Why Titans Coach Mike Vrabel Wanted to Take On the Minnesota Vikings

The Tennessee Titans begin joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday and Mike Vrabel decided to have these practices for some specific reasons.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans are doing things differently this week. Instead of the standard training camp practices they've been having in Nashville, the Titans have gone north to Minnesota for a few days to practice with the Vikings.

There will be two joint practices on Wednesday and Thursday leading up to a preseason game between the two teams on Saturday night at 7 p.m. CT. Spending that much of your preseason time with another team can be risky if they aren't a good match.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel has carefully considered the pairings he's chosen through the years, and it sounds like he did his homework on the Vikings. He had very specific reasons for choosing them as one of his preseason companions.

"I think they've got good skill players," Vrabel said while detailing his thoughts on the Vikings. "I think that is something that can help us. Defensively, that (they're) multiple with B-Flow (Brian Flores, Vikings defensive coordinator), Kirk (Cousins) has always done a fantastic job at the end of the game, situationally. I felt like just a lot of those factors that could help us. We do those all those things, we do situations and I thought it would be a great opportunity for us."

Based on some of the noise out of Vikings camp, Flores should be a great challenge for the Titans offense. Flores is known to bring the pressure and make quarterbacks uncomfortable. Speaking of quarterbacks, Cousins is one of the most-jeered players in the NFL, but he does have a track record of production and wins. 

He'll be throwing to the NFL's leader in receiving yards and catchers in wide receiver just Jefferson, a tough task for any team, but good preparation certainly. 

The reasons Vrabel preferred the Vikings are interesting enough, but Vrabel also gave us a window into how the process works behind the scenes outside of the football details. 

"They (NFL) give you some leeway, as far as saying 'we'd like to have this game and schedule this game. So you kind of look, and it starts with the other teams. What are the restrictions you have? Do you have to be away because you have an advantage, or your stadium or whatever is going on?

"You look at availability, you look at teams that you'd feel like you'd work with, maybe don't play and that you'd want to practice against. You start working through when that would be and what time the game is and then work back. You start with maybe three or four teams, five teams and ended up with one or two that you end up practicing and playing."

The NFL letting teams coordinate their preseason games in any small way is pretty interesting to hear. Navigating all of the logistical issues like the restrictions Vrabel mentioned while also making sure the team is a football-fit cannot be an easy task.

Vrabel has seemingly found the right matches for his team though. Not only with the Vikings, but next week when the Titans will have joint practices with the New England Patriots in Nashville, their final preseason opponent as well. 

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• TOUGHEST VIKINGS MATCHUPS: The Tennessee Titans take on the Minnesota Vikings this week in joint practices and a preseason game. The Vikings have a few matchups that could present a tremendous challenge for the Titans and those areas deserve our attention. CLICK HERE
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