October 25, 2024 • 35 mins
On this episode of Twentyman in the Huddle podcast presented by Microsoft, Tim Twentyman is joined by Will Burchfield, Jake Bates and Jim Wyatt, previewing the Detroit Lions' first interconference matchup of the year when the Tennessee Titans come to town.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
He's ready, there's the snap, there's the spot, kick away,
it is up, and it is god. Jack Bite sets
it through probably to week eight of the NFL season.
Yet here, man, already, this is crazy. I mean, it
flies by. This is the twenty in the Huddle podcast,
(00:22):
and you guys might know who this is. Will Birchfield,
the writer personality for ninety seven point one, does a
lot with Fox two as well. A guy who is
kind of toes in a lot of different things, kind
of everywhere, just like I guess.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Well, he's joining me here for the three key segment
as we do every week in the twenty in the
Uddle podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
And well, let's just get right to it.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
You know, you look at this Titans football team and
you see one in five and you say, well, you know, offensively,
their numbers, you know, are among the worst in the league.
But that defense isn't a one in five defense, is it?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
And I think that is is going to be a
fun match with this one.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Because it's not going to be as easy I think
as people see the one in five record and oh wow,
this is an easy.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Win for Detroit.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
That's a really good defense with some good players.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Yeah, they see the one in.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
Five record, but maybe don't see the number one ranked
defense in the NFL, which is staggering. You go and
look at their statistics and you expect to see a
bottom of the barrel team across the board, but this
is a really stout defensive line. I mean, Jeffrey Simmons.
We all know Jeffrey Simmons, as Campbell just called him
a monster, and he's been a monster for what seems
like five six years now.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
He's just an absolute force up front.
Speaker 5 (01:34):
But then the rookie playing next to him, to and
Andre Sweat, is another evolving, growing monster, and he was
probably a first round talent at Texas who slid into
the second after I think a DWI before the draft,
but he has first round measurables. He's got first round explosiveness,
and those two guys together have formed a wall.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
Against the run.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
They're only allowing I think three point nine yards of carry.
That's almost as good as a get to the NFL.
And look, they've got obviously an under man defense.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Now.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
They trade Ernest Jones today, who was their second leading
tackler and a really physical downhill linebacker, but still a
lot up front to handle. And we know Quandre Diggs
from his time here, and that's a guy who a
loves to come down and tackle himself, but also is
no stranger to making plays on the ball in the secondary.
So there are there are pieces defensively for this Lion's
(02:29):
offense to account for it.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
And Luxurious Sneed is on this team. People can't forget
about that, the success that he had.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
And then obviously Harrld Landry get after guys forty five
career sex and he's got four on the season.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
This is you mentioned their.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Number one team in total defense, but they're number three
against the past too. So the Quandre Diggs and Snead and.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Come around the edge, well, I mean, there's just a
lot of problems that they can pose for a one
in five team. And as Dan was telling us this morning,
and it really is for the Titans, the fact they
haven't taken the ball away and they've turned it over
too often, and if they can just turnover differential, they
probably go for one and five team to maybe a
three and three team, and that puts you in the
(03:09):
playoff conversation. So they have individual pieces that can cause issues,
and the Lions offense will have to be at its
typical bast on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
That's a great point.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And it's such a rare thing to have a defense
with as many good players as we just talked about
three takeaways on the season.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
It's just unseemly.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
I mean, you look at Kirby Joseph and Brian Bridge
have foreigner stuff.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
They have eight just with those two guys, you know
what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
So that is been the Achilles heel. But this is
going to be a terrific matchup.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
This is going to be a situation where you know,
Tennessee comes into Detroit just rolls. You know, they've gotten
off the good starts. It's their offense that has turned
the football over too much, put them in bad situations.
Their special teams has had some some spotty play, and
they've given up some return touchdowns. And so it's a
it's a much better team defensively than people think with
(03:57):
that record.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
I think the Lions offense relish is matchups, and especially
that offensive line. I mean, we get to see best
on best on Sunday. Get to see Frank rag Now
and and Kevin Zeitler if he is healthy enough to go,
and and Graham Glasgow counter those big horses in the
middle and in obviously uh Sweat and Simmons. So it's
gonna be fun to see them kind of lean back
(04:19):
and forth on each other and see who breaks first.
And I just always have so much faith in this
offensive line and Rag now kind of leading the charge
as as the I guess, I guess the fulk crumb
of that offensive line that I still I still love
this matchup for the Lions, and you don't see many
double digit point spreads in the NFL. But it's not
an easy cover and it's not really an easy win either.
(04:42):
The offense will have to I mean, if they score
forty again, they should be fine. And at this break,
what one hundred and twenty points in their past three games.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
I mean, you can't play any better than that offensive.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
You can't play any better than Jared Golf and the
way he's playing too. I mean, right, he can't become
MVP and that and that's the that's the next key
years is can he keep up this pace? I mean,
you look at something in the Steves had the great
number this face.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
It's incredible that the Lions.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Have scored more touchdowns eighteen than Jared Golf has incompletions
sixteen over the past four games, which you see ridiculous.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Which is this is the first time that has been
done by any team in a four game sample since
the merger in what nineteen seventy sixty eight. I think
Lojo was like thirty five back now. But they're doing historic,
unprecedented things every week. Off had a passer rating of
one forty plus for the third straight week, only the
(05:35):
fourth time that's ever been done.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
The last two guys to do it Aaron Rodgers in
twenty eleven, Kurt Warner in ninety nine. One MV that Ye,
he's doing MVP level things.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
And obviously it's a conversation that includes Lamar Jackson as
it always seems to and and Josh Allen, but he
is right there among and Mahomes, although his numbers aren't
all that impressive. Patrick, Yeah, but goff longs in that
and yeah, at the forefront of that conversation.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
You know, he's second in the league in completion percentage,
second in the league in passer rating. You know, I
mean all these numbers where he stacks he's got the
third most twenty plus yard completions. I mean he's he
is just he has complete control of Ben Johnson's offense.
I see them too, like being able to finish each
other's sentences.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
That's how much they are in like the step brothers.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
And you know, obviously we all know Ben is a
terrific play caller, but it also takes that quarterback to
identify what coverage you're seeing, change it into a different
play if need be. And and that's where I think
Jared is just on a.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Whole nother level right now.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
You don't see very many bad plays or them in well,
you know, terrible situations. He's just really good at knowing,
you know, what play to get them into. You know,
even if it's a dump down to the running backs.
We saw that a bunch and teams are giving him that.
And look, a good, good, good quarterback takes that. Tom
Brady said it all the time, I'll take dunk you
to doubt complete hundred yards. Yeah yeah, And they're just
(06:59):
moving the football and he is playing at a level
where I think, I think you're right, I think he
should be right there in the MVP conversation, and he,
in my opinion, is the reason why they're five to one.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
Yeah, and you love completions, especially when the alternative might
might be a dangerous throw that becomes an interception. And
I think we did see Jared, maybe for the first
time since his first year here make those mistakes in
the first couple of games.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
He acknowledged himself. He did say, you know, there were
a couple of.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Throws against Seattle and even against LA that I probably
got away with where I was trying to do too much,
forcing the ball downfield into tight windows to receivers who
weren't really open. Ever since that Cardinals game, Campbell called
it his reset game. He's been playing clean, not risk averse,
but smart football. Like smart football doesn't have to be
always safe football. I thought his best throw last week
(07:47):
was maybe his boldest on first and ten on the
game winning drive or near midfield, and they could have
just run the ball and tried to bleed some more
clock and they probably would have picked up five six
hours to carry as they always do. Instead, he takes
like a nine yard drop and fires a bullet to
Saint Brown into two converging defenders, and if that ball
arrives a half second sooner, it's probably over Saint Brown's head.
(08:09):
A half second later, it's probably picked and so he
has belief in his arm, but he's just making such
sound decisions.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
And then the touchdown to Saint Brown.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
What a beautiful play call and he's and Saint Brown
said they had worked out all week knowing they were
going to get that exact look from that exact defense.
And when they got it and Jared saw them bringing
six and they were playing cover zero, he brings Tim
Patrick into motion. He picks up that blitz on the
right side of the line. Goffice is staring at Jamil
to pull the safety's eyes to the sideline, all the
(08:39):
while knowing Saint Brown's running free down the seam hits
him on a perfect pass and it's just like that.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
That kind of operation, from the.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
Play call to the execution to seeing it is why
he's such a valuable quarterback in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
You know, I wrote on that play this week on
to toroy Lions dot com, and my point in that
article is it's the little things that this offense does.
It's the Tim Patrick's block, it's Jared getting him to
the right play. It's all those little tiny things that
are making this this product be one of the most
exciting to watch in the NFL, and you listen to
the national pundits and even just players around the league
talk about Detroit and this offense.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Now there must see TV.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, there's a offense is and that's a fun place
to be Jared Golf, Ben Johnson totally man.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
And if you're a fan, I mean, I was making
this point last weekend, like just don't take this team
for granted, and I know Lions fans of all fans
never would, but like, if you look around the NFL
every Sunday, there are comedy shows. You see something sometimes
week after week after week. And these guys are are
a good watch game in, game out. They're they're easy
(09:41):
on the eyes, like even when your heart's in your throat.
They just they're compelling theater. And a lot of teams
in the NFL are a hard ugly watch. I mean,
Lions fans know that from this team's past. So to
be able to sit down every Sunday and look forward
to watching your team play and then having them deliver
is a rare place to be in the NFL. And
it's just it's shouldn't go unnoticed or unacknowledged, all Right.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
One of the things that Detroit had to deal with
last week obviously was the first game without Aiden Hutchinson.
This week a little bit different of a challenge, their
first game without Jamison Williams. Who's gonna you know, serve
obviously two game suspension. You look at last week's game,
one catch minus four yards and the team still scored
(10:23):
thirty one points, So you look at it and say
they can get by that. I think the biggest impact
to me Will is gonna be what it does to
opposing defenses and how defenses will will maybe change because
it's the Jamo effect that helps this offense, and it's the.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Fear of his speed.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
But we can count on one hand the guys that
can run as fast as Jamison Williams in this league.
I mean Tyreek Hill. We're talking about those type, that
type of speed, and defenses have to account for that.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
You know.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Ben Johnson talked about the Dallas game where they played
a lot of too high to start and so, okay,
you're gonna play.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Too high, Well, we'll run the football, and you run
the football.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
For you know, to the one hundred and eighty some yards.
But that's because teams are doing that too high, because
they fear. Jameis to Williams that speed and Detroit hit
on some of those big plays early. They put it
on tape, and so it'll be interesting to me to
see how Tennessee reacts to not having that speed, not
having that guy that can take the top off the defense.
Will they focus more on the run game and how
(11:19):
does Detroit counter that?
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Yeah, I mean we saw Jamo's effect on Saint Brown's
touchdown last week. He doesn't obviously touch the ball, but
the threat of his speed demanded the safety's attention. As
soon as Jared looked his way, the entire defense shifted.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
In the secondary towards Jmo.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
That allows Saint Brown to run open down the scene
thirty five yard touchdown. So he's a rare player in
that he doesn't really have to touch the ball to
change the entire game or to bend the defense. And
I do think that will change a little bit. The
Lions have a lot of faith though in Khalif Raymond.
I mean talk about a pillar like a building block
of a group organization.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Yeah, totally man.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
And as Campbell told us today, he's got some speed
now too. I mean, did you see what he did
to Stefan Gilmour on his release on his touchdown last week,
he put him in a blender and Gilmore hit the
deck like you don't see many ten year deck. Ten
year vets hit the deck. And I think they'll utilize
him some more. We might see some Alan Robinson. I
think Tim Patrick scores his first lines touchdown this that's
(12:20):
my bold prediction. I was talking to Tim Patrick last
week and he was just telling me how much he
has enjoyed being part of this offense, because he said,
it's so fun going to going to the field every Sunday, knowing.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
That everybody's a little bit psycho.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
He said, I just love that.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
I love that everyone here is like minded. The receivers
love to block. They really truly enjoy it. That's true
of Tim Patrick as well. But you can see the
developing rapport between he and Jared Goff, and I think
Jared Goff more and more is trusting Tim Patrick down
the field. I think he's a great red zone target.
I think we'll see Tim Patrick show up more and
(12:56):
more this Sunday.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
I think he solidified that wide receiver group totally. He
gave him something they didn't have. Six foot five two ten.
You know, you've got a big frame.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
You're guys like that walking around guys totally. I mean
why Jared love Josh Reynolds because he made all of
those plays that Tim Patrick seems equipped to make.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
And he's willing and able to come in here and block.
He's taken on that mentality. Yeah, he's tried to fit in.
He's really good.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
I think they'll be fine. They you know, I think
they'll they'll see a little bit different of coverage than
what they would. Yeah, Jamison be on the field and
and you know, you know, I hope James's back, you know,
quickly after after the two games. But I just don't
see this offense skipping a bit. Yeah really, I mean
they've got so many guys and so many weapons, and
(13:42):
you know, Ben will come up with something and I
think they'll I think they'll be just fine.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
I meantime, Dan starts to run down the list of
oh we still have this guy and that guy and
that guy and this guy and this guy and that guy.
Are like, oh my god, they still they do have
so much to work with. Still, I mean, yeah, I
didn't think they'll be all right.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Well, it should be a fun one after two weeks
on the road.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Back in ford.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Field, it's gonna be it's gonna be crazy in there.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
It should be fun when you will be there.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
You can catch all this stuff on ninety seven one
and obviously does a lot with Fox too.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Will Birchfield a.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Man is around time. A lot of.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Thanks for joining me so much.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
I'll appreciate your insight and we'll see on some Yeah,
we'll do hockey talk next time.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Welcome back to the Twin the Huddle podcast and I've
been waiting for this one all week now. I've got
Lions kicker Jake Bates in with me, or I should
say the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Jake
Bates is just win a whirl win of a.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Week, right, Yeah, it's been. It's been crazy.
Speaker 6 (14:44):
A lot of people are trying to figure out about
my story, so people have been reaching out to me
about being a former brick salesman and stuff. So because
I kind of that kind of got bown out of proportion.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
But it's been. It's been a fun week.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
I'm ready to, you know, put that aside and get
ready for the Titans this week.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
All right.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
So look, you're growing up in tom Ball, Texas. I
said that, right, all right, and you are one heck
of a soccer player.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
What what's the what's the goal? What's the dream?
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Back when you're that soccer player in tom Ball Texas.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
The dream is to the play overseas, go to you know, England, Spain,
something like that, play overseas, play in the World Cup,
and you know, represent our country and stuff like that.
And you know, that was always the dream until really
once I was probably seventeen or eighteen, probably realizing I
wasn't that good. Maybe just college, but when I was little,
I wanted to go overseas and do that thing.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
So when did this whole football thing start kicking, start churning?
Speaker 3 (15:37):
The opportunity come for.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
You really, like over COVID.
Speaker 6 (15:41):
So I transferred from UCA, where I was playing soccer,
and I kind of came to the realization I was
done with soccer, but I didn't want to be done
with sports. So it's like, what can I do? You know,
I've been kicking a ball. Let's see if we can,
you know, find our way somewhere. And so during like
the lockout, I was at home and I would just
send video out to like every school, and I got
one response from Texas State for their special teams coach.
(16:02):
And he takes one. It just takes one. And I
mean he knows how thankful I am for him, but yeah,
just just takes one. I got one opportunity and was
able to walk on there and and do two years
there and then one at Arkansas, And you know, I
had a blast with it.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
But you're kicking, you know, you're you're kind of a
kickoff specialist, right, You're not getting a real opportunity to
be a place kicker, and so you know, you go through,
you graduate. Just take me through what the next steps
were when you were done. How much interest did the
NFL have and kind of what what did that look
like right after school in that opportunity.
Speaker 6 (16:36):
Yeah, it was tough because like, realistically, I knew I
didn't kick in college, so you know, who's going to
take a chance on me? But I wanted to take
it if it was there. So I was training with
this guy named Adam Sanowski and up in Buffalo with
a bunch of other really good kickers that were coming
out that year, just getting ready for Pro Day, and
then like no one knew who I was going into
(16:57):
Pro day, and then I had a pretty good Pro
day and they started asking coaches like, you know, why
wasn't he kicking field goals? And it's like, well, we
actually have this guy named Cam Little who's now the
kicker for the Jags.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
He was the guy that was above me at Arkansas.
Speaker 6 (17:09):
So I was like, I wasn't gonna you know, he's
a freshman All America American ended up getting drafted. You know,
it's just superstar kicker and one of my best friends.
But I had a really good kicker ahead of me,
and I was just kind of waiting my turn. So
that was kind of, you know, the cards that were dealt.
But I got a chance with Houston. I had a
local day with them, and then got a chance with
Houston in the preseason last year, and so really that
(17:32):
was it. It was kind of more questions of you know,
who is this kid more so than like actual interest.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
In you know, obviously, you know you don't make Houston's team,
you get cut, You do you think football's over here?
You're you're thinking about life beyond it, right, you know.
Obviously the brick salesman story from from last week and
everything else.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
But then this opportunity comes.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
And how did you you know, you fl kind of
fall into place there.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
Yeah, I was, I was working and I got a
random call from my agent and he was like, hey,
I think the Michigan team's gonna sign you.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
And I was like, like, okay, did did they.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Have any affiliation with Houston or anything like that?
Speaker 2 (18:08):
They didn't know of.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
I mean, it was just so random.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Craziest thing.
Speaker 6 (18:13):
I mean, you know, I think that's such a you know,
testament to God's faithfulness and the way that he, you know,
can plan stuff out perfectly. And yeah, it was just
like a random day. I got a call and then
he was like, I'm gonna call you back in like
an hour, and I was at work. I was like,
how am I supposed to get any work done? And
then he called me back. He's like, hey, they're gonna
They're gonna sign you. And then after that it was
(18:35):
a whole waiting game because there was I didn't know,
there was some weird rules with being protected in that league,
and there's just some new stuff coming on, so I
didn't exactly know what being signed meant.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
But yeah, I got signed and and then.
Speaker 6 (18:48):
Ended up quinning the brick job and trained for the
training camp with the UFL.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
And obviously had a successful you know UFL season, had
the big kicks, and and that leads to the signing
here and I want to take you back, Jake, just
to to training camp and you know, Michael gets hurt
and and just the faith that this organization showed in
you that you know, they didn't go quick sign a
bunch of guys or a veteran guy, like they were like, look,
(19:13):
we think this this Jake base kid has something and.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
We're going to develop him and we're going to stick
with him.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
What did that mean to you when when they kind
of had your back early on and like we just
talked about, you didn't have a ton of experience for
them to have that faith in you.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, I mean it was awesome.
Speaker 6 (19:27):
Obviously, you know at this position, you know, having a
coach that believes in you can be you know, the
difference between you know, a nothing career and a long career,
and hopefully you know I'm the latter. But you know,
Coach FIV and Coach Campbell were so good to me
knowing that there was going to be struggles. Is as
I'm a young kicker, and and you know, didn't have
a ton of game experience, and you know they were
(19:49):
they were so instrumental and and still are and not
letting me something, letting me get down on myself, and
you know, not letting kicks get too big.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
And I think they do such.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
A good job of putting me in situa in practice
that that helped translate to the game. And you know,
I couldn't have asked for for better coaching staff, better
front office. You know, players around me, with Jack and
Hogan and Scott who was here during training camp. You know,
people that I've been there and done that, And I mean,
I really couldn't have asked for a better situation with
people around me.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
People don't realize how key that whole operation is. You know,
they obviously see the kick and it's made or miss,
but that snap, that hold and and look, it was
something that that Jack, you know, admits he wasn't really
good at when he when he first got here, and
he's done a lot to improve that portion of his game.
Just how lucky you feel you are having you know,
guys that have been doing it for a while in
Jack and then Hogan who comes here takes a veteran's job,
(20:38):
so you know he's got the talent and that operation
has really been seamless.
Speaker 6 (20:41):
Yeah, no, absolutely, how Hogan is is a tremendous talent.
He's he's snapping the ball at a at a really
high level. And then and then Jack as far as
he is holding, he uh, you know, there's something so
big about a holder that cares about holding, and he does,
and you know, he wants to be good at it.
He wants to make sure that he's given me what
I want and that thing and that's just so big
for me, like, you know, being able to trust him
(21:04):
because I know he wants to do well and he's
he's already talented and he wants to get better. And
I mean, it's just awesome to be around guys like that.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
You hit the game winner fifteen seconds left. We have
to talk about the dance?
Speaker 3 (21:15):
What was it? Where it come from?
Speaker 1 (21:18):
And you're you you see him and Phip talked about
this Thursday too, which it which is funny. He's like
he's such a serious guy, like he's you know, he
he comes here, he puts his head down, he's, you.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Know, all about the work.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
And to see him have that huge smile and kind
of pull out the dance like FIP loved it, and
I'm curious where where it came from.
Speaker 6 (21:37):
There's just these this family on Instagram they do that dance,
and I thought it was just gonna be a kind
of like a little thing between me and Jack, and
obviously it got caught on camera. I'm not a big celebrator,
like I like to be kind of calm. I don't know,
I'm not I'm really not a big celebrator. That's like
the first time I've ever done something like that, So
(21:58):
I think I'm gonna keep that, you know, to minimum.
But no, it was a it was a fun moment
and obviously, you know, you can see the big smile
on my face and you know what it meant to
put that through and help this.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Are you nervous at all?
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Or is it just have you You've done this so
much now.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
I mean, you're, you know.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Six six games into the season. It's not like it's
your first game. You're you know, it was obviously one
of your first big, big kicks. But were there nerves
coming out? Is it hard not to be nervous or
was it just kind of business as usual?
Speaker 6 (22:26):
Like, h I think there's I think there's nerves for
every kick, and I mean that's just kind of what
what what the job entails is making every kick the same.
And obviously that's so much easier said than done. But
you know, if you if you had to kick get
too big or one that's early in the game and
it doesn't matter. You know, you need to make sure
that every kicks the same in your mind and in
(22:48):
your routine. And I think that's something that I was
able to do a good job of. And then I
have you know, people around me, like we were just
talking about that that are so great in those situations
that that make me feel confident.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
What's like, we're playing with Fip.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
He's one of my favorite the coordinators that we've ever
had here.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Just to listen to him.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Talk the experiences that he's had, How instrumental has has
fit been for you, I.
Speaker 6 (23:11):
Mean it's been huge, especially you know, he's had such
a good track record of kickers, and you know, just
meeting with him and him being able to, you know,
give me confidence, and the way that he sees the
game and you know, sees our position is huge. And
you know, like I said earlier, I couldn't. I really
couldn't have picked a better spot. And from the from
(23:33):
the second that I met with Pip, it was I mean,
I just wanted to be here, and I wanted to
play for him, and you know, he's He's one of
those coaches that you want to do good for because
you know he's so good to you and and he
works so hard, and so it's one of those things
where you know, I want to do good for him
because you know, I respect him so much and he's
helped me so much.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
You had big kicks in the UFL, you had sixty yarders.
Where's the line for you? Where does and Campbell know
that you know, okay, it's late in the game, it's
a tie game. Most guys can't probably make this kick.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
But where do they feel comfortable?
Speaker 2 (24:08):
I don't know, Baits going back to I don't know.
Speaker 6 (24:11):
I think, you know, whatever they feel comfortable.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
What you what's the longest you've ever had on the ground.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
You know it doesn't have to be a hole, but
like you know, with with the with the ball holder
or something like that, do you have.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
I mean I really don't stretch it out too much. No,
like sometimes it gets fun curious. I mean sometimes like
during summer and stuff, it gets fun to back it
up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
But I mean, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
NFL.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Okay, let me do this NFL tying sixty six yard
field goal. You'd feel good about being able to have
a swing at it.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
I would like to get a swing at that. Yeah, right,
I think I would. I would like to.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Yeah, Well, you've had a swing at ten so far.
You've made all ten. You have been a terrific addition here,
obviously with the kicking twenty to twenty one on extra points.
The NFC Special Teams Player of the Week hit the
game winning kick last week.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
You're doing a terrific job.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Keep it up, and thanks for joining the podcast.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
I appreciate you, Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Welcome back to the twenty in the Huddle podcast presented
by Microsoft, and I am very happy to welcome in
Jim Wyatt. He does a great job with the Tennessee Titans.
The senior writer and editor over there. Jim, thanks for
taking the time. I appreciate it and.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
I appreciate to having I hope you're doing well.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Yeah, doing well. Obviously, two teams a little bit different situations.
I've obviously been in your shoes before. It's tough when
you get off to a start like that. And I
guess you know the one thing from a from a
Lions guy to do, Tennessee guys is, look, this Lions
team started one and six a couple of.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Years ago and went on a run.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
And you know we're one game away from making the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
So you know, teams can turn the things around.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
I'm sure you've been around this one a long time.
You know that too a rough start. Well, let's start
with the breaking news of the week. You know, obviously
DeAndre Hopkins, you know, being traded to cam As a city.
Just how big of a loss is that for this
Tennessee Titans offense.
Speaker 8 (26:06):
Well, you know, he's a loss just because we know
what kind of player DeAndre Hopkins is and what he's
done throughout his career.
Speaker 7 (26:14):
I'll be honest with you.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
I mean, this year, just the way things have going,
he's just hasn't been utilized that much. I don't know
that a lot is going to change as the Tit's
offense goes. I mean, we all know the career he's had,
but you look at the stats from this year. Uh,
DeAndre Hopkins has you know, fifteen catches for one hundred
and seventy three yards and one touchdown. He had one
catch for minus two last week and most weeks he's
(26:39):
been pretty invisible, pretty invisible. So Chiefs clearly getting a
good player and DeAndre Hopkins he just wasn't being utilized
here that much. So I don't know that you're going
to see a huge difference in the offense. They tried
to get Calvin Ridley on track, that hasn't happened. They
really the whole passing game is has struggled getting on track.
And this make things difficult because when de Andre Hopkins
(27:03):
is out there, we know that changes things around him.
So be on even more guys to kind of do
more as the Titans try to get this thing turned around.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Yeah, obviously that passing human life so heavily on the
quarterback position.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Jim and Will.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Levis dealing with a shoulder injury. Do you have a
sense of who will be Sunday in Detroit? Will be
Mason Rudolph, Will it be Will Levis or is that
still kind of yet to be determined.
Speaker 8 (27:28):
Yeah, I think Wednesday's practice is gonna tell me a lot,
because you know, a lot of this is hinges on
Will and how he feels and and and how he looks,
and it's it's a tough spot because he needs rest.
Speaker 7 (27:42):
I mean, ron Kyllahan said it. Will has said it.
Speaker 8 (27:46):
He needs rest, but they wanted to play, and they
wanted to play at a high level, and you can't
rest him during the course of the week and expecting
to go out there and Sunday you play at high level.
He has struggled this season. He needs to play. They
need to find out what they have in him. That's
what the season, a lot of this season was going
to be about for the Titans. You know, we're six
(28:08):
games in. He's played five of them. He's turned the
ball over ten timess, seven touch seven interceptions.
Speaker 7 (28:14):
Three fumbles.
Speaker 8 (28:15):
They want to see him work through some of that
and now he's working through a shoulder, so we'll see.
I think as the week goes on, we'll have a
better idea. You know, you get those clues from the
practice report if the guy's limited and how things are trending.
Last week, it became very clear when he was limited
full and then back the limited that they were going
with Mason Rudolph and just depending on how this week goes,
(28:38):
we'll probably have some pretty good ideas by the end
of the week.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
You know, you've highlighted the struggles offensively, but obviously you
look at the record at one in five, But when
I look at this team, I don't see a one
in five defense over there, Jim. I mean, the defense
has really really played well. I think their first in
overall defense. I think their top ten in the league
in passing and rush defense, and I think their top
five on third downs. That that unit has really been
(29:02):
good despite the record.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
Right, I think so other than last week in Buffalo,
I think it kind of bsentally gave way. And I
think you know, you see that happen sometimes when you
when you get an offense, you just can't countle.
Speaker 7 (29:13):
On doing much.
Speaker 8 (29:13):
Once you'll reach a certain certain level in the point
in the game. I'm sure some of those guys think, well,
this game is over. I'm just kind of halfway kidding
on that, but that's the reality. I mean, you look
at what the Titans they've done offensive this year. They've
scored seventeen points, seventeen points, fourteen points. They had the
one game against the Dolphins when they scored thirty one,
but then it was seventeen points and ten points. I mean,
(29:35):
you're just not you know, just not getting much production offensively.
So the defense is having to play close to perfect
football to give them a chance. And you know, this
game kind of came off the rails against Buffalo in
the second half and then that unit pretty much gave
way and didn't get a stop in the second half.
Speaker 7 (29:55):
Buffalo didn't punt.
Speaker 8 (29:56):
So yeah, that R. Wilson really good defensive coordinators, players
really like him. They've got some really good talent on defense. Uh,
but it's not it's not a perfect group either. I mean, uh,
you know, they're not great in turnovers. They're not getting
critical stops when they need to. You know, there have
been some times in games this season where the Titans
(30:18):
have had leads and they need the defense to get
a stop at a key time and they haven't done it.
So no one deserves any ribbons around here when you're
one and five and uh, that's offense defense.
Speaker 7 (30:30):
Special teams.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Obviously unfamiliar opponents don't see the Tennessee Titans that often.
Jim Who's maybe a player that that's you know, caught
your eye or that could catch Lions fans eyes maybe
that they don't know real well. It's not that national name,
but but a guy that that that you like and
is playing pretty well obviously despite the record.
Speaker 8 (30:53):
A couple of guys to keep it eye on. I mean,
Tony Poler is a tough back. Everybody knows him. He's
been in the league for a while and has some
six in Dallas. He's not Derrick Henry. You know that
that's and we all know Derrick Kennerys could continuing to
chug along in Baltimore. But Tony Pollard's has really run
the ball well, and he's a tough runner, and he's
(31:14):
given this team something on offense when it hasn't.
Speaker 7 (31:17):
Had a lot around him.
Speaker 8 (31:18):
So I'd expect to see a lot of Tony Pollard
on Sunday and lines fans will see a guy who
who who will get some tough yards.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (31:28):
You know, I think defensively, Uh, Savandre Sweat is going
to be a really good player.
Speaker 7 (31:35):
The big nose.
Speaker 8 (31:36):
Nose tackles in the middle of that line of the
second round pick out of Texas.
Speaker 7 (31:41):
Uh, he's gonna be a force.
Speaker 8 (31:42):
You know, he's he's he's had his moments up and
down as far as being disruptive and making an impact.
But big number ninety three is a guy to keep
an eye on. Jarvis Brown. He's getting a chance to
play a little bit because chadobea woozy's on our and
Jarvis browny, you know, the draft pick cornerback out of
little is a feisty, scrappy corner who will be competing
(32:04):
snapping and snap out those those are a couple of
young guys on defense and then a veteran veteran on offense.
Speaker 7 (32:14):
And then this is kind of a new team.
Speaker 8 (32:16):
Offense will be a new identity with Brian Callahan as
head coach.
Speaker 7 (32:20):
So much new.
Speaker 8 (32:21):
I mentioned Derrick Henry's not here anymore now, DeAndre Hopkins
didn't gonna be here anymore, and and so they're still
trying to find their way. J C. Latham, first round
pick left tackle out of Alabama, has probably been the best,
if not the second best player on the offensive line.
I think he'll continue to get better and then we'll see,
(32:42):
you know, fight's got a challenge. I mean, this is
the Lots will be the best team they faced this
year for sure, and they're coming off the game and
they lost thirty four to ten.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
Yeah, and it's a tough environment at Ford Field.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
You know, the Detroit's been away for a couple of weeks,
so those fans will be excited to have their team back.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
They'll be loud.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
It's one of the tougher places to play in this league.
And obviously the Lions offense in Jared Goff, is playing
at elite level right now, so you know that, I
think that'll be a good matchup between you know, Tennessee's
defense and this potent Lions offense. But maybe finally, Jim,
how does Tennessee come into Detroit Sunday and walk out
with their second win?
Speaker 3 (33:17):
How do you see that possible?
Speaker 1 (33:19):
What has to happen for Tennessee to get that win Sunday?
Speaker 7 (33:22):
Well, they got to score points. I mentioned the offensive struggles.
Speaker 8 (33:25):
I mean, you're not gonna win many games when you're
scoring on the team, certainly not against the Lions, who
are gonna score.
Speaker 7 (33:29):
So they got to get things solved.
Speaker 8 (33:32):
And I don't know that they're going to solve it,
but they got to have a breakthrough game on offense
to give themselves a chance. They got to create turnovers.
That's one thing this team is not done is create turnovers.
Other teams have made game changing plays against them. The Titans,
you know, have not been doing that. So they're gonna
have to make some plays on defense that gives them
(33:53):
a ball in good field position, and then you know,
can't avoid you have to avoid mistakes on special teams.
That's that's been another area for this team that's cost them.
You know, they know the game in Chicago in Week one,
Titans led that game seventeen to nothing, and it turned
because they got a punt block that went for a
touchdown and the momentum went straight to the Bears. Had
(34:15):
another punt block the following week. They've had trouble with
you know, protection, So they better clean it up on
special teams, better get some turnovers on defense, and better
find a way to score some points. That's the only
way they're gonna have a chance to hang in this
game and have a chance.
Speaker 7 (34:32):
To win going on the fourth quarter.
Speaker 8 (34:35):
And then kis to kiss lines on a bad day,
because the lines don't have a lot of bad days.
It's a that's a really good team that knows how
to win, and this team hadn't figured out how to
do that.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
Yet Yeah, you know, it's a young team. It's a
it's a it's a young coach. We dealt with it
when when Dan came here a couple of years ago.
It just takes time. Sometimes you've got to get your
guys and you've got to get your culture built and
the way you're gonna win football games. And you guys
are still figuring out there at Tennessee. We've been through
it too. I know it's tough, but I am looking
forward to seeing you on Sunday. Jim Wyatt, one of
the best in the business. I appreciate you taking the
(35:09):
time and we will see you on Sunday, my friend
Speaker 7 (35:11):
Okay, Tim, I appreciate your good luck to you.
He's ready, there's the snap, there's the spot, kick away,
it is up, and it is god. Jack Bite sets
it through probably to week eight of the NFL season.
Yet here, man, already, this is crazy. I mean, it
flies by. This is the twenty in the Huddle podcast,
(00:22):
and you guys might know who this is. Will Birchfield,
the writer personality for ninety seven point one, does a
lot with Fox two as well. A guy who is
kind of toes in a lot of different things, kind
of everywhere, just like I guess.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Well, he's joining me here for the three key segment
as we do every week in the twenty in the
Uddle podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
And well, let's just get right to it.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
You know, you look at this Titans football team and
you see one in five and you say, well, you know, offensively,
their numbers, you know, are among the worst in the league.
But that defense isn't a one in five defense, is it?
Speaker 3 (00:57):
And I think that is is going to be a
fun match with this one.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
Because it's not going to be as easy I think
as people see the one in five record and oh wow,
this is an easy.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Win for Detroit.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
That's a really good defense with some good players.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Yeah, they see the one in.
Speaker 5 (01:10):
Five record, but maybe don't see the number one ranked
defense in the NFL, which is staggering. You go and
look at their statistics and you expect to see a
bottom of the barrel team across the board, but this
is a really stout defensive line. I mean, Jeffrey Simmons.
We all know Jeffrey Simmons, as Campbell just called him
a monster, and he's been a monster for what seems
like five six years now.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
He's just an absolute force up front.
Speaker 5 (01:34):
But then the rookie playing next to him, to and
Andre Sweat, is another evolving, growing monster, and he was
probably a first round talent at Texas who slid into
the second after I think a DWI before the draft,
but he has first round measurables. He's got first round explosiveness,
and those two guys together have formed a wall.
Speaker 4 (01:54):
Against the run.
Speaker 5 (01:55):
They're only allowing I think three point nine yards of carry.
That's almost as good as a get to the NFL.
And look, they've got obviously an under man defense.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Now.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
They trade Ernest Jones today, who was their second leading
tackler and a really physical downhill linebacker, but still a
lot up front to handle. And we know Quandre Diggs
from his time here, and that's a guy who a
loves to come down and tackle himself, but also is
no stranger to making plays on the ball in the secondary.
So there are there are pieces defensively for this Lion's
(02:29):
offense to account for it.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
And Luxurious Sneed is on this team. People can't forget
about that, the success that he had.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
And then obviously Harrld Landry get after guys forty five
career sex and he's got four on the season.
Speaker 3 (02:39):
This is you mentioned their.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Number one team in total defense, but they're number three
against the past too. So the Quandre Diggs and Snead and.
Speaker 5 (02:48):
Come around the edge, well, I mean, there's just a
lot of problems that they can pose for a one
in five team. And as Dan was telling us this morning,
and it really is for the Titans, the fact they
haven't taken the ball away and they've turned it over
too often, and if they can just turnover differential, they
probably go for one and five team to maybe a
three and three team, and that puts you in the
(03:09):
playoff conversation. So they have individual pieces that can cause issues,
and the Lions offense will have to be at its
typical bast on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
That's a great point.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
And it's such a rare thing to have a defense
with as many good players as we just talked about
three takeaways on the season.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
It's just unseemly.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
I mean, you look at Kirby Joseph and Brian Bridge
have foreigner stuff.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
They have eight just with those two guys, you know
what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
So that is been the Achilles heel. But this is
going to be a terrific matchup.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
This is going to be a situation where you know,
Tennessee comes into Detroit just rolls. You know, they've gotten
off the good starts. It's their offense that has turned
the football over too much, put them in bad situations.
Their special teams has had some some spotty play, and
they've given up some return touchdowns. And so it's a
it's a much better team defensively than people think with
(03:57):
that record.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
I think the Lions offense relish is matchups, and especially
that offensive line. I mean, we get to see best
on best on Sunday. Get to see Frank rag Now
and and Kevin Zeitler if he is healthy enough to go,
and and Graham Glasgow counter those big horses in the
middle and in obviously uh Sweat and Simmons. So it's
gonna be fun to see them kind of lean back
(04:19):
and forth on each other and see who breaks first.
And I just always have so much faith in this
offensive line and Rag now kind of leading the charge
as as the I guess, I guess the fulk crumb
of that offensive line that I still I still love
this matchup for the Lions, and you don't see many
double digit point spreads in the NFL. But it's not
an easy cover and it's not really an easy win either.
(04:42):
The offense will have to I mean, if they score
forty again, they should be fine. And at this break,
what one hundred and twenty points in their past three games.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
I mean, you can't play any better than that offensive.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
You can't play any better than Jared Golf and the
way he's playing too. I mean, right, he can't become
MVP and that and that's the that's the next key
years is can he keep up this pace? I mean,
you look at something in the Steves had the great
number this face.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
It's incredible that the Lions.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
Have scored more touchdowns eighteen than Jared Golf has incompletions
sixteen over the past four games, which you see ridiculous.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Which is this is the first time that has been
done by any team in a four game sample since
the merger in what nineteen seventy sixty eight. I think
Lojo was like thirty five back now. But they're doing historic,
unprecedented things every week. Off had a passer rating of
one forty plus for the third straight week, only the
(05:35):
fourth time that's ever been done.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
The last two guys to do it Aaron Rodgers in
twenty eleven, Kurt Warner in ninety nine. One MV that Ye,
he's doing MVP level things.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
And obviously it's a conversation that includes Lamar Jackson as
it always seems to and and Josh Allen, but he
is right there among and Mahomes, although his numbers aren't
all that impressive. Patrick, Yeah, but goff longs in that
and yeah, at the forefront of that conversation.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
You know, he's second in the league in completion percentage,
second in the league in passer rating. You know, I
mean all these numbers where he stacks he's got the
third most twenty plus yard completions. I mean he's he
is just he has complete control of Ben Johnson's offense.
I see them too, like being able to finish each
other's sentences.
Speaker 4 (06:21):
That's how much they are in like the step brothers.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
And you know, obviously we all know Ben is a
terrific play caller, but it also takes that quarterback to
identify what coverage you're seeing, change it into a different
play if need be. And and that's where I think
Jared is just on a.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Whole nother level right now.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
You don't see very many bad plays or them in well,
you know, terrible situations. He's just really good at knowing,
you know, what play to get them into. You know,
even if it's a dump down to the running backs.
We saw that a bunch and teams are giving him that.
And look, a good, good, good quarterback takes that. Tom
Brady said it all the time, I'll take dunk you
to doubt complete hundred yards. Yeah yeah, And they're just
(06:59):
moving the football and he is playing at a level
where I think, I think you're right, I think he
should be right there in the MVP conversation, and he,
in my opinion, is the reason why they're five to one.
Speaker 5 (07:09):
Yeah, and you love completions, especially when the alternative might
might be a dangerous throw that becomes an interception. And
I think we did see Jared, maybe for the first
time since his first year here make those mistakes in
the first couple of games.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
He acknowledged himself. He did say, you know, there were
a couple of.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Throws against Seattle and even against LA that I probably
got away with where I was trying to do too much,
forcing the ball downfield into tight windows to receivers who
weren't really open. Ever since that Cardinals game, Campbell called
it his reset game. He's been playing clean, not risk averse,
but smart football. Like smart football doesn't have to be
always safe football. I thought his best throw last week
(07:47):
was maybe his boldest on first and ten on the
game winning drive or near midfield, and they could have
just run the ball and tried to bleed some more
clock and they probably would have picked up five six
hours to carry as they always do. Instead, he takes
like a nine yard drop and fires a bullet to
Saint Brown into two converging defenders, and if that ball
arrives a half second sooner, it's probably over Saint Brown's head.
(08:09):
A half second later, it's probably picked and so he
has belief in his arm, but he's just making such
sound decisions.
Speaker 4 (08:15):
And then the touchdown to Saint Brown.
Speaker 5 (08:17):
What a beautiful play call and he's and Saint Brown
said they had worked out all week knowing they were
going to get that exact look from that exact defense.
And when they got it and Jared saw them bringing
six and they were playing cover zero, he brings Tim
Patrick into motion. He picks up that blitz on the
right side of the line. Goffice is staring at Jamil
to pull the safety's eyes to the sideline, all the
(08:39):
while knowing Saint Brown's running free down the seam hits
him on a perfect pass and it's just like that.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
That kind of operation, from the.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
Play call to the execution to seeing it is why
he's such a valuable quarterback in the NFL.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
You know, I wrote on that play this week on
to toroy Lions dot com, and my point in that
article is it's the little things that this offense does.
It's the Tim Patrick's block, it's Jared getting him to
the right play. It's all those little tiny things that
are making this this product be one of the most
exciting to watch in the NFL, and you listen to
the national pundits and even just players around the league
talk about Detroit and this offense.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Now there must see TV.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
Yeah, there's a offense is and that's a fun place
to be Jared Golf, Ben Johnson totally man.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
And if you're a fan, I mean, I was making
this point last weekend, like just don't take this team
for granted, and I know Lions fans of all fans
never would, but like, if you look around the NFL
every Sunday, there are comedy shows. You see something sometimes
week after week after week. And these guys are are
a good watch game in, game out. They're they're easy
(09:41):
on the eyes, like even when your heart's in your throat.
They just they're compelling theater. And a lot of teams
in the NFL are a hard ugly watch. I mean,
Lions fans know that from this team's past. So to
be able to sit down every Sunday and look forward
to watching your team play and then having them deliver
is a rare place to be in the NFL. And
it's just it's shouldn't go unnoticed or unacknowledged, all Right.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
One of the things that Detroit had to deal with
last week obviously was the first game without Aiden Hutchinson.
This week a little bit different of a challenge, their
first game without Jamison Williams. Who's gonna you know, serve
obviously two game suspension. You look at last week's game,
one catch minus four yards and the team still scored
(10:23):
thirty one points, So you look at it and say
they can get by that. I think the biggest impact
to me Will is gonna be what it does to
opposing defenses and how defenses will will maybe change because
it's the Jamo effect that helps this offense, and it's the.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Fear of his speed.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
But we can count on one hand the guys that
can run as fast as Jamison Williams in this league.
I mean Tyreek Hill. We're talking about those type, that
type of speed, and defenses have to account for that.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
You know.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
Ben Johnson talked about the Dallas game where they played
a lot of too high to start and so, okay,
you're gonna play.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Too high, Well, we'll run the football, and you run
the football.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
For you know, to the one hundred and eighty some yards.
But that's because teams are doing that too high, because
they fear. Jameis to Williams that speed and Detroit hit
on some of those big plays early. They put it
on tape, and so it'll be interesting to me to
see how Tennessee reacts to not having that speed, not
having that guy that can take the top off the defense.
Will they focus more on the run game and how
(11:19):
does Detroit counter that?
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Yeah, I mean we saw Jamo's effect on Saint Brown's
touchdown last week. He doesn't obviously touch the ball, but
the threat of his speed demanded the safety's attention. As
soon as Jared looked his way, the entire defense shifted.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
In the secondary towards Jmo.
Speaker 5 (11:34):
That allows Saint Brown to run open down the scene
thirty five yard touchdown. So he's a rare player in
that he doesn't really have to touch the ball to
change the entire game or to bend the defense. And
I do think that will change a little bit. The
Lions have a lot of faith though in Khalif Raymond.
I mean talk about a pillar like a building block
of a group organization.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
Yeah, totally man.
Speaker 5 (11:56):
And as Campbell told us today, he's got some speed
now too. I mean, did you see what he did
to Stefan Gilmour on his release on his touchdown last week,
he put him in a blender and Gilmore hit the
deck like you don't see many ten year deck. Ten
year vets hit the deck. And I think they'll utilize
him some more. We might see some Alan Robinson. I
think Tim Patrick scores his first lines touchdown this that's
(12:20):
my bold prediction. I was talking to Tim Patrick last
week and he was just telling me how much he
has enjoyed being part of this offense, because he said,
it's so fun going to going to the field every Sunday, knowing.
Speaker 4 (12:31):
That everybody's a little bit psycho.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
He said, I just love that.
Speaker 5 (12:35):
I love that everyone here is like minded. The receivers
love to block. They really truly enjoy it. That's true
of Tim Patrick as well. But you can see the
developing rapport between he and Jared Goff, and I think
Jared Goff more and more is trusting Tim Patrick down
the field. I think he's a great red zone target.
I think we'll see Tim Patrick show up more and
(12:56):
more this Sunday.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
I think he solidified that wide receiver group totally. He
gave him something they didn't have. Six foot five two ten.
You know, you've got a big frame.
Speaker 5 (13:04):
You're guys like that walking around guys totally. I mean
why Jared love Josh Reynolds because he made all of
those plays that Tim Patrick seems equipped to make.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
And he's willing and able to come in here and block.
He's taken on that mentality. Yeah, he's tried to fit in.
He's really good.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
I think they'll be fine. They you know, I think
they'll they'll see a little bit different of coverage than
what they would. Yeah, Jamison be on the field and
and you know, you know, I hope James's back, you know,
quickly after after the two games. But I just don't
see this offense skipping a bit. Yeah really, I mean
they've got so many guys and so many weapons, and
(13:42):
you know, Ben will come up with something and I
think they'll I think they'll be just fine.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (13:45):
I meantime, Dan starts to run down the list of
oh we still have this guy and that guy and
that guy and this guy and this guy and that guy.
Are like, oh my god, they still they do have
so much to work with. Still, I mean, yeah, I
didn't think they'll be all right.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Well, it should be a fun one after two weeks
on the road.
Speaker 3 (13:57):
Back in ford.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Field, it's gonna be it's gonna be crazy in there.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
It should be fun when you will be there.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
You can catch all this stuff on ninety seven one
and obviously does a lot with Fox too.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
Will Birchfield a.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Man is around time. A lot of.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
Thanks for joining me so much.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
I'll appreciate your insight and we'll see on some Yeah,
we'll do hockey talk next time.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
Welcome back to the Twin the Huddle podcast and I've
been waiting for this one all week now. I've got
Lions kicker Jake Bates in with me, or I should
say the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week Jake
Bates is just win a whirl win of a.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
Week, right, Yeah, it's been. It's been crazy.
Speaker 6 (14:44):
A lot of people are trying to figure out about
my story, so people have been reaching out to me
about being a former brick salesman and stuff. So because
I kind of that kind of got bown out of proportion.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
But it's been. It's been a fun week.
Speaker 6 (14:54):
I'm ready to, you know, put that aside and get
ready for the Titans this week.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
All right.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
So look, you're growing up in tom Ball, Texas. I
said that, right, all right, and you are one heck
of a soccer player.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
What what's the what's the goal? What's the dream?
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Back when you're that soccer player in tom Ball Texas.
Speaker 6 (15:11):
The dream is to the play overseas, go to you know, England, Spain,
something like that, play overseas, play in the World Cup,
and you know, represent our country and stuff like that.
And you know, that was always the dream until really
once I was probably seventeen or eighteen, probably realizing I
wasn't that good. Maybe just college, but when I was little,
I wanted to go overseas and do that thing.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
So when did this whole football thing start kicking, start churning?
Speaker 3 (15:37):
The opportunity come for.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
You really, like over COVID.
Speaker 6 (15:41):
So I transferred from UCA, where I was playing soccer,
and I kind of came to the realization I was
done with soccer, but I didn't want to be done
with sports. So it's like, what can I do? You know,
I've been kicking a ball. Let's see if we can,
you know, find our way somewhere. And so during like
the lockout, I was at home and I would just
send video out to like every school, and I got
one response from Texas State for their special teams coach.
(16:02):
And he takes one. It just takes one. And I
mean he knows how thankful I am for him, but yeah,
just just takes one. I got one opportunity and was
able to walk on there and and do two years
there and then one at Arkansas, And you know, I
had a blast with it.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
But you're kicking, you know, you're you're kind of a
kickoff specialist, right, You're not getting a real opportunity to
be a place kicker, and so you know, you go through,
you graduate. Just take me through what the next steps
were when you were done. How much interest did the
NFL have and kind of what what did that look
like right after school in that opportunity.
Speaker 6 (16:36):
Yeah, it was tough because like, realistically, I knew I
didn't kick in college, so you know, who's going to
take a chance on me? But I wanted to take
it if it was there. So I was training with
this guy named Adam Sanowski and up in Buffalo with
a bunch of other really good kickers that were coming
out that year, just getting ready for Pro Day, and
then like no one knew who I was going into
(16:57):
Pro day, and then I had a pretty good Pro
day and they started asking coaches like, you know, why
wasn't he kicking field goals? And it's like, well, we
actually have this guy named Cam Little who's now the
kicker for the Jags.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
He was the guy that was above me at Arkansas.
Speaker 6 (17:09):
So I was like, I wasn't gonna you know, he's
a freshman All America American ended up getting drafted. You know,
it's just superstar kicker and one of my best friends.
But I had a really good kicker ahead of me,
and I was just kind of waiting my turn. So
that was kind of, you know, the cards that were dealt.
But I got a chance with Houston. I had a
local day with them, and then got a chance with
Houston in the preseason last year, and so really that
(17:32):
was it. It was kind of more questions of you know,
who is this kid more so than like actual interest.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
In you know, obviously, you know you don't make Houston's team,
you get cut, You do you think football's over here?
You're you're thinking about life beyond it, right, you know.
Obviously the brick salesman story from from last week and
everything else.
Speaker 3 (17:48):
But then this opportunity comes.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
And how did you you know, you fl kind of
fall into place there.
Speaker 6 (17:55):
Yeah, I was, I was working and I got a
random call from my agent and he was like, hey,
I think the Michigan team's gonna sign you.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
And I was like, like, okay, did did they.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Have any affiliation with Houston or anything like that?
Speaker 2 (18:08):
They didn't know of.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
I mean, it was just so random.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Craziest thing.
Speaker 6 (18:13):
I mean, you know, I think that's such a you know,
testament to God's faithfulness and the way that he, you know,
can plan stuff out perfectly. And yeah, it was just
like a random day. I got a call and then
he was like, I'm gonna call you back in like
an hour, and I was at work. I was like,
how am I supposed to get any work done? And
then he called me back. He's like, hey, they're gonna
They're gonna sign you. And then after that it was
(18:35):
a whole waiting game because there was I didn't know,
there was some weird rules with being protected in that league,
and there's just some new stuff coming on, so I
didn't exactly know what being signed meant.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
But yeah, I got signed and and then.
Speaker 6 (18:48):
Ended up quinning the brick job and trained for the
training camp with the UFL.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
And obviously had a successful you know UFL season, had
the big kicks, and and that leads to the signing
here and I want to take you back, Jake, just
to to training camp and you know, Michael gets hurt
and and just the faith that this organization showed in
you that you know, they didn't go quick sign a
bunch of guys or a veteran guy, like they were like, look,
(19:13):
we think this this Jake base kid has something and.
Speaker 3 (19:16):
We're going to develop him and we're going to stick
with him.
Speaker 1 (19:18):
What did that mean to you when when they kind
of had your back early on and like we just
talked about, you didn't have a ton of experience for
them to have that faith in you.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, I mean it was awesome.
Speaker 6 (19:27):
Obviously, you know at this position, you know, having a
coach that believes in you can be you know, the
difference between you know, a nothing career and a long career,
and hopefully you know I'm the latter. But you know,
Coach FIV and Coach Campbell were so good to me
knowing that there was going to be struggles. Is as
I'm a young kicker, and and you know, didn't have
a ton of game experience, and you know they were
(19:49):
they were so instrumental and and still are and not
letting me something, letting me get down on myself, and
you know, not letting kicks get too big.
Speaker 2 (19:57):
And I think they do such.
Speaker 6 (19:58):
A good job of putting me in situa in practice
that that helped translate to the game. And you know,
I couldn't have asked for for better coaching staff, better
front office. You know, players around me, with Jack and
Hogan and Scott who was here during training camp. You know,
people that I've been there and done that, And I mean,
I really couldn't have asked for a better situation with
people around me.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
People don't realize how key that whole operation is. You know,
they obviously see the kick and it's made or miss,
but that snap, that hold and and look, it was
something that that Jack, you know, admits he wasn't really
good at when he when he first got here, and
he's done a lot to improve that portion of his game.
Just how lucky you feel you are having you know,
guys that have been doing it for a while in
Jack and then Hogan who comes here takes a veteran's job,
(20:38):
so you know he's got the talent and that operation
has really been seamless.
Speaker 6 (20:41):
Yeah, no, absolutely, how Hogan is is a tremendous talent.
He's he's snapping the ball at a at a really
high level. And then and then Jack as far as
he is holding, he uh, you know, there's something so
big about a holder that cares about holding, and he does,
and you know, he wants to be good at it.
He wants to make sure that he's given me what
I want and that thing and that's just so big
for me, like, you know, being able to trust him
(21:04):
because I know he wants to do well and he's
he's already talented and he wants to get better. And
I mean, it's just awesome to be around guys like that.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
You hit the game winner fifteen seconds left. We have
to talk about the dance?
Speaker 3 (21:15):
What was it? Where it come from?
Speaker 1 (21:18):
And you're you you see him and Phip talked about
this Thursday too, which it which is funny. He's like
he's such a serious guy, like he's you know, he
he comes here, he puts his head down, he's, you.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
Know, all about the work.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
And to see him have that huge smile and kind
of pull out the dance like FIP loved it, and
I'm curious where where it came from.
Speaker 6 (21:37):
There's just these this family on Instagram they do that dance,
and I thought it was just gonna be a kind
of like a little thing between me and Jack, and
obviously it got caught on camera. I'm not a big celebrator,
like I like to be kind of calm. I don't know,
I'm not I'm really not a big celebrator. That's like
the first time I've ever done something like that, So
(21:58):
I think I'm gonna keep that, you know, to minimum.
But no, it was a it was a fun moment
and obviously, you know, you can see the big smile
on my face and you know what it meant to
put that through and help this.
Speaker 3 (22:10):
Are you nervous at all?
Speaker 1 (22:11):
Or is it just have you You've done this so
much now.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
I mean, you're, you know.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
Six six games into the season. It's not like it's
your first game. You're you know, it was obviously one
of your first big, big kicks. But were there nerves
coming out? Is it hard not to be nervous or
was it just kind of business as usual?
Speaker 6 (22:26):
Like, h I think there's I think there's nerves for
every kick, and I mean that's just kind of what
what what the job entails is making every kick the same.
And obviously that's so much easier said than done. But
you know, if you if you had to kick get
too big or one that's early in the game and
it doesn't matter. You know, you need to make sure
that every kicks the same in your mind and in
(22:48):
your routine. And I think that's something that I was
able to do a good job of. And then I
have you know, people around me, like we were just
talking about that that are so great in those situations
that that make me feel confident.
Speaker 3 (22:59):
What's like, we're playing with Fip.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
He's one of my favorite the coordinators that we've ever
had here.
Speaker 3 (23:05):
Just to listen to him.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Talk the experiences that he's had, How instrumental has has
fit been for you, I.
Speaker 6 (23:11):
Mean it's been huge, especially you know, he's had such
a good track record of kickers, and you know, just
meeting with him and him being able to, you know,
give me confidence, and the way that he sees the
game and you know, sees our position is huge. And
you know, like I said earlier, I couldn't. I really
couldn't have picked a better spot. And from the from
(23:33):
the second that I met with Pip, it was I mean,
I just wanted to be here, and I wanted to
play for him, and you know, he's He's one of
those coaches that you want to do good for because
you know he's so good to you and and he
works so hard, and so it's one of those things
where you know, I want to do good for him
because you know, I respect him so much and he's
helped me so much.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
You had big kicks in the UFL, you had sixty yarders.
Where's the line for you? Where does and Campbell know
that you know, okay, it's late in the game, it's
a tie game. Most guys can't probably make this kick.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
But where do they feel comfortable?
Speaker 2 (24:08):
I don't know, Baits going back to I don't know.
Speaker 6 (24:11):
I think, you know, whatever they feel comfortable.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
What you what's the longest you've ever had on the ground.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
You know it doesn't have to be a hole, but
like you know, with with the with the ball holder
or something like that, do you have.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (24:21):
I mean I really don't stretch it out too much. No,
like sometimes it gets fun curious. I mean sometimes like
during summer and stuff, it gets fun to back it
up a little bit.
Speaker 2 (24:32):
But I mean, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
NFL.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Okay, let me do this NFL tying sixty six yard
field goal. You'd feel good about being able to have
a swing at it.
Speaker 2 (24:45):
I would like to get a swing at that. Yeah, right,
I think I would. I would like to.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Yeah, Well, you've had a swing at ten so far.
You've made all ten. You have been a terrific addition here,
obviously with the kicking twenty to twenty one on extra points.
The NFC Special Teams Player of the Week hit the
game winning kick last week.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
You're doing a terrific job.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Keep it up, and thanks for joining the podcast.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
I appreciate you, Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
Welcome back to the twenty in the Huddle podcast presented
by Microsoft, and I am very happy to welcome in
Jim Wyatt. He does a great job with the Tennessee Titans.
The senior writer and editor over there. Jim, thanks for
taking the time. I appreciate it and.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
I appreciate to having I hope you're doing well.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Yeah, doing well. Obviously, two teams a little bit different situations.
I've obviously been in your shoes before. It's tough when
you get off to a start like that. And I
guess you know the one thing from a from a
Lions guy to do, Tennessee guys is, look, this Lions
team started one and six a couple of.
Speaker 3 (25:43):
Years ago and went on a run.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
And you know we're one game away from making the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
So you know, teams can turn the things around.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
I'm sure you've been around this one a long time.
You know that too a rough start. Well, let's start
with the breaking news of the week. You know, obviously
DeAndre Hopkins, you know, being traded to cam As a city.
Just how big of a loss is that for this
Tennessee Titans offense.
Speaker 8 (26:06):
Well, you know, he's a loss just because we know
what kind of player DeAndre Hopkins is and what he's
done throughout his career.
Speaker 7 (26:14):
I'll be honest with you.
Speaker 8 (26:15):
I mean, this year, just the way things have going,
he's just hasn't been utilized that much. I don't know
that a lot is going to change as the Tit's
offense goes. I mean, we all know the career he's had,
but you look at the stats from this year. Uh,
DeAndre Hopkins has you know, fifteen catches for one hundred
and seventy three yards and one touchdown. He had one
catch for minus two last week and most weeks he's
(26:39):
been pretty invisible, pretty invisible. So Chiefs clearly getting a
good player and DeAndre Hopkins he just wasn't being utilized
here that much. So I don't know that you're going
to see a huge difference in the offense. They tried
to get Calvin Ridley on track, that hasn't happened. They
really the whole passing game is has struggled getting on track.
And this make things difficult because when de Andre Hopkins
(27:03):
is out there, we know that changes things around him.
So be on even more guys to kind of do
more as the Titans try to get this thing turned around.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
Yeah, obviously that passing human life so heavily on the
quarterback position.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
Jim and Will.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
Levis dealing with a shoulder injury. Do you have a
sense of who will be Sunday in Detroit? Will be
Mason Rudolph, Will it be Will Levis or is that
still kind of yet to be determined.
Speaker 8 (27:28):
Yeah, I think Wednesday's practice is gonna tell me a lot,
because you know, a lot of this is hinges on
Will and how he feels and and and how he looks,
and it's it's a tough spot because he needs rest.
Speaker 7 (27:42):
I mean, ron Kyllahan said it. Will has said it.
Speaker 8 (27:46):
He needs rest, but they wanted to play, and they
wanted to play at a high level, and you can't
rest him during the course of the week and expecting
to go out there and Sunday you play at high level.
He has struggled this season. He needs to play. They
need to find out what they have in him. That's
what the season, a lot of this season was going
to be about for the Titans. You know, we're six
(28:08):
games in. He's played five of them. He's turned the
ball over ten timess, seven touch seven interceptions.
Speaker 7 (28:14):
Three fumbles.
Speaker 8 (28:15):
They want to see him work through some of that
and now he's working through a shoulder, so we'll see.
I think as the week goes on, we'll have a
better idea. You know, you get those clues from the
practice report if the guy's limited and how things are trending.
Last week, it became very clear when he was limited
full and then back the limited that they were going
with Mason Rudolph and just depending on how this week goes,
(28:38):
we'll probably have some pretty good ideas by the end
of the week.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
You know, you've highlighted the struggles offensively, but obviously you
look at the record at one in five, But when
I look at this team, I don't see a one
in five defense over there, Jim. I mean, the defense
has really really played well. I think their first in
overall defense. I think their top ten in the league
in passing and rush defense, and I think their top
five on third downs. That that unit has really been
(29:02):
good despite the record.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
Right, I think so other than last week in Buffalo,
I think it kind of bsentally gave way. And I
think you know, you see that happen sometimes when you
when you get an offense, you just can't countle.
Speaker 7 (29:13):
On doing much.
Speaker 8 (29:13):
Once you'll reach a certain certain level in the point
in the game. I'm sure some of those guys think, well,
this game is over. I'm just kind of halfway kidding
on that, but that's the reality. I mean, you look
at what the Titans they've done offensive this year. They've
scored seventeen points, seventeen points, fourteen points. They had the
one game against the Dolphins when they scored thirty one,
but then it was seventeen points and ten points. I mean,
(29:35):
you're just not you know, just not getting much production offensively.
So the defense is having to play close to perfect
football to give them a chance. And you know, this
game kind of came off the rails against Buffalo in
the second half and then that unit pretty much gave
way and didn't get a stop in the second half.
Speaker 7 (29:55):
Buffalo didn't punt.
Speaker 8 (29:56):
So yeah, that R. Wilson really good defensive coordinators, players
really like him. They've got some really good talent on defense. Uh,
but it's not it's not a perfect group either. I mean, uh,
you know, they're not great in turnovers. They're not getting
critical stops when they need to. You know, there have
been some times in games this season where the Titans
(30:18):
have had leads and they need the defense to get
a stop at a key time and they haven't done it.
So no one deserves any ribbons around here when you're
one and five and uh, that's offense defense.
Speaker 7 (30:30):
Special teams.
Speaker 1 (30:33):
Obviously unfamiliar opponents don't see the Tennessee Titans that often.
Jim Who's maybe a player that that's you know, caught
your eye or that could catch Lions fans eyes maybe
that they don't know real well. It's not that national name,
but but a guy that that that you like and
is playing pretty well obviously despite the record.
Speaker 8 (30:53):
A couple of guys to keep it eye on. I mean,
Tony Poler is a tough back. Everybody knows him. He's
been in the league for a while and has some
six in Dallas. He's not Derrick Henry. You know that
that's and we all know Derrick Kennerys could continuing to
chug along in Baltimore. But Tony Pollard's has really run
the ball well, and he's a tough runner, and he's
(31:14):
given this team something on offense when it hasn't.
Speaker 7 (31:17):
Had a lot around him.
Speaker 8 (31:18):
So I'd expect to see a lot of Tony Pollard
on Sunday and lines fans will see a guy who
who who will get some tough yards.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
Uh.
Speaker 8 (31:28):
You know, I think defensively, Uh, Savandre Sweat is going
to be a really good player.
Speaker 7 (31:35):
The big nose.
Speaker 8 (31:36):
Nose tackles in the middle of that line of the
second round pick out of Texas.
Speaker 7 (31:41):
Uh, he's gonna be a force.
Speaker 8 (31:42):
You know, he's he's he's had his moments up and
down as far as being disruptive and making an impact.
But big number ninety three is a guy to keep
an eye on. Jarvis Brown. He's getting a chance to
play a little bit because chadobea woozy's on our and
Jarvis browny, you know, the draft pick cornerback out of
little is a feisty, scrappy corner who will be competing
(32:04):
snapping and snap out those those are a couple of
young guys on defense and then a veteran veteran on offense.
Speaker 7 (32:14):
And then this is kind of a new team.
Speaker 8 (32:16):
Offense will be a new identity with Brian Callahan as
head coach.
Speaker 7 (32:20):
So much new.
Speaker 8 (32:21):
I mentioned Derrick Henry's not here anymore now, DeAndre Hopkins
didn't gonna be here anymore, and and so they're still
trying to find their way. J C. Latham, first round
pick left tackle out of Alabama, has probably been the best,
if not the second best player on the offensive line.
I think he'll continue to get better and then we'll see,
(32:42):
you know, fight's got a challenge. I mean, this is
the Lots will be the best team they faced this
year for sure, and they're coming off the game and
they lost thirty four to ten.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
Yeah, and it's a tough environment at Ford Field.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
You know, the Detroit's been away for a couple of weeks,
so those fans will be excited to have their team back.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
They'll be loud.
Speaker 1 (32:59):
It's one of the tougher places to play in this league.
And obviously the Lions offense in Jared Goff, is playing
at elite level right now, so you know that, I
think that'll be a good matchup between you know, Tennessee's
defense and this potent Lions offense. But maybe finally, Jim,
how does Tennessee come into Detroit Sunday and walk out
with their second win?
Speaker 3 (33:17):
How do you see that possible?
Speaker 1 (33:19):
What has to happen for Tennessee to get that win Sunday?
Speaker 7 (33:22):
Well, they got to score points. I mentioned the offensive struggles.
Speaker 8 (33:25):
I mean, you're not gonna win many games when you're
scoring on the team, certainly not against the Lions, who
are gonna score.
Speaker 7 (33:29):
So they got to get things solved.
Speaker 8 (33:32):
And I don't know that they're going to solve it,
but they got to have a breakthrough game on offense
to give themselves a chance. They got to create turnovers.
That's one thing this team is not done is create turnovers.
Other teams have made game changing plays against them. The Titans,
you know, have not been doing that. So they're gonna
have to make some plays on defense that gives them
(33:53):
a ball in good field position, and then you know,
can't avoid you have to avoid mistakes on special teams.
That's that's been another area for this team that's cost them.
You know, they know the game in Chicago in Week one,
Titans led that game seventeen to nothing, and it turned
because they got a punt block that went for a
touchdown and the momentum went straight to the Bears. Had
(34:15):
another punt block the following week. They've had trouble with
you know, protection, So they better clean it up on
special teams, better get some turnovers on defense, and better
find a way to score some points. That's the only
way they're gonna have a chance to hang in this
game and have a chance.
Speaker 7 (34:32):
To win going on the fourth quarter.
Speaker 8 (34:35):
And then kis to kiss lines on a bad day,
because the lines don't have a lot of bad days.
It's a that's a really good team that knows how
to win, and this team hadn't figured out how to
do that.
Speaker 1 (34:47):
Yet Yeah, you know, it's a young team. It's a
it's a it's a young coach. We dealt with it
when when Dan came here a couple of years ago.
It just takes time. Sometimes you've got to get your
guys and you've got to get your culture built and
the way you're gonna win football games. And you guys
are still figuring out there at Tennessee. We've been through
it too. I know it's tough, but I am looking
forward to seeing you on Sunday. Jim Wyatt, one of
the best in the business. I appreciate you taking the
(35:09):
time and we will see you on Sunday, my friend
Speaker 7 (35:11):
Okay, Tim, I appreciate your good luck to you.
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