My Two Cents: Ryan Tannehill Pleased With Late Life in Titans' Offense vs. Vikings

In some tough, windy conditions, Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill was pleased with the work his offense did late during their joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday. It was a good learning experience, he said, and he's excited to do it again on Thursday.

EAGAN, Minn. — The Tennessee Titans flew nearly 900 miles north and escaped the heat and humidity, at least for a few days. 

What they got instead was wind. And a lot of it. 

During the first of two joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings at their fabulous new complex, the wind blew 20-25 miles per hour for the full two hours on Wednesday, and it really gave the quarterbacks to test.

"It was blowing, but you've got to play in the elements, whatever it is,'' Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. "We've played in some wind games over the years. It's definitely not ideal to throw the football, but you've got to handle the elements because both teams are dealing with it, and it's whoever can play the game the best in those elements.

This was the first time the Titans have practiced against someone else this summer, and they'll do it again on Thursday. They did 7-on-7 work against each other, and a lot of feisty 11-on-11 battles in different scenarios.

The Titans struggled early, but finished with a flurry. The 35-year-old Tannehill was thrilled to see the offense clicking so well late in the practice, especially during the final two-minute drill, which the Titans dominated.

"We picked it up there at the end. I didn't feel like we came out with the right intensity early on,'' Tannehill said. "We didn't start the way we wanted to. ... They're giving us a bunch of looks that we haven't seen. There's no scout, so it's not like we're preparing for a team here like we would during the regular season.

''A bunch of different looks that we haven't seen before, but it's good work for us and we'll learn from it.''

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) and Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (25) chat after a joint practice in Eagan, Minn. on Wednesday. (Andrew Nellis/USA TODAY Sports)

Some drills were tougher than others in the elements, especially the one-on-one drills that didn't always turn out well.

''We were throwing in 30 mile an hour winds and in one-on-one coverage typically it's going to be a tight window anyway. They did a good job of covering us and we've got to try to be better with the ball, especially in the elements and playing in the wind and put it in a good spot. We weren't consistent enough. We hit some throws, but we missed some plays too, Overall, it was up and down.'' 

Tannehill didn't play in the first preseason game against Chicago last Saturday, so this work over two days is very important to him.

"It's an opportunity to come out and get better. We're seeing things we don't see against our own defense, seeing different styles of plays. We'll take a look at the tape and we'll learn from all of it. I've been a part of a lot of these over the years. You want to take advantage of it all, but you don't wan't to make too much of it either.''

The Titans got plenty of opportunities in the two-minute drill, because they got the ball back so quickly. Tennessee's defense had two straight interceptions on the second play of each Minnesota drive.

"We did some good things in that two-minute period at the end,'' Tannehill said. "The defense did a great job, obviously. They've been making it tough for us all camp, so it was nice to see them do it against somebody else.''

 The Titans hit some long bombs for scores throwing with the wind. Colton Dowell got open for a score, as did Treylon Burks, though he came up limping afterward and needed help getting to the training room.

"Yeah, it was a three-club wind out there for sure,'' Tannehill said, using a golf analogy. "But it was fun, and I feel like we got a lot of good things done.''

Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill meets with the media on Wednesday at the Minnesota Vikings' training facility in Eagen, Minn. (AllTitans.com photo by Tom Brew)

Related stories on Titans-Vikings practices

• TREYLON BURKS INJURED: Starting wide receiver Treylon Burks got hurt during 11-on-11 drills and needed a cart to get to the locker room after an apparent knee injury. Here's how it happened, and what players had to say about it. CLICK HERE
• TOUGHEST MATCHUPS FOR TITANS: The Tennessee Titans are practicing with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday and Thursday, and here are a few matchups that could present a challenge for the Titans. CLICK HERE
• TITANS WHO SHOULD DOMINATE: The Titans head to Minnesota this week to matchup with the Vikings and there are certain Titans players who should have a consistent advantage of their competition. CLICK HERE
• WHY PRACTICE WITH VIKINGS?: Titans coach Mike Vrabel explains out the practice matchup came about, giving several reasons why it will be beneficial for the Titans to work out with the Minnesota Vikings for a couple of days before their Saturday night preseason game. CLICK HERE
• MALIK WILLIS FILM ROOM: Tennessee Titans second-year quarterback Malik Willis made his preseason debut on Saturday against the Chicago Bears and there was a lot of good and bad on tape. CLICK HERE