Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - DON'T BUY Tyjae Spears CAMP HYPE at Tennessee Titans OTAs & Femi Oladejo FALLING BEHIND with Absence

Starting point is 00:00:00 Tad J. Spears is a good player, but I'm absolutely not falling for the hype coming out of Tennessee Titans OTAs. I'll tell you what I'm buying and selling through the first two weeks on today's edition of Locked on Titans. You are Locked on Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland Titans. fans on today's show. We're going to play a little buy or sell with some hype coming out of the Tennessee Titans first two weeks of OTAs. We'll talk about Marcus Harris being a lock as a starter on defense.

Starting point is 00:00:50 We'll talk about Femi Oladajo falling behind because of his absences. But we got to start with two players on the offensive side of the ball, one that I'm buying, but one that I'm selling. And the hype that I'm selling is Taj Spears. And look, I don't mean to be negative or anything like that during a time that should be hope springs eternal for Titans fans. But I've just seen this story too many times to buy the hype once again and to fall for it. Once again, look, you've seen multiple OTAs at this point. We've had two weeks of Tennessee Titans OTAs and every single report, observation, anything like that seems to include Tage Spears look explosive.

Starting point is 00:01:32 Tage Spears busted a few runs out. Tadier Spears was out there shaking guys, and I'm sorry, but I just can't get fooled again. This is a perfect area for Tadier Spears to look great. His short area burst, his quickness, his wiggle, there's no pads on, there's no live tackling, no one's really going to take him down, anything like that. This is the perfect time of year for Tage Spears

Starting point is 00:01:58 to look like one of the absolute best players on the football team. And again, I don't mean to hate because I like Tajay Spears. I think Tajay Spears is a good football player when he's out on the field. Now, he's a limited player who has his certain role on a football team and the consistency isn't there and being able to run through contact and short yardage. He's not a complete running back. He has gotten a little bit worse as a past protector, in my opinion, over the last couple of years.

Starting point is 00:02:27 He's still not bad. But I'm just saying Tajay Spears is, never going to become the lead running back that I thought for a time he might be able to be. The talent, again, is tantalizing. You see Tadje Spears out there, take a quick pass, juke two or three dudes, slip underneath somebody, ripped through a tackle, get through on a game

Starting point is 00:02:49 where you didn't think that he was going to get that many yards. The plays that Tadje Spears does make are exciting plays. And I've mentioned the stat, like last year he had more fist, more forced miss tackles per touch than Bejohn Robinson. He was at the top of the league. Like he is a tantalizing talent when he has the ball in his hands. But we know who Tadje Spears is. He's in the last year of his contract.

Starting point is 00:03:17 I'm sure he's going to have a good season because he's fighting for his NFL life and the amount of money that he's about to get paid. And that second contract is really where NFL professional, that's really where they make the ball of their money is that second contract. A lot of guys don't even end up getting a third big time contract.

Starting point is 00:03:35 Just after their second, I mean, most guys don't end up getting a second big time contract. But nonetheless, you know what I'm saying. So we know that Taj Spears is a good player. He's going to have an impact this year if he can stay healthy and be on the field. But the inconsistencies, this time of year with no pads on, there are just so many different reasons where I like Taj. I hope the best for Tajay. Good Tajay Spears is good for the tennis.

Starting point is 00:04:01 Titans. He can help Cam Ward and help this team hit their goals this year. So I'm not hating on Tajay, but I'm just not buying into the hype of, oh, he's one of the best players on the field. And yes, of course he is right now. So we know who Taj Spears is. I'm not falling for that. Now, we talked about it yesterday, but I told you I'm going to remain here. I am buying the Carnel Tate hype. I'm buying the hype. I mentioned what he is doing right now in Titans training camp is exactly what he was expected to be able to do coming out of college. Contested catch situations, elite hands, making catches on money downs and isolated

Starting point is 00:04:47 situations. That is where he won throughout his entire college career. Why should we be shocked that Cornell Tate is doing that right now? Now, will he be able to do that consistently? at all times and then add in the short to intermediate route running get better in yards after catch situations will he be able to plus on what we already know he's good at that's what the conversation will be with Carnell Tate but this right now

Starting point is 00:05:18 again it's the same exact way that he won in college his skill set fits perfectly with what Cam Ward can do and what Cam Ward can't do as well I bring it up all the time He is a gunslinger, folks. Cam Ward is never going to be pinpoint accurate, Tom Brady, ball placement, Joe Burrow, Matt Ryan type guy. That's not going to be who Cam Ward is.

Starting point is 00:05:43 He's going to be a gunslinger that maybe throws it a little inside, a little outside, tosses it up while he's running to the sideline, and it's a floater that a guy has to go up and get. That may be who Cam Ward is. That's who I think he is. since watching his college tape, since he was drafted. I'm like, man, you know, this style of quarterback, this isn't Joe Montana, Tom Brady.

Starting point is 00:06:07 This is a Mahomes type player, a Josh Allen type player. What are those modern playmaking NFL players who, you know, isn't going to be throwing from a clean pocket, so it's not going to be the perfect spot every single time. Do you have playmakers around him that can help the quarterback and go make plays and go up and get the football? And this is why my personal football, just as a football fan.

Starting point is 00:06:31 I'm thinking about how would I build a roster? What do I value in football players? I've said it consistently. It's great if you can separate. I want you to be able to separate. I don't devalue route running separation. But at the same time, what I value most is,

Starting point is 00:06:51 what are you going to do when the play doesn't win? When you can't separate because they're double teaming you. When they call the right coverage and the safety drops down and takes your crossing route, even though you beat the slot cornerback and man coverage. What are you going to do then? What are you going to do when things don't go perfect? When your first move isn't available, are you going to be able to jump over top of somebody

Starting point is 00:07:16 when they're on your back and make a play for your quarterback like AJ Brown used to do? Like Terrell Owens, my favorite wide receiver of all time, did his career. Are you going to be able to make that kind of play? Because you can't always separate. sometimes the coverage wins. Can you win in that situation? And what Carnell Tate does wins in that situation.

Starting point is 00:07:37 And what Cam Ward does wins in that situation. When the play isn't there and something else has to happen, when it's sandlock, when it's schoolyard football, can you just go up and make a play? That's what football is at the end of the day. So I love route running separation.

Starting point is 00:07:56 That's great. But I want a dog who can go make a play. when there is no play that makes something special happen. And Carnel Tate can do that. The offense, as I have talked about, schematically speaking, is going to create isolated situations. So if you know that Carnell Tate can do this specific thing, you know that the quarterback can do this specific thing.

Starting point is 00:08:21 You know that this player is going to get opportunities to do those things, and you know that those opportunities are going to come in the biggest moments of the game, yeah, I'm going to buy the hype on Cornell Tate. And even if Cornell Tate doesn't come out and become, you know, Jamar Chase on day one, what I've talked about throughout the process is, can Carnell Tate be Cortland Sutton? Can Cornell Tate be Nico Collins? Can Cornell T. Higgins?

Starting point is 00:08:56 You know, a top 20, somewhere between, you know, 10, 10 and 25. Can he be that level of wide receiver? Because I think if he's that level of wide receiver, the Tennessee Titans hit on their pick and they should be happy with what they've done in this draft class. But maybe. I mean, and that's buying the hype of what I think, you know,

Starting point is 00:09:22 that's where we're at right now. But there have been people out there comparing him to George Pickens and D'Andre Hopkins. And if he turns into a George Pickens, what he was with the Cowboys last year, or D'Andre Hopkins. Well, now not only am I buying the hype,

Starting point is 00:09:41 I'm pouring my life savings into the hype, because that's a player that is with no question. No doubt not only worth the number four pick in the draft, but could have gone higher, would be worth higher, knowing that. A top five wide receiver in the NFL is worth a top three pick. So, that would be crazy. But for who I think that he can be at his best, a Sutton,

Starting point is 00:10:07 a Nico Collins, a T. Higgins, I mean, I'm at the point now where I'll buy the hype that he could be somebody like that in this offense. I think that's perfectly reasonable at this time. But you know what else I'm buying hype on or buying, maybe not buying the hype, but I'm buying, that Femiola Dejo, missing this time, is setting him back. Do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by Indeed. Workplace chaos. Deadlines stacking up. Your inbox is overflowing in the one position that you have to fill is still sitting open

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Starting point is 00:11:58 Again, we're doing a little buy or sell on some of the stuff coming out of Tennessee Titans OTAs, the hype on Tage Spears I sell, the hype on Carnell Tate. I'm buying though. Before we talk about Femiola Dejo, some other guys on defense, the offensive line. I do want to thank you for making Locked on Titans. your first listen each and every day. Remember Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed.

Starting point is 00:12:24 It's your team every day. Speaking of every day, shout out to my everydayers out there. Tune in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys. If you aren't an everydayer, you need to be one. Get subscribed. Stay subscribed. Stay locked in with the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world.

Starting point is 00:12:40 Locked on Titans. With that being said, though, Femiola-Dasia. I have thrown it out there and it's one of those things where the conversation is not quite caught up to where we're going to be, but it's about to. Sometimes I make the conversation. That's just the way that it goes.

Starting point is 00:13:00 But Femmy missing this time at OTAs, I am buying that it is a very bad thing. I have talked about it with Femi, but this is, I think, this first all season here with the new coaching, fully transitioning, not from outside linebacker and Donard Wilson's defense, where you're dropping back into coverage

Starting point is 00:13:22 a little bit here and there and still doing some linebacker things. But no, they want Femmy to be a defensive end. A full-on transition to hand in the dirt going forward every snap, no more dropping, no more two-point stance, a true defensive alignment. and that is going to be even more of an adjustment from last year. Now he's already started the process because of last year.

Starting point is 00:13:53 So it shouldn't be as difficult. It's not like he's got to start back at square one and go all the way back through. He's already transitioned a little bit with what happened last year. But it's going to be more change to go into this new system this year. Different terminology, different ass, different position. It's still a little bit more. So to not only have lost time last year because of the injury, but then to be missing time this year.

Starting point is 00:14:23 And we've talked about everything mattering. These reps matter greatly for Femiole dejo in a, you know, less stakes than training camp, less intensity than training camp, really an individual focus and a mental focus for the trenches and the defensive linemen, individual technique, hand placement, understanding of the system, their responsibilities. That's what it's really about for the trenches right now. Robert Salas said it himself, OTAs are basically an enhanced seven-on-seven camp.

Starting point is 00:14:59 Because with no pads on, how real can the trenches be? And if the trenches aren't at full speed for the team stuff, it's all about the stuff I just mentioned. And that is where Femi is going to make the leap most. Femiola-Degio is a big, strong physical guy who can go line up on the edge, put his hand in the dirt right now, fire out forward with straight, strong arms, and drive somebody back for a little bit.

Starting point is 00:15:23 He could do that easy. But the individual technique advances. Upgrading there is where he takes his game to the next level. Learning a bona fide pass rush move, a swipe move that you can knock, away the hands of the offensive linemen give you easy access to the outside shoulder and then use your burst to get around them. Like that is what Femi needs right now. And doing that in half motion, I play golf.

Starting point is 00:15:50 I'm not great at golf. I'm not terrible at golf anymore, but I used to be. But when you're really struggling with your golf swing, or if you're somebody who lift weights, for example, when you're struggling, the best thing you can do is go half speed, half form, lower the weight, slow your speed down. When you're a new driver trying to learn how to drive, you don't go out there and punch the gas and go 70 and try to take the curves. That's not the best way to learn.

Starting point is 00:16:21 You need to go slower. Slow it down. Think about each individual step. And Femi is afforded the time to go slow right now and he's missing it. So I think I am absolutely buying 100% bind that missing this time is hurting Femiole dejo's development. And I've mentioned when they drafted

Starting point is 00:16:47 somebody in the first round who conceivably could take reps at your spot. And they traded for a guy who the coach knows very well, who they trust, who could conceivably take reps at your spot. The Titans went out in two different ways, made it intentional to go out and get two guys at your spot.

Starting point is 00:17:15 With everything that's happening, I just think that Femi needs to find a way to get back out there for these final, this final week of OTAs is next week. It's the 8th, 9th, 11th, and 12th. And then mandatory minicamp, I believe, is the 16th through the 18th. He has to find a way to get back out on the field.

Starting point is 00:17:36 Missing critical development time. And that doesn't even bring. into the conversation of, why isn't he out on the field? It's got to be injury, right? And if he came back at the end of last year from the broken leg because he was healthy enough, and they just had him practice for the last few weeks of the season to help get reps because they're so important no matter how they come or when,

Starting point is 00:18:04 well, that would mean that this is a new injury or a re-injury or, you know, it's not like he's, still not healthy from the leg thing that happened last year in the middle of the season. He's healthy from that. This is something else. Or again, a reaggravation of that, which I don't know how that would work with a broken leg, that maybe a fracture or something. Either way, wouldn't be good. But like, whether it's the misreps, why he is missing the reps, there's nothing good. And when your femiola dejio going into year two with everything that I described with the circumstances,

Starting point is 00:18:35 it's not good to have nothing good right now. Now, another thing. I want to talk about is the two Titans young rookies on defense. Keldrick Falk and Anthony Hill. And we have heard reports, read whatever. Keldrick Fulk had a sack in the first open OTA. Keldrick Fult got increased opportunities and increased reps in this most recent practice. Looking at some of the drills, some of the beat reporters have posted, you know,

Starting point is 00:19:12 of the individual work. and things like that. He just looks, he looks fast. And I've talked about the schematic differences for Keldrick Falk and holding his gap in a two-gap system in Auburn versus penetrating and shooting his gap and being aggressive in the one-gap system that Robert Sala runs, it could unlock him to a whole different potential.

Starting point is 00:19:35 A whole different level for Keldrick Falk from what we saw in college. And we know that he has the athletic traits to do it, whether it's the quickness, the movement skills, the size, the length, the physical power and strength. We know that Kodrick Folk has that ability. So if he's already making plays, and I know, like I talked about earlier,

Starting point is 00:19:56 no pads in the trenches, not 100%, translatable, I guess you could say, like passing stuff is. But if he's already making flash plays in practice, already getting increased opportunity week over week. We know that his skill set can be utilized more productively in the scheme that he's about to play in compared to what he was asked to do in college. I am buying that. I am buying the hype around Caldric Falk making an instant impact.

Starting point is 00:20:30 Caldric Falk is somebody who I said we need to be slow with. We need to not put too high of expectations on early. And I still remain committed to that. I'm still committed to that. But I'm buying that he can develop a little more rapidly than the expectations that I'm going to put on him. I'm not going to expect it, but I'm not going to rule out that it's not possible either.

Starting point is 00:20:58 You see the difference in that? So that's where I'm at with Celtric Falk and Anthony Hillman. Linebacker coach Dave Organzi even said that he's been flashing. We're going to talk more about that, maybe on tomorrow's episode because there were so many quotes coming from the Titans assistant coaches that I thought were incredibly interesting. But Dave Borganzi talked about how Anthony Hill already flashing in practice.

Starting point is 00:21:25 And I'm buying that right away because, again, like Keldrick Folk, Anthony Hill and Keldrick Folk are physical specimens. They're freak athletes, whether it's folk size, strength, length, movement combination, whether it's Anthony Hills, downhill, speed, 4-5 in the 40-yard dash for a linebacker, but with his build, his frame, his mass, his strength, his physicality, they are freak athletes, both of them.

Starting point is 00:21:54 So I am not surprised whatsoever that they're flashing at OTAs, that they stand out at OTAs when they make plays. You can really tell, and you can see them and notice them because they pop off the field. They pop off the screen as athletes. And that, that in and of itself is great news for the Titans. Because, yes, they need better football players, but they just need to be a more athletic, physical, fast and violent football team,

Starting point is 00:22:21 right, Robert Sala? Right. Anyways, with that in mind, there are some starting positions that seem like they may be set in stone already at OTAs. I'll tell you whether I buy or sell them right now. Do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. The NBA playoffs are here. As a matter of fact, we have advanced to the final round. And every possession matters.

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Starting point is 00:23:47 That's fandle.com to get started. Fandle, play your game. Fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Locked-on Titans podcast, doing a little buy or sell with some stuff coming out of Tennessee Titans OTAs. We talked about Tage Sears, Carnell Tate, Femiola Dazio, Caldric Falk, Anthony Hill,

Starting point is 00:24:20 but now I want to talk about some people who seem like they have locked up starting roles before we finish it off. I do want to thank you for making Locked on Titans your first listen each and every day. Speaking of every day, you guys got to check out the Locked on Titans every day or club. Hit the link down below in the description.

Starting point is 00:24:38 It's about the cost of a cup of coffee each month. I'm giving you guys free year-round content all the time so it's a small way to help support me and support the show. You're also going to get commercial free versions of the podcast and your favorite podcast app. That's worth it right there. And you're going to get the added benefit of getting added to the Locked on Titans everydayer group chat

Starting point is 00:24:58 with me and a bunch of other everydayers where we're always talking about the big news. We were talking about the Miles Garrett trade and all the different stuff going down in the NFL. Join the Locked on Titans every dayer club. Now again, hit the link down below in the description. But there are some guys who I think might have some starting rules. Marcus Harris

Starting point is 00:25:17 Starting slot cornerback. I'm buying it. I just think they love them. I've gotten to the point where I had talked about Kenny Moore. I've talked about how I'm shocked that they haven't added more competition. But hearing the defensive back coaches talk about Marcus Harris after hearing Gus Bradley and Robert Sala talk about Marcus Harris

Starting point is 00:25:38 and Mike Morgonzi hype up Marcus Harris and some of the stuff I've seen from Marcus Harris out on the field and the way they've talked about Marcus Harris calling him a bigger-bodied slot. And like, at this point, the proof is in the pudding. La Prueva and Augusto as casanos would say the famous pizza chain. All of that tells you one thing. He is the real starter. There's not really much to debate here.

Starting point is 00:26:10 There's not really much to discuss in terms of who is going to compete with him. until they bring in a veteran or a more well-respected young player to challenge Marcus Harris, I have no reason to believe that I shouldn't buy him being the starter at nickel. Like, it just is what it is. He is who they want. They've called him bigger body, like I said,

Starting point is 00:26:33 which means they think he can be physical enough to play the spot against two tight-end looks. That's what I'm wondering about. He's been sticking in coverage and his opportunity he's last year, he's healthy. So the knee injury that ended his season last year, not a concern anymore, right? That's not something that we have to discuss.

Starting point is 00:26:51 He's healthy. He's out there. He's playing fine. His comments during the Wondale Robinson miced up thing and just, hey, I'm hot too. I'm hot right now telling Wondell Robinson, like, you're catching some passes, but I'm making plays out here. Just the way the coaches have talked about him, the way he's carrying himself, the way the roster is set up, I have no reason to believe anything other than Marcus Harris

Starting point is 00:27:13 truly is your starting slot cornerback, and they're not worried about it. They feel good about him in that role. That's the only thing that we can take from it right now. The only thing you could logically believe at this point. So of course I'm going to buy that Marcus Harris truly is the starting slot cornerback, and it's not a competition, and we should know right now. I buy it.

Starting point is 00:27:35 That's how I am going to discuss the defense going forward is that Marcus Harris is the starting slot. There are no doubts. Until the coaches act like they have a single doubt, why would I have a doubt? Like, that's just where we're at. Now, on the offensive line, Austin Sloatman and Cordell Volson, I'm split.

Starting point is 00:28:00 I do believe that Austin Sloatman is the starting center. He knows the system. Peter Scranzi's comments recently made it very much seem like Slopman is in stone. He has an acceptable talent level. Again, a lot of people were asking for Corey Levin to come back and be the starting center. If you wanted Corey Levin to come back and be the starting center, Austin Schloteman is just Brian Dable's core 11.

Starting point is 00:28:24 So there you go. You got what you want. I do believe that Schloteman is the starting center and that's confirmed. I think it's just too important in the system with making the calls, the slides, the protections, being in the, I don't think they want two uncertain spots that they have to figure out. So I think Schloteman is the starting center. I just can't believe that Cordell Volson is the starting guard, and that's where we're going to be three months from now.

Starting point is 00:28:52 I just have a hard time believing that with Carmona and Slater, both being drafted back to back in the last two years. I just have a hard time believing that. Now, I'll tell you what I do buy. The Titans aren't going to bring back Kevin Zeitler. I don't believe it at this point. I don't think it's going to happen. I think they're going to let

Starting point is 00:29:14 Carmona, Slater, Volson battle it out. I don't like it. I wish they would bring Zitler back. But with where we're at right now, I feel pretty confident they're not going to bring them back. That's where we're at.

Starting point is 00:29:33 I feel pretty confident that that is not happening. So he'll probably go elsewhere and we'll all be upset about it, but that's where I'm at. So let me know, buy or sell on all these topics. Let me know your guys' thoughts. That's going to do it for me today though, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland,

Starting point is 00:29:54 and this was Locked on Titans.

Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - DON'T BUY Tyjae Spears CAMP HYPE at Tennessee Titans OTAs & Femi Oladejo FALLING BEHIND with Absence

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