Unpredictable opener
Titans, Dolphins both have plenty of new parts for 2018
MIAMI — It’s easy to wonder which quarterback will make the biggest impact in today’s season opener between the Tennessee Titans and the host Miami Dolphins.
Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill?
Titans starter Marcus Mariota?
Luke Falk?
Yes, Falk — a fourth-string rookie and sixth-round draft pick out of Washington State who won’t even play in this game — has altered preparations by both teams. Miami signed him last week after he was released by Tennessee on roster cutdown day, and the Dolphins undoubtedly picked his brain about the Titans’ scheme under rookie coach Mike Vrabel, the former New England Patriots linebacker and Houston Texans assistant.
It all adds lends another layer of unpredictability to the opener.
Tannehill returns after missing the Dolphins’ past 20 games, though he said he’ll be ready rather than rusty. He’s coming off reconstructive knee surgery that wiped out his entire 2017 season, and says he never doubted he would be ready for the 2018 opener.
“I always felt confident that this would be where we ended up,” he said. “It’s finally here, and I’m ready to go.”
While Tannehill has never played in the postseason, counterpart Mariota is trying to become the first quarterback to lead the Titans to the playoffs in back-to-back years since Steve McNair (2002, ’03).
That will require proving wrong the oddsmakers who have predicted Tennessee will win eight games this season. Miami, led by third-year coach Adam Gase, is widely projected to repeat last year’s 6-10 record.
While Falk will be able to provide the Dolphins some insight for the matchup, Vrabel said it could have been worse.
The Titans’ new coach wanted to install the entire offense during training camp, but offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur — mindful the team would have to waive some players — talked him out of it.
“He wanted to hold some stuff,” Vrabel said. “I said, ‘OK, I’ll defer to you on this one.’ As it turns out, he was kind of right. There’ll be some things that I’m sure Luke can give them. But then again, I am glad that Matt was adamant about holding some stuff until cutdown day. I think he had been burned by some of that stuff in the past.”
The Dolphins kept some of their playbook under wraps during the preseason, too. They’re expected to have packages for veteran wide receiver Albert Wilson, an offseason addition, and rookie tight end Mike Gesicki that they didn’t show in exhibition games.
“There were a few plays going into week three that Gase wanted to run,” Tannehill said with a smile. “I said, ‘Hey, those are great plays. Let’s save those.’ We have some things that we haven’t shown that we’re excited about.”
Frank Gore will make his Dolphins debut, too, and at age 35, the NFL’s active career rushing leader is thrilled to return to southern Florida, where he was born and raised and starred for the University of Miami Hurricanes.
Gore will play in his 113th consecutive game, and he needs 76 yards to become the fourth-leading rusher in league history.
Miami and Tennessee added former Patriots teammates during the offseason. Receiver Danny Amendola joined the Dolphins, while the Titans acquired cornerback Malcolm Butler. The Titans’ other starting cornerback, Logan Ryan, is another Amendola friend and former Patriots teammate.
Tennessee’s secondary also includes All-Pro safety Kevin Byard and cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, who started every game as a rookie last year.
“We’re super excited to see what we’ve got,” Ryan said. “It’s the most excited I’ve been to start a season off.”
The Titans have won five consecutive road openers, the NFL’s longest such streak. Three of those came in season openers as well. The streak includes three coaches, and three of the victories came by 16 or more points, including last year’s 37-16 victory at Jacksonville in the second week.
“The mindset is to win,” Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo said. “I mean, it’s point blank, period, win. Win ballgames. Take it week by week and win, no matter if it’s 50-49 or 3-0.”
“The mindset is to win. I mean, it’s point blank, period, win. Win ballgames. Take it week by week and win, no matter if it’s 50-49 or 3-0.”
– TITANS LINEBACKER BRIAN ORAKPO