Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Locked on Titans: End of season news, LaFleur interviews with Packers

Episode Date: January 2, 2019

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Welcome in to another edition of Locked On Titans. I'm Jimmy Morris, joined as always by Terry Lambert. Terry, how are you today? Doing pretty good. What's going on? Not a whole lot. We've got some news things to talk about, kind of surrounding the Titans. A few just kind of odds and ends things have happened since the last time we recorded, so we'll catch you up on all of that. Before we do that, remind you we're right from musiccitymiracles.com. We cover the Titans for SB Nation, so you can check us out there. You can also follow us on Twitter. I'm at jaymorrismcm. Terry's at tlambertfb.

You can get your podcasts wherever you – you can get this podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Just search out Locked on Titans. Okay, so Mike Vrabel had his end-of-the-year press conference on Monday, I guess it was. And, you know, nothing really – no huge revelations really that came out of that other than, you know, just kind of a confirmation on everything that happened with Marcus Mariota and the spine doctor and, you know, advising him not to play, all that kind of stuff. So, you know, and they were kind of trying to get Vrabel to, you know,

talk about what this means, him being injured as much as he has. And, you know, Vrabel basically said, look, when he's healthy and available, he did a good job of helping this team win. And then, you know, there are other times when he wasn't available. So, you know, I mean, I don't know. We're going to spend a lot of time this offseason debating Marcus Mariano. We'll probably do an episode maybe tomorrow. Just kind of giving you our thoughts on, you know, where he is,

where this team is with him and all that kind of giving you our thoughts on where he is, where this team is with him, and all that kind of stuff. But all we've heard since Sunday morning really is the debate on whether or not he should have played, who would have played, all that kind of stuff. But I think you can really, if you're reading between the lines with everything, I think it was the organization's decision for him not to play on Sunday. I think Mike very well made that ultimate call. I think we both agreed that it was the right one. Hopefully, we can at least a little bit

put to bed the whole, he's soft, he didn't want to be out there. That stuff's dumb. Some people are going to continue to go along those lines. From everything that we've heard, it really sounds like, at the end of the day, it was an organization decision not to have him out there. It was an organization decision.

It was influenced by people outside of the team. A lot went into this, and that's kind of what we speculated. There's a lot of cooks in the kitchen with this decision, which is probably why you saw it be made so late, even on Sunday morning. So, look, you cannot fault the team for looking out for their guy long term. You know, we've seen him take just the most routine looking hit or sack or fall on it, and it creates a stinger situation.

So, clearly something's wrong. looking hit or sack or a fall on it and it creates a stinger situation so clearly something's wrong and I applaud the team for for Really sitting him down and it's such a key spot, you know, it's certainly not how we wanted to end the season It's not how anyone wanted you could really tell it upset Marcus just with how he carried himself coming out of the tunnel, kind of on the sidelines. So I think Marcus has done enough for fans to give him the benefit of the doubt that he would love for nothing more to be out there. Just kind of sad to see the reaction to all this,

to see kind of the Twitter mob leading the charge. You know, if you have questions about Marcus, that's fine. They're warranted. But don't question his toughness. Don't question his decision to play because clearly it was out of his hand. Yeah, absolutely. And so hopefully we can move on from that, but I know that we can't because there's just a group of people out there that are going to take this

from within. And it's going to be their narrative surrounding Marcus Mariota until he either plays all 16 games next year or doesn't, and then that will be what they always talk about. Anyway, the other thing that happened on Monday was Brian Arakpo announced his retirement. Arakpo was in the last year of his contract this year anyway, so he didn't have a contract here for 2019. I don't know what level of interest the team would have had in bringing him back.

He was banged up most of the year, wasn't very effective when he was on the field. Obviously, he had a great career and was in the league 10 years. From a Titans standpoint, he was one of the guys they brought in, and I think he was really responsible for helping change that culture in the locker room. Seemed like a guy that was, you know, always a team first guy, a leader. You know, we heard a lot about problems they had really before malarkey with guys only caring about themselves and not buying into the message and all that kind of stuff. And I think Arakpo was one of the guys that came in

and was a key contributor to helping make that change. You know, I had a couple of good years here with the Titans. They got him for somewhat of a discount when they signed him because he was coming off of the injuries and was healthy for the most part until this year in his time here. So, I mean, I think a guy that, you know, when you kind of look back on his time here with the team, played a significant role on the field but also in the locker room. And I think he deserves, you know, at least some portion of the credit for the culture change

and kind of where this organization is now versus where it was before he got here. I totally agree. He's kind of the defensive version of DeMarco Murray. If you will. Kind of the same role. Veteran leadership. On the tail end of his career. Stop gap type player.

Titans really didn't have any pass rush. When he got on the scene. He kind of helped steady that ship. Nothing outstanding. He was an average. To above average player. But like you said. The outstanding. He was an average to above average player. But like you said, the leadership, the locker room stuff, the things that he brought to the table go a long way.

It feels like a downtime for Titans fans right now, but you've got to remember three straight winning seasons. Guys like Arakpo, guys like DeMarco Murray, we always go back and credit Mike Malarkey. Maybe not from an X's and O's type standpoint, but from a locker room standpoint and kind of setting the tone for this new era, you've got to give those guys credit.

Yeah, absolutely. So Arakpo was here for four seasons, played in all 16 games his first three seasons here. Obviously missed three this year. Seven sacks that first year, 10.5 in 2016, and then seven again in 2017. Came in and made some contributions.

Was a good find for this team coming off of the 2014 season with the Redskins where I think he tore his peck and only played in seven games that year. Was a good guy to have in this locker room and did some good things here. Which, obviously, the commercials with him and Michael Griffin in their cupcake store, I hadn't seen those until this last weekend or so,

and it seemed like they were on every commercial break this weekend. So Arakbo said, you know, they're doing that. He's going to be moving back to Texas. He said he likes Nashville and will always Texas. Um, said, you know, he, he likes Nashville and we'll always kind of view it as his second home, but he's a guy that's, that's from Texas, I think born and raised.

So, um, but anyway, good for him and good for him to be able to go ahead and just, you know, walk away now. Um, you know,

I don't, I don't know what level of interest there would have been in him, uh, on the free agent market or here, you know, we were talking about him and Derek Morgan, both, you know,

just finished up the lessons season of their contracts. We never really thought that both of them would be back. A chance that maybe they could bring one of them back, depending on how other things shake out. But we're just going to see now if that's what happens with Derek Morgan. All right, coming up, we'll talk about some coaching staff news that has come out in the last, really this morning, but over the last couple of days. Okay, so Matt LaFleur is going to interview with the Green Bay Packers.

I think Paul Kuharski reported today that interview is going to take place on Sunday. We'll have a bigger discussion surrounding LaFleur in the final segment of this show. But he was a guy, when he came in here, there was a thing. People were mad that he didn't get the head coaching job, concerned that he was just going to be here for a season or two and take off somewhere else. The offense didn't play out the way that we all hoped that it would this year. offense didn't play out the way that we all hoped that it would this year. So, on one hand, I'm a little bit surprised that he's getting run as a head coaching candidate, but we saw, you know, even last year, I mean, he interviewed for the head

coaching job here before he came off the offensive coordinator, you know, working with the guy that he's worked with, you know, McVeigh's and Shanahan's, all that group. And with the importance of offense in today's NFL, I guess you're not necessarily surprised from that standpoint. Like I said, we'll get into what it would mean or what it wouldn't mean for him to take that job coming up here in a little bit. Other news, the Titans announced that their strength coach, Tom Knavey, I guess is his name, will not be back next year. He's a guy that was a holdover

from Steve Watterson's staff. When Watterson decided, really late this summer, that he wasn't going to come back, Knavey took on that job. Carson said on the radio that he wasn't going to come back. Knavey took on that job. Karski said on the radio that he thinks there's a guy at Ohio State that his contract's ending up right now that Mike Vrabel might want here but couldn't have gotten him last year because of his contract at Ohio State. So kind of some news there. And then the other news that just came out, again, from Karski, all the position coaches are going to be back. There was a lot of noise about Keith Carter.

People wanted Keith Carter to get fired. But the offensive line, they weren't better than they were last year. They weren't necessarily worse either. Ben Jones has struggled the last couple years. Josh Klein has struggled. I'm not sure how much of an effect Keith Carter had on that group, whether positively or negatively,

but at some point, you need some continuity. I think that they're going to bring everybody back at least for one more year and try to build on what they were able to do this year. Worth mentioning, too, Dean Pease had retired last year. Right. And Vrabel pulled him back. He's pushing 70, I believe, now.

So he's got a little bit of a decision to make there. I don't think that's been firmed up. So we'll see. But, yeah, it's continuity. It's of a decision to make there. I don't think that's been firmed up, so we'll see. But yeah, it's continuity. It's something the Titans haven't had really since Jeff Fisher. I just think that's a part of this Marcus Mariota equation. You can't really switch offenses every year and expect different results. So LeFleur did not light the world on fire.

There were times where we were frustrated. I don't really know what my opinion of him is right now, but at the same time, Delaney Walker, week one, you had Rashard Matthews quit the team. You had offensive line issues all year long. And then you had the whole deal with Marcus. So I don't know if it's really fair to judge him on year one. I don't know if it's really fair that he gets a head coaching job or at least an interview

either. So I don't know. NFL teams are trying to copycat each other, trying to get a little piece of that Rams offense in their own offense. I understand that, but the results on the field, year one for the Titans, you'd have to overlook a lot of shortcomings if Green Bay were to hire him. Now, I don't think he really has a legitimate shot at it. Maybe they're just looking to kind of look through his brain

and see if they can pick up on some things. So you have to kind of keep that in mind this time of year. Yeah, absolutely. And like you said with Dean Pease, I mean, you know, he had the health scare of this year in Indianapolis. Vrabel has said that he would like to have him back, and I guess he's got a couple weeks and decide. Hopefully he decides relatively quickly because, you know, there's a lot of changes obviously around the league going on

right now with coaching staffs and um you know you you want to be able to get in front of that and get if there's a guy out there that you want uh you'd like to be able to go ahead and start having those interviews and stuff before other staffs get finalized um so we'll keep an eye on all that and i would imagine that, you know, I mean, Braybill and Pease are obviously close, like you said. Braybill pulled him out of retirement last year. So I would imagine that they've had those types of conversations. They can be honest with each other with that kind of stuff.

And so I would imagine we will get a decision on that pretty quickly. The other thing before we get into, you know, a little bit deeper on the Matt LaFleur conversation, the Titans did sign nine players. The nine players that were on their practice squad to futures contracts. I think it just means they'll be here at least in camp next year. They have a contract going in the next year. Those players, Daylon Dawkins, Jamil Douglas, Mike Jordan, Roger Lewis, Jamil President,

Dan Quisenberry, Caleb Raymond, Devin Ross, and Damon Webb. So, you know, a couple of notes. Daylon Dawkins obviously was up a couple different times, I think, throughout the year when different injuries happened. Jamil President was the guy that flashed in the preseason and ultimately had an injury, came back late in the season. So, you know, I don't know. Any names there that you think have a chance of making an impact on this roster next year? Yeah, President, like you said, is the one that stood out.

He stood out in preseason. Honestly, didn't make the team because he got hurt. So that's a potential. Well, it's not potential. It's definitely a position of need. So that's a potential – well, it's not potential. It's definitely a position of need, a guy that showed that he can get after the passer a little bit in preseason.

So hopefully he'll get a chance. I'm sure the Titans are going to be active at that position, but worth another look for sure. Yeah, and that's – we're going to be talking a lot about edge rusher, outside linebacker, defensive line, really, over the next few months because that group wasn't good enough this year, without edge rusher, outside linebacker, defensive line, really, over the next few months because, you know, that group wasn't good enough this year, and you're already losing the two guys that were your starters, at least coming into the season, and Morgan Rakpo.

And, you know, again, they weren't good enough. So they're going to have to bring in some numbers there for sure. And he's a guy, at least flashing the preseason, has shown a little bit of an ability to make some plays. So that's good. And we'll just kind of keep an eye on that as it plays out. All right, last segment we'll talk about Matt LaFleur and kind of what that would mean,

if he does leave, what that would mean for the Titans in their offense. So, like you said, I mean, we have some, I would say, I don't know, issues, concerns, or whatever, however you want to say that, with some of the things that happened on the field with the offense this year. It never became what we all hoped that it would. We really leaned on those comments from Dan Orlovsky on this podcast and different places as well where we're saying, look, six weeks in, it'll click, you'll see a big change, everything will.

That never happened. Now, there were a lot of things around this team, injuries and whatnot, that probably hurt that from being able to happen. But we never really saw this offense, until the last three weeks with Derrick Henry, three or four weeks with Derrick Henry, we never really saw his offense develop an identity or definitely not maintain it.

I think now with what you're looking at, you're going around Derrick Henry. If he continues to run like he did for the last month of the season, you've got something there, and then you need to put a few more pieces in place. You hope that Jack Conklin is healthier next year. You hope that Delaney Walker and John Smith both come back and are able to contribute and be what they were before their injuries, and then you're better off. You add another weapon maybe on the outside. You've got some things there.

But even with all that being said, they need to maintain some consistency, some continuity with the voice that Marcus Mariota is hearing. And, you know, again, we'll have a Marcus Mariota discussion. However you feel or don't feel about him, he's going to be the quarterback for this team in 2019. He's under contract. I doubt they give him the extension, but he's going to be here next year. And, you know, he's been on the team for, what, four years?

He's played for three or had coaches. A bunch of different offensive coordinators, different offensive coaches, quarterback coaches, whatever it may be. This could be one of the first times in his career that he's able to have a healthy offseason where he is able to be here, to be present for everything. We know that the nerve issue that he has needs some time to heal. But by the time OTAs come around in the spring, everything should be good. He'll be ready to go with all of that, be able to have the same voices here.

I think that's important for him. And I think that's more important than trying to maybe get a guy that you think might be an upgrade for Matt LaFleur, if that makes sense. It's important for any young quarterback to have a consistent voice, a consistent offense. I think three totally new offenses. You go Wisenhunt, then you go Ribiski, now you go LaFleur. So, yeah, I would like to see him get a second year in his offense for the reasons that you mentioned.

There was so much working against Marcus himself. But, you know, if you're going to make that excuse for Marcus, you kind of got to make it for Matt LeFleur too. So it's not exactly fair to judge what we saw. And, you know, to LeFleur and the offensive line and Derrick Henry's credit, So it's not exactly fair to judge what we saw. And, you know, to LeFleur and the offensive line and Derrick Henry's credit, they kind of found some sort of groove at the end of the year. Maybe it's not the groove that people really wanted to see. I mean, for me personally, I'd love to see this team winning

with Marcus Mariota playing at a high level, because I think that's the way to the promised land in the NFL. But, you know, I'll certainly take moving the ball with Derrick Henry. His coaching staff clearly did something to Henry that we haven't seen before in his career. So, and, you know, you look at a guy like Dennis Kelly that seemed to really come on at the end. The offensive line seemed to grow at the end of the season.

So, yeah, I think if you enter next year with the mentality, all right, we're going to run the football, build off of play action, we're going to get Marcus Mariota healthy, we're going to add a piece on the outside, we're going to get Delaney Walker back, there's a lot of positives there. A lot of things that you didn't have last year. So, I just think this group was throwing so many curveballs.

And I don't think people really see the big picture when they evaluate Marcus, when they evaluate Matt LaFleur. Maybe neither of them are the answers, but I think at least you give them one more year, you know Marcus is going to get another year. It sounds like you're going to get another year if LeFleur, assuming he doesn't get this job. So kind of excited. You know, it feels weird to say,

but I'm kind of excited to see them enter next season with Derrick Henry as the focal point and just kind of build the passing game off of that running game. Yeah, and it does suck that whatever change took place with Derrick Henry, it took so long into the season to happen. Because if he had a run like that from the beginning, I think you wouldn't have seen as much Deion Lewis as you saw. And you would have been able to use Deion Lewis more in the complementary role that I think he was really signed to have. But in the middle of the season,

they were kind of trying to shoehorn him into that feature back role because Derrick Henry just wasn't doing well. That changed as the season went along. Just all the other stuff. If we're going to be fair here, we've somewhat given Marcus a pass for his injuries,

for all his blonde injuries, tight ends, water shippers, whoever. We've somewhat given him a pass for those. You have to do the same if you're being fair for Matt LaFleur. Like I said, there are some questions with some things that happened in games, but I don't think if you just said at the beginning of the year, Marcus was only going to be completely healthy for a handful of games. You weren't going to have Delaney Walker for 15 games,

and then you were going to lose John Smith at the end. Jack Conklin was never going to be quite right. Whatever with the offensive line wasn't going to be what they, I mean, obviously thought it was going to be. They had Josh Kline, all that money. It would have been hard to imagine that the team would have had any success on offense. So, I mean, that just kind of is what it is.

Like I said, I just think for Marcus' sake and continuity, you've got to hope that LeFleur is back and you can build off of what they were able to do. And, you know, we'll see. I mean, I think that they should be active in free agency. I think that would be the place for them to find a receiver because you can do that a little bit more than you can with some of the other positions they're going to need,

specifically edge rush. You're going to have to have some help there. You're going to have to find the draft guys that can come in and really contribute. They just don't hit free agency. So there's some moves they're going to need to make to upgrade that stuff. I don't think Ben Jones will be back. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Quentin Spain.

There's a lot of moving parts there, but I think you need to give the coordinator of the quarterback and all the coaches another year to build off of whatever foundation was set this year. John Robinson needs to jump start it. I'm tired of

drafting receivers and waiting three years for them to do anything. I'm tired of drafting receivers and waiting three years for them to do anything. I'm tired of taking these projects. Go sign one. You know, we talked about it in midseason. He didn't go out and get anybody. It's fine. He has a chance to fix it in the offseason by giving up nothing more than money.

That's what it's there to do. It's a make or break year for Marcus Mariota. Go get him something. Go get him an established vet. I don't know a name right now, but don't go bargain hunting. Sign that first tier. Sign that second tier receiver. Put someone opposite of Corey Davis because it's pretty clear

Taewon Taylor cannot be relied on to be that guy. So neither can Tajay Sharp. So you put a guy outside next to Corey Davis that gives Marcus two receivers, you know, go sign a guard, maybe sign a center, fix up this offensive line. I'd love to see the Titans really make an aggressive push and in free agency for once with a couple of different names. Then kind of fix up the front seven in the draft. I think it's the best way to go.

Yeah, and you need to do it now because, I mean, you don't know what's going to happen with the quarterback situation after this year. So no reason not to be aggressive. Like you said, nothing more than money. They're going to have cap room. I think they've got something like $44 million as it stands right now, and you've got a handful of contracts you could move on from that will free up even more money.

So no reason to not go after it right now because you might have a lot more questions following 2019 than you do right now. All right, that'll do it for today. We appreciate you listening. And like I said, we'll be here pretty consistently throughout the offseason. So just keep, like I said, if you haven't subscribed, please subscribe to the episodes. You'll get them as soon as they are available.

Follow us on Twitter. I'm at jmorrismcm. Terry's at tlambertfb. We'll have at least one more episode this week, kind of just giving our thoughts, I guess, overall on Marcus Mariota, kind of the whole situation surrounding him. So we'll try to do that tomorrow, so you can look forward to that. For Terry, this is Jimmy saying thanks for listening to Locked on Titans,

and we'll talk to you again later this week.