Seahawks' Russell Wilson forces Titans to prepare differently

Jason Wolf | The Tennessean

Show Caption Hide Caption Titans: Seahawks QB Russell Wilson mobility to provide challenge The Titans will be looking to capture their first home win of the season when they face the Seattle Seahawks. Titans beat reporter Jason Wolf has the preview.

The Titans want to keep Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the pocket, behind his porous offensive line, on Sunday at Nissan Stadium (3:05 p.m., Fox).

“There’s evidence on tape that he has batted balls,” Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. “We did a good job last week against (Jaguars quarterback Blake) Bortles getting some batted balls for interceptions. That won’t change. Obviously, it’s a point of emphasis, probably more this week than any.”

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Seattle has allowed six sacks this season, and Wilson has had 10 passes defended, which both rank among the worst marks in the NFL. The sputtering Seahawks’ offense has scored just one touchdown through two games. But there’s a reason this team has double-digit victories in each of the past five seasons, a span that includes two trips to the Super Bowl and one championship.

The 5-foot-11 Wilson, who has not yet thrown an interception, is particularly dangerous on the move, whether throwing on the run or picking up yards himself.

“We’ve got to make sure that we keep him in the pocket and don’t let him scramble,” Titans linebacker Avery Williamson said. “He makes a lot of plays out of the pocket, and his receivers really know how to break their routes off and get open.”

“The goal is don’t let him break contain,” Titans defensive lineman Karl Klug said. “If you break it, then you’ve got a problem.”

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The Titans, of course, have a mobile quarterback of their own in Marcus Mariota.

Does practicing against Mariota give the Titans’ defense a leg up when facing a mobile quarterback like they will this week in Wilson, as well as next week, when they’ll see Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who scored a 49-yard rushing touchdown in his first career start?

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“I think it helps,” Mularkey said. “It helps. Especially when we do things like we do at the end of practice, where they’re competitive periods. They’re not carded. They’re actually about as live as a game, and there’s been a number of instances that they’ve had to try to stop him out of the pocket.”

“I think that's a great opportunity when you get outside the pocket to make big plays,” Mariota said. “(Wilson) does a great job of it. I think that's how they won last week against San Francisco is making a play like that. He's done it consistently throughout his career, and I'd love to be able to do that.”

Mularkey detailed similarities between the two quarterbacks.

“I think obviously both dangerous with their legs and both dangerous out of the pocket,” he said. “The zone read, very similar. They’re both dangerous when they’ve got the ball in their hands.”

Brian Orakpo: Russell Wilson frustrating, elusive The Titans aim to keep mobile Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the pocket Sunday at Nissan Stadium.

Wilson’s passer rating of 121.3 on play-action passes was third-best in the NFL last season, behind only Dak Prescott of the Cowboys and Tom Brady of the Patriots, according to Pro Football Focus.

“He’s got uncanny ability to make plays all over the field,” Mularkey said. “There’s not many guys like him. You’ve got to prepare a little bit differently for him. You’ve got to be really, obviously very disciplined in your rush lanes. That may not be enough for him. I’m sure every team goes in with that mindset and you see the plays that he continues to make week after week. So, it’s a little different preparation for him than it is for most.”

Reach Jason Wolf at jwolf@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @JasonWolf and on Instagram and Snapchat at TitansBeat.

WEEK 3

SEAHAWKS (1-1) at TITANS (1-1)

When: 3:05 p.m. CT Sunday

TV/Radio: Fox / 104.5-FM