Titans Coach Mike Vrabel's Advice to CB Kristian Fulton Ahead of Matchup with Ja'Marr Chase: 'Do Your Job'
The Tennessee Titans face a familiar foe in the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4. There may be familiarity, but not the kind the Titans like, as the Bengals have yet to lose to the Titans in three matchups where Joe Burrow was at quarterback for Cincinnati.
Burrow is dealing with a bit of a calf injury and looked limited in Week 3 against the Los Angeles Rams and in his limited state, he relied on his main target, receiver Ja'Marr Chase. Chase is one of the best in the NFL and showed it against the Rams with 12 catches for 145 yards.
Limited Burrow or not, Chase is a major threat. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel talked about the player Chase is before practice on Wednesday.
"We'll have to know where he is at," Vrabel said. "They do a great job of moving him around and getting him the football. Getting him the football quickly. Sometimes they obviously target him down the field. There's ways that they get him the ball — they moved him into number three the other night and ran a slot out and he was wide open. They'll also use him out of the backfield, sending him out. Had some guys free there in Cleveland when they pumped it to him and got a guy down the seam. They weren't able to hit it, but they're using what he has and what his skillset is very well."
The man charged with primarily taking on Chase in the Titans' previous matchups with him has been cornerback Kristian Fulton. Coincidentally, Fulton and Chase are great friends, having played together in high school and college. Also worth noting Fulton struggled mightily last week against another top-tier receiver in Amari Cooper.
Fulton gave up four catches on four targets while allowing 95 receiving yards and a touchdown. Fulton has played two games this season and quarterbacks have a perfect passer rating when throwing his direction. A terrible start to a contract year for Fulton.
Vrabel kept his advice short and sweet for the corner ahead of the difficult matchup.
"Do your job," Vrabel said sternly. "You asked me a couple years ago what you can do to help a pass rusher pass rush. Do your job. Cover your man, play cover two, re-route, play inside number one when you're in quarters."
"Kristian did some cool things, Kristian challenged and he tackle. He had a penalty and late in the game, he made a mistake. I think Kristian going to be just fine. He triggered, he tackled, I thought he was trying to do the things that we want him to do, just had a mental error late in the game."
Vrabel will need Fulton to be better than "just fine" when he takes on one of the best wide receivers in the NFL on Sunday in Nashville.
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