NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -LenDale White, known for his sure-handed ways at Southern California, has fumbled four times this season for the Tennessee Titans.
This season, White isn’t alone. The Titans (6-4) have 25 turnovers after losing 13 fumbles and throwing 12 interceptions through 10 games. That puts them one turnover away from matching their 2006 total. Only Houston and Baltimore, with 26 turnovers apiece, have more than the Titans as they prepare to face Cincinnati (3-7) on Sunday.
“We need to start limiting turning the ball over, then we don’t put the pressure on the defense not to give up a score after a turnover,” coach Jeff Fisher said.
The defense was able to overcome those situations earlier in the season. Opponents didn’t score any touchdowns – with just four field goals – off of 19 turnovers.
“Then the last couple weeks, we haven’t been able to do that,” Fisher said. “The key is not to turn the ball over. This time of year, you can’t turn it over and win. That’s just the way it is. Games are close. We’ve got to tuck the ball away and make sure we don’t put it on the ground.”
Jacksonville scored a touchdown after Mike Peterson picked off a Vince Young pass in the Titans’ 28-13 loss Nov. 11. White’s most recent fumble killed a Titans drive at the Denver 28 in Monday night’s 34-20 defeat to the Broncos, who turned the takeaway into a field goal.
One of White’s fumbles was picked up and returned for a touchdown by Atlanta on Oct. 7 – a game Tennessee won. His third fumble resulted in a missed field goal by Carolina in a 20-7 win Nov. 4.
“You just have to tell your ball carriers that when they get around a pile and they get around contact, to protect the football,” Fisher said.
Offsetting the turnovers is the fact that the Titans have 22 takeaways themselves, with nine recovered fumbles and 13 interceptions. Only Detroit (30), San Diego (27) and Indianapolis (23) have more.
After each fumble, White wasn’t sure what happened. He said Wednesday his approach is to work at holding the ball high with a tight grip and protect it. He tries not to think about those fumbles too much.
“You get overcautious and do things too much,” he said. “You can’t think about it. Let it blow off in the wind, come back this week and hold onto it.”
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