Facing high winds and heavy rain, Robert Saleh’s squad is simulating soaked conditions at practice to overcome a depleted Giants roster in a gritty Week 3 battle.
The Tennessee Titans are heading on the road to face the New York Giants in Week 3.
The Giants will be without starting quarterback Jaxson Dart, who is feared to have suffered a season-ending knee injury on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams.
Brian Burns (ankle), Deonte Banks (calf) and Tyler Nubin (calf) are all questionable. Andrew Thomas (groin) was limited on Wednesday and didn't practice the last two days, but is active for the game.
The Titans are dealing with injuries too. Cornerback Cor'Dale Flott (quad) and running back Tyjae Spears (ankle) are both questionable for the game. Flott is still recovering from his quad injury sustained last week, and Spears went on the injury report with ankle soreness after the Week 2 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
On top of the injuries both teams are carrying with them into the game, it sounds like the weather isn't going to cooperate either. The forecast for the game included rain and temperatures in the low 60s.
The wind is going to be factor, with predictions of gusts up to 41 mph. There's a 90% chance of precipitation.
Robert Saleh wants to make sure his team is prepared for whatever Sunday throws at them. He was asked whether the Titans had been simulating rainy-game conditions at practice.
The head coach revealed at Friday's press conference that the team has been playing with a wet football at practice this week. Even though the weather in Nashville was great on Friday, Saleh is getting the team ready for New Jersey.
"We do wet ball," Saleh said. "Unfortunately, it's very sunny and nice. No wind here, but no, we'll dump the balls in water and practice with a wet ball today."
When asked whether he'll change how the Titans call plays, Saleh said it will come down to what the team decides in the pregame.
"For sure, there's going to be direction, a prevailing wind," Saleh said. "Even though it might be swirling up to, there is a prevailing wind in terms of what the kicker's feeling. He usually has the best feel when you're talking pregame. Quarterback will also have a feel or not, like where he's driving the ball and what it looks like. Whether it's going right to left, north and south, and all that stuff. So, all that stuff will be communicated pregame. And then from there, you decide the coin toss, and you start. Daboll's been calling it forever, so he'll know exactly how to pivot in the last second. And then obviously, the kicker knowing how to get the ball off. We'll know what his demarcation lines are both going into and away. So, all that stuff will happen pregame."
The weather could definitely affect how the Titans decide to run the offense. Typically, teams like to run the ball more when the weather is uncooperative, as it's expected to be at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
This could mean a higher percentage of running plays for the Titans in Week 3.
The running back room could look a little different on Sunday. Tony Pollard recovered from his ankle issues over the week, but Tyjae Spears is questionable for the game.
Nicholas Singleton and Julius Chestnut may see more touches in the backfield as a result. We could see a very rainy environment in Week 3, and it'll be interesting to see how the Titans approach it.
Time will tell as the Titans face the Giants at noon CT on Sunday via CBS.
