Titans' Bishop Sankey still has fumble problems

The sight of rookie running back Bishop Sankey running laps around the Titans' practice field has become too common for the team's liking at training camp.

Sankey, a second-round pick, runs a lap every time he fumbles during practice.

The problem reared itself against the Saints, when Sankey mishandled a fourth-quarter handoff from Zach Mettenberger, resulting in a turnover at the Titans' 30.

Sankey is the team's leading ballcarrier through two preseason games with 19 carries for 68 yards, and he's added three catches for 47 yards. But Sankey won't be getting on the field too often if he can't be trusted to hold onto the football.

"I'm impressed with a lot of the things about Bishop, but he's a rookie, and a lot of things that are causing these problems are things that he needs time with and he's got to get better at — whether it's footwork, whether it's how he's taking the balls on handoffs, understanding the protections," coach Ken Whisenhunt said, noting that Sankey missed the first nine OTAs because of school commitments.

"He missed a lot of time. He's a smart young man, but some of those things, you need to work with. He's got to continue to get those things, because there's no question he's a talented player."

Scheme or sloppiness? There's little doubt the first-team defense has experienced early difficulties in each of the preseason games.

Part of the problem has to be the adjustment from the 4-3 defense to the 3-4 under new coordinator Ray Horton. The Titans have been practicing the 3-4 for weeks, but that's not the same as playing against an opponent.

"Yeah, game speed is always different from practice speed," cornerback Jason McCourty said. "We're still getting accustomed to (the 3-4). But we have to make sure we're not hurting ourselves — whether it's execution, technique or lining up the right way. We always have to make sure we're right on point."

Defensive tackle Jurrell Casey was troubled by a more basic problem.

"I would say it was more just the tackling," he said. "I think everyone had good fits. But it was more the first guy not wrapping up and bringing him down, and letting him fall for three or four yards.

"It's nowhere near where we expected. We have a lot of work to do. We're showing flashes of great things but making too many mental mistakes."

Reach John Glennon at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @glennonsports.