August 13, 2025 • 16 mins
Titans Radio’s Taylor Zarzour and Coach Mac check in from Atlanta for Day 2 of Titans joint practice with the Falcons. Plus, TZ goes one-on-one with Jeffery Simmons to talk leadership, being in the best shape of his life and more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to the OTP on the practice field. He's the
head coach of the Titans radio network. He's Dave McGinnis.
I do the play by play. I'm Taylor Zarzer, the
president of everything. Amy wells, she's back in Nashville, and
she left us in control. Well, actually, Todd and Max
and Jack, who were behind the scenes, they're in control,
Thank the good Lord.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
No, sure they are. We're in good shape.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
We got to handle it. Amy feels really good that
we're here.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Okay, Well, we've been on the road for a minute.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Here.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
We were on the road last week in Tampa, spent
a few days there, scrimmaged against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
played them in a preseason game. Came to Atlanta practice
against the Falcons, and we're just off the field. After
watching the Tennessee Titans practice with the Atlanta Falcons in
full pads after two days, what'd you think?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Oh? Yeah, I mean, this is not a zero sum event.
This is a an event. It's a cumulative event. They
got They got a lot out of it. And you know,
and I don't I don't grade individuals during this time.
I just want to see how in totality the whole
team is responding. This work is immeasurable as so far
as to what they're getting out of it, good and bad.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
So it's a whole learning experience for this young team.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
And I was just about to ask you about that,
and you just went there. Since it's a young football
team practicing against other teams and established other teams in
the National Football League, that's invaluable, correct.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, And these are two established teams in the in
the NFC South. They're both at the top of the
NFC South. And so that's what you want to do.
You want to be able to practice against these people.
And as I said, it's not a zero sum event.
It's just you've got to take it in totality of
what it is, and then you take you take, you
take a lot of teachable moments from this type of thing,
both positive and negative.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
It's good to practice against yourself, but it's even better
to practice against somebody else.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
It's not the same. It's just not the same at all.
I mean, this is I'm really glad that plug. I mean,
this is you know, this is a pretty extensive ordeal
for the team, you know, for for us, and it's
it's important. It's important, especially for a young team, that
there's there's only so many ways that you can grow
up quickly in the National Football League, and time on
task is the best teacher.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
My Man Todd is shooting right now, and you see
the practice field behind us. So basically you have one
field where the Falcons offense goes up against the Titans defense,
and then another field over here where the Titans offense
goes up against the Falcons defense. You mix in some
special teams through the course of a two hour padded practice,
(02:37):
but there's a lot of one the first string versus
first string, work twos versus twos, et cetera, and everybody,
all ninety plus players are active for two plus hours.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, and that's what you get out of this is
because you know, when you in a preseason game, I
mean you've only got four quarters to disperse reps. I mean,
the reps get very thin in a preseason game. Here,
the coaches came control the matchups and so that's exactly
why you do this. And the fact that you've done
it back to back on the road that will pay dividends.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
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Speaker 1 (03:36):
Back to the OTP as someone that was a head
coach in the National Football League and a long time
defensive coordinator and associate head coach for a long time
as well, how much are you evaluating players making a
roster during these practices compared to what you watch in
the preseason games.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Well, I mean, it's part of it. It's part of
the evaluation process.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
There's there's no there's no I mean, there's no list
as far as at the top. But this is part
of it. The thing that you do get out of
this tailor you get more reps. Yeah, you know, to
look at him and then plus when you do it
two days in a row like they've done here, you
can say, hey, here's what we didn't do well, here's
what we need to concentrate on.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
That's what you're looking for now.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Some of you may have seen that cam Ward was
not happy with the way that he practiced on Tuesday,
and he let all of his teammates know it and
wanted to be better on this Wednesday. Let's just start
right there. I thought the cam had a really good
practice on winks, which you again, it's going to be a.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Learning process for him throughout the whole year, the whole year,
you know, and I do a lot of radio out
of market. People have called, you know, what can he
learn from this? He can learn everything because everything that
he's seeing is brand new. It's brand new, so this
accelerates his learning curve and there's going to be some
dips in it, but he's got the same attitude that
(04:50):
he's had ever since he was drafted, and you just
got to stay with it.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
A lot of people want to know about the young players,
the newcomers with the Titans, and certainly we're going to
keep telling you about those guys. We'll get to them
in just a minute, but I'll tell you a couple
of guys that I've been really impressed with so far
in training camp number zero, Calvin Ridley.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
He looks a young player.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
He's a real player and that to me today even
they had trouble covering Calvin Ridley, you know, the foalcas
had trouble with him.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
They were holding him there.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Look, this guy is an established veteran on this football team, Taylor.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
He's one of the lynch pions for this team. Right now.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
He looks like he's playing the best football of his life.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Coach.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, I haven't seen him his whole career, but I
just know what he's doing right now and the mindset
and then the physical shape that he came back in.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
It's what you want.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
And another guy I wanted to point out was a
man that had a career high in rushing yards last
year for the Tennessee Titans, ran for over a thousand yards.
Tony Pollard. He's looked terrific, especially today.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, and you know, the run game is going to
be big for this football team because you've got a
young quarterback and so it's not on Tony Pollard. It's
the offensive line too, and it's a tight end, it's
everybody else. I mean, the run game has got to
at least be something that you can hang your hat on.
Doesn't have to be dominating, but it has to be
able to move the chains so that you're not constantly
in third and long that you put this this young
(06:06):
offense in that that when defenses, I mean, I've called
a lot of defenses in this league, but I know
they have to throw. There's a whole lot that I've
got on my roller decks that I can do.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Cam and Calvin are becoming the leaders of the offense.
Certainly Cam is becoming one of the leaders, if not
the leaders of the football team. But there's a guy
on defense that unquestionably is the guy that has everybody's
back on this football team. And I'm talking about number
ninety eight, Jeffrey Simmons.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Well, yeah, I mean, big Jeff's a quality player in
this league.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And he's and he's he's got the mindset and also
he's got the stature. You know, and this now you know,
you don't you don't want you only want to take
it to a certain point. And again, you know there
are a couple of fights out here today that there's
going to be fights in these things. You just want
to keep it to a minimum. But Jeffrey Simmons has
got to be. He has got and he'll be a
focal point for offenses. He'll be a focal point.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Believe me.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
You mentioned the fights. I mean nothing was serious. They
were just some little scuffles and then everybody was fine
after that. But sort of like seeing the juice that
Titans have, especially with Simmons, and how defensive all the
players are of each other. They have formed a brotherhood
during this training game.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
You don't want you don't want fights because you just can't.
I mean, there's a line where you take it to
I've been involved with some very very aggressive teams in
my life, but in the ball game you can't. You
can only take it to a certain point. Now in practice,
practice is like this, especially in training camp, especially two
days in a row. I mean, things are gonna flare up.
And believe me, when you're watching tape the night before,
(07:35):
they're saying, you know, well this dude, you know what
Mac Taylor really got after you you know you're gonna
be up against him this time. All of that stuff
goes on. But the fights were very inconsequential today.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Yeah, agreed. Well, Jeffrey Simmons, we were referencing him yesterday
after practice, we had a chance to catch up with
number ninety eight for your Tennessee Titans. All right, we're
here with the man number ninety eight, Jeffrey Simmons. Not
wearing number ninety eight right now, but you can tell
if you're a Tennessee Titans fan, this guy is in
the best shape of his entire life.
Speaker 6 (08:05):
What did it tay but to be into this A
lot of discipline. I think that's my biggest word for
this off season. And now, you know, being disciplined, you know,
staying locked into my my nutritionists, she she's everything for
me right now.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Being able to get a new plan, get.
Speaker 6 (08:21):
Up on a plan that's beneficial for me, my mail prep,
taking the right vitamin, taking the right supplements, and you know,
just working the tail off in the off season. But
you know, right now, it's all about discipline, consistency. Jeff
you were already one of the best defensive linemen in
the NFL.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Why did you do this?
Speaker 6 (08:38):
I mean, for me, it's all about being available, you know,
you know what's you know for me? You know, yeah,
I could go out there and play, but when I'm
in my best is when I'm healthy, when I'm light
on my feet. You know, it's just even with past Redge.
You know, I feel so I feel good out here,
feel much better.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Than last year.
Speaker 6 (08:52):
I don't feel like I just got so much inflammation
throughout my body. I think that was also one of
my key points. You know, when you do blood work,
your blood work tell everything. You know, I had so
much information in my body and now, you know, just
being able to be available for my teammates, you know,
and being out there on the field. I think that's
the most important thing, especially throughout the year, because I
know I know what's gonna come on the field.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
I know what I'm doing the field.
Speaker 6 (09:14):
But you know, when I'm healthy and I'm feeling my best,
you know, can't about to stop me.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Watching you and your leadership and how much you're coaching
all of your teammates out there. You can tell is
a guy that came into the league and won and
has gone through the last three years, you don't want
any part of what you just went through again.
Speaker 6 (09:29):
How important is it to you to be a winner again?
I mean that's what it's about. Especially with all young guys.
You know, they don't really know they I mean, this
a first year like just say, for instanceent we got
Fimi Famy never played with me, you know him, you know,
getting reps with the ones and being out there with
the ones. You know, it's all about teacher teaching with
moment because when I was out there, I had a
guy I had, Jarred Casey, who took me.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Under his wing talk talk through things.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
You know, it's always it's easy to you know, mf
or it called somebody their name when they mess up.
But you know, in this league, and we all know
the way I go, the way Femi go, the way
Fimi go, I go, and long we together, long I'm
helping them out, coaching them all right, this is what
we saw.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
That's how you win football games.
Speaker 6 (10:08):
You know, a connected group, especially up front when we
get getting after the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
We have to be together.
Speaker 6 (10:13):
We have to be in this on page, rush lanes
and all that, so we're on the same page. And however,
my role is that, you know, helping the next guy out.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
That's what it's all about.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
And I can tell you love it when Fimi comes
up to you and asks you questions.
Speaker 6 (10:26):
Right west, definitely man, because you know you got to
have that connection. You got to be able to have
you know that trust with each other. I think that's
what femin is all about. You know, femins won't you
to trust them? And you know one thing about it.
He gonna ask questions, you gonna hear them. But you
know that's as a vet as somebody who's been in
this league for a couple of years now seven years,
you know, as a young guy who asked a lot
of questions. You know he understands the game, but he
(10:48):
also want to do it perfect. And I tell him
everything not gonna be perfect. But when we can talk
through things come to the sideline like, no, femine, that's
not how you do that, and then two minutes you
fix it. You know that's what we want to see,
especially myself. Now I can trust you even more.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Jeff number one for the Tennessee Titans out there does
not look like a rookie. He doesn't act like a rookie.
You have this fun natured back and forth that you
have with this guy, but you can tell he's already
family to you. Is it rare that we just watched
him address the entire team? Do rookies usually do that?
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Now?
Speaker 6 (11:20):
I think this is my first time, especially since i've
been in in the league, especially after practice, and that's
what it's all about me.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
He's know that he's all starting quarterback. He know the
way he go, the offense gonna go.
Speaker 6 (11:33):
He know the well I can't say the first person,
but the second person a ball, get it. I mean,
you know, outside of the center is him. So he
know he's the head of the snake. So that's the
way he should hold his guys accountable. He should hold
his team of accountable because one thing about it, you know,
we got his back, We behind him. Know whatever he say,
we're gonna listen, and it's vice versa. And that's what
he said, you know, hold him accountab So I think
(11:55):
at the end of the day, when you have a
young guy like him, and you know you got a team,
got a bunch of gods that were pretty much the
whole team behind him, you know, that's that's what you
want out a young guy who you know hunger and
want to win.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Just for you.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Not only will I say tighten up, I'll say hail State,
just for you, Hal stateent titen up.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Thanks, Jeff, I appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
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Speaker 1 (12:42):
Now back to the OTP coach. I mentioned it at
the beginning of that interview. He's in the best shape
of his life.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Well, and he did it on purpose.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
I mean he and Jase Latham both, I mean both
bigger bands that not only cut weight, but they cut
body composition and they cut just the way that that
their body is shaped. I mean, both of them deserve
major credits, and so is our nutrition apartment. So does
the strength and kiddition of the group. I mean they
all bought into it, and so it should help both
of those guys well.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
And we talked about it with Jeff in the interview
that he's going to be he's hopefully more versatile now
losing a few pounds. He hasn't lost any strength, but
being the defensive minded guy you are, can you move
him around a little.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Bit more and we'll see. It all depends on matchups. Yeah,
that's all. That all depends on matchups. And that's when
that's when your game planning starts. In that they will
you know that, Tracy Rocker and Denard Wilson, those guys
will start putting together when you start put together matchups
in game planning, and that's where you can decide what
matchup is best in which circumstances for Jeffery Simmons, All.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Right, coach, before we get to the game on Friday,
any young players that caught your eye the last couple
of days.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
No, I just I just don't.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I just don't look at players individually in this I mean,
it's it's how they respond as a group. And look,
you talk about young players, this is a young team.
You can just naming players on this team and they're
they're all young and they're all learning. So I take
them as a group, I mean really right now, because
that's what you've got to do, because no single young
player is going to be the guy that's gonna tip it.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
They've got to do it together.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I'll just say, elk Io Mannor and gunner Helm Elick
of course, a wide receiver, a rookie and gunner Helm
a tight end from Texas saw them running with the
ones a lot. So some young guys.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Have to Taylor.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I mean, you start looking at the numbers and you
start looking at again, this is a rebuilding football team,
and so that signifies that your young players are going
to have to start. That's how you start rebuilding. You
start rebuilding with young players in the draft, and then
you've got to let them play.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Okay, now, coach, guys will rest the rest of today,
they'll go through a walk through tomorrow, move hotels. They're
gonna move from Brazzleton, Georgia back to Atlanta, right next
to the stadium, and get ready to play the Falcons
on Friday. What's the significance of game one to game
two in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Well, there's things that you can work on. And again,
they're not going to game plan for this game. It's
just you know, I heard Denard and the thing that
you had with him. You know on the OTP. People
need to watch that. They're not game planning this thing.
They're not game planning at all. But you can learn
from the tape. The tape has got very teachable moments.
That's what you learn.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
From mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
And that's going to be of course on Friday night
on the Tennessee Titans Radio Network, listen to us just
after seven o'clock Eastern time. Of course, the pregame show
will start just after six o'clock Eastern time.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
You can't wait.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
It's been a heck of a trip, ten days, nine
nights on the road with you, Coach Mac.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Well, you probably didn't like that part of it, but
you're like, I do love it. You like the rest
of it. I thought it's very very beneficial for this team.
I mean, and it really it really helps you, you know,
come together in a lot of different ways. I really
like what we're doing here. And you know, everybody, everybody's
involved with the same thing, all the way from the
ops crew all the way to us. Everybody's experiencing the
(15:54):
same thing, and it pulls you closer together. For those
who are going to make this at least initial fifty three.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
What are you talking about. I love being with you.
You're the head coach of our team. You make everybody
fall in line.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
I like you.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
I like your leadership.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
No, you have to say that. You have to say
that because we're on we're this is on tape, This
is live on tape.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
Coach.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
I love being with you, my friend. Look forward to
the game on Friday night.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Let's go. We're ready, all right.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Look forward to that. Thanks to everybody behind the scenes
for all of their hard work. Titans and Falcons Friday
Night from Atlanta on the Titans Radio Network. This is
the O t P.
Welcome to the OTP on the practice field. He's the
head coach of the Titans radio network. He's Dave McGinnis.
I do the play by play. I'm Taylor Zarzer, the
president of everything. Amy wells, she's back in Nashville, and
she left us in control. Well, actually, Todd and Max
and Jack, who were behind the scenes, they're in control,
Thank the good Lord.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
No, sure they are. We're in good shape.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
We got to handle it. Amy feels really good that
we're here.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Okay, Well, we've been on the road for a minute.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Here.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
We were on the road last week in Tampa, spent
a few days there, scrimmaged against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,
played them in a preseason game. Came to Atlanta practice
against the Falcons, and we're just off the field. After
watching the Tennessee Titans practice with the Atlanta Falcons in
full pads after two days, what'd you think?
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Oh? Yeah, I mean, this is not a zero sum event.
This is a an event. It's a cumulative event. They
got They got a lot out of it. And you know,
and I don't I don't grade individuals during this time.
I just want to see how in totality the whole
team is responding. This work is immeasurable as so far
as to what they're getting out of it, good and bad.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
So it's a whole learning experience for this young team.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
And I was just about to ask you about that,
and you just went there. Since it's a young football
team practicing against other teams and established other teams in
the National Football League, that's invaluable, correct.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Yeah, And these are two established teams in the in
the NFC South. They're both at the top of the
NFC South. And so that's what you want to do.
You want to be able to practice against these people.
And as I said, it's not a zero sum event.
It's just you've got to take it in totality of
what it is, and then you take you take, you
take a lot of teachable moments from this type of thing,
both positive and negative.
Speaker 1 (01:51):
It's good to practice against yourself, but it's even better
to practice against somebody else.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
It's not the same. It's just not the same at all.
I mean, this is I'm really glad that plug. I mean,
this is you know, this is a pretty extensive ordeal
for the team, you know, for for us, and it's
it's important. It's important, especially for a young team, that
there's there's only so many ways that you can grow
up quickly in the National Football League, and time on
task is the best teacher.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
My Man Todd is shooting right now, and you see
the practice field behind us. So basically you have one
field where the Falcons offense goes up against the Titans defense,
and then another field over here where the Titans offense
goes up against the Falcons defense. You mix in some
special teams through the course of a two hour padded practice,
(02:37):
but there's a lot of one the first string versus
first string, work twos versus twos, et cetera, and everybody,
all ninety plus players are active for two plus hours.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Yeah, and that's what you get out of this is
because you know, when you in a preseason game, I
mean you've only got four quarters to disperse reps. I mean,
the reps get very thin in a preseason game. Here,
the coaches came control the matchups and so that's exactly
why you do this. And the fact that you've done
it back to back on the road that will pay dividends.
Speaker 5 (03:06):
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Speaker 1 (03:36):
Back to the OTP as someone that was a head
coach in the National Football League and a long time
defensive coordinator and associate head coach for a long time
as well, how much are you evaluating players making a
roster during these practices compared to what you watch in
the preseason games.
Speaker 3 (03:54):
Well, I mean, it's part of it. It's part of
the evaluation process.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
There's there's no there's no I mean, there's no list
as far as at the top. But this is part
of it. The thing that you do get out of
this tailor you get more reps. Yeah, you know, to
look at him and then plus when you do it
two days in a row like they've done here, you
can say, hey, here's what we didn't do well, here's
what we need to concentrate on.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
That's what you're looking for now.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
Some of you may have seen that cam Ward was
not happy with the way that he practiced on Tuesday,
and he let all of his teammates know it and
wanted to be better on this Wednesday. Let's just start
right there. I thought the cam had a really good
practice on winks, which you again, it's going to be a.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Learning process for him throughout the whole year, the whole year,
you know, and I do a lot of radio out
of market. People have called, you know, what can he
learn from this? He can learn everything because everything that
he's seeing is brand new. It's brand new, so this
accelerates his learning curve and there's going to be some
dips in it, but he's got the same attitude that
(04:50):
he's had ever since he was drafted, and you just
got to stay with it.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
A lot of people want to know about the young players,
the newcomers with the Titans, and certainly we're going to
keep telling you about those guys. We'll get to them
in just a minute, but I'll tell you a couple
of guys that I've been really impressed with so far
in training camp number zero, Calvin Ridley.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
He looks a young player.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
He's a real player and that to me today even
they had trouble covering Calvin Ridley, you know, the foalcas
had trouble with him.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
They were holding him there.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Look, this guy is an established veteran on this football team, Taylor.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
He's one of the lynch pions for this team. Right now.
Speaker 1 (05:23):
He looks like he's playing the best football of his life.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
Coach.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, I haven't seen him his whole career, but I
just know what he's doing right now and the mindset
and then the physical shape that he came back in.
Speaker 3 (05:34):
It's what you want.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
And another guy I wanted to point out was a
man that had a career high in rushing yards last
year for the Tennessee Titans, ran for over a thousand yards.
Tony Pollard. He's looked terrific, especially today.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
Yeah, and you know, the run game is going to
be big for this football team because you've got a
young quarterback and so it's not on Tony Pollard. It's
the offensive line too, and it's a tight end, it's
everybody else. I mean, the run game has got to
at least be something that you can hang your hat on.
Doesn't have to be dominating, but it has to be
able to move the chains so that you're not constantly
in third and long that you put this this young
(06:06):
offense in that that when defenses, I mean, I've called
a lot of defenses in this league, but I know
they have to throw. There's a whole lot that I've
got on my roller decks that I can do.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
Cam and Calvin are becoming the leaders of the offense.
Certainly Cam is becoming one of the leaders, if not
the leaders of the football team. But there's a guy
on defense that unquestionably is the guy that has everybody's
back on this football team. And I'm talking about number
ninety eight, Jeffrey Simmons.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Well, yeah, I mean, big Jeff's a quality player in
this league.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And he's and he's he's got the mindset and also
he's got the stature. You know, and this now you know,
you don't you don't want you only want to take
it to a certain point. And again, you know there
are a couple of fights out here today that there's
going to be fights in these things. You just want
to keep it to a minimum. But Jeffrey Simmons has
got to be. He has got and he'll be a
focal point for offenses. He'll be a focal point.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
Believe me.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
You mentioned the fights. I mean nothing was serious. They
were just some little scuffles and then everybody was fine
after that. But sort of like seeing the juice that
Titans have, especially with Simmons, and how defensive all the
players are of each other. They have formed a brotherhood
during this training game.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
You don't want you don't want fights because you just can't.
I mean, there's a line where you take it to
I've been involved with some very very aggressive teams in
my life, but in the ball game you can't. You
can only take it to a certain point. Now in practice,
practice is like this, especially in training camp, especially two
days in a row. I mean, things are gonna flare up.
And believe me, when you're watching tape the night before,
(07:35):
they're saying, you know, well this dude, you know what
Mac Taylor really got after you you know you're gonna
be up against him this time. All of that stuff
goes on. But the fights were very inconsequential today.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Yeah, agreed. Well, Jeffrey Simmons, we were referencing him yesterday
after practice, we had a chance to catch up with
number ninety eight for your Tennessee Titans. All right, we're
here with the man number ninety eight, Jeffrey Simmons. Not
wearing number ninety eight right now, but you can tell
if you're a Tennessee Titans fan, this guy is in
the best shape of his entire life.
Speaker 6 (08:05):
What did it tay but to be into this A
lot of discipline. I think that's my biggest word for
this off season. And now, you know, being disciplined, you know,
staying locked into my my nutritionists, she she's everything for
me right now.
Speaker 4 (08:19):
Being able to get a new plan, get.
Speaker 6 (08:21):
Up on a plan that's beneficial for me, my mail prep,
taking the right vitamin, taking the right supplements, and you know,
just working the tail off in the off season. But
you know, right now, it's all about discipline, consistency. Jeff
you were already one of the best defensive linemen in
the NFL.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
Why did you do this?
Speaker 6 (08:38):
I mean, for me, it's all about being available, you know,
you know what's you know for me? You know, yeah,
I could go out there and play, but when I'm
in my best is when I'm healthy, when I'm light
on my feet. You know, it's just even with past Redge.
You know, I feel so I feel good out here,
feel much better.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Than last year.
Speaker 6 (08:52):
I don't feel like I just got so much inflammation
throughout my body. I think that was also one of
my key points. You know, when you do blood work,
your blood work tell everything. You know, I had so
much information in my body and now, you know, just
being able to be available for my teammates, you know,
and being out there on the field. I think that's
the most important thing, especially throughout the year, because I
know I know what's gonna come on the field.
Speaker 4 (09:13):
I know what I'm doing the field.
Speaker 6 (09:14):
But you know, when I'm healthy and I'm feeling my best,
you know, can't about to stop me.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Watching you and your leadership and how much you're coaching
all of your teammates out there. You can tell is
a guy that came into the league and won and
has gone through the last three years, you don't want
any part of what you just went through again.
Speaker 6 (09:29):
How important is it to you to be a winner again?
I mean that's what it's about. Especially with all young guys.
You know, they don't really know they I mean, this
a first year like just say, for instanceent we got
Fimi Famy never played with me, you know him, you know,
getting reps with the ones and being out there with
the ones. You know, it's all about teacher teaching with
moment because when I was out there, I had a
guy I had, Jarred Casey, who took me.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
Under his wing talk talk through things.
Speaker 6 (09:51):
You know, it's always it's easy to you know, mf
or it called somebody their name when they mess up.
But you know, in this league, and we all know
the way I go, the way Femi go, the way
Fimi go, I go, and long we together, long I'm
helping them out, coaching them all right, this is what
we saw.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
That's how you win football games.
Speaker 6 (10:08):
You know, a connected group, especially up front when we
get getting after the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
We have to be together.
Speaker 6 (10:13):
We have to be in this on page, rush lanes
and all that, so we're on the same page. And however,
my role is that, you know, helping the next guy out.
Speaker 4 (10:22):
That's what it's all about.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
And I can tell you love it when Fimi comes
up to you and asks you questions.
Speaker 6 (10:26):
Right west, definitely man, because you know you got to
have that connection. You got to be able to have
you know that trust with each other. I think that's
what femin is all about. You know, femins won't you
to trust them? And you know one thing about it.
He gonna ask questions, you gonna hear them. But you
know that's as a vet as somebody who's been in
this league for a couple of years now seven years,
you know, as a young guy who asked a lot
of questions. You know he understands the game, but he
(10:48):
also want to do it perfect. And I tell him
everything not gonna be perfect. But when we can talk
through things come to the sideline like, no, femine, that's
not how you do that, and then two minutes you
fix it. You know that's what we want to see,
especially myself. Now I can trust you even more.
Speaker 1 (11:01):
Jeff number one for the Tennessee Titans out there does
not look like a rookie. He doesn't act like a rookie.
You have this fun natured back and forth that you
have with this guy, but you can tell he's already
family to you. Is it rare that we just watched
him address the entire team? Do rookies usually do that?
Speaker 4 (11:20):
Now?
Speaker 6 (11:20):
I think this is my first time, especially since i've
been in in the league, especially after practice, and that's
what it's all about me.
Speaker 4 (11:28):
He's know that he's all starting quarterback. He know the
way he go, the offense gonna go.
Speaker 6 (11:33):
He know the well I can't say the first person,
but the second person a ball, get it. I mean,
you know, outside of the center is him. So he
know he's the head of the snake. So that's the
way he should hold his guys accountable. He should hold
his team of accountable because one thing about it, you know,
we got his back, We behind him. Know whatever he say,
we're gonna listen, and it's vice versa. And that's what
he said, you know, hold him accountab So I think
(11:55):
at the end of the day, when you have a
young guy like him, and you know you got a team,
got a bunch of gods that were pretty much the
whole team behind him, you know, that's that's what you
want out a young guy who you know hunger and
want to win.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Just for you.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
Not only will I say tighten up, I'll say hail State,
just for you, Hal stateent titen up.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Thanks, Jeff, I appreciate it.
Speaker 5 (12:14):
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Go to kroger dot com slash boost for details. Kroger
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so committed to caring for the places and spaces in
(12:36):
which we work and live. Ashley, the official furniture provider
of the Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 1 (12:42):
Now back to the OTP coach. I mentioned it at
the beginning of that interview. He's in the best shape
of his life.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Well, and he did it on purpose.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
I mean he and Jase Latham both, I mean both
bigger bands that not only cut weight, but they cut
body composition and they cut just the way that that
their body is shaped. I mean, both of them deserve
major credits, and so is our nutrition apartment. So does
the strength and kiddition of the group. I mean they
all bought into it, and so it should help both
of those guys well.
Speaker 1 (13:11):
And we talked about it with Jeff in the interview
that he's going to be he's hopefully more versatile now
losing a few pounds. He hasn't lost any strength, but
being the defensive minded guy you are, can you move
him around a little.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Bit more and we'll see. It all depends on matchups. Yeah,
that's all. That all depends on matchups. And that's when
that's when your game planning starts. In that they will
you know that, Tracy Rocker and Denard Wilson, those guys
will start putting together when you start put together matchups
in game planning, and that's where you can decide what
matchup is best in which circumstances for Jeffery Simmons, All.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Right, coach, before we get to the game on Friday,
any young players that caught your eye the last couple
of days.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
No, I just I just don't.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
I just don't look at players individually in this I mean,
it's it's how they respond as a group. And look,
you talk about young players, this is a young team.
You can just naming players on this team and they're
they're all young and they're all learning. So I take
them as a group, I mean really right now, because
that's what you've got to do, because no single young
player is going to be the guy that's gonna tip it.
Speaker 3 (14:12):
They've got to do it together.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
I'll just say, elk Io Mannor and gunner Helm Elick
of course, a wide receiver, a rookie and gunner Helm
a tight end from Texas saw them running with the
ones a lot. So some young guys.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Have to Taylor.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
I mean, you start looking at the numbers and you
start looking at again, this is a rebuilding football team,
and so that signifies that your young players are going
to have to start. That's how you start rebuilding. You
start rebuilding with young players in the draft, and then
you've got to let them play.
Speaker 1 (14:41):
Okay, now, coach, guys will rest the rest of today,
they'll go through a walk through tomorrow, move hotels. They're
gonna move from Brazzleton, Georgia back to Atlanta, right next
to the stadium, and get ready to play the Falcons
on Friday. What's the significance of game one to game
two in the preseason.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Well, there's things that you can work on. And again,
they're not going to game plan for this game. It's
just you know, I heard Denard and the thing that
you had with him. You know on the OTP. People
need to watch that. They're not game planning this thing.
They're not game planning at all. But you can learn
from the tape. The tape has got very teachable moments.
That's what you learn.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
From mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (15:16):
And that's going to be of course on Friday night
on the Tennessee Titans Radio Network, listen to us just
after seven o'clock Eastern time. Of course, the pregame show
will start just after six o'clock Eastern time.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
You can't wait.
Speaker 1 (15:28):
It's been a heck of a trip, ten days, nine
nights on the road with you, Coach Mac.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Well, you probably didn't like that part of it, but
you're like, I do love it. You like the rest
of it. I thought it's very very beneficial for this team.
I mean, and it really it really helps you, you know,
come together in a lot of different ways. I really
like what we're doing here. And you know, everybody, everybody's
involved with the same thing, all the way from the
ops crew all the way to us. Everybody's experiencing the
(15:54):
same thing, and it pulls you closer together. For those
who are going to make this at least initial fifty three.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
What are you talking about. I love being with you.
You're the head coach of our team. You make everybody
fall in line.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
I like you.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
I like your leadership.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
No, you have to say that. You have to say
that because we're on we're this is on tape, This
is live on tape.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
Coach.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
I love being with you, my friend. Look forward to
the game on Friday night.
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Let's go. We're ready, all right.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
Look forward to that. Thanks to everybody behind the scenes
for all of their hard work. Titans and Falcons Friday
Night from Atlanta on the Titans Radio Network. This is
the O t P.
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