Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Locked On Titans- Nov. 11- Bill Huber of Locked on Packers joins us along with Predictions & more.

Episode Date: November 11, 2016

Bill Huber of Locked on Packers joins us along with Predictions & more. #BHop #TerryMc #GregA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Titans. Your source for all Titans news and information with your host Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com, Greg Arias and former Tennessee Titans Pro Bowl left tackle Brad Hopkins. Guys, it is Friday and have we got a lot of things going on today here on Locked on Titans. As always, current news to get you updated on what's going on with the Titans as they prepare for this weekend's game. We'll have our analysis and our predictions along with final thoughts. And, guys, we've got a very special guest today, Bill Huber, who is the writer of the Packer Report and the host of Locked On Packers will be joining us here momentarily,

guys, to talk about the Green Bay side of things today. But as we get started, Brad, Terry, obviously current news, and there is some good news and some maybe even better news, perhaps, on the horizon for the Titans, guys, in the fact that both DeMarco Murray and Jack Conklin practiced today, though limited, but there is a chance, even though it might be small at this point, Terry, for Derrick Henry to actually be able to play on Sunday.

Yeah, DeMarco Murray, who set out yesterday, he was limited today, but got in some work. Jack Conklin was limited for a second straight day. And I think news that Derrick Henry is going to try and give it a go. They're going to limit him tomorrow, but he's going to try and give it a go. And we'll see how he is. Mike Malarkey did not rule him out for Sunday. We probably will know more tomorrow afternoon or Friday afternoon

what his status is for Sunday's game. I'd say that the Titans are relatively healthy. Terry, you get to see this group pretty close up and personal every day. Would you say that they're basically working on depth that you know is going to be necessary to come to stretch when health is more of an issue for most teams in the league? Yeah, I think they are fortunate in that regard. I mean, I know the last couple years we've seen this roster wiped out by injuries at this time of the year.

And they've got some guys who are nicked up and bruised up and all, and that's to be expected when you're halfway through an NFL season. But by and large, you know, knock on wood, they are much healthier than they've been the last couple of years. knock on wood, they are much healthier than they've been the last couple of years. And I think that certainly has played a role in how this team has been more competitive because you're seeing the front-line guys out there performing most of the time. One other thing on the injury front, Quentin Spain practiced for a second straight day, but Mike Malarkey said that as of right now, until Spain is back to full speed,

that Brian Schwinke may remain the starter at left guard temporarily. And Brad, certainly that's kind of expected, isn't it? Because even though Spain is your starter, won the right to be that starter coming off this injury, he needs to be 100% if he's going to be in there, obviously part of it to protect Marcus Mariota. And so until he is really fully ready to go, that's probably a wise move, isn't it? Absolutely.

I think the chemistry and consistency, obviously, are the keys to success offensive line-wise. And Brian Swinkey is a veteran relatively that understands exactly what the process is. He's got good rapport with the guys on either side of him. So while they're basically trying to nurse themselves back to health on the offensive line, it's good to have guys that are familiar with the system and how they do things, like Brian Swink. You're listening to Locked On Titans on the Locked On Podcast Network. Guys, at this time, it's our pleasure to bring in our special guest, Bill Huber. He is the publisher of Packer Report and the host of Locked On Packers on the Locked On Podcast Network.

Bill, welcome to the show. Thanks for taking time out of your schedule to join us and talk a little Green Bay and Titans coming up this weekend. Happy to. How are you guys? Good, good, good. Bill, let's just jump right into it. I wanted to ask, you know, a lot of people are kind of calling the Packers a little bit of an underachieving team with the expectations and obviously having a premier quarterback in Aaron Rodgers at the controls. Is it as simple as injuries to guys like Eddie Lacy and Clay Matthews

and Jared Cook and a bunch of other guys who've missed time? Is it that simple, or does the problem the Packers have had this year go deeper than that? Yeah, I think it's a little of both, given the cop-out answer. I mean, look, these guys haven't put together a consistent set of good offense since the first quarter of last season. So they're on a stretch of, what, eight, you know, 20 games or 25 games of, you know, they play some good ball, whether they're good.

Like I keep telling people here, they're good enough to make you think that they're pretty good, but they're bad enough that they don't win consistently. Certainly injuries don't help. I mean, it doesn't take a rocket scientist for... They have no running backs. Eddie Lacy's on injured reserve. James Stark might come back for this game, but he hasn't played in four games.

Their running back is a wide receiver. It doesn't take brain surgery to figure it out. If you can't run the ball, then the defense doesn't care about play-action fakes and all that stuff. Injuries are a factor for sure. They haven't had Jared Cook, who you guys obviously know down there. But it's confounding.

It seems to me it runs beyond injuries. I think if people use men as an excuse, I think they're probably wrong. Well, maybe we'll just touch on the relationship a little bit more with Aaron Rodgers and, of course, Mike. People are saying maybe sometimes that discord could be the thing that lends to, I guess you could say, lack of confidence that this offense and pretty much the entire team usually carries.

I would say there's probably some, but I don't know if it's a big deal, but I mean, they've spent, you know, this is Aaron Rodgers and McCarthy have been together since 2005. And Rodgers is a start since 2008. I mean, you know how it is. I mean, they're both leaders.

They're both alpha dogs. And you spend that many years in the same room with someone, you're probably not going to clash from time to time. But that said, McCarthy trusts him implicitly. Rodgers runs tons of the up and to the line of scrimmage. McCarthy has his back at every turn. Whatever problems there are, I just don't define that very unusual compared to other coach-star player combinations who have spent so much time together.

One of the things, too, about the Packers is they're ranked number one in the league against the run. So obviously they're pretty solid in that. I mean, usually, defensively, if you're ranked number one against the run, that's something you can really hang your hat on and build around as a team. How have they done in regards to building around that on the defensive side of the ball to have carried the state? Well, now, here's where I think injuries are a factor. Their top three

corners are out. I mean, they got one back last week, but Sam Shields is their veteran guy. Entering this year, he and Richard Sherman were tied for the most interceptions in the NFL since 2010. So that's Sam Shields' ball-hawking skills. So he's on injury

reserve with a concussion. His career might be over. He's had probably too many. Last year's first-round pick, Demarius Reynolds, missed three or four games with a groin injury. He returned to practice this week. I don't think he'll play. And last year's second-round pick, it's Quentin Rollins. He missed three or four games with a groin injury.

He returned last week. But, my God, I mean, there aren't enough good corners in the league to begin with. To play defensively with your top three is nearly impossible. So, you know, like every corner, Green Bay's down capers, you know, the game plan starts with stopping to run, and they've done that. Which gets you to have the one-sided,

you know, the other team's one-sided and predictable and you can attack the pass and all that, but and their corners just haven't been good enough. That's the bottom line. So they're getting some of their guys back a bit here, but their corners just haven't been good enough. That's the bottom line. So they're getting some of their guys back a bit here, but their defense has been great, but it's not paid off like I think you would think it would have. Yeah, that sounds a lot like some of the problems the Titans have had

because the secondary is really the Achilles heel of this team. If they don't generate enough of a pass rush from guys like Brian Arakpo, Derek Morgan, and Jarrell Casey, as they were not able to do against San Diego last week, that they get picked apart on the back end because those guys simply are not good enough or don't have enough speed to stay with the receivers and compensate for when there's not a consistent rush.

That's a great point. I mean, look at Dick LeBeau and Don Capers. They're cut from the same bolt of cloth. It's hard to run all those pressures you want to do when your cornerbacks aren't good enough, isn't it? Oh, it's definitely the case. And, you know, and a lot of times when

LeBeau had his defenses in Pittsburgh that were so good, he had a superstar like Troy Palomaro playing safety and sort of, you know, leading the command back there. They could cover for some of those corners that have not been as good. The Titans don't have that type of guy. No, a green-based safety is pretty good with Morgan Burnett and Clinton Dix.

I remember Julio Jones from the Falcons before that game, he said that he thought that Burnett and Clinton Dix might be the best combination of safeties that he faced all year. It's a veteran group. Clinton Dix had a couple picks last week. Burnett's probably had his best at the line of scrimmage. The cornerback play is so suspected. They've had to change things up from what they would like to do to try to get by.

At least from Green Bay's perspective, Clinton Dix broke the ice on the interceptions. He's at least feeling a little bit better about things. But if you can't cover, you can't blitz, or you can't blitz as much as you want to. Bill, I want to bounce back over on the offensive side just a moment and ask you about Aaron Rodgers because there's been some speculation from people on the national level that perhaps, obviously with his age now, his skills have started to diminish a little bit. Is there anything to that, or is this just a fact that this is just a situation the Packers are in and it really has nothing to do with Aaron maybe losing a step or losing some of his ability?

It's nothing to do with his physical skill. I mean, the guy can throw the ball. It's nothing to do with his physical skill. The guy can throw the ball. He threw a pass to Jeff Janis, which was dropped last week, which was about a 75-yard touchdown against Vontae Davis, who's a damn good corner. He threw the ball 60 yards on her.

He dropped it right into his lap. He just dropped it. So the guy can throw the ball like crazy. He's the second-leading rusher on the team. The guy can run. You know, defensive coordinators are constantly worried about his extending of play. So all that stuff is fine. I don't know if anybody knows what's wrong, though, because he's not the same guy.

I mean, there's a million things. I know Kurt Warner, the former Super Bowl quarterback with the Rams, he speculated that the receivers aren't good enough, so Rodgers isn't trusting that they'll get open. So when they do get open, he's just a half of a tick off. So I thought that was a pretty good bit of logic. But there are times where Rodgers will just miss a guy. I mean, as in, there's a guy open, he doesn't see him. There are times where, for no reason whatsoever,

he'll throw the ball off his back foot, you know, a 15-yard out to the sideline, which he usually will throw in his sleep, will short hop on the ground. And the fundamental things are the things that's hard to understand because he's had, you know, Coach Mike McCarthy is known as a quarterback's guru, you know, the offensive coordinator. The associate head coach, Tom Clements, is a trusted guy for Rodgers and a former quarterback himself.

So it's the why that's hard to understand because the physical skills are there, but that it's not working consistently is the mystifying thing. Has he picked up with Jordy Nelson like they were connected in 2014, or has that relationship sort of been a little bit hard to rekindle after Nelson missed last season? Yeah, I just don't think he's back yet. I mean, everyone's heard if you have an ACL, you come back within a year, but you're probably better the year after that.

And, you know, I've told this head to step from my listeners and readers a thousand times, but in 2014, Jordy Nelson had more 59-yard touchdowns than the other 31 teams had 59-yard passing plays combined. I mean, he was a one-man big play, and defenses had no answer for it, and he just doesn't have that explosiveness.

I mean, he scored a bunch of touchdowns. Providers trust him in that light, but the big plays, and the big plays is what's killing us off. They can't extend the field and make defenses pay. They're missing that. He maybe comes back next year, but

chemistry-wise, they're fine. He's just not the same Jordan Elson at this point. Bill Huber from Packer Report joining us here. Brad, let's get you back in real quick. Have you got a question for us? I know you do probably for Bill.

Of course I do. The last time these two teams played each other, Bill, was back in 2012. 55-7 was the outcome. But on the road, this team hasn't beaten the Tennessee Titans since 1992. This year they're 1-2 on the road. Is this a team that finds trouble focusing on the road, or is this, you know, one of those situations of just being in a competitive situation, basically?

Yeah, they've been a really good road team historically. I mean, gosh, even in Dome games, they used to be better in Dome games than at home. So, you know, the road stuff doesn't bother them. You know, if it's a veteran group So, you know, the road stuff doesn't bother them. You know, if it's a veteran group or, you know, they go silent count, you know, they can go no huddle and the receiver's just, they have all these secret hand signals and stuff.

It's like, you know, the Illuminati's out there. So, you know, the noise isn't a factor. You know, that they're one and two, maybe a small sample size. But, you know, historically these guys have done pretty well on the road and they're playing three in pretty well on the road. They're playing three in a row on the road now, and they seem to be relishing this challenge. Jordy Nelson was talking this week about how he loves to go on the road because he gets a piece of quiet away from the kids. I don't think they're daunted by it. The one bugaboo, if you want to talk about bugaboos here, it's Green Bay and close games where it's Mike McCarthy and Mike Malarkey

are two of the three worst coaches, according to Football Outsiders, as far as if you're losing a game in the fourth quarter by a score, they are two of the three worst coaches in the NFL, which I find is very interesting because this game is probably going to be close. And one of these teams is probably going to have to find a way to win somehow. Well, that's one of the things that I was about to ask you. If you were the Titans and they've had trouble against signature quarterbacks, they lost to Derek Carr, they lost to Phillip Rivers, they lost to Andrew Luck,

now they're facing Aaron Rodgers. If you were the Tennessee Titans, what would be your game plan for trying to defeat the Packers? I'm playing man-to-man and say, beat it. Beat me. I don't care if you know

what's coming. Beat us. And, you know, Mike McCarthy knows what's coming. He told us that a couple weeks ago that teams are playing man defense and they're going to have to find a way to beat it.

And, God, last week against the Colts, everybody in the world knew what was coming. And Indy's past defense, I think, was ranked 30th or 31st in the league. And for 50 minutes, the Colts beat the hell out of them. And Green Bay, in the final 10 minutes, put up a whole bunch of yards and a bunch of points,

and they end up losing anyway. But at the end of the day, the final numbers look great. But for 50 minutes, they did nothing. Again, this goes back to midseason or early, like a third of the way through last season, where defenses are playing man-to-man and they don't fear anybody.

Again, Nelson was the big play guy and he's no longer the big play guy, and they're just not an athletic bunch. Devontae Adams has been super productive, but he's a mid-4-5 sporty guy. Ty Montgomery at Stanford, he's a mid-4-5 guy. Their tight end is slow. Maybe if Jared Cook comes back, he might be an X factor here.

But they don't have a whole lot of dangerous big play weapons because they're not super explosive. So teams are playing man, and Rodgers just isn't seeing the separation that he wants to see. And then the whole thing just kind of falls apart. Okay, Bill. One thing for me, Bill, when you look at this team, talking about Green Bay specifically,

they don't really capitalize on other teams committing turnovers. And that's something that's plagued the Tennessee Titans is shooting themselves in the foot. The Green Bay Packers this year are plus 11. You know, at first the Titans are minus 9. So obviously just talk about a little bit foot. Green Bay Packers this year are plus 11. You know, at first the Titans are minus 9. So, obviously, just talk about a little bit how the Green Bay Packers probably need to take advantage of the mistakes that Tennessee will make if, in fact, they do.

Yeah, you know, that was mentioned to us this week, too. We didn't even ask about that. You know, Green Bay got two Clinton-Dixon interceptions last week. I'm trying to think off the top of my head. I know they got three points off of two interceptions last week. I'm trying to think off the top of my head. I think they got three points off of two interceptions, and those interceptions were on the plus side of midfield too, so they had great pupil position, and they

didn't do anything with them. You're right. For a team that struggles to put together drives consistently, you can't screw up a 40-yard when you get to take over at the 40. It's been a big problem, and Green Bay hasn't forced a lot of trumpers this year. They have historically.

I mean, these guys lead the league in interceptions by a mile since 2009, and they haven't done that this year. Maybe they broke the seal last week with a couple picks of luck, but you're right. Considering the offensive inconsistency and the shotty play of their own corners, any opportunity you get to score cheap points, you've got to take advantage of it, and they haven't,

which is a mystifying thing. Up until last week, they were number one in the league in third downs, so they're moving the chains at times. It's just, again, it's the inconsistency. Everything that they do is just inconsistent. They look good at this for a while, but not good enough to win games. Okay, Bill, going to put you on the spot here just a little bit. On Friday, we always make our prediction on the game,

who's going to win and the score. I know you might not have had a lot of advanced time to think about this, but give us your prediction on who you think will win this game and, if you can, a score as well. Yeah, you know what? I'm going to pick Green green bay but i don't feel real good about it i mean i just i just look at that the titans give up a million points this year and i and i don't i and where green bay's defensive weaknesses their corners i don't see a whole lot and then in the titans receiver course i'll go green bay 30 to 20 and it's supposed to be like a home game for the Packers,

according to Malarkey, so I think that's probably an advantage for them, too. So I'll go Green Bay 30-20, but the way these guys are playing, nothing surprises me. Bill, thanks so much for the time and joining us, taking time out of your schedule to do this. We certainly appreciate it,

and we'll do it again in the future. Sounds good. Enjoy the game, guys. Thanks a lot, Bill. Alright, guys. That's the perspective from the Packers and Bill Huber. Good information, too. Absolutely. Guys, we are closing in on the time tonight or today, rather, for this Friday edition and, of course, Bill made his prediction and we thank him for doing that. Brad, you want to jump in first and give us your prediction

and score on who's going to win on Sunday and why? Guys, this isn't the same Green Bay Packers team that we're used to seeing, the one that's atop the North Division up there in the NFC. This team has its struggles, and admittedly, Aaron Rodgers has had to address it at the podium. So I think that this team is susceptible to making the mistakes necessary to open a window for the Titans to basically get a win. I think that ultimately this team, the Green Bay Packers, is better than the Titans, but the Titans have shown if they can play mistake-free football, that they can play with anybody.

So I would expect that they've addressed the issues of ball security and better decision making by their quarterback to not at least let an opportunity get away where they can beat a team like this, give me the Tennessee Titans 20-17. Terry? Brad, I like your thought process on that, and I don't disagree with it. I think the Packers are ripe to be had.

The thing that scares me about it is, and I think it may be as much, I know we talked about the secondary and their issues, but I think it may be as much a mental hurdle as anything, but against top-tier quarterbacks, the Titans have struggled to find a way to win. And Aaron Rodgers certainly fits that category. And I think it'll be close. I think the Titans will be in it all the way.

But I think Green Bay comes out of here with a 28-24 win. Well, you know, guys, thinking about this game prior to tonight and trying to decide what I was going to do with my pick, I was really leaning towards Green Bay. And as Terry said, the factor of the star quarterback, the Titans' struggle against elite quarterbacks, of which Aaron Rodgers is certainly one of those. After listening to Bill and hearing about the Packers and all of the deficiencies they have, this is really going to be a close game.

I just can't get past the whole Aaron Rodgers deal and the fact that the Titans have struggled with elite quarterbacks who seem to find ways to make plays. Though I think the Titans have struggled with elite quarterbacks who seem to find ways to make plays, though I think the Titans certainly have a better-than-average chance to win this game. I still, I'm just conflicted, guys, but I've got to make a pick, so I'm going to say Green Bay, and I'm going to take them 21-20 in this. I don't know how we get 21-20, but that's where I'm going to go with it.

Yeah, and I would go over and tell these guys every single time when you guys pick against them, just so you guys know that, by the way. Hey, that's okay. That's why they give me dirty looks in the locker room. If it's motivation for a win, we'll take it. So that's a good thing. You know, Terry, I'm going to pick against you all this week. Well, you know, hey, this is the perfect opportunity, though, guys.

This is the absolute perfect opportunity for the Titans to get rid of this stigma of can't beat the elite quarterback. They've got a Packers team that's got a wide receiver playing running back that doesn't run the football well. They've got slow receivers. They've got a slow tight end. They've got a great quarterback,. They've got a great quarterback, but they've got all these deficiencies offensively.

The Titans have an opportunity to get rid of that stigma and allow Terry and I not to ever say that again, at least for the remainder of this season, but they've got to go out and take care of it on Sunday and get a victory to be able to do that because it's a legitimate thing. I mean, these elite quarterbacks seem to find a way to beat the Titans, and until they stop that, it's there.

Well, and here's something, too, and Dick LeBeau talked about this today, Greg. You know, talking about, you know, he said he likes the challenge of playing and scheming against elite quarterbacks. And he also said this. He said, until you get to where you can compete and beat those elite quarterbacks, you're not going to be playing football in January for very long if you make the playoffs. That's an excellent point. Absolutely.

Guys, time for final thoughts. Brad, take it away. Well, this isn't a lost season. I think that if you look at the 4-4 Tennessee Titans versus the 4-5 Tennessee Titans versus the 4-4 Green Bay Packers, all pressure is on the Green Bay Packers. Because the Tennessee Titans being third in the division is an improvement. The Green Bay Packers being third in the division, that's a down year for them. So I would expect the Titans to play pressure-free football

and do all they can to capitalize on the mistakes that the Green Bay Packers are going to make, flip the script, so to speak. Terry? Well, my final thought goes back to, you know, one of the things about Marcus Mariota, and I know he's had problems with the turnovers and all, but when he gets the opportunity in the red zone, this kid is money. 28 career touchdown passes, zero interceptions inside the red zone. That is phenomenal. Those are numbers that Tom Brady would be proud of. If he can get to the red zone, if he cannot turn the football over

in the first 80 yards of the field, when he gets to the end zone, he's money. Terry, you stole some of my thunder on my final thought. Got some stats for you. The Titans have scored a touchdown on 76.7% of their trips in the red zone. They're 23 of 30 for the year. That's the best in the NFL, as you said, Marcus's money when he gets there. They're converting 47.9 on third down. That's the third best clip in the NFL for teams. So the Titans' offense are doing things. They've just figured out ways to shoot themselves in the NFL for teams. So the Titans offense are doing things.

They've just figured out ways to shoot themselves in the foot and to turn over the football and to have the other team score points with it in key times that have cost them at least two games this season. They've got to obviously eliminate this on Sunday. Guys, can I change my prediction? No, I'm just kidding. I'm going to stick with Green Bay.

I'm still going to tell you pick the kids to correct. I'm going to stick with it and just say that the Titans have an excellent chance, though, to win this football game. I really believe they do. Green Bay is ripe for the picking, so to speak. The Titans have just got to go out and do it. Guys, great show today.

Our thanks to Bill Huber from Locked On Packers, our fellow podcast up in Green Bay for taking time to be with us. Enjoy the football games this weekend. Enjoy the Titans games and we will be back with you on Monday with Locked On Titans. Until then, have a great weekend, everybody, and again, enjoy the upcoming games this weekend. You are Locked on Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day.