5 questions for Tennessee writer Paul Kuharsky - Teams are using Malcolm Butler's aggression against him with double moves

Every week, we go deep on the Patriots’ next opponent with our “5 questions…” feature where we check in with a writer who covers New England’s next opponent. For this week’s game against Tennessee, we talk with Titans’ beat writer Paul Kuharsky. Paul currently covers the Titans for PaulKuharsky.com. Check him out on Twitter here.

1. In New England this week, we’ve heard a lot of stories about the apparent struggles of Malcolm Butler. Would you say he’s been struggling? If so, what’s been the issue?



There really isn’t a debate about whether he’s been struggling. He’s been struggling. He plays outside, but he’s getting the nickel snaps. That alone is a big issue for a guy who got $30 million guaranteed. They are talking about very basic stuff, eye discipline, as the root of the problem. As you well know, he’s an aggressive guy. Offenses are using that aggression against him with double moves and the like, and he’s maybe been more aggressive in trying to find the big play to turn the tide. He hasn’t figured out how to find any balance to get back to normal.

2. How have you seen Mike Vrabel put his imprint on this team in terms of mental and physical toughness?

Well, he is no nonsense. "Here are the three things that need to happen for us to win. We did them and look, we won. We didn’t do them, and it’s no surprise we lost." He puts things on himself first in terms of whether things were coached well enough. I think the physical toughness is just an expectation that guys have understood from the start. He puts on a pad and does hands-on stuff, one-on-one, particularly with guys returning from injury. They all know what a mentally tough player he was. And they saw, for example, that everything he told them about the Texans in an early game, was dead on. Well, he coached the Texans before he came here. So that was a big one for the buy-in at a stage when the Titans were all beat up and found a way to win.

3. Which one of the ex-Patriots has impressed the most this year?

I’ve got a bit of a Logan Ryan bias as he does an hour show with us on The Midday 180 on 104.5 The Zone every Tuesday. But he’s been really solid outside in base and then in the slot in nickel outside of one bad play for a big touchdown against the Chargers in London. He’s just a really dependable fighter.

4. Is there an under-the-radar type who has the capability to surprise on Sunday?

These are the kind of guys Titans fans have been waiting for, hoping to see emerge. Undrafted receiver Cameron Batson did a few good things last week in Dallas and the Titans have a couple injury issues above him on the depth chart. I think he will get some chances. He’s a small, speedy guy and they can screen with him or send him deep or do anything in between. So he’s the name that jumps to mind.

5. The Titans win Sunday if…

I mean everyone gives the same answer here, right? (Editor's Note: Pretty much.) They get Tom Brady off the spot, win turnovers, get a play or two on special teams and control time of possession.