Wrap up of Mike Vrabel's first press conference for the Titans
Here are five of the most interesting quotes from new Titans coach Mike Vrabel:
He'll call all the shots
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"I have all say-so. I'm the head coach and I can call whatever play I want. If I say we're going to block a punt, we're going to block a punt. If I say we're going to throw it deep and take a shot, we're going to take a shot. My job is to accept responsibility and give credit."
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Exotic smashmouth lives on?
"We're going to run the football and do it a few different ways. We're going to run it from different backfield alignments. We're not going to run it into eight or nine guy (fronts). We're going to give Marcus (Mariota) some easy access throws. I believe in screens, I believe in play-action — things that Marcus he does well. He's averaged 17 or 18 yards a completion in play-action. Marcus is going to run the ball, but we never want to put him in harm's way. We don't want to sit there and run him for the sake of running him. But we will make sure people know he's back there."
Who says the NFL doesn't have a farm system?
Mike Vrabel remarked on how college football is the NFL's farm system at his press conference Michael Schwab
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"The NFL has the greatest farm system in the world. We pay (college coaches) $10 million to be our farm system. Nick Saban is our farm system. Urban Meyer is our farm system. That's where the game is at. You have to try to be creative with what you're doing. You have to cause conflict. That's what college coaches are doing. They're taking great athletes and putting them in good positions to succeed."
Versatility is a must
"Unless you're the quarterback, you better come in here prepared to play more than one position. We're going to pick guys that can help us at more than one position. I know (defensive end) Jurrell Casey has some experience catching passes. He could be one we would use."
On putting together his staff
"I don't want to put a timetable on hiring a staff because I want to hire the right guys, the best guys. We're not going to rush into any decisions. Whether that's (former Ole Miss coach) Hugh Freeze or anyone else ... It's not fair for me to mention anybody by name at this point."
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