NASHVILLE http://www.steelersfootballauthentics.com/diontae-johnson-jersey-authentic , Tenn. (AP) — Arthur Smith has never called plays in the NFL. Not even in a preseason game, experience at least his predecessor had a year ago.So the Tennessee Titans‘ new offensive coordinator tests himself calling plays when watching TV copies of old games and at each step of the offseason program.That’s the approach he’ll follow through training camp and the preseason all building up to the season opener Sept. 8 in Cleveland.“So we’ll see how that is after Week 1,” Smith said Thursday.Smith replaces Matt LaFleur, hired in January as the Packers‘ new head coach. That hiring owed more to LaFleur’s experience as a coordinator with the Rams and coach Sean McVay than production with the Titans, who were one of the NFL’s worst offenses in 2018.Yes, Tennessee ranked seventh in the league running the ball with Derrick Henry piling up 625 of his 1,059 yards in December. But the Titans were 29th throwing the ball, and Mariota managed only 11 touchdown passes with eight interceptions. Only five teams scored fewer points than Tennessee’s 310 — an average of just 19.4 points per game.Vrabel promoted Smith from tight ends coach to coordinator, a coach who had been with this franchise the past eight years working for four different head coaches. Smith also spent two years with Washington with first Joe Gibbs, then Jim Zorn. This is his first time as an offensive coordinator for the man who played offensive line at North Carolina.So Smith said he studies TV copies of games for situations, including the end of a half or games for a better feel than a coach’s game film showing all 22 personnel on the field. He also hits pause to make his own calls. Yes Justin Layne Jersey , he knows there’s no pressure watching on a screen or live on the practice field.Vrabel used a similar approach a year ago preparing for his debut as head coach, watching TV copies of games to test what he might do. He’s working closely with Smith this offseason, the same way he is with Dean Pees who is 69 and has been to two Super Bowls with two different teams as a defensive coordinator.“If I do it with Dean, there’s probably a pretty good chance that I would do it with Arthur and every one of our coaches,” Vrabel said. “Just try to make sure that we’re all on the same page.”Easing Smith’s transition is Mariota, the quarterback who has been with Smith the past four seasons through coach Ken Whisenhunt, coach Mike Mularkey and his offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie and now Vrabel.“He makes it easy for us to go in there and to talk and to communicate what we like, what we don’t like and I think even out here … he’s done a great job of pushing the envelope with our guys and doing his best to get the most out of everyone,” Mariota said of Smith.Henry certainly approves.“I love Arthur,” Henry said.The Titans are keeping the same offense as last season, meaning formations and the phrases for motions remain unchanged. Smith made it very clear this offense will have some changes as he tweaks or adds plays from other schemes.“I’m not above stealing a great idea … http://www.steelersfootballauthentics.com/benny-snell-jr.-jersey-authentic ,” Smith said. “But you’re just sitting here saying, ‘What is somebody doing that is a good idea? Does it fit what we’re doing? Does it fit some of our players?’ And we’re always looking at that as long as they give me the opportunity to be in this role.”NOTES: Pees spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since deciding to return for another season. Pees dismissed any worries about his health, saying he was fine. Pees missed a loss at Indianapolis Nov. 18 when taken to a hospital, and Pees said he had an issue with a nerve in the back of his head causing symptoms similar to a stroke. … The Titans announced after practice that they have agreed to terms with guard Nate Davis, their third-round draft pick out of Charlotte. Receiver A.J. Brown out of Mississippi, taken in the second round, is the lone remaining unsigned draft pick. ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders go into the final stretch of the season not knowing if they will have their starting offensive line available for the remaining two games.Coach Jon Gruden said he remained cautiously hopeful that left guard Kelechi Osemele can return from a toe injury and right guard Gabe Jackson can get back from an elbow injury in time for Monday night’s home finale against Denver.“You have to be realistic, not just hopeful,” Gruden said Monday. “This is a serious toe injury that is hard for him to maneuver on. Gabe Jackson is suffering from a very legitimate elbow injury and it’s hard to block people when you can’t extend your arm. We’re concerned, obviously. But Zach Gentry Jersey , I will say this. Chaz Green and Denzelle Good — on a short notice — they did do some good things yesterday.”With a pair of backup guards who joined the team during the year, the Raiders struggled offensively against a Bengals team that came into the game as the lowest-ranked defense in the NFL.Oakland allowed five sacks in a 30-16 loss as the offense generated just one touchdown behind the banged-up line.While much attention was placed on the fill-in guards, it was the rookie tackles who struggled more, particularly left tackle Kolton Miller, who allowed two sacks and eight of the 16 pressures against Derek Carr, according to Pro Football Focus.“He had a couple pass sets that were uncommon for him and we have to fix that fast,” Gruden said. “He was isolated in some tough one-on-one situations like he always is. There were a couple pass sets that I’m sure he wants back and we have to continue to work with him on the practice field and become a lot more consistent in that aspect.”It’s been a tough rookie season for Miller, who was selected 15th overall by the Raiders. Miller was hampered by a knee injury he played through earlier in the season and has appeared to lack the strength to deal with NFL pass rushers at times.According to Pro Football Focus, Miller has allowed more sacks (14) and total pressures (59) than any other player in the league. But Gruden remains confident in Miller.“For a rookie, he’s been able to handle the peaks and valleys of his rookie season very well,” Gruden said. “He’s had some really good games. He’s had some games where he’s had his eyes opened. He’s not the first rookie left tackle that has gone through this. We’d like to see him finish with some authority and we have to help him do that with a much better protection plan than I called yesterday.”The poor protection has taken a toll on Carr L.J. Collier Jersey , who has been sacked 47 times this season after having just 36 the previous two seasons combined. The only Raiders to be sacked more in a season since the merger are Rich Gannon with 49 in 1999 and Jeff George with 58 in 1997.Carr has also been sacked at least three times in seven straight games, the longest single-season streak since Blake Bortles did it in the final seven games of 2014.“I think Derek has played great,” Gruden said. “Somebody told me he had 3,700 yards and 68 percent completions in 13 games. That’s astonishing. With three new guards, losing a right tackle, a feature back, three top receivers. The guy is a hell of a player. The guy is a great quarterback. We are very pleased and proud of what he has done. We know we got to get better around him, and that we will.”NOTES: Gruden said there’s a chance T Donald Penn could be activated from IR from a groin injury that sidelined him in Week 4. … CB Gareon Conley is in concussion protocol after leaving Sunday’s game with the injury.