September 5, 2025 • 42 mins
Titans Radio’s Amie Wells, Taylor Zarzour and Will Boling preview the Titans Week 1 matchup on the road against Denver and what the two-toned blue need to do to come out on top.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
This is the OTP, and ladies and gentlemen, it is
game week. It feels so good to just be a
couple days away from Week one of the regular season.
The Tennessee Titans will be taking on the Denver Broncos
in Denver at Mile High Stadium. Kickoff for that game
is three to five Central Time. You do not want
(00:26):
to miss it. So to get us ready for the
big event, I am joined by Titans Radio's very own
Tailor's Oarzer and Will Bowling, both of whom will be
in Denver covering the game from start to finish. So
anything you could want to know about this upcoming matchup,
these two have it on lock. So you were a
natural fit to be on the OTP. Really you didn't
(00:47):
have a choice.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Well, we're honored to be here. And when can I
start eating this snicker hoodle?
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, thank you for asking. We now have a designated
cookie break. It's written in my notes, the Cookie Break.
Christy Cookie is providing us the cookies for our cookie break.
We're really excited to be partnered with them this year
because I do everything that I possibly can to make
sure that the OTP is partnered with.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
As many snacks as possible, stay appreciate it. Yeah, so
I try to get you guys set up.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
We've got snickers, We've got eighth and Rose coffee. As
you can see, we've got cookies, whatever you need to
get you through this thirty five to forty five minute experience.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Here, we make sure you guys are taking care of it.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
But yeah, there really is a designated cookie break, so
you guys just hang on to your hats.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
It's coming.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I can't wait for that.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Before we get to the cookie break, however, we need
to talk some Titans football because there's a lot of
things going on as this team gets ready for Week one,
and I want to run through some of the headlines
because we're starting to see this roster Obviously it's just
a couple of days out really take shape in terms
of what the depth chart is going to look like,
how things are going to be shaking out when the
(01:59):
Titans actually up against the Broncos. A couple of things
that have caught people's attention, so I want to get
your thoughts on it. Eliic Iomanner taking.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
The top of the depth chart.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
He is obviously not above the Calvin Ridleys of the world.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Tyler Lockett, of course, but he is.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
He is going to be playing a significant amount of
football when we get to Denver and Brian Callahan talked
about it and said, essentially he earned it. I mean,
they couldn't justifiably not put him in that position. Taylor,
You've seen a lot of football. He's someone that every
single practice he stands out.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I feel bad for Will because I've been just heaping
praise on this guy since a training came started. I
sort of made him my guy, Sure if you will.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
And he's six to two hundred and six pounds.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I guess when I really he really caught my eye
is a lot of people watched the Stanford Colorado game
last year and this guy torched Travis Hunter year. I mean,
like we're just being honest, he torched him. And ever
since that game, I've really wanted to see what Io
mannor was going to do at the next level. And
(03:09):
I think that I was calling an SEC golf tournament
in Sea Island, Georgia. I was with you guys for
the first round of the draft, and then I went
to call this golf tournament and I'm following along on
my phone and then I see like an alert Titans
select alec Io Manor in the fourth and I'm like,
he's still available, right, I was shocking, Like on the air,
(03:32):
I'm like fist pumping because I couldn't believe that he
was still available. And man, he has been awesome through
the first certainly throughout training camp, and I'm not surprised
that he is listed on the first team on the
depth chart.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Now.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I do think that Jim d Kay and Van Jefferson
and Bryce Oliver are all going to play. You will
see each of them have a chance to catch football
against the Denver Broncos. But that's pretty meaningful to be
listed as a starter in your first It really is.
And I think Elick, I mean, Brian Callahan said it
this week. There's been a level of consistency that he's
shown on the practice field. I think where Elick took
(04:08):
a step was in the middle of that ten day
trip away for joint practices with Tampa and Atlanta, and
you started to see him go from all right, I've
got chemistry with Brandon Allen, I'm working with a lot
of the younger players. I'm going up against younger, more
inexperienced corners. He started to then turn a corner.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
And show some of those same things with cam Ward,
and I think that's where things really start to get
real for him becoming a starter. He's such a versatile
player too. I mean, he can play in the inside,
he can play outside. But I feel like the coaching
staff really likes how quickly his game has acclimated to
the NFL level because he is showing his quote unquote,
(04:47):
testing speed, just talking to people on the field pretty immediately,
and they feel like he is not thinking. That's one
of the biggest things with a lot of these rookie
players is can you show me in shoulder pads a
helmet what you showed me at the NFL combine? Can
you show me that same level of speed and explosiveness.
El Guy Manner is checking a lot of those boxes.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Sticking with the rookie vibe. I guess cam Ward obviously
is going to be starting for this Titans team. Everyone's
excited to watch him get his first couple of shots,
you know, as a quarterback in the National Football League.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
And he said something interesting.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
He was asked his goals when he spoke to the media, like,
what are you trying to accomplish this season. It's a
very nebulous question, but fair, and he said, I just
want to win a lot of football games. And I
think that there was something about that answer that, while
it seems very like, well duh, it also seems like
a pretty good bar to set as a rookie player
(05:43):
who doesn't know what he doesn't know yet.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
It feels like a really good.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Answer, or a mature answer in my mind to say, look,
I'm not going to be able to give you numbers
or stats or anything tangible that I really want to do.
What I want to do is help this team win
football games. Does that I feel like? Am I crazy?
That it feels mature, It feels level headed, It feels
kind of the cool, calm, collected what we expect to see.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Out of cam Warden.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
No, I mean, I think you're totally right, And I
think it's everything cam Ward is about, just as a
human being. It's everything that he's been, you know, at
three different stops in college we talk about how coaches
can be program builders. Cam Ward is a program builder,
and the second he walked in that locker room, I
think everybody kind of pricked up a little bit and
the shoulders go back and it's when he talks, people listen,
(06:31):
And I think ultimately that is why, with all the
options that Mike Berganzi and Chad Brinker and this organization
had at the NFL Draft, that's why you draft cam
Ward to reset that standard.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Reset that expectation.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
So yeah, I think rookie quarterbacks the way you measure
success is in moments, moments of situational play. Whether it's
a two minute drive at the end of a half,
it's the complex can you go from doing pre algebraic
calculus in real time against NFL defenses? It's can you
take us on a game winning drive on the road
in a Rockets atmosphere. It's those flashes that you want
(07:06):
to see from cam Ward. It's what I want to see,
it's what these fans want to see. And my goodness,
it is really impressive the amount of belief, in the
amount of trust that he has earned within that locker
room and a really short amount of time.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
It's well said.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
I love college football and I love calling college football.
I do not love the transfer portal amy, and I
don't love these guys that have played for three and
four teams. By and large, I don't think that has
a really good impact on team unity and college football
as a whole. Having said that, I think Ward is
an outlier. Cam Ward going from Incarnate Word to Washington
(07:43):
State to Miami, I think has prepared him to play
for the Tennessee Titans. This guy immediately went to Washington
State and he ran that locker room and he ran
that team, and the moment was not too big for him.
If you watch the Miami Hurricanes play the Florida Gators
in the swamp last year in the raucous environment, and
I don't mean this disrespectfully to Denver, It'll be an
(08:04):
awesome atmosphere. It'll be as loud as it was in
the swamp last year. From Miami and Florida, that guy
was ready for the moment, and it was because of
some of the stops he had been to along the
way that prepared him for the moment. I think all
of these life experiences have helped cam Ward realize, Man,
I just love football and I want to win. Like
(08:26):
you said, now, the level of player that is on
the field in Denver, Colorado will be greater than anything
he's ever seen before. And that only comes with more
and more experience for him to be more and more comfortable.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
But I don't think the moment's going to be too
big for him. I think he'll be ready for it.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
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Speaker 3 (08:56):
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Speaker 3 (09:40):
Titan Nap the theme has been young guys.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
So this guy's not a rookie, but Cedric Gray, second
year player. He has made it to the top of
the Jet depth chart, starting opposite Cody Barton at insider
inside linebacker. Exciting for him after we saw him kind
of struggle with injury.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
And rookie year.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
He was a guy that I was really watching as
we went through the off season program because I wanted
to see if he was gonna be able to do
what we thought he was going to be able to
do all along and man watching him play through the preseason,
that guy wanted to play football and he was going
to show you exactly what he could do. Think it's
going to be a great addition your thoughts.
Speaker 5 (10:22):
Cedric Gray is like if Frank Bush and Denard Wilson
built in a lab a young linebacker for their system,
if he is a runaway freight train in the gap
stopping the run. I think you can't go to the
University of North Carolina and also not be a smart
football player and a smart human being.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Right now, Yes, I think they would cow.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
I remember talking to his linebackers coach right after he'd
gotten drafted last year on my radio show and him
expressing like, this guy could be the green Dot guy
immediately if he needed to be, and injuries obviously kept
him from really earning that opportunity last year. And now
you have Barton and you have a wealth of experience there.
But Cedric Gray is playing fast. He is playing free.
(11:06):
That is what Frank Bush and the narn Wilson want
from their inside linebackers. And it's because the game has
slowed down for him mentally to now he's not thinking.
I feel like that's my theme of the day, Like
young guys that are starting to not think about what
they're doing. They're just doing it and I'll never forget
he was. I talked to him for Titans Radio's locker
Room Report in Tampa and I asked him that for
(11:27):
the postgame interview led the team in tackles. He was
the guy I talked to and said, you know, how
much is the game slowing down for you? And it's
like he just switched from this competitive I'm in the
zoone my set and just gave me this biggest smile
of like you wouldn't even imagine. I could not believe
how different things are for me and I really believed that,
and you're seeing it on the field, that difference in
him well.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
And you talked about the performance he had against Tampa
in that first preseason game. I would argue he was
as good, if not better against the Falcons, and as good,
if not better against the Vikings, and coach Callahan talked
about it earlier this week.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Amy.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
The reason he is first on the depth chart is
because of in game performance. You won't hear coaches often
say that about the preseason, but he is one of
the few guys that really elevated his status literally by
the way he played in the preseason, and that's why
you'll see him play a significant role. My man, Ret
(12:22):
Brian is seeded to my right, sometimes standing depending on
the situation in the booth for the Titans radio broadcast,
and he was pointing at Cedric Gray's name time and
time again as the man that had the tackle. And
I expect mister Brian to be pointing at his name
on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Absolutely, I think that's a pretty good what's the word
I'm looking for? Prediction?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Yes, Yes, I think that's a pretty good prediction.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I made a mistake too, I was trying to lump
all the rookies together. I left somebody who's making some
headlines off and that's Chim ray DK. Seeing him a lot,
prepare to see him a lot on in days. I'm
making Taylor do a lot of flipping on his big board.
Chim Rae DK someone we're going to see involved a
lot in special teams, whether it's as the return man
(13:10):
for punts or for kicks. He's going to be all
over the place in a huge part of the Titans
special team's efforts.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Right, yeah, I think you're right. I think that you
just said it. And look, he was the kind of
guy that could make a big play at Florida and
suddenly flip the field. And it wouldn't surprise me if
he would do that again in the National Football League.
I say Florida, I mean he did it Wisconsin too.
I mean he's very used to making a big difference
in special teams. The guy can fly.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Now.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Bryce Oliver is kind of seen as the gunner, right.
You know, Steve Tasker, if you go with the Buffalo Bills,
was like one of the all time great gunners, and
Bryce Oliver is kind of turning into that for the Titans.
But I wouldn't be surprised if you see DK on
the opposite side of Bryce Oliver running down trying to
(13:58):
tackle the other team's punt returner on Sunday as well.
But that's and as much as we talk about the quarterback,
and rightfully so, and the skill players and who's going
to try to get after the quarterback, special teams for
the Titans look significantly improved. They've got a big time
coach there in Bones Fossil and John bones Fossil, and
(14:19):
with the way Joey Slide's kicking, the way new punter
Johnny Hecker's punting, and some of the moves they made
in special teams, that's a hidden.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Part of the game, it is.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
And for Denver last year, as we kind of look
at what makes them so good, they were top three
in the NFL in both average starting fuel position for
their offense and their defense. So a lot of hidden
yardage and the altitude maybe playing a little bit part
of that as well with how high that they can
punt the football on a new Australian punter as well.
For Denver's a little bit of a different, different style.
(14:51):
They're actually a punter that Himrie DK would know well
because they were teammates at Florida together. So if there's
anybody that he knows what the football looks like coming
off their foot, it's the for punter who was also
a rookie from Florida. But chim YDK just under twenty
yards per punt return last year against SEC special teams
units and SEC defenses.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
You know, you both know.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
That's a lot of four and five star freshmen and
sophomores on SEC teams that maybe aren't ready to play
linebacker or safety. In the two deep or in the
top line of the depth chart, there's a lot of
five star blue chip talent that cuts their teeth and
special teams, and chim rid DK was slicing through that
talent last year of Florida.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
That's a lot of what is being talked about around
the facility.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Here. Here are some things that are.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Not being talked about as much that I felt it
was important to also mention. And the first one is
Brian Callahan in his second year as a play caller.
I feel like we've talked so much about his second
year as a head coach. We've talked I mean, just
crazy amounts of this, the roster and all the turnover
and the systems and feeling more comfortable in that. We
(15:58):
have not talked about the fact that Brian Callahan in
twenty twenty four was a brand new head coach and
a first time play caller. Yeah, that is a tremendous
amount of stuff to figure out and to manage.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
And he did it very well. I mean, there wasn't
a point where.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
He was like way in the weeds and couldn't handle
all of this and all of that. But there has
to be a level of comfort for him, for the
coaching staff as a whole, for this whole team to
realize that like, Okay, this isn't new, Okay, we can
slide back into something familiar. Am I crazy in thinking
that that is a bigger deal than maybe what everyone
(16:37):
else is talking about.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
No, I think it's absolutely a big deal.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
And I think to Amy, one of the things that
Brian has emphasized this offseason is wanting to be more
involved with the defense. What does that look like on
game day? What kind of conversations is he having with
different coaches. Does that mean there is more of a
say from offensive coordator to colts or quarterbacks coach Boheart
agree there on the sideline. I think it's a big,
big conversation and talking point. I also think it's interesting
(17:03):
how much this offense changes schematically to fit cam ward strengths.
They've talked about this throughout the offseason as well. The
offensive coaching staff that in Cincinnati, Zach Taylor and Brian
Callahan wanted that to be year three at LSU for
Joe Burrow. They want this to look a little bit
maybe like year two at Miami for cam Ward. Yeah,
(17:24):
what does that mean for Tyler Lockett and the way
he's deployed? What does that mean for Alecia Manner and
Van Jefferson and of course wide receiver one and Calvin Ridley,
so all of that. It feels like a new slate
and a new rhythm and routine for Brian, calling a
different kind of scheme. I mean, the principals still feel
(17:44):
the same, but I think we're gonna see a lot
of differences to make cam Ward feel comfortable in the system.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, and I think that's a great observation by Amy
too about having a guy that wasn't calling plays for
the Cincinnati Bengals. Brian Callahan was the offensive coordinator there,
but Zach Taylor very similar to the way Brian Callahan
is doing it here. He was a guy calling those plays.
Brian was very involved with the install obviously in the
creation of the plays, but not the actual calling of them,
(18:10):
and that takes them getting used to, getting used to
just kind of the rhythm of the game. I think
also when you have an uber confident quarterback like Joe Burrow,
like cam Ward, I think it really helps the way
you call the game. And I think that Brian Callahan
has the benefit of having an uber confident quarterback and
(18:31):
a guy that doesn't have a memory either. You know
the cam Ward if you've watched him play football in
the last few years, he'll make a mistake. He's not
afraid to throw into traffic. But he also doesn't remember
that mistake. And that's the greatest part about being a
play caller is being able to know, all right, I
don't have to think about the fact that the last
(18:51):
time we called this he made a mistake and he's
still thinking about that. There are I think most people
in life would remember and you'd say, I can't do
that because I can tell he's not gonna He's gonna
think about what we did the last time we you know,
we could drop any play here, but you know, we
get verticals on both sides of the field, and the
(19:12):
last time he's on the left side of the field.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Verticals, you know, on a deep ball through an interception.
Cam's not going to care about that.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
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Speaker 2 (20:03):
And I think that that's something to keep in mind.
But you're right, Amy, it's a good.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Observation on the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
I also feel like we're not talking enough about all
of the people who are returning to the Titans defense
and how just overwhelmingly.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Excited they are to play a football game.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Another flip for you, and I think it all starts
with Dinnard Wilson. He is so ready to get this
team out there and like line up against someone else
and just hit him in the mouth. He is so ready,
and that passion is trickling down to the Jeffrey Simmons,
to the Arding Keys, to the Cody Bartons, to I
(20:45):
mean Jarvis Brownlee, Sebastian, Joseph Day, all of these guys
who are healthy, who are ready to play some football
and are ready to be able to actually really hit somebody.
I think that that is something we're not talking about enough,
because that excitement, that passion, that energy is something that
(21:07):
I haven't seen from a defensive.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Side of the ball in a long time.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
They are fired up and ready to go, and I mean,
just make a statement about who the Titans are in
twenty twenty five, and I just haven't heard people talking.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
About that the way that I expected. Do you think
that's a real thing.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
I think it's fair and I think It starts with
a very big man up front who is not as
big as he used to be, named Big Jeff. I mean,
I think a lot of times in training camp and
in preseason, when we talk about guys making changes to
their routines and habits and to their frames, I'll admit
and let people in on a secret. Sometimes that's because
(21:50):
there is nothing else to talk about. Sometimes I think
that is because a player is a totally different player.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
This is the ladder.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
This is a guy who I think fans are going
to recognize a major difference in the quickness, the speed
to power. I don't think he's giving up anything in
the run game in order to be a little bit
quicker and more vertical as a pass rusher. I am
so excited to see what Jeffrey Simmons looks like and
guys too. Jeffrey Simmons has a call and response now
(22:21):
when he trash talks the offense. It's not just even
cam Ward. I think JC Latham has become a little
bit more vocal in pushing him. I think this offensive
line that feels confident, that feels like it's coming together, well,
it has challenged and raised the level with Jeff so yes,
one hundred percent. There's a lot of returning production on
this defense that you like. I'm starting up front because
(22:42):
I think Jeffrey Simmons sets the table to allow Jarvis
Brownly a year two to be more aggressive, to allow
Roger McCreary in a big season, for him to be
sticky in coverage, the Russian coverage work together, and Tadar
Wilson can be aggressive because he knows he's got big
Jeff setting the tone up front. And for whatever it's worth,
he still weighs three hundred and five pounds exactly. He
(23:03):
is very still quick to remind everyone he still weighs
over three hundred pounds.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
But you're right, he is.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
He looks slim, he looks he looks like he is
in the best shape of his life. And I think
because of that, you can do a little bit more
with him. You know, it wouldn't surprise me if you
saw him on an edge from time to time. I
don't think you'll see that throughout the game, but I
think in certain packages you could see him on the
edge this year, not just in the interior of the defense.
So yeah, it's going to be a faster team, and
(23:31):
I think that suits Denard Wilson. I think that's the
kind of defense he wants to play. I wish Sean
Peyton didn't know that, but he does know that, and
I've listened to him talk about that, yeah, already this week.
The guy to me that is the identity of the
Denard Wilson defense is Cody Barton. There are linebackers that
are going to be playing in the middle of defenses
(23:52):
that you could argue you might have a little bit
more talent than Cody Barton does across the league, but
they don't have more energy, they don't have more selflessness,
They aren't more fired up to be on the field
than Cody Barton, but they're not more prepared than Cody Barton.
And I think all those things are going to serve
the Titans well. And just one other guy that I've
(24:13):
got to mention. We have not talked a lot about him.
He's one of the most talented defensive players in the
National Football League. I've really liked what I've seen from
Lagerius Neeed in practice the last couple of weeks. And
if we get the guy the Kansas City Chiefs had
two years ago, if that guy is shutting down half
of the field on Sundays. As the season progresses, watch out.
(24:37):
This is a brand new ballgame for the Titans defense.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Speaking of defense, I think it's time to check in
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Speaker 6 (24:56):
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been one of cam Ward's favorite targets this preseason, and
Patrick Certain is a bona fide lockdown corner. If the
(25:17):
Titans offense is to have any success and win this
game on Sunday, Calvin Ridley is gonna have to play
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Speaker 1 (25:26):
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of fifteen dollars or more today at participating stores using
code Titans fifteen. That's Titans one five at checkout Pizza Pizza.
That excludes taxes and other fees, of course, so just
remember that. I'll remember y'all want to talk a little Denver.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Oh it's time for the cookie.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Okay, no, it is not time for the cookie yet.
We have pizza and cookies right next to each other.
It's again, let's talk some filling this food with this
show with food. I want to talk Denver Broncos because
obviously that's who the Titans are playing, but also this
is a great challenge for this Titans team coming out,
yeah and starting this season with a team that's really,
(26:08):
really strong. And my question to you is what stands
out about this Denver team? But I'm gonna go first,
Oh good, because what stands out to me about this
Denver team is that they are returning all of their
starters on the offensive line and all of the backups
to the starters.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
On the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
It is crazy towent the consistency that they have on
this roster.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
So the question I guess associated with.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
That is is there anything that stands out to you
other than the fact that everybody coming back it feels
like is a returning starter.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
I think to me it kind of picking backing off
of that, I think Denver is as good on both
sides of the line of scrimmage together as any team
in football. I put them in the Philadelphia Eagles. Right
at the top of that conversation. You talk about league
leading sixty three sacks for their defensive front last year,
Zach Allen led all defensive tackles in pressure rate. Nick Benito,
(27:07):
who just got rewarded with a new contract, second round guy,
kind of to make a quick aside to the Titans
what you want Fimoladjo to turn into. I think he's
a really good comp for what Fimoladejo could be.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
Second round pick.
Speaker 5 (27:21):
Really athletic guy, learning curve at the position, but a
lot of potential there. They led the league in generating
pressure on four man rushes, meaning that Vance Joseph's defense
can play Manda man on the back end and say,
you guys have fun seven in the back for rushing.
(27:42):
Forty one percent of the time they rushed with four men,
they got pressure. I'm no coach Mack, that's easy math
to do. That's a really good way to be successful
as a defense. And then you look at their offensive line.
I mean they had three guys that led the league
in pressure rate allowed at their back to position, left
guard to right tackle, three different players sixty percent of
(28:04):
the players who led the league and pressure rate alout
around the Denver Broncos offensive line, they are monsters in
the trenches on both sides.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
And the thing I would add to that is a
lot of these guys are young. It's not like they're
on their last leg here or there's a year left.
You know, we could probably sit here, this might be
more geared towards a Will Bowling sports talk show than
this show, but we could make an argument that the
Kansas City Chiefs are at the end of their run,
(28:33):
or they're at least approaching the end of their run.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
A lot of them are very old.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Yeah, And I mean you've got guys that are about
to go get married and who knows how much more
football they're going to play. You can't say that about
the Denver Broncos in that same division. And here's one
thing that sticks out to me is the Tennessee Titans
went three and fourteen last year, and they were two
and six and one score games. We could all sit
here and say, if we're being objectives, probably should have
(29:01):
been at least a five or a six win team. Okay,
they were two in six and one score games. Do
you know what the Denver Broncos were in one score
games but one in six in one score games, and
they went ten and seven last year, And to me,
that speaks to youth, that speaks to inexperience, not knowing
how to finish the game. Well, now they're coming back
(29:22):
with almost all of the guys that they had from
last year, including a second year quarterback instead of a rookie.
And this is a team that was a lot closer
to being a twelve or thirteen win team last year
than they were a team out of the playoffs. So
I do I think that this is as tough of
an opponent as the Titans will see all year.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
It does not mean they can't win the game.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Crazy things happen in week one, and the Titans are
a significantly improved team from last year. By anybody's measure,
they are, but what they're getting in week one is
the ultimate assignment. I don't think ideally you'd want to
play this matchup in Week one. But the good news
is this is that this can be a barometer game
for the Tennessee Titans throughout the year of Okay, we
(30:05):
know what a championship level football team is. We just
saw it and I think they're going to see it
on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Well, you went down the road to Bowneck, so let's
continue down that road. Rookie year takes him a.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Minute, but then he ends up really finding his rhythm
and ending on a pretty solid note.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
Where do you hope I guess not you specifically.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Where do the Broncos hope to see the improvement in
him in year two?
Speaker 4 (30:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (30:32):
I would say probably if one the interceptions weren't bad
last year, the completion percentage was okay, I think that
they'd like to see that improve just a little bit.
But honestly, for a first year player, for a guy
that's the twelfth pick in the draft last year, I
mean it was a pretty quick transition for him. I
would just say more time, yeah, more time to be
(30:54):
in just more and more reps really, but yeah, maybe
the completion percentage could improve just a little bit.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
I think bo Nicks earned the right to do a
lot more complicated stuff down the stretch last season. And
you look at some of the numbers, and next Gen
stat says that bo Knicks targeted wide receivers behind the
line of scrimmage twenty six percent of the time last year.
That was the third highest rate in the NFL among
any quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
So go downfield. Yeah, I think it's that part of it.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
I think it's finding a secondary guy beyond Courtland Sutton.
He had six interceptions when targeting Courtland Sutton last season.
His old friend from Oregon, Troy Franklin. They expect him
to take a major step forward this season. Marvin Mims,
the very dynamic returner and now two time All Pro
return man. They're using him in kind of a gadget
role a little bit differently. But I think if you're
(31:42):
looking for spots on this team in Denver that they
need to improve in order to be at that championship levels,
it's got to be wide receiver, no question. Evan Ingram
is kind of like a big wide ros he's going
to say. And he has been right at the top
of the league in terms of yards by tight ends
when lined up in the slot over the five seasons.
So I think he is someone that answers a lot
(32:03):
of the questions for bonicks. And as we know, I mean,
young quarterbacks love a tight end and love that safety
blanket that they can provide.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
But I would just add that, you know, Sean Payton
knows he has one of the best, if not the
best defenses in the National Football League, So I wouldn't
be surprised if he's a little bit careful with how
much he turns bow knicks loose because he knows this
defense it gives up less than twenty last year, gave
up less than twenty points a game. That's a winning
formula in the National Football League.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Dude, the Titans have any sort of advantage given that
there is so much new in this team and there's
no tape.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
Yeah, yes, nothing, that's it. That's it.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
And you know, I know, I just painted the picture
of this is the ultimate opponent that the Broncos, that
the Titans have in the Broncos.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
But that is it right there.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
It's kind of like a new pitcher that's called up
for the minor leagues and you don't know what kind
of stuff he throws. I mean, that's that's it. There's
no Sean Payton's talked about it all week. He's like,
I know that Denard Wilson has not shown me what
he is going to do to me in this game
on Sunday. So that's one part of it. On defense,
and then the other part is of it is I
(33:11):
don't think that cam Ward and Brian Callahan in the
preseason showed you a lot of what they're going to
try to do on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
They didn't even play that much.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
There is no question that Pat Surtan quite possibly the
best cover corner in the NFL. One of them for
sure is going to be matched up on number zero
Calvin Ridley in most cases. But Brian Callahan has known
that that was going to happen for what nine months? Yeah,
and so he's had nine months to think of, these
(33:40):
are the ways I'm going to get zero the football
in this game? And yes, if Denver was playing the
Titans in Week two, I'd be way more concerned than
I am in Week one.
Speaker 5 (33:51):
Well, and I think too, this can be a really
big Tony Pollard game because we saw just one drive
at Tony Pollard in Tampa and then Brian Callahan of
the staff said, all right, you're good.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
You've had such a good camp.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
We've seen what we've needed to see, and I know
fans have not been able to see a lot of that.
I think you're going to see the best of Tony
Pollard this year. I think the reworked offensive line is
a big reason why in a game where the opponent
led the league in sacks last year, you just can't
be in third and ten, plus, you can't be in
third and twelve consistently. And to the point about Brian
Callahan as a second year play caller, there is not
(34:26):
a play on the play sheet that offensive coordinators are
going to like for third and long consistently. If I'm
looking for one possible advantage, it's the Titans run game
against Broncos linebackers. That's a big question mark for this
team because they've got two guys, one of which one
of whom I don't know if he's going to play
in Dray green Law, who mispracticed this Week's had a
quad injury that's come back up. He's coming off a
(34:48):
season ending injury last year. Alex Singleton is coming off
of an ACL injury last year, which was a big
reason why Cody Barton was able to earn the contract
he got in Tennessee. Because the lack of Singleton there,
there's a lot of question marks there at inside linebacker
for Denver, still one of the best run defenses of
the NFL last year, despite all of that. But if
I'm picking it apart a little bit, I think this
(35:10):
can be a really big Tony Pollard game.
Speaker 4 (35:12):
And that I agree.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
It wouldn't surprise me if we get an early Pinnacle
sideline report on Drake Greenlaw and weather. He's on the
field from will bowling very early in the game.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Better fire it up? Well, get ready ready to go?
Get ready grab the old clipboard.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Are you guys ready for a cookie break? I know
that Taylor's been losing his mind.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Christy Cookie is the provider of the cookies for our
cookie break. We're gonna do this all year long because
everybody needs a cookie break.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Today we are having snicker Doodles.
Speaker 4 (35:46):
I love snicker doodle.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
I know it's my.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Favorite of the cookies, which is why that's what we
are sampling today. Christy Cookie has so graciously agreed to
provide us these tasty treats so that we can all
just take a little break and enjoy our lives and
eat a delicious cookie. If you too want to have
a cookie break at your house, or at your place
of business, or just at any point in your day,
(36:10):
Christycookies dot com they've got everything that you could possibly want.
Whether it's just yummy cookies for yourself or you want
to give them as gifts.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
Cookie break for your friends. That's so nice. But yeah,
so cheers guys, Cookie.
Speaker 4 (36:23):
Break that is really good.
Speaker 1 (36:25):
Christiecookie dot com. I love snugardoodles more than any other cookie.
You can't tell me otherwise. Although, Christie Cookie, please don't
us more. We've got a long season ahead of us.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
I love you, Christy Cookies. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
I hought you, guys, might I thought you might enjoy
this little addition to our twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
Take a cookie break.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
Visit Christycookie dot com for more information and to get
your own cookie break. Will do you have any next
gen stats for us that you are I guarantee he
does particularly excited about. You are the man with the numbers,
and I feel like that is something that I cannot provide.
Taylor probably could to his life, but I don't know
(37:08):
that he's got enough room on his sure miss chart,
So we've got.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
To flip that over to you.
Speaker 5 (37:13):
Well, yep, all right, let's talk about Pat Sertan did
not allow fifty or more receiving yards in any game
last season, after allowing multiple in twenty twenty three. As
we flip again Bonnicks. This is something Jeffrey Simmons talked
about the other day in the locker room. When Bonnicks
doesn't have a guy open, he is the quintessential sneaky
(37:35):
fast quarterback of the guy that you're like, wow, Bonix
can run a little bit. BONNICKX last season ninety two
carries two hundred and thirty yards two point nine scrambles
per game, third most in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
You would not have expected that.
Speaker 5 (37:48):
If you told me that, I would have thought, that's
not real.
Speaker 4 (37:52):
I promise you.
Speaker 5 (37:52):
It is twenty one yards per game from scrambles according
to a.
Speaker 4 (37:57):
Pro Football Focus. We talked about the.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
Hitting yardage and the ability to move the chains on
a third and eight, third and five, even getting those
six yards and getting down and protecting himself. I think
an element of this game that is a little bit
underrated with him. Honestly, we've gone through most of my
next gen stats and my nerd nuggets already.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
So nerd nuggets is going to stick, Yes.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
Yes, absolutely, but those are those are I think the
main ones. And that really did surprise me though a
Bonix because you don't think about that with him.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
These these nuggets are coming in handy. And I did
recently go on television with his significant other and she
is terrified about all the nuggets he comes up with
late into the night and doesn't get any sleep.
Speaker 4 (38:41):
But uh true, they have come in handy.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
And you know, I did see some of that sneak ability,
if you will, when he was playing for the Auburn Tigers,
because I know he wasn't well protected there and he
was taking off like crazy when he played for Auburn
years ago. But he did it for Oregon as well,
and then obviously for the Denver Broncos too, So yeah,
it's something to watch out for in this game, is
(39:05):
bo Nick's taking off and running football. I don't have
a next gen snat, but next gen stats, next stack.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
Can you tell where my head is?
Speaker 2 (39:17):
But I do have as my shout out to my
friend Alyssa Lange, who I do some television work for
with the ESPN.
Speaker 4 (39:24):
She calls these czar bits little nuggets.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Kit Gunner Heelm is playing his first NFL football game
fifteen minutes from his house.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
How cool is that? That's awesome?
Speaker 2 (39:35):
I mean, this guy was a great Texas Longhorn, great
tight end. And he's had an awesome training camp. And
I know that Chigconquo is the big time tight end
for the Titans and has been the last few years.
Gunnerhelm I think could have a big year as a rookie,
and it wouldn't surprise me if it happens.
Speaker 4 (39:56):
Really in his.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Hometown fifteen minutes from his house is where he gets
to play his first game.
Speaker 4 (40:02):
That's really cool.
Speaker 3 (40:03):
That is very cool. I love I love moments like that.
That's a good bit.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
Oh, thank you, sorry, bit So, We've got Nerd nuggets,
We've got czar bit We've got cookies. What more could
you want on this show? How about a key to
victory for the Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
Just one key per person?
Speaker 4 (40:19):
Okay, just one? Okay? So to do that you.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Can share with your friends if you have to.
Speaker 4 (40:23):
I've got one.
Speaker 5 (40:24):
You ready, Yeah, go ahead, And I'm gonna say staying
ahead of the chains, do not let vance Joseph t
Off on your quarterback. On this new offensive line that
I think has come a long way, that I think
is going to progress even more from weeks one through eighteen,
do yourself some favors as an offense and get yourself
(40:46):
in third and manageable. It sounds so simple. It is
maybe the cliche key for every football game ever played.
I think it's amplified when you're playing the team that
led the league in sacks last year, who man blitzes
as much as anybody in the NA. To me, it
comes down to that if the Titans are going to
be able to have success in this football game, it's
running the ball and staying ahead of the chains. I
(41:08):
think those two kind of mirriad together is one big key.
Speaker 4 (41:10):
Yeah, good point.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
And obviously that would go towards penalties too, and we
might have some will Bowling next gen snat stats about
how often this officiating crew calls those penalties on Sunday,
but let's stay out of that. I think it's really simple.
The Tennessee Titans last year had a disastrous season when
it came to the turnover battle. And if the Titans
(41:34):
want to start off on the right foot win the
turnover battle, I think it's really simple. I think they
need to play clean football on Sunday and they need
to make bow Nicks make a mistake. They need to
get a turnover, and I think that if that happens,
the Titans really do have a recipe for victory on Sunday?
Speaker 4 (41:53):
And boy, wouldn't that be a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (41:55):
It'll feel good to have football back then, Oh my, yes,
that's going to be great. Absolutely, and then it's just
going to help us get ready for what was to come.
On Sunday, the Tennessee Titans take on the Denver Broncos.
This Sunday kickoff for that game is three oh five
Central time, so.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
Check the clocks.
Speaker 1 (42:09):
It's a little bit different than what we are expecting
for the rest of the season. Three oh five Titans
Radio is on the air at two o clock Central
time for Titans Countdown. We'll get you all ready for
the big game, and then kickoff is at three oh
five Central time.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
Four Taylor's ours for Wilbo. I'm Ammy Wells, thank you
for joining us.
Speaker 4 (42:31):
For the teams
This is the OTP, and ladies and gentlemen, it is
game week. It feels so good to just be a
couple days away from Week one of the regular season.
The Tennessee Titans will be taking on the Denver Broncos
in Denver at Mile High Stadium. Kickoff for that game
is three to five Central Time. You do not want
(00:26):
to miss it. So to get us ready for the
big event, I am joined by Titans Radio's very own
Tailor's Oarzer and Will Bowling, both of whom will be
in Denver covering the game from start to finish. So
anything you could want to know about this upcoming matchup,
these two have it on lock. So you were a
natural fit to be on the OTP. Really you didn't
(00:47):
have a choice.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Well, we're honored to be here. And when can I
start eating this snicker hoodle?
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Well, thank you for asking. We now have a designated
cookie break. It's written in my notes, the Cookie Break.
Christy Cookie is providing us the cookies for our cookie break.
We're really excited to be partnered with them this year
because I do everything that I possibly can to make
sure that the OTP is partnered with.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
As many snacks as possible, stay appreciate it. Yeah, so
I try to get you guys set up.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
We've got snickers, We've got eighth and Rose coffee. As
you can see, we've got cookies, whatever you need to
get you through this thirty five to forty five minute experience.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Here, we make sure you guys are taking care of it.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
I love it.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
But yeah, there really is a designated cookie break, so
you guys just hang on to your hats.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
It's coming.
Speaker 4 (01:36):
I can't wait for that.
Speaker 1 (01:36):
Before we get to the cookie break, however, we need
to talk some Titans football because there's a lot of
things going on as this team gets ready for Week one,
and I want to run through some of the headlines
because we're starting to see this roster Obviously it's just
a couple of days out really take shape in terms
of what the depth chart is going to look like,
how things are going to be shaking out when the
(01:59):
Titans actually up against the Broncos. A couple of things
that have caught people's attention, so I want to get
your thoughts on it. Eliic Iomanner taking.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
The top of the depth chart.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
He is obviously not above the Calvin Ridleys of the world.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Tyler Lockett, of course, but he is.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
He is going to be playing a significant amount of
football when we get to Denver and Brian Callahan talked
about it and said, essentially he earned it. I mean,
they couldn't justifiably not put him in that position. Taylor,
You've seen a lot of football. He's someone that every
single practice he stands out.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I feel bad for Will because I've been just heaping
praise on this guy since a training came started. I
sort of made him my guy, Sure if you will.
Speaker 4 (02:44):
And he's six to two hundred and six pounds.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
I guess when I really he really caught my eye
is a lot of people watched the Stanford Colorado game
last year and this guy torched Travis Hunter year. I mean,
like we're just being honest, he torched him. And ever
since that game, I've really wanted to see what Io
mannor was going to do at the next level. And
(03:09):
I think that I was calling an SEC golf tournament
in Sea Island, Georgia. I was with you guys for
the first round of the draft, and then I went
to call this golf tournament and I'm following along on
my phone and then I see like an alert Titans
select alec Io Manor in the fourth and I'm like,
he's still available, right, I was shocking, Like on the air,
(03:32):
I'm like fist pumping because I couldn't believe that he
was still available. And man, he has been awesome through
the first certainly throughout training camp, and I'm not surprised
that he is listed on the first team on the
depth chart.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
Now.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I do think that Jim d Kay and Van Jefferson
and Bryce Oliver are all going to play. You will
see each of them have a chance to catch football
against the Denver Broncos. But that's pretty meaningful to be
listed as a starter in your first It really is.
And I think Elick, I mean, Brian Callahan said it
this week. There's been a level of consistency that he's
shown on the practice field. I think where Elick took
(04:08):
a step was in the middle of that ten day
trip away for joint practices with Tampa and Atlanta, and
you started to see him go from all right, I've
got chemistry with Brandon Allen, I'm working with a lot
of the younger players. I'm going up against younger, more
inexperienced corners. He started to then turn a corner.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
And show some of those same things with cam Ward,
and I think that's where things really start to get
real for him becoming a starter. He's such a versatile
player too. I mean, he can play in the inside,
he can play outside. But I feel like the coaching
staff really likes how quickly his game has acclimated to
the NFL level because he is showing his quote unquote,
(04:47):
testing speed, just talking to people on the field pretty immediately,
and they feel like he is not thinking. That's one
of the biggest things with a lot of these rookie
players is can you show me in shoulder pads a
helmet what you showed me at the NFL combine? Can
you show me that same level of speed and explosiveness.
El Guy Manner is checking a lot of those boxes.
Speaker 1 (05:08):
Sticking with the rookie vibe. I guess cam Ward obviously
is going to be starting for this Titans team. Everyone's
excited to watch him get his first couple of shots,
you know, as a quarterback in the National Football League.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
And he said something interesting.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
He was asked his goals when he spoke to the media, like,
what are you trying to accomplish this season. It's a
very nebulous question, but fair, and he said, I just
want to win a lot of football games. And I
think that there was something about that answer that, while
it seems very like, well duh, it also seems like
a pretty good bar to set as a rookie player
(05:43):
who doesn't know what he doesn't know yet.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
It feels like a really good.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Answer, or a mature answer in my mind to say, look,
I'm not going to be able to give you numbers
or stats or anything tangible that I really want to do.
What I want to do is help this team win
football games. Does that I feel like? Am I crazy?
That it feels mature, It feels level headed, It feels
kind of the cool, calm, collected what we expect to see.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
Out of cam Warden.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
No, I mean, I think you're totally right, And I
think it's everything cam Ward is about, just as a
human being. It's everything that he's been, you know, at
three different stops in college we talk about how coaches
can be program builders. Cam Ward is a program builder,
and the second he walked in that locker room, I
think everybody kind of pricked up a little bit and
the shoulders go back and it's when he talks, people listen,
(06:31):
And I think ultimately that is why, with all the
options that Mike Berganzi and Chad Brinker and this organization
had at the NFL Draft, that's why you draft cam
Ward to reset that standard.
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Reset that expectation.
Speaker 5 (06:43):
So yeah, I think rookie quarterbacks the way you measure
success is in moments, moments of situational play. Whether it's
a two minute drive at the end of a half,
it's the complex can you go from doing pre algebraic
calculus in real time against NFL defenses? It's can you
take us on a game winning drive on the road
in a Rockets atmosphere. It's those flashes that you want
(07:06):
to see from cam Ward. It's what I want to see,
it's what these fans want to see. And my goodness,
it is really impressive the amount of belief, in the
amount of trust that he has earned within that locker
room and a really short amount of time.
Speaker 4 (07:18):
It's well said.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
I love college football and I love calling college football.
I do not love the transfer portal amy, and I
don't love these guys that have played for three and
four teams. By and large, I don't think that has
a really good impact on team unity and college football
as a whole. Having said that, I think Ward is
an outlier. Cam Ward going from Incarnate Word to Washington
(07:43):
State to Miami, I think has prepared him to play
for the Tennessee Titans. This guy immediately went to Washington
State and he ran that locker room and he ran
that team, and the moment was not too big for him.
If you watch the Miami Hurricanes play the Florida Gators
in the swamp last year in the raucous environment, and
I don't mean this disrespectfully to Denver, It'll be an
(08:04):
awesome atmosphere. It'll be as loud as it was in
the swamp last year. From Miami and Florida, that guy
was ready for the moment, and it was because of
some of the stops he had been to along the
way that prepared him for the moment. I think all
of these life experiences have helped cam Ward realize, Man,
I just love football and I want to win. Like
(08:26):
you said, now, the level of player that is on
the field in Denver, Colorado will be greater than anything
he's ever seen before. And that only comes with more
and more experience for him to be more and more comfortable.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
But I don't think the moment's going to be too
big for him. I think he'll be ready for it.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
When you bring Helman's creamy buffalo chicken dip to the
watch party, you can cheer too loud, or block the TV,
or be a couch coach, and no one will eject
you from the game. That's a hail Mayo.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Helman, the official Mayo of the Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
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Speaker 1 (09:27):
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Speaker 3 (09:40):
Titan Nap the theme has been young guys.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
So this guy's not a rookie, but Cedric Gray, second
year player. He has made it to the top of
the Jet depth chart, starting opposite Cody Barton at insider
inside linebacker. Exciting for him after we saw him kind
of struggle with injury.
Speaker 3 (09:59):
And rookie year.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
He was a guy that I was really watching as
we went through the off season program because I wanted
to see if he was gonna be able to do
what we thought he was going to be able to
do all along and man watching him play through the preseason,
that guy wanted to play football and he was going
to show you exactly what he could do. Think it's
going to be a great addition your thoughts.
Speaker 5 (10:22):
Cedric Gray is like if Frank Bush and Denard Wilson
built in a lab a young linebacker for their system,
if he is a runaway freight train in the gap
stopping the run. I think you can't go to the
University of North Carolina and also not be a smart
football player and a smart human being.
Speaker 4 (10:42):
Right now, Yes, I think they would cow.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
I remember talking to his linebackers coach right after he'd
gotten drafted last year on my radio show and him
expressing like, this guy could be the green Dot guy
immediately if he needed to be, and injuries obviously kept
him from really earning that opportunity last year. And now
you have Barton and you have a wealth of experience there.
But Cedric Gray is playing fast. He is playing free.
(11:06):
That is what Frank Bush and the narn Wilson want
from their inside linebackers. And it's because the game has
slowed down for him mentally to now he's not thinking.
I feel like that's my theme of the day, Like
young guys that are starting to not think about what
they're doing. They're just doing it and I'll never forget
he was. I talked to him for Titans Radio's locker
Room Report in Tampa and I asked him that for
(11:27):
the postgame interview led the team in tackles. He was
the guy I talked to and said, you know, how
much is the game slowing down for you? And it's
like he just switched from this competitive I'm in the
zoone my set and just gave me this biggest smile
of like you wouldn't even imagine. I could not believe
how different things are for me and I really believed that,
and you're seeing it on the field, that difference in
him well.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
And you talked about the performance he had against Tampa
in that first preseason game. I would argue he was
as good, if not better against the Falcons, and as good,
if not better against the Vikings, and coach Callahan talked
about it earlier this week.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
Amy.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
The reason he is first on the depth chart is
because of in game performance. You won't hear coaches often
say that about the preseason, but he is one of
the few guys that really elevated his status literally by
the way he played in the preseason, and that's why
you'll see him play a significant role. My man, Ret
(12:22):
Brian is seeded to my right, sometimes standing depending on
the situation in the booth for the Titans radio broadcast,
and he was pointing at Cedric Gray's name time and
time again as the man that had the tackle. And
I expect mister Brian to be pointing at his name
on Sunday.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Absolutely, I think that's a pretty good what's the word
I'm looking for? Prediction?
Speaker 3 (12:46):
Yes, Yes, I think that's a pretty good prediction.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I made a mistake too, I was trying to lump
all the rookies together. I left somebody who's making some
headlines off and that's Chim ray DK. Seeing him a lot,
prepare to see him a lot on in days. I'm
making Taylor do a lot of flipping on his big board.
Chim Rae DK someone we're going to see involved a
lot in special teams, whether it's as the return man
(13:10):
for punts or for kicks. He's going to be all
over the place in a huge part of the Titans
special team's efforts.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
Right, yeah, I think you're right. I think that you
just said it. And look, he was the kind of
guy that could make a big play at Florida and
suddenly flip the field. And it wouldn't surprise me if
he would do that again in the National Football League.
I say Florida, I mean he did it Wisconsin too.
I mean he's very used to making a big difference
in special teams. The guy can fly.
Speaker 4 (13:37):
Now.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Bryce Oliver is kind of seen as the gunner, right.
You know, Steve Tasker, if you go with the Buffalo Bills,
was like one of the all time great gunners, and
Bryce Oliver is kind of turning into that for the Titans.
But I wouldn't be surprised if you see DK on
the opposite side of Bryce Oliver running down trying to
(13:58):
tackle the other team's punt returner on Sunday as well.
But that's and as much as we talk about the quarterback,
and rightfully so, and the skill players and who's going
to try to get after the quarterback, special teams for
the Titans look significantly improved. They've got a big time
coach there in Bones Fossil and John bones Fossil, and
(14:19):
with the way Joey Slide's kicking, the way new punter
Johnny Hecker's punting, and some of the moves they made
in special teams, that's a hidden.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
Part of the game, it is.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
And for Denver last year, as we kind of look
at what makes them so good, they were top three
in the NFL in both average starting fuel position for
their offense and their defense. So a lot of hidden
yardage and the altitude maybe playing a little bit part
of that as well with how high that they can
punt the football on a new Australian punter as well.
For Denver's a little bit of a different, different style.
(14:51):
They're actually a punter that Himrie DK would know well
because they were teammates at Florida together. So if there's
anybody that he knows what the football looks like coming
off their foot, it's the for punter who was also
a rookie from Florida. But chim YDK just under twenty
yards per punt return last year against SEC special teams
units and SEC defenses.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
You know, you both know.
Speaker 5 (15:13):
That's a lot of four and five star freshmen and
sophomores on SEC teams that maybe aren't ready to play
linebacker or safety. In the two deep or in the
top line of the depth chart, there's a lot of
five star blue chip talent that cuts their teeth and
special teams, and chim rid DK was slicing through that
talent last year of Florida.
Speaker 1 (15:30):
That's a lot of what is being talked about around
the facility.
Speaker 3 (15:34):
Here. Here are some things that are.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Not being talked about as much that I felt it
was important to also mention. And the first one is
Brian Callahan in his second year as a play caller.
I feel like we've talked so much about his second
year as a head coach. We've talked I mean, just
crazy amounts of this, the roster and all the turnover
and the systems and feeling more comfortable in that. We
(15:58):
have not talked about the fact that Brian Callahan in
twenty twenty four was a brand new head coach and
a first time play caller. Yeah, that is a tremendous
amount of stuff to figure out and to manage.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
And he did it very well. I mean, there wasn't
a point where.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
He was like way in the weeds and couldn't handle
all of this and all of that. But there has
to be a level of comfort for him, for the
coaching staff as a whole, for this whole team to
realize that like, Okay, this isn't new, Okay, we can
slide back into something familiar. Am I crazy in thinking
that that is a bigger deal than maybe what everyone
(16:37):
else is talking about.
Speaker 4 (16:38):
No, I think it's absolutely a big deal.
Speaker 5 (16:40):
And I think to Amy, one of the things that
Brian has emphasized this offseason is wanting to be more
involved with the defense. What does that look like on
game day? What kind of conversations is he having with
different coaches. Does that mean there is more of a
say from offensive coordator to colts or quarterbacks coach Boheart
agree there on the sideline. I think it's a big,
big conversation and talking point. I also think it's interesting
(17:03):
how much this offense changes schematically to fit cam ward strengths.
They've talked about this throughout the offseason as well. The
offensive coaching staff that in Cincinnati, Zach Taylor and Brian
Callahan wanted that to be year three at LSU for
Joe Burrow. They want this to look a little bit
maybe like year two at Miami for cam Ward. Yeah,
(17:24):
what does that mean for Tyler Lockett and the way
he's deployed? What does that mean for Alecia Manner and
Van Jefferson and of course wide receiver one and Calvin Ridley,
so all of that. It feels like a new slate
and a new rhythm and routine for Brian, calling a
different kind of scheme. I mean, the principals still feel
(17:44):
the same, but I think we're gonna see a lot
of differences to make cam Ward feel comfortable in the system.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
Yeah, and I think that's a great observation by Amy
too about having a guy that wasn't calling plays for
the Cincinnati Bengals. Brian Callahan was the offensive coordinator there,
but Zach Taylor very similar to the way Brian Callahan
is doing it here. He was a guy calling those plays.
Brian was very involved with the install obviously in the
creation of the plays, but not the actual calling of them,
(18:10):
and that takes them getting used to, getting used to
just kind of the rhythm of the game. I think
also when you have an uber confident quarterback like Joe Burrow,
like cam Ward, I think it really helps the way
you call the game. And I think that Brian Callahan
has the benefit of having an uber confident quarterback and
(18:31):
a guy that doesn't have a memory either. You know
the cam Ward if you've watched him play football in
the last few years, he'll make a mistake. He's not
afraid to throw into traffic. But he also doesn't remember
that mistake. And that's the greatest part about being a
play caller is being able to know, all right, I
don't have to think about the fact that the last
(18:51):
time we called this he made a mistake and he's
still thinking about that. There are I think most people
in life would remember and you'd say, I can't do
that because I can tell he's not gonna He's gonna
think about what we did the last time we you know,
we could drop any play here, but you know, we
get verticals on both sides of the field, and the
(19:12):
last time he's on the left side of the field.
Speaker 4 (19:14):
Verticals, you know, on a deep ball through an interception.
Cam's not going to care about that.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
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Speaker 2 (20:03):
And I think that that's something to keep in mind.
But you're right, Amy, it's a good.
Speaker 3 (20:07):
Observation on the defensive side of the ball.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
I also feel like we're not talking enough about all
of the people who are returning to the Titans defense
and how just overwhelmingly.
Speaker 3 (20:19):
Excited they are to play a football game.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Another flip for you, and I think it all starts
with Dinnard Wilson. He is so ready to get this
team out there and like line up against someone else
and just hit him in the mouth. He is so ready,
and that passion is trickling down to the Jeffrey Simmons,
to the Arding Keys, to the Cody Bartons, to I
(20:45):
mean Jarvis Brownlee, Sebastian, Joseph Day, all of these guys
who are healthy, who are ready to play some football
and are ready to be able to actually really hit somebody.
I think that that is something we're not talking about enough,
because that excitement, that passion, that energy is something that
(21:07):
I haven't seen from a defensive.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
Side of the ball in a long time.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
They are fired up and ready to go, and I mean,
just make a statement about who the Titans are in
twenty twenty five, and I just haven't heard people talking.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
About that the way that I expected. Do you think
that's a real thing.
Speaker 5 (21:30):
I think it's fair and I think It starts with
a very big man up front who is not as
big as he used to be, named Big Jeff. I mean,
I think a lot of times in training camp and
in preseason, when we talk about guys making changes to
their routines and habits and to their frames, I'll admit
and let people in on a secret. Sometimes that's because
(21:50):
there is nothing else to talk about. Sometimes I think
that is because a player is a totally different player.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
This is the ladder.
Speaker 5 (21:58):
This is a guy who I think fans are going
to recognize a major difference in the quickness, the speed
to power. I don't think he's giving up anything in
the run game in order to be a little bit
quicker and more vertical as a pass rusher. I am
so excited to see what Jeffrey Simmons looks like and
guys too. Jeffrey Simmons has a call and response now
(22:21):
when he trash talks the offense. It's not just even
cam Ward. I think JC Latham has become a little
bit more vocal in pushing him. I think this offensive
line that feels confident, that feels like it's coming together, well,
it has challenged and raised the level with Jeff so yes,
one hundred percent. There's a lot of returning production on
this defense that you like. I'm starting up front because
(22:42):
I think Jeffrey Simmons sets the table to allow Jarvis
Brownly a year two to be more aggressive, to allow
Roger McCreary in a big season, for him to be
sticky in coverage, the Russian coverage work together, and Tadar
Wilson can be aggressive because he knows he's got big
Jeff setting the tone up front. And for whatever it's worth,
he still weighs three hundred and five pounds exactly. He
(23:03):
is very still quick to remind everyone he still weighs
over three hundred pounds.
Speaker 4 (23:07):
But you're right, he is.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
He looks slim, he looks he looks like he is
in the best shape of his life. And I think
because of that, you can do a little bit more
with him. You know, it wouldn't surprise me if you
saw him on an edge from time to time. I
don't think you'll see that throughout the game, but I
think in certain packages you could see him on the
edge this year, not just in the interior of the defense.
So yeah, it's going to be a faster team, and
(23:31):
I think that suits Denard Wilson. I think that's the
kind of defense he wants to play. I wish Sean
Peyton didn't know that, but he does know that, and
I've listened to him talk about that, yeah, already this week.
The guy to me that is the identity of the
Denard Wilson defense is Cody Barton. There are linebackers that
are going to be playing in the middle of defenses
(23:52):
that you could argue you might have a little bit
more talent than Cody Barton does across the league, but
they don't have more energy, they don't have more selflessness,
They aren't more fired up to be on the field
than Cody Barton, but they're not more prepared than Cody Barton.
And I think all those things are going to serve
the Titans well. And just one other guy that I've
(24:13):
got to mention. We have not talked a lot about him.
He's one of the most talented defensive players in the
National Football League. I've really liked what I've seen from
Lagerius Neeed in practice the last couple of weeks. And
if we get the guy the Kansas City Chiefs had
two years ago, if that guy is shutting down half
of the field on Sundays. As the season progresses, watch out.
(24:37):
This is a brand new ballgame for the Titans defense.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
Speaking of defense, I think it's time to check in
with Keith Bullock, the ultimate Titans defensive player linebacker. He
has this week's real Deal matchup of the game, delivered
by Little Caesars.
Speaker 6 (24:56):
Here's the deal, the matchup I'm most looking for it
to want Sunday a Denver Broncos All Pro rainning defensive
MVP corner Patrick Certain versus Calvin Ridley. Calvin Ridley has
been one of cam Ward's favorite targets this preseason, and
Patrick Certain is a bona fide lockdown corner. If the
(25:17):
Titans offense is to have any success and win this
game on Sunday, Calvin Ridley is gonna have to play
big against the reigning defensive MVP.
Speaker 1 (25:26):
Titans fans get fifteen percent off your Little Caesars order
of fifteen dollars or more today at participating stores using
code Titans fifteen. That's Titans one five at checkout Pizza Pizza.
That excludes taxes and other fees, of course, so just
remember that. I'll remember y'all want to talk a little Denver.
Speaker 4 (25:45):
Oh it's time for the cookie.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
Okay, no, it is not time for the cookie yet.
We have pizza and cookies right next to each other.
It's again, let's talk some filling this food with this
show with food. I want to talk Denver Broncos because
obviously that's who the Titans are playing, but also this
is a great challenge for this Titans team coming out,
yeah and starting this season with a team that's really,
(26:08):
really strong. And my question to you is what stands
out about this Denver team? But I'm gonna go first,
Oh good, because what stands out to me about this
Denver team is that they are returning all of their
starters on the offensive line and all of the backups
to the starters.
Speaker 3 (26:26):
On the offensive line.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
It is crazy towent the consistency that they have on
this roster.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
So the question I guess associated with.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
That is is there anything that stands out to you
other than the fact that everybody coming back it feels
like is a returning starter.
Speaker 4 (26:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (26:43):
I think to me it kind of picking backing off
of that, I think Denver is as good on both
sides of the line of scrimmage together as any team
in football. I put them in the Philadelphia Eagles. Right
at the top of that conversation. You talk about league
leading sixty three sacks for their defensive front last year,
Zach Allen led all defensive tackles in pressure rate. Nick Benito,
(27:07):
who just got rewarded with a new contract, second round guy,
kind of to make a quick aside to the Titans
what you want Fimoladjo to turn into. I think he's
a really good comp for what Fimoladejo could be.
Speaker 4 (27:19):
Second round pick.
Speaker 5 (27:21):
Really athletic guy, learning curve at the position, but a
lot of potential there. They led the league in generating
pressure on four man rushes, meaning that Vance Joseph's defense
can play Manda man on the back end and say,
you guys have fun seven in the back for rushing.
(27:42):
Forty one percent of the time they rushed with four men,
they got pressure. I'm no coach Mack, that's easy math
to do. That's a really good way to be successful
as a defense. And then you look at their offensive line.
I mean they had three guys that led the league
in pressure rate allowed at their back to position, left
guard to right tackle, three different players sixty percent of
(28:04):
the players who led the league and pressure rate alout
around the Denver Broncos offensive line, they are monsters in
the trenches on both sides.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
And the thing I would add to that is a
lot of these guys are young. It's not like they're
on their last leg here or there's a year left.
You know, we could probably sit here, this might be
more geared towards a Will Bowling sports talk show than
this show, but we could make an argument that the
Kansas City Chiefs are at the end of their run,
(28:33):
or they're at least approaching the end of their run.
Speaker 3 (28:35):
A lot of them are very old.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
Yeah, And I mean you've got guys that are about
to go get married and who knows how much more
football they're going to play. You can't say that about
the Denver Broncos in that same division. And here's one
thing that sticks out to me is the Tennessee Titans
went three and fourteen last year, and they were two
and six and one score games. We could all sit
here and say, if we're being objectives, probably should have
(29:01):
been at least a five or a six win team. Okay,
they were two in six and one score games. Do
you know what the Denver Broncos were in one score
games but one in six in one score games, and
they went ten and seven last year, And to me,
that speaks to youth, that speaks to inexperience, not knowing
how to finish the game. Well, now they're coming back
(29:22):
with almost all of the guys that they had from
last year, including a second year quarterback instead of a rookie.
And this is a team that was a lot closer
to being a twelve or thirteen win team last year
than they were a team out of the playoffs. So
I do I think that this is as tough of
an opponent as the Titans will see all year.
Speaker 4 (29:41):
It does not mean they can't win the game.
Speaker 2 (29:43):
Crazy things happen in week one, and the Titans are
a significantly improved team from last year. By anybody's measure,
they are, but what they're getting in week one is
the ultimate assignment. I don't think ideally you'd want to
play this matchup in Week one. But the good news
is this is that this can be a barometer game
for the Tennessee Titans throughout the year of Okay, we
(30:05):
know what a championship level football team is. We just
saw it and I think they're going to see it
on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
Well, you went down the road to Bowneck, so let's
continue down that road. Rookie year takes him a.
Speaker 1 (30:17):
Minute, but then he ends up really finding his rhythm
and ending on a pretty solid note.
Speaker 3 (30:22):
Where do you hope I guess not you specifically.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Where do the Broncos hope to see the improvement in
him in year two?
Speaker 4 (30:31):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (30:32):
I would say probably if one the interceptions weren't bad
last year, the completion percentage was okay, I think that
they'd like to see that improve just a little bit.
But honestly, for a first year player, for a guy
that's the twelfth pick in the draft last year, I
mean it was a pretty quick transition for him. I
would just say more time, yeah, more time to be
(30:54):
in just more and more reps really, but yeah, maybe
the completion percentage could improve just a little bit.
Speaker 5 (31:00):
I think bo Nicks earned the right to do a
lot more complicated stuff down the stretch last season. And
you look at some of the numbers, and next Gen
stat says that bo Knicks targeted wide receivers behind the
line of scrimmage twenty six percent of the time last year.
That was the third highest rate in the NFL among
any quarterbacks.
Speaker 4 (31:17):
So go downfield. Yeah, I think it's that part of it.
Speaker 5 (31:20):
I think it's finding a secondary guy beyond Courtland Sutton.
He had six interceptions when targeting Courtland Sutton last season.
His old friend from Oregon, Troy Franklin. They expect him
to take a major step forward this season. Marvin Mims,
the very dynamic returner and now two time All Pro
return man. They're using him in kind of a gadget
role a little bit differently. But I think if you're
(31:42):
looking for spots on this team in Denver that they
need to improve in order to be at that championship levels,
it's got to be wide receiver, no question. Evan Ingram
is kind of like a big wide ros he's going
to say. And he has been right at the top
of the league in terms of yards by tight ends
when lined up in the slot over the five seasons.
So I think he is someone that answers a lot
(32:03):
of the questions for bonicks. And as we know, I mean,
young quarterbacks love a tight end and love that safety
blanket that they can provide.
Speaker 2 (32:10):
But I would just add that, you know, Sean Payton
knows he has one of the best, if not the
best defenses in the National Football League, So I wouldn't
be surprised if he's a little bit careful with how
much he turns bow knicks loose because he knows this
defense it gives up less than twenty last year, gave
up less than twenty points a game. That's a winning
formula in the National Football League.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Dude, the Titans have any sort of advantage given that
there is so much new in this team and there's
no tape.
Speaker 4 (32:38):
Yeah, yes, nothing, that's it. That's it.
Speaker 2 (32:41):
And you know, I know, I just painted the picture
of this is the ultimate opponent that the Broncos, that
the Titans have in the Broncos.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
But that is it right there.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
It's kind of like a new pitcher that's called up
for the minor leagues and you don't know what kind
of stuff he throws. I mean, that's that's it. There's
no Sean Payton's talked about it all week. He's like,
I know that Denard Wilson has not shown me what
he is going to do to me in this game
on Sunday. So that's one part of it. On defense,
and then the other part is of it is I
(33:11):
don't think that cam Ward and Brian Callahan in the
preseason showed you a lot of what they're going to
try to do on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
They didn't even play that much.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
There is no question that Pat Surtan quite possibly the
best cover corner in the NFL. One of them for
sure is going to be matched up on number zero
Calvin Ridley in most cases. But Brian Callahan has known
that that was going to happen for what nine months? Yeah,
and so he's had nine months to think of, these
(33:40):
are the ways I'm going to get zero the football
in this game? And yes, if Denver was playing the
Titans in Week two, I'd be way more concerned than
I am in Week one.
Speaker 5 (33:51):
Well, and I think too, this can be a really
big Tony Pollard game because we saw just one drive
at Tony Pollard in Tampa and then Brian Callahan of
the staff said, all right, you're good.
Speaker 4 (34:02):
You've had such a good camp.
Speaker 5 (34:04):
We've seen what we've needed to see, and I know
fans have not been able to see a lot of that.
I think you're going to see the best of Tony
Pollard this year. I think the reworked offensive line is
a big reason why in a game where the opponent
led the league in sacks last year, you just can't
be in third and ten, plus, you can't be in
third and twelve consistently. And to the point about Brian
Callahan as a second year play caller, there is not
(34:26):
a play on the play sheet that offensive coordinators are
going to like for third and long consistently. If I'm
looking for one possible advantage, it's the Titans run game
against Broncos linebackers. That's a big question mark for this
team because they've got two guys, one of which one
of whom I don't know if he's going to play
in Dray green Law, who mispracticed this Week's had a
quad injury that's come back up. He's coming off a
(34:48):
season ending injury last year. Alex Singleton is coming off
of an ACL injury last year, which was a big
reason why Cody Barton was able to earn the contract
he got in Tennessee. Because the lack of Singleton there,
there's a lot of question marks there at inside linebacker
for Denver, still one of the best run defenses of
the NFL last year, despite all of that. But if
I'm picking it apart a little bit, I think this
(35:10):
can be a really big Tony Pollard game.
Speaker 4 (35:12):
And that I agree.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
It wouldn't surprise me if we get an early Pinnacle
sideline report on Drake Greenlaw and weather. He's on the
field from will bowling very early in the game.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
Better fire it up? Well, get ready ready to go?
Get ready grab the old clipboard.
Speaker 3 (35:29):
Are you guys ready for a cookie break? I know
that Taylor's been losing his mind.
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Christy Cookie is the provider of the cookies for our
cookie break. We're gonna do this all year long because
everybody needs a cookie break.
Speaker 3 (35:43):
Today we are having snicker Doodles.
Speaker 4 (35:46):
I love snicker doodle.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
I know it's my.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Favorite of the cookies, which is why that's what we
are sampling today. Christy Cookie has so graciously agreed to
provide us these tasty treats so that we can all
just take a little break and enjoy our lives and
eat a delicious cookie. If you too want to have
a cookie break at your house, or at your place
of business, or just at any point in your day,
(36:10):
Christycookies dot com they've got everything that you could possibly want.
Whether it's just yummy cookies for yourself or you want
to give them as gifts.
Speaker 3 (36:17):
Cookie break for your friends. That's so nice. But yeah,
so cheers guys, Cookie.
Speaker 4 (36:23):
Break that is really good.
Speaker 1 (36:25):
Christiecookie dot com. I love snugardoodles more than any other cookie.
You can't tell me otherwise. Although, Christie Cookie, please don't
us more. We've got a long season ahead of us.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
I love you, Christy Cookies. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
I hought you, guys, might I thought you might enjoy
this little addition to our twenty twenty five season.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
Take a cookie break.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
Visit Christycookie dot com for more information and to get
your own cookie break. Will do you have any next
gen stats for us that you are I guarantee he
does particularly excited about. You are the man with the numbers,
and I feel like that is something that I cannot provide.
Taylor probably could to his life, but I don't know
(37:08):
that he's got enough room on his sure miss chart,
So we've got.
Speaker 3 (37:12):
To flip that over to you.
Speaker 5 (37:13):
Well, yep, all right, let's talk about Pat Sertan did
not allow fifty or more receiving yards in any game
last season, after allowing multiple in twenty twenty three. As
we flip again Bonnicks. This is something Jeffrey Simmons talked
about the other day in the locker room. When Bonnicks
doesn't have a guy open, he is the quintessential sneaky
(37:35):
fast quarterback of the guy that you're like, wow, Bonix
can run a little bit. BONNICKX last season ninety two
carries two hundred and thirty yards two point nine scrambles
per game, third most in the NFL.
Speaker 4 (37:47):
You would not have expected that.
Speaker 5 (37:48):
If you told me that, I would have thought, that's
not real.
Speaker 4 (37:52):
I promise you.
Speaker 5 (37:52):
It is twenty one yards per game from scrambles according
to a.
Speaker 4 (37:57):
Pro Football Focus. We talked about the.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
Hitting yardage and the ability to move the chains on
a third and eight, third and five, even getting those
six yards and getting down and protecting himself. I think
an element of this game that is a little bit
underrated with him. Honestly, we've gone through most of my
next gen stats and my nerd nuggets already.
Speaker 3 (38:17):
So nerd nuggets is going to stick, Yes.
Speaker 5 (38:20):
Yes, absolutely, but those are those are I think the
main ones. And that really did surprise me though a
Bonix because you don't think about that with him.
Speaker 2 (38:28):
These these nuggets are coming in handy. And I did
recently go on television with his significant other and she
is terrified about all the nuggets he comes up with
late into the night and doesn't get any sleep.
Speaker 4 (38:41):
But uh true, they have come in handy.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
And you know, I did see some of that sneak ability,
if you will, when he was playing for the Auburn Tigers,
because I know he wasn't well protected there and he
was taking off like crazy when he played for Auburn
years ago. But he did it for Oregon as well,
and then obviously for the Denver Broncos too, So yeah,
it's something to watch out for in this game, is
(39:05):
bo Nick's taking off and running football. I don't have
a next gen snat, but next gen stats, next stack.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
Can you tell where my head is?
Speaker 2 (39:17):
But I do have as my shout out to my
friend Alyssa Lange, who I do some television work for
with the ESPN.
Speaker 4 (39:24):
She calls these czar bits little nuggets.
Speaker 2 (39:26):
Kit Gunner Heelm is playing his first NFL football game
fifteen minutes from his house.
Speaker 4 (39:34):
How cool is that? That's awesome?
Speaker 2 (39:35):
I mean, this guy was a great Texas Longhorn, great
tight end. And he's had an awesome training camp. And
I know that Chigconquo is the big time tight end
for the Titans and has been the last few years.
Gunnerhelm I think could have a big year as a rookie,
and it wouldn't surprise me if it happens.
Speaker 4 (39:56):
Really in his.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
Hometown fifteen minutes from his house is where he gets
to play his first game.
Speaker 4 (40:02):
That's really cool.
Speaker 3 (40:03):
That is very cool. I love I love moments like that.
That's a good bit.
Speaker 1 (40:07):
Oh, thank you, sorry, bit So, We've got Nerd nuggets,
We've got czar bit We've got cookies. What more could
you want on this show? How about a key to
victory for the Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
Just one key per person?
Speaker 4 (40:19):
Okay, just one? Okay? So to do that you.
Speaker 3 (40:21):
Can share with your friends if you have to.
Speaker 4 (40:23):
I've got one.
Speaker 5 (40:24):
You ready, Yeah, go ahead, And I'm gonna say staying
ahead of the chains, do not let vance Joseph t
Off on your quarterback. On this new offensive line that
I think has come a long way, that I think
is going to progress even more from weeks one through eighteen,
do yourself some favors as an offense and get yourself
(40:46):
in third and manageable. It sounds so simple. It is
maybe the cliche key for every football game ever played.
I think it's amplified when you're playing the team that
led the league in sacks last year, who man blitzes
as much as anybody in the NA. To me, it
comes down to that if the Titans are going to
be able to have success in this football game, it's
running the ball and staying ahead of the chains. I
(41:08):
think those two kind of mirriad together is one big key.
Speaker 4 (41:10):
Yeah, good point.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
And obviously that would go towards penalties too, and we
might have some will Bowling next gen snat stats about
how often this officiating crew calls those penalties on Sunday,
but let's stay out of that. I think it's really simple.
The Tennessee Titans last year had a disastrous season when
it came to the turnover battle. And if the Titans
(41:34):
want to start off on the right foot win the
turnover battle, I think it's really simple. I think they
need to play clean football on Sunday and they need
to make bow Nicks make a mistake. They need to
get a turnover, and I think that if that happens,
the Titans really do have a recipe for victory on Sunday?
Speaker 4 (41:53):
And boy, wouldn't that be a lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (41:55):
It'll feel good to have football back then, Oh my, yes,
that's going to be great. Absolutely, and then it's just
going to help us get ready for what was to come.
On Sunday, the Tennessee Titans take on the Denver Broncos.
This Sunday kickoff for that game is three oh five
Central time, so.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
Check the clocks.
Speaker 1 (42:09):
It's a little bit different than what we are expecting
for the rest of the season. Three oh five Titans
Radio is on the air at two o clock Central
time for Titans Countdown. We'll get you all ready for
the big game, and then kickoff is at three oh
five Central time.
Speaker 3 (42:25):
Four Taylor's ours for Wilbo. I'm Ammy Wells, thank you
for joining us.
Speaker 4 (42:31):
For the teams
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