The Tennessee Titans are set to kick off their preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night. The two teams already squared off in a heated joint practice on Tuesday. While the focus of the game will be on the impact made by young players like Cam Ward and Carnell Tate, it brings an early return to the Bay Area for Titans head coach Robert Saleh.
After two separate stints as the 49ers' defensive coordinator, Saleh is as familiar as anyone with Kyle Shanahan and his squad.
But this game isn't about a reunion. It's Saleh's first chance to prove that this era of Titans football will be different.
Robert Saleh faces his first Titans test in preseason opener vs. 49ers
The Titans have become accustomed to losing. The franchise hasn't produced a winning season since 2021 and won just three games in each of the last two seasons. Saleh is expected to reverse that trend.
This offseason, the new head coach has instilled a sense of confidence in players and fans alike. While contending for a Super Bowl is still out of the picture, this team is expected to have a baseline of competence that has been missing in recent years.
Second-year progress from Cam Ward, continued dominance from Jeffery Simmons, and Saleh's experience in a winning organization should turn things around.
This preseason opener is the new head coach's chance to prove it. The final score won't matter much, although the Titans should win comfortably, as they're playing their starters early in the game. But the overall level of discipline and execution will be a major indicator of Saleh's early impact.
Last season, the Titans were penalized 130 times, ranking second in the NFL. They were also the second-worst team in the league at converting on third downs, succeeding on just 31.9% of their attempts. Under Brian Callahan, the team struggled to execute consistently.
If the Titans are going to reverse that trend, it will have to come through Saleh. The 49ers had the second-fewest penalties and the highest third-down conversion rate in the NFL last year. He'll need to bring some of that discipline over with him to lead a competent squad.
We're not looking for dominance in the preseason battle with San Francisco. We're not even overly concerned with a win. But the Titans need to look like a buttoned-up organization. It will be the earliest concrete sign of change under Saleh.
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