June 12, 2025 • 40 mins
Amie Wells is joined by Dave McGinnis and Rhett Bryan to wrap up the Titans offseason program and mandatory minicamp.
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Speaker 1 (00:11):
This is the OTP. I'm Amy Wells.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
The off season program for the Tennessee Titans has ended.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
OTAs done.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Mandatory mini camp also done, so we are going to
talk about it. I'm joined by RTT Bryan and coach
Mac Dave McGinnis are Titans radio gurus and knowers of
all things Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
There's a lot to unpack here because.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
We haven't really talked about football this whole off season.
There's been so many different things going on. There's been
a lot of changes, a lot of roster additions, so
much stuff happening this offseason. We need to now sit
down and really talk ball, and I figured you guys
were the best guys to do that with. So I
want to start with Mac because you've done this many men,
(01:00):
many times before. You've put together off season programs and
there's so many different things that are talked about throughout
an off season program.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
What this guy looks like, what that guy looks like?
Is he better? Is he worth? Is he fatter? Is
he skinnier, is he taller? Is he shorter? All of
these different things. What are you.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Actually trying to accomplish as a staff, as a team
throughout the off season program because you can't do everything well.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
The first thing is, I mean they put together a
really generally a brand new football team. So once once
you once you do that, they this group has been
together in some form or fashion at least for one season.
But as coaches, you look back, you look back in
retrospects as the year that you've had, what could we
(01:46):
do better as coaches? How can we more help our players?
And then after you go through the draft and we
know what a process that is, then you bring then
you bring the young the young players into it. And
this is what all of this was about, seeing how
they're gonna fit into your scheme of what you're doing.
You install and you start to install what you want
(02:08):
to do offensively, defensively. You throw everything at them. You
throw it all at them. And then finding out here's
two things that you find out during this time. The
first thing that's important is find out who you don't
think cannot do it. You find that out pretty quick.
Now they haven't slotted anybody. There's still ninety one players here,
is that correct? Rent, There's still ninety one players, So
(02:31):
they're gonna they haven't slotted anybody in too exactly what
they will be doing once they get once we get
into the training camp, all of that stuff will start
to tunnel in and narrow But everybody came from it's
not having your bright lights on. Everything came from a
big picture first, and now it starts, it starts to
narrow down. We could see it even during this mandatory ota,
(02:53):
these these three days, these three practices, it was even
different than from what they have done before. You get
more time with them, you can meet with them afterwards.
So it's been very productive. And the thing that I
liked about it, Amy and Rhett and for our listeners,
everybody that was healthy was here participating, and even if
(03:16):
the guys that weren't here, some of your vets and
you're never going to get one hundred percent of the
vets here, but you knew what they were doing and
you're constantly in contact with them. But when they all
came together, it's got a pretty good look to it.
Right now. Is it a finished product by far? No,
but it's a start.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Rhet You were out at practice for all three of
the mandatory practices.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Tell me what you noticed.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Were there some overall observations that you took away from
that time.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
I would start with piggybacking off of what Max said
with the participation that's huge in this and talking to
Brian Callahan about it. It is a direct result of
what they have done in all the months leading up
to this in the procurement of talent through both free
agency and the draft of who's a Titan, what's the
(04:06):
definition of a Titan? And who are you? And how
what do we want you to do? The buy in
is huge because Max Wright there was basically one superstar
that wasn't here leading up to that, and he showed
up this week and it was pretty much outside of injury,
one hundred percent participation. Ninety one guys on the roster.
Think about this, and he's talking about basically a new team.
(04:26):
Nineteen free agents, twenty four total rookies either undrafted or drafted.
That's a good chunk and forty four of that ninety
one twenty five years or younger.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Whoa So just think.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
About from sheer numbers, you know what we're trying to
take a look at and all they're trying to digest
and put all together. I think the first thing, just
in noticing, as Mac would say, who's who in the zoo,
just watching cam Ward immediately the quick whip delivery with
(04:59):
the side arm threat and for the most part accurate. Now,
as we got deeper into mini camp, Denard Wilson and
the defense, he started mixing things and looks in there.
And when they got into high and low red zone
work and third down work got more difficult. It's a
little different ballgame from seven on seven. Seven on seven
makes quarterback look like, you know, the rock star, as
(05:22):
evidenced by the first day where cam finished with eighteen
straight completions. That's how everybody was riding and talking about that.
But you knew the other shoe was going to drop
and Dinard Wilson's going to say, whoah, hang on a second,
let's test things. And it's so important for the integrate
integral structure of this team as strengths and weaknesses and
(05:46):
matchups and those things and throwing stuff, throwing guys into
the fire to see where they are. But the zest
was there, The participation certainly was. But that's what I'd
like to defer to Mac and ask just from an
opt rational standpoint from Brian Callahan knowing this is his
second tour in through this stuff. Was there anything noticeable
(06:07):
that he might have done differently from year one without
giving trade secrets away.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Well, yeah, I mean he did. I mean and we
we we know. Look, he's a he's a he is
a very detailed note taker. He's a journaler and we
know that. I mean, that's what he does. And so
you can tell there there's there's some there are some
tweaks that he made. The first one of the one
of the things he did, he divided this team up
into eight teams. They had they I mean, if you've
ever if you ever saw the board as far as
(06:31):
the way they keep totals and keep scores, it's, uh,
it's pretty intricate. It's it's it's pretty cool. But it
kept it kept the energy going during practice as far
as as as the competition as much as you can
compete without pads on. I mean, that's one thing that
I noticed. The other thing that I noticed amy the
common thread that ran through, especially the draft choices. They
(06:54):
have got some real real football maturity about them as
young players. They're very football mature. You say, coach Mack,
what do you mean by that? You can tell that
they're all about business. I mean, I've never seen Matt
Thompson and his group be so busy before and after practice,
just for an example, with the jugs machines, everybody is
(07:16):
over there and then after practice though, these I mean,
these rookies aren't looking forward to getting out of the building.
I mean, and you know we know what the story
is with Cam coming here at five in the morning
and having a big group with him. These guys are
football serious, but they're football mature. I mean I noticed
that really quick, and you could just see that just
(07:37):
in the way that the way that they work, and
the Vets appreciate that maturity early on because Rett just
gave us the numbers. You're the Titans are going to
depend on a lot of young players this year with
this rebuild. You're going to depend on a lot of
young players, and you need them to be mature, and
they are.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Well before we move on, I would like to say,
for the record, I do not think journaler is a word.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
You're journaling, but I don't think that makes you a journaler,
does it. It's like Hamburgler, that's kind of where my brain.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
He keeps journals, journal He's a journaler.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Hamburgers from a certain fast.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Food one journal up. Okay, you google it.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Here, it is right here. Wait Webster's mac Webster journal
for good.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Mac Webster of course. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I do want to keep talking about cam Ward though,
while I bring this train back on track after derailing it,
because Cam's development is going to be an interesting thing
to watch. We know he's a really mature guy already.
He hits that standard that sometimes a rookie quarterback needs
to build up to. It seems by all accounts that
he's already there from a maturity standpoint. Now it's intake
(09:01):
of information learning how to manage an offense, how to
run it, and how to play at the next level.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Mac. I guess the question.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
In all of that is what are the actual measurable
benchmarks that you can look at to see that he
is improving and that he is growing? Because I don't
necessarily think that eighteen completion eighteen straight completions in seven
on seven, for example, because we just talked about it
(09:31):
is really the measure of being ready to play week one,
because there's so many things, to Rett's point, that are
in your favor as a quarterback. So what are the
things that we can look to to say, hey, he
does seem like he's improving that maybe aren't statistics?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Is the on time? Is he accurate?
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Those are two things you look at, And the other
thing is how do you handle adversity because you're not
always gonna complete eighteen in a row and you're there's
gonna be there's gonna be bad throws, there's gonna be
improper throws. The defense is still trying to play too.
Let's just let's everybody.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Understand that they are also paid.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Yeah, they're they're paid, and they're paid a lot, but
they're they are trying. I spend a big part of
my career trying to mess up quarterbacks and so, but
how you handle the adversity of it is huge. You
can't let as a quarterback, you cannot let a negative,
a negative play crush you internally and then externally body
(10:43):
language wise, you cannot because all eyes are on you.
I've been very impressed with the way that he is.
He's very even keeled. There's not a lot, there's not
a lot that knocks this guy off of the square
that he's on. I mean, he's pretty much he's pretty
much a er dude. And when it is at the
(11:04):
right play. All he's looking for is how do I
correct it? And then how can I do the next
play even better? But he's got a great ability right now,
just from what I've seen, and I've been to every
practice and have watched him. If it's not right, then
he's very very quick to put that behind him and
(11:24):
go make the next thing right.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Well, and he's in a room with a lot of
veterans who can help him. Rhett, how do you think
that being in a room with Brandon Allen, with Tim Boyle,
even with Will Levis is going to help him achieve
those goals?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Well?
Speaker 4 (11:41):
When you look at and yes, Will Levis has enough
experience he can add value to the conversation of what
to do and not doing those things. But when you're
speaking about Brandon Allen and even Tim Boyle, I mean
both of those guys have been around for a minute
just sharing what works. Maybe not might work exactly for Cam,
(12:04):
but maybe like here's what worked for me in this situation.
When you're getting this look, think about this what pitfalls
to possibly avoid Because they're actually playing the same position
you're playing, so you're getting the first hand it's not
and the other part of it not that cam wouldn't
listen to his teammates or certainly his coaches, but it's
(12:28):
a different perspective that liignes with something. You're in the
same position, group room with these guys and they're doing
the same things with you, going through this with you.
So I think that's where all that starts. And maybe
something that Brandon Allen or Will Levis or Tim Boyle
say stands out that maybe even the coach hadn't thought
(12:48):
about a different perspective, I think is what you get
would see.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
All of that is true, but what drew them to
cam Ward in this draft process was that intrinsic quality
that he had to be able to do that during
competition and then in all the meetings they had. You
know how many meetings that you have when you're vetting
somebody for the draft, especially the number one pick, especially
(13:14):
a quarterback, You try to dig in and find out
who that person is and how that is going to
magnify itself in all instances. So that was inside of
him to begin with. That's one of his greatest qualities
is the fact that he is grounded enough and he
(13:37):
is genuine enough as to who he is is that
he's able to keep his eye on what he is
doing and not worry about not worry, and worry is
a different word. When you're a quarterback, you've got to
be able to flush that stuff, and he's got a
great ability to do that.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
He also has a great ability to process information. I
laughed when Coach Callahan was talking at a media availability
throughout Mini camp. I don't remember which day it was,
but he was talking about how he was giving play
calls to Cam in his helmet listening device and he
(14:17):
while Cam was talking like trash essentially, and so Callie
was trying to figure out, do I wait until until
you're done saying saying whatever thing you need to say
to someone else?
Speaker 1 (14:29):
And then I talked to you and he's like, no,
I can do both. It's fine.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I personally, you can ask my husband and my children
cannot talk and listen.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
To information at the same time. I can't do it.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
I am I am giving information or I am in
taking information. Those are two separate experiences from my brain.
Cam Ward can do them simultaneously, and he can do
it fast well.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
The processing part of it is that you ask me
about what you look at when you're when you're vetting
quarterbacks and your what processing is huge because I mean
they've got to take a lot of information in both
visually listening seeing quick. It's quick, but you could learn
(15:17):
some of that, but against some of that. Some people
are just better at it than others. He seems to
be pretty natural with that.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
And it points to the reports about them using the
virtual reality program like was used with Jaden Daniels with
in Washington and using that with Cam. Obviously now that
they're doing a total different thing, it's fit to what
they're doing here offensively. But from what I understand, and
there was a great piece I don't remember if it
was in the Athletic or whatever about that when Jayden
(15:46):
Daniels was having such success last season and they told
the story about the VR device that he would wear.
Is that you plug and play and you put in
all of your offense and the situations and then you
speed that up. I think it's up to one over
one and a half times what real time is, and
so you do so many reps on that and I
(16:07):
think once you acclimate to it, and this seems to
be what Jayden Daniels did, is it seemed like it
led you towards that. When the light switch comes on
and everything starts going. We talk about players getting in
slow motion seeing plays things and things develop. I think
that's an aid to help him using technology to do that.
And with what Max's talking about with his recognition skills,
(16:30):
I'm sure he'll probably do very well with that.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Wow, that's that's incredible that that total.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
He's still gonna have.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Challenges this summer.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
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Speaker 1 (17:06):
Delivery fees apply Now. Back to the OTP.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Big challenges because again, just knowing it from the other
side of it for a lot of years, that's the
first thing you do that That is how you test
a Young Quarterbacks Medal. When you're on defense, you're gonna
test it you're gonna test it quick, yeah, and then
if they stand up to it, then you've got to
(17:32):
figure out that you're in for a fight. If they melt,
then you got them.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Well.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Somebody that was really interested in testing Kim Ward that
we saw during mandatory mini camp was Jeffrey Simmons. Excited
to have Jeffrey Simmons here. It was great to have
him on the field. It was great to hear him
yelling at somebody on the field. Again, it's such a
soothing tone to Titans fans, you know, it's like the
sounds of football are slowly coming back. Jeffrey Simmons is
(17:58):
giving someone a hard time. It all feels normal and
complete for us. But it was important to him to
be able to throw some of that adversity at him,
to kind of push him and needle him and see
how it would go. But that's what Jeffrey Simmons does.
That's part of being a leader on defense, right.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
I think that's certainly his style. Let's put it that way.
Because he is a multi captain, multi pro bowler. That
may not be the approach for everybody in that position,
but that's certainly the Jeffrey Simmons school for lack of
a better term. And the other part of that story
is cam Ward gave it right back to him, and
cam did not step down. And now I wouldn't advise
(18:40):
that necessarily in a real life game situation, you know,
unless you have offensive line eric right, a large human
being like Jeffrey Simmons. But it was interesting to see
that just kind of unfold and saying, hey, Rook, welcome
to the league. This is for real now, and it's
going to be problematic for you at times.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Let's see the way that that cam board reaction to that. Yeah,
that brings those guys, I mean, the offensive lineman, I
got no doubt in my mind because he's gonna get
challenged by everybody. I mean, he's gonna be challenged by everybody.
It's gonna be challenged when we go down to Tampa
Bay to practice to Atlanta. But I would bet with
(19:21):
a lot of money in my pocket that those offensive
linemen are gonna have his back no matter.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
What, knowing that he'll see Will Anderson's uh and and
Daniel Hunters of the world because of the division and
Leatu Latu and you know, the guys that are in
Jacksonville India and Houston. And while we're talking about defensive
players for a second, that's another takeaway from me is
watching Frank Bush work with Cody Barton, who was one
(19:52):
of the main free agent pickups in this a vet,
smart player, gonna be counted on a lot, and working
with the young fellas he's got in the rest of
that room. And I'm gonna call this little mini segment
lost in the fifties because what comes before fifty two
fifty one, Well, fifty one is Cedric Gray and that's
(20:12):
a guy that lost a lot of time last year,
doing an injury this time of the year last year
and missed his first ten games of his rookie season
in his so he's still acclimating the things. But you
can see the flashes. And then James Williams, who did
not have those unfortunate issues and got some playing time,
played teams, come very close to making some plays in practice,
(20:33):
some that he wanted back that he thought he should
have had in his hands. Those are two very interesting
pieces to go in this second tier of the defensive puzzle.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Well, that's gonna be extra I mean, I've seen Cody
Barton play, I've watched him in Denver. I know how
he sets his pads against opponents. I still want to
see these young guys set their pads against opponents. That's
gonna be. That's why again, what Brian Callahan is doing
with his football team, taking this team on the road
(21:05):
for two preseason games, and that's huge. That is huge.
That is going to be. That work is going to
be magnified by two or three and it's very important.
It's really important. I've never put my stamp of approval
on any linebacker I've ever coached until the pads come on,
because that's where they make their living. To Rett's point,
(21:27):
those two young guys look much further ahead than they
were when we saw him on the field last year.
And of course you know Gray was way behind. Williams
was coming from a safety position. But Frank Bush and
those players have done a nice job. I'm really looking
forward to seeing when the pads come on against other
(21:48):
people because if those dudes, I really like, Barton Martin's
a player, and if those other two can fulfill the
roles that they wanted to fulfill, that goes a huge
step in tay in the front and the back together.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
The other part about this too, is seeing the new
pieces and parts and who has the personalities Cody Barton
personality vocal even though he's a rookie, Femiola Dajo personality vocal,
and you just and then obviously you Pepper in the regulars.
(22:24):
I mean, certainly ardent Key is just full of life
and electricity and loves to talk. Same thing with Jeffrey Simmons.
But just to see some of these guys that are,
you know, talking, talking to talk and trying to walk
the walk at the same time.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Just seeing arden Key though, I'm glad you mentioned that.
I mean, to me, he's hit another level of maturity too.
He's been in the league quite a while, but he's
I mean, he's he's worked and he's working. So, I mean,
every one of those pieces has to fall in place,
and there's some there's some young guys in the back
end that I'm really looking forward to seeing when it
(23:01):
really gets heated up.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Well, Cody Barton a big free agency acquisition for this team.
Are there other free agency acquisitions that have really stood
out to you throughout this mandatory minigam or off season
as a whole process. Is there anyone else who's had impact.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Like Zeitler is gonna be go ahead, Keviner. He reminds
me of again some of those old school because he
is old school offensive guards. I mean when he walks
out of the locker room, you go, well, that's an
NFL guard. I think that's gonna be that that that's
gonna be that's gonna be huge. Uh. The whole our
(23:40):
whole left tackle situation, I have to feel is going
to be better. It's just gonna be better. And then
plus you talk about getting j C. Latham over to
the right side and being the new bodied j C.
Latham is something I'm really looking forward to seeing too.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
I'll give you a couple more. Staying on the offensive line,
Blake Hants another veteran offensive line swing person that can
help to be a stabilizing force. He has someone that
has shown up in this camp that has just concluded.
And one of the free agency acquisitions I really really
liked on a one year deal is Draymont Jones. Draymont
(24:21):
Jones is going to provide some much needed help in
a spot as a bigger He's built like a almost
like a four to three end and can I think
he can bring help from there, certainly on the outside
as a linebacker. Guy's got stats and he's consistent, and
that was a good get for them, and I think
(24:42):
it's gonna be a good person to kind of move
around in some things. For Denard Wilson.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Well, you go to see what Donard is gonna. I mean,
that's a guy too. If you watch his his tape
where he's been in the league, I mean he's he
can play anywhere from a nine which is unclear the
outside of the tidy and all the way down to
a shade and a zero. I mean, this guy's a
very versatile defensive front player. I'm looking I'm luck red.
I'm looking forward to seeing how Di Nard's going to
(25:08):
piece all of that together.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
I was going to end the show with this question,
but I'm too excited. I want to talk about it
right now. And that's position group that you're the most
excited about heading into training camp. And while I'm really
interested in hearing what you guys have to say, I'm
going to go first because I don't want you to take.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Mine minus the tight ends.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
I am so excited about what this offense is going
to do with this group of tight ends. Mackett practice
the other day, I asked you if I was irrationally excited.
You're right, and I mean it's still possible that I am.
But seeing what they're able to do is pest catcher,
seeing what they're able to do as blockers, seeing what
they're able to do just in being used, which is
(25:48):
something that is still kind of relatively new to a
Titans offense. Over the last maybe three or four years,
we didn't see a lot of tight end involvement in
some of those exciting big plays. We saw him as
blockers over and over and over again because the line
needed extra help. So now I'm so excited to see
them really be involved in the offensive effort as a
(26:08):
whole and really involved in the game plan. I mean,
this is like I'm like Delaney Walker John Usmith era
excited about the Titans tight ends this season.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
You're not wrong, No, you're not wrong. I mean you
look at the group and you look at them as
a whole. They're big, well, and they got length, and
then each one of them has a little bit different
of a skill set, but they're all You're right. We're
sitting there watching them go through a sled drill and
you said, you know, and you're right. I mean, that's
that's a good that's a good position group right there,
because it just they look different and I believe they're
(26:44):
probably going to be used a little bit differently too.
So I agree with my group's the offensive line. I
spend a lot of time with the offensive line. That's
I mean, that's where I start every practice once the
draft was over, is down there watching Bill Callahan just
work these guys. And I just I that's what I'm
looking forward to because they've got guys in the right
(27:06):
places now. I mean, and just you know across the board.
Cushion Berry's not back yet, but you know, once you
get your center back in there. But they they've not
only not only the starters, but I think they've got
probably you know, you can suit up eight offensive linemen
are an active roster, and you know, and get one
exemption if you suit up eight offensive linemen. I think
(27:28):
they've genuinely got eight that they can that they can
can suit up. And you've got a couple of swing guys.
I'm looking forward to seeing how that comes comes around.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
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Speaker 1 (28:03):
Now back to the OTP, Go back to.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
The tight ends your position group for just a moment.
It's clear why they drafted gunner Helm in Day three
of the draft, and clear that they have some plans
for him. But I am equally excited about Chicka con
Quo's involvement in this. And people have made much about
the newly reshaped body of Jeffrey Simmons, who they just
(28:26):
saw this week. Uh and and also what j C.
Latham has done in trying to move into a solid
second season. Don't get lost, Chicka con Quo's done work
in that area too, because he's a big guy, but
he looks different and I think, you know, going into
the territory he is with his tenure with the Titans,
(28:48):
you know, he's trying to do what's right to get
things over the hump.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
The group that I am I don't.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
Know if excited is the word, but I think I'm
one of the most intrigued about is the wide receiver
group just because they have thirteen of them.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Right now, that's a lot, and that's a lot.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
You can try to pencil in whoever you want. And yeah,
you can first three or four names you can pretty
much figure barring injury or something unfor seee that's you know,
you know, Calvin Ridley's gonna be on this football team.
Who by the way, there's another observation. Super happy guy now.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Right he's four is in the rearview mirror.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
But there's thirteen guys. And do they keep six? Do
they somehow keep seven? Where's the other numbers work from? Positionally,
if you just keep six, you've got another seven, eight guys,
nine guys fighting for one or two spots in this stuff.
And I think how all that shakes out is going
to be fascinating. And I go back to Max point
(29:43):
about two straight preseason road games and a good chunk
of time out of town at both spots with joint
practices leading up to said preseason games.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Something else I'm looking forward to and I've got experience
with this, and I just I just I really believe
I know how it's going to be. But to watch
the special teams under.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Bones Fossil, you read my mind, Mac.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Well, because that's that's a real thing. It's a real thing.
And and you know, the public hadn't been exposed to
Bones Fossil yet. I mean, my office was close with
his for six years. I know what he is. I
mean and I know, I mean we won games before
with the teams that I was with Bones with with
(30:27):
special teams, and it's just a he's very very unique.
But he's and he's he just coalesce is a word, righty,
it's a good one.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
It is a journal er is not though I googled it,
but yes, totally, Mac Webster.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Because man is good, right maw just as dictionary dot com.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Okay, okay, well.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
That's free plug.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
Don't don't go with that. But Bones, this is gonna
be something that's going to help this football team holistically.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Where are we going to see the biggest impact you
think in the special teams effort overall?
Speaker 3 (31:07):
From consistency?
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Okay, that's great. Consistency is something.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Consistency is that that's what he's That's what Bones is
all about. And then you know, and again he's made
a he's made a name in this league as a
premier special teams coach, being consistent but also very very innovative.
He's innovative and his guys are always always on top
of their game. It's it's a fascinating room to begin
(31:33):
to listen to him game planning week to week as
to how they're going to match the opponents. But consistency,
I'll start with that because that's something that we need there.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
And seeing who the personal protector is, Who's who's vying
for those spots, who's going to be the returners in
this And then I've just been watching Joey Slide come
in and kick field goals and Johnny Hecker, I mean,
Mac goes back a long way with him as he
was brought into the league and Bones Fossil was the
(32:06):
guy that helped find and get him in there. My goodness,
what a punter and directional skills out the wazoo and
hang time to go with it, I mean ridiculous in
just directional punning. No wonder. He has so many Pro
Bowls and All Pro selections under his belt and has
been around as long as he has. Joey Sly I
(32:28):
think could be uh an extra help in that category
as he has bounced around from place to place. And
but Morgan Cox, to my consistency, there's there's a mainstay,
consistent person. But yeah, that whole face fascinates me as
to how some of those things work out.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Johnny Hecker tried to boost our coach Max sign here.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I keep your hands off of that.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
He tried to take it right off the ball.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
He's a big enough dude, he can pull that off. Dude,
you know what Johnny Hecker is. And again we'll get
off of this. But if a guy can get better
with age. And again Bones, you realize Bones went out
when we took over the Rams, and I know this
isn't part of this OTP. Now we had no kickers none,
(33:19):
So Jeff Fisher said, Bones, once we got him hired,
go out and find us a kicker and a punter
free agent, and that's who they'll be the they'll be
the starters. We're not gonna bring anybody else in. You
go find them. Goes to Oregon State, finds Johnny Hecker.
He goes to Missouri Southern Mules. You know, to find
(33:41):
Greg the leg those guys thirteen years in the league.
But Johnny Hecker, now I haven't been there with Heck
for a while, you know, since I left, since I
left the Rams. He's better than he was there with
his directional. I mean, this guy is special, but he
can't have that.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Do your sign.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
No, we cannot have the coach make hatchprint.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I'm gonna put a I'll put a sign on the
sign that says do not touch, especially if you're Johnny Hecker.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Hecker, this is not.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Your first hands off, especially kick no.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
All right, So to wrap this up a little bit,
coach Callahanson and his press conference that he wants guys
to take a smart vacation.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
For those who aren't familiar with the schedule, players are
now able to leave. For the most part.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
Rookies all linger for another week, but most players are
free to go after mandatory mini camp is over. They
have about six weeks and then they report for training camp.
And as you know, once training camp starts, we are
in it to win it.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Man.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
We are going up one hundred miles an hour straight
towards the Super Bowl. But before that, You've got about
six weeks to do whatever you need to do.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
Cally said.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
He hopes that guys will take smart vacations.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Mac. What is a smart vacation?
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Well, the first of all, you need to get away
for a little bit, but you still need to do
what we determine professional sport active rest. Don't lose you
guys have worked hard to get to where they are
right now physically. Don't lose that. You need to build
on top of that. The other thing you need to
do is decompress a little bit. Decompress a little bit,
(35:22):
but you really don't have that much because you need
to come back in even better physical condition than you leave.
Because what you're going to be asked to do once
you get back is much more strenuous than what you've
been doing. Now. It's going to be every day, you know.
I mean, you get a break at ten weeks right now.
(35:44):
So don't you've built a good foundation. Don't ruin the
foundation where you have to start over physically. That's number one.
Number two. I've been in charge of teams before, and
I'm sure that this came out of UH coach Callahan's mouth.
It comes out of every head coach in this league's
(36:05):
mouth at this time of year, and it's very simple.
Don't be that guy.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
Yep, don't.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
And that's enough said. Everybody else is coughed. Everybody's cognizant
of what's you know, just don't be that guy. Don't
be that guy. You know, you can still have active rest,
you can still have a good family vacation, a good
single vacation, a good way, but keep in mind what's coming.
(36:38):
And it believe me that time goes fast, fast, fast.
But as good a condition as this team is in
right now. We started this otp off talking about the
participation and then even the guys that weren't here, what
good shape they came back in, so you know they've worked.
Don't crater that until you report for training camp. That's
(37:04):
huge and you've got to understand it.
Speaker 4 (37:06):
How many times have we heard Max say the six
weeks or so between the end of this and the
start of training, it's something. It kept him up nights
making sure don't be the guy. Don't end up in
the wrong place, wrong time and do something silly.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
Yep, everybody knows who that guy is. Nobody wants to
be that be that.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Guy, and it's very simple not to be, because I mean,
you know what those circumstances are. Just don't be. There's
so much that you've worked for. It's all right there
for you. It's an exciting time. People are excited about
this team. Now, this team is excited. They've worked hard.
Just maintain you.
Speaker 4 (37:45):
Remember, it's like your grandmother telling you. Your grandmother ever
tell you idle time is the devil's workshoping. Yeah, yeah,
it's true, grandmao the devil.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
You can be a journaler.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
You could be a journaler. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 4 (38:03):
But there's a lot of truth.
Speaker 3 (38:04):
To what grandma said. You don't ever, don't ever not
believe your grandmother.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
Yeah, that's that's good advice. Well, guys, next stop training camp. Wow,
isn't it crazy?
Speaker 3 (38:17):
It is crazy.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
Look at how far we have come and there is
so much more to do.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Seems like just at this desk for the draft.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
I know it really does.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
And we've covered a lot of ground, We've done a
lot of football, and now we're gonna take a little break.
We will still have OTPs, of course, we would never
leave you hanging without OTPs. But then camp and training camp,
which starts towards the end of July.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
July twenty second day report. Third, you got three, you
got four days of indoctrination, and then you're rolling back together.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
Saturday is July twenty six a stadium, So there's a
lot coming up, and we will have everything for you
every step of the way. But in the meantime, if
you're looking for more Titans content, Tennessee Titans dot com.
Of course, Jim Lyot's there. He's writing stuff all the time.
He's making the rest of us look bad. There's all
kinds of content for you.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
Jim makes us look good.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
No, Jim makes me personally look very bad. He works
so hard and it's so nice. But like I like naps,
and I like a lunch break. I like to my
own Jim.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
Has already raised his children, so he doesn't have two toddlers.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
That's true. That is a big difference between Jim White
and myself.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
But anyway, Tennessee Titans dot com if you want to
read more about this Titans team, there's tons.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
Of stuff there.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
If you have not subscribed to the Official Titans podcast,
do that. Over the summer, feel free to binge while
you're driving to grandma's house. These are good times to
do things like that. Get yourself all caught up so
you are ready when we all report for training camp
in July for Red Brian, for coach Mac.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
I'm Emmy Wells and this has been the OTV
This is the OTP. I'm Amy Wells.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
The off season program for the Tennessee Titans has ended.
Speaker 1 (00:18):
OTAs done.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Mandatory mini camp also done, so we are going to
talk about it. I'm joined by RTT Bryan and coach
Mac Dave McGinnis are Titans radio gurus and knowers of
all things Tennessee Titans.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
There's a lot to unpack here because.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
We haven't really talked about football this whole off season.
There's been so many different things going on. There's been
a lot of changes, a lot of roster additions, so
much stuff happening this offseason. We need to now sit
down and really talk ball, and I figured you guys
were the best guys to do that with. So I
want to start with Mac because you've done this many men,
(01:00):
many times before. You've put together off season programs and
there's so many different things that are talked about throughout
an off season program.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
What this guy looks like, what that guy looks like?
Is he better? Is he worth? Is he fatter? Is
he skinnier, is he taller? Is he shorter? All of
these different things. What are you.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Actually trying to accomplish as a staff, as a team
throughout the off season program because you can't do everything well.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
The first thing is, I mean they put together a
really generally a brand new football team. So once once
you once you do that, they this group has been
together in some form or fashion at least for one season.
But as coaches, you look back, you look back in
retrospects as the year that you've had, what could we
(01:46):
do better as coaches? How can we more help our players?
And then after you go through the draft and we
know what a process that is, then you bring then
you bring the young the young players into it. And
this is what all of this was about, seeing how
they're gonna fit into your scheme of what you're doing.
You install and you start to install what you want
(02:08):
to do offensively, defensively. You throw everything at them. You
throw it all at them. And then finding out here's
two things that you find out during this time. The
first thing that's important is find out who you don't
think cannot do it. You find that out pretty quick.
Now they haven't slotted anybody. There's still ninety one players here,
is that correct? Rent, There's still ninety one players, So
(02:31):
they're gonna they haven't slotted anybody in too exactly what
they will be doing once they get once we get
into the training camp, all of that stuff will start
to tunnel in and narrow But everybody came from it's
not having your bright lights on. Everything came from a
big picture first, and now it starts, it starts to
narrow down. We could see it even during this mandatory ota,
(02:53):
these these three days, these three practices, it was even
different than from what they have done before. You get
more time with them, you can meet with them afterwards.
So it's been very productive. And the thing that I
liked about it, Amy and Rhett and for our listeners,
everybody that was healthy was here participating, and even if
(03:16):
the guys that weren't here, some of your vets and
you're never going to get one hundred percent of the
vets here, but you knew what they were doing and
you're constantly in contact with them. But when they all
came together, it's got a pretty good look to it.
Right now. Is it a finished product by far? No,
but it's a start.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Rhet You were out at practice for all three of
the mandatory practices.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Tell me what you noticed.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Were there some overall observations that you took away from
that time.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
I would start with piggybacking off of what Max said
with the participation that's huge in this and talking to
Brian Callahan about it. It is a direct result of
what they have done in all the months leading up
to this in the procurement of talent through both free
agency and the draft of who's a Titan, what's the
(04:06):
definition of a Titan? And who are you? And how
what do we want you to do? The buy in
is huge because Max Wright there was basically one superstar
that wasn't here leading up to that, and he showed
up this week and it was pretty much outside of injury,
one hundred percent participation. Ninety one guys on the roster.
Think about this, and he's talking about basically a new team.
(04:26):
Nineteen free agents, twenty four total rookies either undrafted or drafted.
That's a good chunk and forty four of that ninety
one twenty five years or younger.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Whoa So just think.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
About from sheer numbers, you know what we're trying to
take a look at and all they're trying to digest
and put all together. I think the first thing, just
in noticing, as Mac would say, who's who in the zoo,
just watching cam Ward immediately the quick whip delivery with
(04:59):
the side arm threat and for the most part accurate. Now,
as we got deeper into mini camp, Denard Wilson and
the defense, he started mixing things and looks in there.
And when they got into high and low red zone
work and third down work got more difficult. It's a
little different ballgame from seven on seven. Seven on seven
makes quarterback look like, you know, the rock star, as
(05:22):
evidenced by the first day where cam finished with eighteen
straight completions. That's how everybody was riding and talking about that.
But you knew the other shoe was going to drop
and Dinard Wilson's going to say, whoah, hang on a second,
let's test things. And it's so important for the integrate
integral structure of this team as strengths and weaknesses and
(05:46):
matchups and those things and throwing stuff, throwing guys into
the fire to see where they are. But the zest
was there, The participation certainly was. But that's what I'd
like to defer to Mac and ask just from an
opt rational standpoint from Brian Callahan knowing this is his
second tour in through this stuff. Was there anything noticeable
(06:07):
that he might have done differently from year one without
giving trade secrets away.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Well, yeah, I mean he did. I mean and we
we we know. Look, he's a he's a he is
a very detailed note taker. He's a journaler and we
know that. I mean, that's what he does. And so
you can tell there there's there's some there are some
tweaks that he made. The first one of the one
of the things he did, he divided this team up
into eight teams. They had they I mean, if you've
ever if you ever saw the board as far as
(06:31):
the way they keep totals and keep scores, it's, uh,
it's pretty intricate. It's it's it's pretty cool. But it
kept it kept the energy going during practice as far
as as as the competition as much as you can
compete without pads on. I mean, that's one thing that
I noticed. The other thing that I noticed amy the
common thread that ran through, especially the draft choices. They
(06:54):
have got some real real football maturity about them as
young players. They're very football mature. You say, coach Mack,
what do you mean by that? You can tell that
they're all about business. I mean, I've never seen Matt
Thompson and his group be so busy before and after practice,
just for an example, with the jugs machines, everybody is
(07:16):
over there and then after practice though, these I mean,
these rookies aren't looking forward to getting out of the building.
I mean, and you know we know what the story
is with Cam coming here at five in the morning
and having a big group with him. These guys are
football serious, but they're football mature. I mean I noticed
that really quick, and you could just see that just
(07:37):
in the way that the way that they work, and
the Vets appreciate that maturity early on because Rett just
gave us the numbers. You're the Titans are going to
depend on a lot of young players this year with
this rebuild. You're going to depend on a lot of
young players, and you need them to be mature, and
they are.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Well before we move on, I would like to say,
for the record, I do not think journaler is a word.
Speaker 1 (08:04):
I don't think so.
Speaker 2 (08:05):
You're journaling, but I don't think that makes you a journaler,
does it. It's like Hamburgler, that's kind of where my brain.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
He keeps journals, journal He's a journaler.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
Hamburgers from a certain fast.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Food one journal up. Okay, you google it.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Here, it is right here. Wait Webster's mac Webster journal
for good.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Mac Webster of course. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I do want to keep talking about cam Ward though,
while I bring this train back on track after derailing it,
because Cam's development is going to be an interesting thing
to watch. We know he's a really mature guy already.
He hits that standard that sometimes a rookie quarterback needs
to build up to. It seems by all accounts that
he's already there from a maturity standpoint. Now it's intake
(09:01):
of information learning how to manage an offense, how to
run it, and how to play at the next level.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
Mac. I guess the question.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
In all of that is what are the actual measurable
benchmarks that you can look at to see that he
is improving and that he is growing? Because I don't
necessarily think that eighteen completion eighteen straight completions in seven
on seven, for example, because we just talked about it
(09:31):
is really the measure of being ready to play week one,
because there's so many things, to Rett's point, that are
in your favor as a quarterback. So what are the
things that we can look to to say, hey, he
does seem like he's improving that maybe aren't statistics?
Speaker 3 (09:50):
Is the on time? Is he accurate?
Speaker 1 (09:54):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Those are two things you look at, And the other
thing is how do you handle adversity because you're not
always gonna complete eighteen in a row and you're there's
gonna be there's gonna be bad throws, there's gonna be
improper throws. The defense is still trying to play too.
Let's just let's everybody.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Understand that they are also paid.
Speaker 3 (10:16):
Yeah, they're they're paid, and they're paid a lot, but
they're they are trying. I spend a big part of
my career trying to mess up quarterbacks and so, but
how you handle the adversity of it is huge. You
can't let as a quarterback, you cannot let a negative,
a negative play crush you internally and then externally body
(10:43):
language wise, you cannot because all eyes are on you.
I've been very impressed with the way that he is.
He's very even keeled. There's not a lot, there's not
a lot that knocks this guy off of the square
that he's on. I mean, he's pretty much he's pretty
much a er dude. And when it is at the
(11:04):
right play. All he's looking for is how do I
correct it? And then how can I do the next
play even better? But he's got a great ability right now,
just from what I've seen, and I've been to every
practice and have watched him. If it's not right, then
he's very very quick to put that behind him and
(11:24):
go make the next thing right.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
Well, and he's in a room with a lot of
veterans who can help him. Rhett, how do you think
that being in a room with Brandon Allen, with Tim Boyle,
even with Will Levis is going to help him achieve
those goals?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Well?
Speaker 4 (11:41):
When you look at and yes, Will Levis has enough
experience he can add value to the conversation of what
to do and not doing those things. But when you're
speaking about Brandon Allen and even Tim Boyle, I mean
both of those guys have been around for a minute
just sharing what works. Maybe not might work exactly for Cam,
(12:04):
but maybe like here's what worked for me in this situation.
When you're getting this look, think about this what pitfalls
to possibly avoid Because they're actually playing the same position
you're playing, so you're getting the first hand it's not
and the other part of it not that cam wouldn't
listen to his teammates or certainly his coaches, but it's
(12:28):
a different perspective that liignes with something. You're in the
same position, group room with these guys and they're doing
the same things with you, going through this with you.
So I think that's where all that starts. And maybe
something that Brandon Allen or Will Levis or Tim Boyle
say stands out that maybe even the coach hadn't thought
(12:48):
about a different perspective, I think is what you get
would see.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
All of that is true, but what drew them to
cam Ward in this draft process was that intrinsic quality
that he had to be able to do that during
competition and then in all the meetings they had. You
know how many meetings that you have when you're vetting
somebody for the draft, especially the number one pick, especially
(13:14):
a quarterback, You try to dig in and find out
who that person is and how that is going to
magnify itself in all instances. So that was inside of
him to begin with. That's one of his greatest qualities
is the fact that he is grounded enough and he
(13:37):
is genuine enough as to who he is is that
he's able to keep his eye on what he is
doing and not worry about not worry, and worry is
a different word. When you're a quarterback, you've got to
be able to flush that stuff, and he's got a
great ability to do that.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
He also has a great ability to process information. I
laughed when Coach Callahan was talking at a media availability
throughout Mini camp. I don't remember which day it was,
but he was talking about how he was giving play
calls to Cam in his helmet listening device and he
(14:17):
while Cam was talking like trash essentially, and so Callie
was trying to figure out, do I wait until until
you're done saying saying whatever thing you need to say
to someone else?
Speaker 1 (14:29):
And then I talked to you and he's like, no,
I can do both. It's fine.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
I personally, you can ask my husband and my children
cannot talk and listen.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
To information at the same time. I can't do it.
Speaker 2 (14:42):
I am I am giving information or I am in
taking information. Those are two separate experiences from my brain.
Cam Ward can do them simultaneously, and he can do
it fast well.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
The processing part of it is that you ask me
about what you look at when you're when you're vetting
quarterbacks and your what processing is huge because I mean
they've got to take a lot of information in both
visually listening seeing quick. It's quick, but you could learn
(15:17):
some of that, but against some of that. Some people
are just better at it than others. He seems to
be pretty natural with that.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
And it points to the reports about them using the
virtual reality program like was used with Jaden Daniels with
in Washington and using that with Cam. Obviously now that
they're doing a total different thing, it's fit to what
they're doing here offensively. But from what I understand, and
there was a great piece I don't remember if it
was in the Athletic or whatever about that when Jayden
(15:46):
Daniels was having such success last season and they told
the story about the VR device that he would wear.
Is that you plug and play and you put in
all of your offense and the situations and then you
speed that up. I think it's up to one over
one and a half times what real time is, and
so you do so many reps on that and I
(16:07):
think once you acclimate to it, and this seems to
be what Jayden Daniels did, is it seemed like it
led you towards that. When the light switch comes on
and everything starts going. We talk about players getting in
slow motion seeing plays things and things develop. I think
that's an aid to help him using technology to do that.
And with what Max's talking about with his recognition skills,
(16:30):
I'm sure he'll probably do very well with that.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Wow, that's that's incredible that that total.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
He's still gonna have.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Challenges this summer.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
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Speaker 1 (17:06):
Delivery fees apply Now. Back to the OTP.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Big challenges because again, just knowing it from the other
side of it for a lot of years, that's the
first thing you do that That is how you test
a Young Quarterbacks Medal. When you're on defense, you're gonna
test it you're gonna test it quick, yeah, and then
if they stand up to it, then you've got to
(17:32):
figure out that you're in for a fight. If they melt,
then you got them.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Well.
Speaker 2 (17:36):
Somebody that was really interested in testing Kim Ward that
we saw during mandatory mini camp was Jeffrey Simmons. Excited
to have Jeffrey Simmons here. It was great to have
him on the field. It was great to hear him
yelling at somebody on the field. Again, it's such a
soothing tone to Titans fans, you know, it's like the
sounds of football are slowly coming back. Jeffrey Simmons is
(17:58):
giving someone a hard time. It all feels normal and
complete for us. But it was important to him to
be able to throw some of that adversity at him,
to kind of push him and needle him and see
how it would go. But that's what Jeffrey Simmons does.
That's part of being a leader on defense, right.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
I think that's certainly his style. Let's put it that way.
Because he is a multi captain, multi pro bowler. That
may not be the approach for everybody in that position,
but that's certainly the Jeffrey Simmons school for lack of
a better term. And the other part of that story
is cam Ward gave it right back to him, and
cam did not step down. And now I wouldn't advise
(18:40):
that necessarily in a real life game situation, you know,
unless you have offensive line eric right, a large human
being like Jeffrey Simmons. But it was interesting to see
that just kind of unfold and saying, hey, Rook, welcome
to the league. This is for real now, and it's
going to be problematic for you at times.
Speaker 3 (19:00):
Let's see the way that that cam board reaction to that. Yeah,
that brings those guys, I mean, the offensive lineman, I
got no doubt in my mind because he's gonna get
challenged by everybody. I mean, he's gonna be challenged by everybody.
It's gonna be challenged when we go down to Tampa
Bay to practice to Atlanta. But I would bet with
(19:21):
a lot of money in my pocket that those offensive
linemen are gonna have his back no matter.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
What, knowing that he'll see Will Anderson's uh and and
Daniel Hunters of the world because of the division and
Leatu Latu and you know, the guys that are in
Jacksonville India and Houston. And while we're talking about defensive
players for a second, that's another takeaway from me is
watching Frank Bush work with Cody Barton, who was one
(19:52):
of the main free agent pickups in this a vet,
smart player, gonna be counted on a lot, and working
with the young fellas he's got in the rest of
that room. And I'm gonna call this little mini segment
lost in the fifties because what comes before fifty two
fifty one, Well, fifty one is Cedric Gray and that's
(20:12):
a guy that lost a lot of time last year,
doing an injury this time of the year last year
and missed his first ten games of his rookie season
in his so he's still acclimating the things. But you
can see the flashes. And then James Williams, who did
not have those unfortunate issues and got some playing time,
played teams, come very close to making some plays in practice,
(20:33):
some that he wanted back that he thought he should
have had in his hands. Those are two very interesting
pieces to go in this second tier of the defensive puzzle.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Well, that's gonna be extra I mean, I've seen Cody
Barton play, I've watched him in Denver. I know how
he sets his pads against opponents. I still want to
see these young guys set their pads against opponents. That's
gonna be. That's why again, what Brian Callahan is doing
with his football team, taking this team on the road
(21:05):
for two preseason games, and that's huge. That is huge.
That is going to be. That work is going to
be magnified by two or three and it's very important.
It's really important. I've never put my stamp of approval
on any linebacker I've ever coached until the pads come on,
because that's where they make their living. To Rett's point,
(21:27):
those two young guys look much further ahead than they
were when we saw him on the field last year.
And of course you know Gray was way behind. Williams
was coming from a safety position. But Frank Bush and
those players have done a nice job. I'm really looking
forward to seeing when the pads come on against other
(21:48):
people because if those dudes, I really like, Barton Martin's
a player, and if those other two can fulfill the
roles that they wanted to fulfill, that goes a huge
step in tay in the front and the back together.
Speaker 4 (22:03):
The other part about this too, is seeing the new
pieces and parts and who has the personalities Cody Barton
personality vocal even though he's a rookie, Femiola Dajo personality vocal,
and you just and then obviously you Pepper in the regulars.
(22:24):
I mean, certainly ardent Key is just full of life
and electricity and loves to talk. Same thing with Jeffrey Simmons.
But just to see some of these guys that are,
you know, talking, talking to talk and trying to walk
the walk at the same time.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Just seeing arden Key though, I'm glad you mentioned that.
I mean, to me, he's hit another level of maturity too.
He's been in the league quite a while, but he's
I mean, he's he's worked and he's working. So, I mean,
every one of those pieces has to fall in place,
and there's some there's some young guys in the back
end that I'm really looking forward to seeing when it
(23:01):
really gets heated up.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Well, Cody Barton a big free agency acquisition for this team.
Are there other free agency acquisitions that have really stood
out to you throughout this mandatory minigam or off season
as a whole process. Is there anyone else who's had impact.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
Like Zeitler is gonna be go ahead, Keviner. He reminds
me of again some of those old school because he
is old school offensive guards. I mean when he walks
out of the locker room, you go, well, that's an
NFL guard. I think that's gonna be that that that's
gonna be that's gonna be huge. Uh. The whole our
(23:40):
whole left tackle situation, I have to feel is going
to be better. It's just gonna be better. And then
plus you talk about getting j C. Latham over to
the right side and being the new bodied j C.
Latham is something I'm really looking forward to seeing too.
Speaker 4 (23:58):
I'll give you a couple more. Staying on the offensive line,
Blake Hants another veteran offensive line swing person that can
help to be a stabilizing force. He has someone that
has shown up in this camp that has just concluded.
And one of the free agency acquisitions I really really
liked on a one year deal is Draymont Jones. Draymont
(24:21):
Jones is going to provide some much needed help in
a spot as a bigger He's built like a almost
like a four to three end and can I think
he can bring help from there, certainly on the outside
as a linebacker. Guy's got stats and he's consistent, and
that was a good get for them, and I think
(24:42):
it's gonna be a good person to kind of move
around in some things. For Denard Wilson.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
Well, you go to see what Donard is gonna. I mean,
that's a guy too. If you watch his his tape
where he's been in the league, I mean he's he
can play anywhere from a nine which is unclear the
outside of the tidy and all the way down to
a shade and a zero. I mean, this guy's a
very versatile defensive front player. I'm looking I'm luck red.
I'm looking forward to seeing how Di Nard's going to
(25:08):
piece all of that together.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
I was going to end the show with this question,
but I'm too excited. I want to talk about it
right now. And that's position group that you're the most
excited about heading into training camp. And while I'm really
interested in hearing what you guys have to say, I'm
going to go first because I don't want you to take.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Mine minus the tight ends.
Speaker 2 (25:26):
I am so excited about what this offense is going
to do with this group of tight ends. Mackett practice
the other day, I asked you if I was irrationally excited.
You're right, and I mean it's still possible that I am.
But seeing what they're able to do is pest catcher,
seeing what they're able to do as blockers, seeing what
they're able to do just in being used, which is
(25:48):
something that is still kind of relatively new to a
Titans offense. Over the last maybe three or four years,
we didn't see a lot of tight end involvement in
some of those exciting big plays. We saw him as
blockers over and over and over again because the line
needed extra help. So now I'm so excited to see
them really be involved in the offensive effort as a
(26:08):
whole and really involved in the game plan. I mean,
this is like I'm like Delaney Walker John Usmith era
excited about the Titans tight ends this season.
Speaker 3 (26:20):
You're not wrong, No, you're not wrong. I mean you
look at the group and you look at them as
a whole. They're big, well, and they got length, and
then each one of them has a little bit different
of a skill set, but they're all You're right. We're
sitting there watching them go through a sled drill and
you said, you know, and you're right. I mean, that's
that's a good that's a good position group right there,
because it just they look different and I believe they're
(26:44):
probably going to be used a little bit differently too.
So I agree with my group's the offensive line. I
spend a lot of time with the offensive line. That's
I mean, that's where I start every practice once the
draft was over, is down there watching Bill Callahan just
work these guys. And I just I that's what I'm
looking forward to because they've got guys in the right
(27:06):
places now. I mean, and just you know across the board.
Cushion Berry's not back yet, but you know, once you
get your center back in there. But they they've not
only not only the starters, but I think they've got
probably you know, you can suit up eight offensive linemen
are an active roster, and you know, and get one
exemption if you suit up eight offensive linemen. I think
(27:28):
they've genuinely got eight that they can that they can
can suit up. And you've got a couple of swing guys.
I'm looking forward to seeing how that comes comes around.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
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Speaker 1 (28:03):
Now back to the OTP, Go back to.
Speaker 4 (28:06):
The tight ends your position group for just a moment.
It's clear why they drafted gunner Helm in Day three
of the draft, and clear that they have some plans
for him. But I am equally excited about Chicka con
Quo's involvement in this. And people have made much about
the newly reshaped body of Jeffrey Simmons, who they just
(28:26):
saw this week. Uh and and also what j C.
Latham has done in trying to move into a solid
second season. Don't get lost, Chicka con Quo's done work
in that area too, because he's a big guy, but
he looks different and I think, you know, going into
the territory he is with his tenure with the Titans,
(28:48):
you know, he's trying to do what's right to get
things over the hump.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
The group that I am I don't.
Speaker 4 (28:54):
Know if excited is the word, but I think I'm
one of the most intrigued about is the wide receiver
group just because they have thirteen of them.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
Right now, that's a lot, and that's a lot.
Speaker 4 (29:04):
You can try to pencil in whoever you want. And yeah,
you can first three or four names you can pretty
much figure barring injury or something unfor seee that's you know,
you know, Calvin Ridley's gonna be on this football team.
Who by the way, there's another observation. Super happy guy now.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Right he's four is in the rearview mirror.
Speaker 4 (29:22):
But there's thirteen guys. And do they keep six? Do
they somehow keep seven? Where's the other numbers work from? Positionally,
if you just keep six, you've got another seven, eight guys,
nine guys fighting for one or two spots in this stuff.
And I think how all that shakes out is going
to be fascinating. And I go back to Max point
(29:43):
about two straight preseason road games and a good chunk
of time out of town at both spots with joint
practices leading up to said preseason games.
Speaker 3 (29:53):
Something else I'm looking forward to and I've got experience
with this, and I just I just I really believe
I know how it's going to be. But to watch
the special teams under.
Speaker 1 (30:02):
Bones Fossil, you read my mind, Mac.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Well, because that's that's a real thing. It's a real thing.
And and you know, the public hadn't been exposed to
Bones Fossil yet. I mean, my office was close with
his for six years. I know what he is. I
mean and I know, I mean we won games before
with the teams that I was with Bones with with
(30:27):
special teams, and it's just a he's very very unique.
But he's and he's he just coalesce is a word, righty,
it's a good one.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
It is a journal er is not though I googled it,
but yes, totally, Mac Webster.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Because man is good, right maw just as dictionary dot com.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Okay, okay, well.
Speaker 4 (30:52):
That's free plug.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
Don't don't go with that. But Bones, this is gonna
be something that's going to help this football team holistically.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Where are we going to see the biggest impact you
think in the special teams effort overall?
Speaker 3 (31:07):
From consistency?
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Okay, that's great. Consistency is something.
Speaker 3 (31:11):
Consistency is that that's what he's That's what Bones is
all about. And then you know, and again he's made
a he's made a name in this league as a
premier special teams coach, being consistent but also very very innovative.
He's innovative and his guys are always always on top
of their game. It's it's a fascinating room to begin
(31:33):
to listen to him game planning week to week as
to how they're going to match the opponents. But consistency,
I'll start with that because that's something that we need there.
Speaker 4 (31:45):
And seeing who the personal protector is, Who's who's vying
for those spots, who's going to be the returners in
this And then I've just been watching Joey Slide come
in and kick field goals and Johnny Hecker, I mean,
Mac goes back a long way with him as he
was brought into the league and Bones Fossil was the
(32:06):
guy that helped find and get him in there. My goodness,
what a punter and directional skills out the wazoo and
hang time to go with it, I mean ridiculous in
just directional punning. No wonder. He has so many Pro
Bowls and All Pro selections under his belt and has
been around as long as he has. Joey Sly I
(32:28):
think could be uh an extra help in that category
as he has bounced around from place to place. And
but Morgan Cox, to my consistency, there's there's a mainstay,
consistent person. But yeah, that whole face fascinates me as
to how some of those things work out.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
Johnny Hecker tried to boost our coach Max sign here.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
I keep your hands off of that.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
He tried to take it right off the ball.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
He's a big enough dude, he can pull that off. Dude,
you know what Johnny Hecker is. And again we'll get
off of this. But if a guy can get better
with age. And again Bones, you realize Bones went out
when we took over the Rams, and I know this
isn't part of this OTP. Now we had no kickers none,
(33:19):
So Jeff Fisher said, Bones, once we got him hired,
go out and find us a kicker and a punter
free agent, and that's who they'll be the they'll be
the starters. We're not gonna bring anybody else in. You
go find them. Goes to Oregon State, finds Johnny Hecker.
He goes to Missouri Southern Mules. You know, to find
(33:41):
Greg the leg those guys thirteen years in the league.
But Johnny Hecker, now I haven't been there with Heck
for a while, you know, since I left, since I
left the Rams. He's better than he was there with
his directional. I mean, this guy is special, but he
can't have that.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Do your sign.
Speaker 3 (34:01):
No, we cannot have the coach make hatchprint.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
I'm gonna put a I'll put a sign on the
sign that says do not touch, especially if you're Johnny Hecker.
Speaker 1 (34:08):
Hecker, this is not.
Speaker 3 (34:09):
Your first hands off, especially kick no.
Speaker 2 (34:15):
All right, So to wrap this up a little bit,
coach Callahanson and his press conference that he wants guys
to take a smart vacation.
Speaker 1 (34:26):
For those who aren't familiar with the schedule, players are
now able to leave. For the most part.
Speaker 2 (34:31):
Rookies all linger for another week, but most players are
free to go after mandatory mini camp is over. They
have about six weeks and then they report for training camp.
And as you know, once training camp starts, we are
in it to win it.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Man.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
We are going up one hundred miles an hour straight
towards the Super Bowl. But before that, You've got about
six weeks to do whatever you need to do.
Speaker 1 (34:54):
Cally said.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
He hopes that guys will take smart vacations.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Mac. What is a smart vacation?
Speaker 3 (35:00):
Well, the first of all, you need to get away
for a little bit, but you still need to do
what we determine professional sport active rest. Don't lose you
guys have worked hard to get to where they are
right now physically. Don't lose that. You need to build
on top of that. The other thing you need to
do is decompress a little bit. Decompress a little bit,
(35:22):
but you really don't have that much because you need
to come back in even better physical condition than you leave.
Because what you're going to be asked to do once
you get back is much more strenuous than what you've
been doing. Now. It's going to be every day, you know.
I mean, you get a break at ten weeks right now.
(35:44):
So don't you've built a good foundation. Don't ruin the
foundation where you have to start over physically. That's number one.
Number two. I've been in charge of teams before, and
I'm sure that this came out of UH coach Callahan's mouth.
It comes out of every head coach in this league's
(36:05):
mouth at this time of year, and it's very simple.
Don't be that guy.
Speaker 1 (36:12):
Yep, don't.
Speaker 3 (36:16):
And that's enough said. Everybody else is coughed. Everybody's cognizant
of what's you know, just don't be that guy. Don't
be that guy. You know, you can still have active rest,
you can still have a good family vacation, a good
single vacation, a good way, but keep in mind what's coming.
(36:38):
And it believe me that time goes fast, fast, fast.
But as good a condition as this team is in
right now. We started this otp off talking about the
participation and then even the guys that weren't here, what
good shape they came back in, so you know they've worked.
Don't crater that until you report for training camp. That's
(37:04):
huge and you've got to understand it.
Speaker 4 (37:06):
How many times have we heard Max say the six
weeks or so between the end of this and the
start of training, it's something. It kept him up nights
making sure don't be the guy. Don't end up in
the wrong place, wrong time and do something silly.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
Yep, everybody knows who that guy is. Nobody wants to
be that be that.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Guy, and it's very simple not to be, because I mean,
you know what those circumstances are. Just don't be. There's
so much that you've worked for. It's all right there
for you. It's an exciting time. People are excited about
this team. Now, this team is excited. They've worked hard.
Just maintain you.
Speaker 4 (37:45):
Remember, it's like your grandmother telling you. Your grandmother ever
tell you idle time is the devil's workshoping. Yeah, yeah,
it's true, grandmao the devil.
Speaker 3 (37:58):
You can be a journaler.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
You could be a journaler. Oh my goodness.
Speaker 4 (38:03):
But there's a lot of truth.
Speaker 3 (38:04):
To what grandma said. You don't ever, don't ever not
believe your grandmother.
Speaker 2 (38:10):
Yeah, that's that's good advice. Well, guys, next stop training camp. Wow,
isn't it crazy?
Speaker 3 (38:17):
It is crazy.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
Look at how far we have come and there is
so much more to do.
Speaker 3 (38:22):
Seems like just at this desk for the draft.
Speaker 1 (38:25):
I know it really does.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
And we've covered a lot of ground, We've done a
lot of football, and now we're gonna take a little break.
We will still have OTPs, of course, we would never
leave you hanging without OTPs. But then camp and training camp,
which starts towards the end of July.
Speaker 3 (38:42):
July twenty second day report. Third, you got three, you
got four days of indoctrination, and then you're rolling back together.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
Saturday is July twenty six a stadium, So there's a
lot coming up, and we will have everything for you
every step of the way. But in the meantime, if
you're looking for more Titans content, Tennessee Titans dot com.
Of course, Jim Lyot's there. He's writing stuff all the time.
He's making the rest of us look bad. There's all
kinds of content for you.
Speaker 3 (39:12):
Jim makes us look good.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
No, Jim makes me personally look very bad. He works
so hard and it's so nice. But like I like naps,
and I like a lunch break. I like to my
own Jim.
Speaker 3 (39:28):
Has already raised his children, so he doesn't have two toddlers.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
That's true. That is a big difference between Jim White
and myself.
Speaker 2 (39:36):
But anyway, Tennessee Titans dot com if you want to
read more about this Titans team, there's tons.
Speaker 1 (39:40):
Of stuff there.
Speaker 2 (39:41):
If you have not subscribed to the Official Titans podcast,
do that. Over the summer, feel free to binge while
you're driving to grandma's house. These are good times to
do things like that. Get yourself all caught up so
you are ready when we all report for training camp
in July for Red Brian, for coach Mac.
Speaker 1 (40:01):
I'm Emmy Wells and this has been the OTV
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