Titans locker room praises Mason Rudolph for one critical QB quality

Titans Must Give Mason Rudolph Chances To Succeed

It doesn't have to be sexy, just has to be efficient.

Rudolph has an obvious ceiling. That was re-emphasized in Week 7 when faced with the challenge of keeping up with the Buffalo Bills (5-2). Tennessee got drummed 34-10 after its offense could not sustain in the second half while opposing quarterback Josh Allen capitalized by battered the exhausted Titans defense. 

In the lead-up to Detroit, Rudolph has been the beneficiary of full practice reps this week. It might ease the degree of difficulty on this struggling offense. Rudolph did not find out he'd make the start in Buffalo until about 24 hours prior to kick-off. 

He finished the game completing 25-of-40 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown, one interception and three total fumbles. Two of those three loose balls were recovered, but the Tennessee offensive line has allowed 19 quarterback sacks so far this season.

Rudolph was under duress all day.

"I think we can protect him better," coach Brian Callahan said of Rudolph. "There's part of that. I think that we gave up too much, too many hits at the end of the day in that game. Try to give him a cleaner pocket, things that we can do to help there. I do think that he found completions when he had to. And I think we can keep working on that. We can keep finding the completions. He can hit a couple of the plays that we missed. We've got to connect on a couple of those plays that were available."

Rudolph must be better when kept upright, too. He has a passer rating of only 64.6 in two games this season when kept clean, according to Pro Football Focus. 

Lions quarterback Jared Goff sports a rating of 118.4 by comparison.

Mason Rudolph Does Give Titans Best Chance To Win

Whatever Rudolph's limitations, you do not worry about what is going on in his head.

"Just the poise that he has in the huddle," running back Tony Pollard said this week of what Rudolph brings. "The poise that he has on the field. Just talking to guys. He may pull guys to the side before we get into the game, and give us a few little pointers on what he's thinking going into the game and then a few little adjustments like that. Just being on top of things and being ahead of it."

Veteran experience and a calm demeanor could only help the Titans struggles at this point. 

Still, Rudolph and the offense managed only 10 points last week. Possessions longer than less than two and a half minutes per must be sustained, and the operation must be cleaner than the eight total team penalties.

Rudolph's inability to keep up with the Bills could be replicated in Detroit if not.