Paul Kuharsky, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Some consequences for Titans' mistakes will come later

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The ultimate consequences resulting from repeated mistakes by the Tennessee Titans are likely to come more in the long term than now, coach Ken Whisenhunt said at his Monday news conference.

The first-year Titans coach is leading a team that fell to 2-5 with Sunday's loss at the Washington Redskins.

Penalties, dropped passes, poor decision-making and a lack of confidence are among the contributing factors to the Titans poor results.

But with a thin roster and no quality outside alternatives, there are limits on what Whisenhunt and his lieutenants can do to players who are not performing. (And of course they need to be coaching better, planning better and calling better games.)

The Titans have committed 56 penalties, fourth-most among teams who've played seven games. They've cost 519 yards and 18 first downs.

"I guess we're going to find out if the guys get it or if they don't," Whisenhunt said. "If they don't get it, then obviously as far as the future goes and where they fit in, that's going to be something that's an important part of it."

But what kind of immediate consequences are available for players and recourse for coaches?

"Some of them are young guys you've got to continue to work with," he said. "At this point in time with where we are with the injury situation with our team … it's not like you have a whole lot of options to replace guys. I think you understand with the younger guys, you've got to continue to work with them on what's important. And with some of the veterans [who] those penalties are happening [for], like I said, they're going to figure it out.

"Either they're going to get it or it's going to affect them in the future, not necessarily just with us, but however they go about their business in this league ... ."

Don't expect wholesale changes for guys who are struggling. Even small scale changes are hard to make in October.

"In situations where you feel like it's something where you feel like you can make a change or take them out of the game, that's what you can do," Whisenhunt said. "That's not something that's real easy to do at this particular point."

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