we can do schematic-wise. They do a good job of putting us in the right position to be successful.”
NOTES: Butler, Morgan and TE Delanie Walker did not practice for a fourth straight day with undisclosed injuries. Both missed last week’s game against Tampa Bay. Orakpo (shoulder) Alex Ovechkin Jersey Kids , Evans, S Kendrick Lewis and WR Michael Campanaro also did not practice Thursday. WR Rishard Matthews ran routes and caught passes before practice, appearing closer to being removed from the physically unable to perform list.
Aaron Hicks hit three home runs and the New York Yankees pummeled David Price again, connecting five times in the first four innings Sunday night on the way to an 11-1 rout of the Boston Red Sox.
Luis Severino became the first 13-game winner in the majors, cruising through 6 2/3 shutout innings of two-hit ball after the Bronx Bombers quickly built him a big cushion. With the teams trading blowouts all weekend, the Yankees (54-27) took two of three from their longtime rivals to regain baseball’s best record and first place in the AL East.
Batting leadoff against a left-hander, Hicks homered twice from the right side of the plate and once from the left. He smacked a two-run shot to right field in the second inning and a solo drive to center in the fourth that chased Price (9-6) and made it 8-0.
Hicks pulled his 14th of the season into the right-field stands in the eighth off Hector Velazquez. It was the first three-homer game by a Yankees player since Alex Rodriguez, part of the ESPN broadcast team Sunday night, accomplished the feat at Minnesota in July 2015.
CUBS 11, TWINS 10
CHICAGO (AP) – Jon Lester hit a three-run homer in an eight-run second inning and wound up with his NL-leading 11th victory.
Ian Happ also homered for the Cubs. They have scored at least 10 runs in four straight games for the first time since 1930. Chicago swept the three-game series and has won four in a row overall.
Lester (11-2) allowed four runs, two of them earned, and nine hits in five-plus innings.
Javier Baez, who doubled twice, Happ and Willson Contreras each had three hits.
Mitch Garver hit a two-run homer off reliever Dillon Maples in the Twins’ five-run eighth.
Cubs closer Brandon Morrow got one out in the eighth and pitched a scoreless ninth for his 18th save in 19 chances. Lance Lynn (5-7) was the loser.
Brian Dozier hit a two-run homer and Jake Cave also homered for the Twins.
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Blake Snell struck out 10, reliever Diego Castillo fanned Jose Altuve in a key spot and Tampa Bay beat Houston to end a homestand.
The Rays went 8-1 at Tropicana Field, taking three of four from the World Series champion Astros, sweeping three from the New York Yankees and winning both games against Washington. Tampa Bay set a team record by allowing no more than two runs in its sixth straight game.
Matt Duffy hit a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning that put the Rays ahead 2-1 and Mallex Smith homered in the eighth. Evan Gattis homered twice for Houston.
Snell (11-4) allowed one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings.
Charlie Morton (10-2) struck out 11 in 6 2/3 innings.
DODGERS 6, ROCKIES 4
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Matt Kemp had three hits and drove in four runs, including a go-ahead homer leading off the eighth inning that rallied Los Angeles past Colorado to prevent a sweep.
Kemp sent his 14th homer of the season over the center-field wall off Adam Ottavino (4-2) to put Los Angeles ahead 5-4. It was the Dodgers’ first homer of July after they hit a major league-leading and franchise-record 55 in June.
One out later, Yasiel Puig doubled and Joc Pederson followed and reached on an infield single to second. Puig ran hard into third and hopped back and forth before taking off for the plate, sliding belly first. He got up and swung his arms in wild celebration with the Dodgers ahead 6-4.
Kemp drove in the Dodgers’ first three runs with an RBI groundout in the first, a double in the third and a single in the fifth.
Daniel Hudson (3-2) went one inning. Kenley Jansen pitched a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.
Nolan Arenado hit his 21st homer and had an RBI grounder for the Rockies.
GIANTS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 6
PHOENIX (AP) – Brandon Belt and Joe Panik drove in two runs each and Hunter Pence had a pinch-hit, two-run double, leading San Francisco to a series sweep against Arizona.
The Giants had 11 hits in the first five innings and cruised to their seventh win in eight games.
A four-run fifth inning highlighted by Pence’s double off reliever Silvino Bracho gave the Giants an 8-3 lead. Cory Gearrin (1-1) got one out in the fourth to earn the win in relief of starter Derek Holland.
The Giants tagged Diamondbacks starter Zack Godley (9-6) for seven runs on nine hits in four-plus innings Pat O'Donnell Jersey , ending his four-game winning streak.
Arizona rallied with two runs in the seventh on Paul Goldschmidt’s 18th home run of the season, and Jarrod Dyson became the eighth player in team history to record at least two hits, two runs batted in and two stolen bases in a single game. The Diamondbacks brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth with two outs, but Will Smith struck out Jake Lamb for Smith’s second save.
ORIOLES 8, ANGELS 2
BALTIMORE (AP) – Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo hit consecutive homers after the Angels lost a popup in the sun, and Baltimore beat Los Angeles to end a seven-game losing streak.
After the Orioles took charge with a six-run fourth inning, Trumbo homered again in the fifth and Trey Mancini also connected to help Baltimore secure its only victory during a seven-game homestand that began with four straight losses to Seattle. The Orioles improved to 1-15 against the AL West and won at home for only the second time in 19 games since May 13.
Kevin Gausman (4-6) weathered temperatures in the upper 90s to go eight innings, allowing two runs and six hits to end a run of eight straight winless starts.
Kole Calhoun homered and Albert Pujols drove in a run for the Angels.
Deck McGuire (0-1) was the loser.
MARINERS 1, ROYALS 0
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