The Tennessee Titans ended their seven-month hiatus with a shaky preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers. While they managed to pull off a 19-13 victory, there weren't many things to be encouraged by in Santa Clara.
With such a young roster adjusting to a new coaching staff, there were bound to be some hiccups in the first preseason showing. But the Titans leave this game with more questions than answers.
With that in mind, here are two winners and three losers from Tennessee's first preseason game under head coach Robert Saleh.
Winners and losers from Titans' preseason opener
Winner: Joey Slye
It may have been a rocky day overall for the Titans, but kicker Joey Slye was a clear bright spot. He nailed all four of his field goals, including a 55-yard kick late in the first half. Both had plenty of power behind them and sailed straight through the middle of the goalposts. He kept it going in the second half, drilling another field goal from beyond 50 yards.
The Titans have held workouts with free agent kickers in recent weeks, including one with former Los Angeles Rams kicker Josh Karty. Slye was under pressure entering this game, but he quieted his critics.
Loser: Cody Barton
Cody Barton can't afford to miss out on big plays, as he's fending off James Williams Sr. and Anthony Hill Jr. in a position battle at linebacker. He had two opportunities to change the game in the early going, and he faltered on both.
The linebacker made a quick read in coverage, breaking underneath a route just as San Francisco quarterback Kurtis Rourke through the ball. He got his hands on it, but he dropped what could have been an interception. On the same drive, he missed a sack on Rourke, allowing the play to be extended.
Barton is still holding onto the second starting off-ball linebacker role, but he missed his chances to put position battle talks to rest.
Winner: Fernando Carmona
The ongoing battle for the starting right guard spot added a new wrinkle on Thursday night. While Cordell Volson was listed as the starter in the team's initial unofficial depth chart, it was Fernando Carmona taking the field for the entirety of the first half. When Volson took the field in the second half, he struggled to hold up in protection.
While the line as a whole offered a few too many pressures, Carmona looked solid as a run blocker. He seems to be gaining an edge over Volson.
Loser: Cam Ward
When he stayed within the rhythm of the offense, Ward was solid. He accessed different arm angles and set his players up to gain yards after the catch. But the second-year quarterback had too many chaotic plays for just three drives on the field.
Ward struggled when forced to move beyond his initial read. On his second drive, he haphazardly threw the ball while getting sacked, earning an intentional grounding call. The offensive line wasn't stellar in pass protection, but Ward didn't do much to help them out.
Loser: Titans secondary
The Titans' secondary, specifically starting cornerbacks Cor'Dale Flott and Marcus Harris, couldn't hold up against San Francisco's backup offense. On the first 49ers drive of the second quarter, both defensive backs got beaten in coverage multiple times.
Flott got beat by 49ers receiver De'Zhaun Stribling on a vertical route down the sideline, then immediately gave up another first down on a stop route. Harris then missed a tackle against Stribling on the sideline, allowing the rookie to pick up a first down in the red zone.
Saleh's defense seemed determined to limit explosive plays, instead allowing underneath passes. That style of defense can hold up, but the cornerbacks need to be able to trigger quickly and make tackles. Flott and Harris struggled to do so against the Niners.
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