1 of 3 | Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said his players have a history of success, but must "prove it" on the field again in 2021. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI |
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MIAMI, June 28 (UPI) -- The Tennessee Titans might be the most versatile offense in the NFL, thanks to the acquisition of Julio Jones. Coach Mike Vrabel says he is confident in his players' experience, but wants to watch them "prove it" in 2021.
Jones is a proven talent, and it shouldn't take long for the 6-foot-3 playmaker to make an impact on the offense. The two-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection missed seven games in 2020 due to injury, but remains one of the best wide receivers in the NFL.
Jones joined the Titans earlier this month in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons. He should fit in nicely opposite Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Brown. Defenses must pay respect to the outside playmakers while they keep an eye on All-Pro running back Derrick Henry, one of the hardest runners in the league.
"I won't touch on [Jones'] motivation level because I think that's something that Julio will do a better job of explaining," Vrabel told UPI on Wednesday during a conference call for the American Century Championship golf tournament. "I will talk on his attitude, though.
"It has been phenomenal since we first began conversations with him and with the Falcons down there as we started to work things out. It has been fantastic."
Vrabel said he explained the team's expectations -- to win a Super Bowl -- to Jones during the trade process. Jones went on to attend the Titans' voluntary workouts and is expected to attend training camp.
"Since he has been here, he's communicated, which I think is one of the biggest things I've learned about trying to create a culture on a football team or what the expectations are. It's about being able to communicate and share what your plans are, what your feelings are and how you want to go about doing things," Vrabel said.
Vrabel was hired in 2018. He has a 29-19 regular-season record and is 2-2 in the playoffs in three years as Titans coach. The Titans ranked No. 2 in the NFL in rushing in 2020 and ranked inside the Top 6 in rushing for the last three seasons.
The passing offense, led by quarterback Ryan Tannehill, has ranked inside the Top 10 in touchdowns over the last two seasons, but outside of the Top 20 in passing yards for three-consecutive years. The addition of Jones should improve on that passing yardage and free up space for Henry inside the box.
"At the end of the day, I believe in me," Jones told reporters earlier this month at his introductory news conference. "I know what I have in the tank. And, we are talking about age 32. I'm young. In football, you can say it's old, but you either do it or you don't.
"I am still fast. I am still strong. I'll be ready to go."
Jones' resume and the Titans' past success indicates that the offense could be special in 2021, but health, chemistry and other factors will weigh into how quickly the new addition equates to production.
"It's not about how the training camp or spring training went. It's can you withstand the long haul and ups and downs and the grinding football season?" Vrabel asked rhetorically.
"I think we have pieces that we're confident in, proven pieces in this league, but the great thing about athletics is you have to go out there and prove it between the lines.
"It doesn't matter whether you're a first-round pick or free agent. It doesn't matter what they pay you. You have to go out there and prove it. It's what we're excited to be able to do in July, start that process."
Titans training camp starts July 27 in Nashville. The Titans face Jones' former team, the Falcons, in their first preseason game at 7 p.m. EDT Aug. 13 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.