Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans BRING THE HEAT in Buccaneers Joint Practice, Cam Ward Competes & D Gets TURNOVERS

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Tennessee Titans brought the heat and had a great joint practice against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I'm going to break down everything you need to know on today's edition of Locked on Titan. 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. I'm going to break down everything.

Starting point is 00:00:35 You need to know from Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers joint practice. It was a hot one and the Titans brought the heat. I'm going to give you some injury updates coming out of joint practice. We're going to talk about how the defense continues to create turnovers and that might be the best sign that we saw on Thursday. Also, the Titans rookie weapons continue to show out. They had a good day on Thursday. I'll break that down.

Starting point is 00:01:00 First, we'll talk about the team as a whole, and of course, talk about the performance of Cam Ward, who had good moments and bad moments, but acquitted himself well out there on Thursday. Before we dive into all of it, 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. It's your team every day. Speaking of every day, shout out to my everydayers out there.

Starting point is 00:01:26 Tune in Monday through Friday. If you aren't an everydayer, now is the perfect. time to be one. I'm gonna be putting now a preview for the Titans preseason game tomorrow is a bonus episode. I'm gonna be going live Saturday night after the game ends to break down everything that happened. I'll have a full week of content breaking down everything you need to know from that game next week and then the Titans have two joint practices against the Atlanta Falcons before their next preseason game and I'm gonna be here to break those down with you as well. So again make sure you get subscribe. Stay subscribed.

Starting point is 00:01:56 It's your team every day. But we start with my over thought about this practice. The Tennessee Titans matched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in this practice. I haven't seen anybody say that the Titans got the better of the Buccaneers and even on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers side. And there's some really good reporting being done on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers side. It makes me jealous, honestly, quite a little bit. Some really good stuff.

Starting point is 00:02:20 And even the Tampa Bay people are saying, oh, this is a pretty even practice. I saw the Pudor report said, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a better team on paper, which I agree with. I think the Buccaneers are one of the top 10 teams in the NFL. I'm very high on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this year. So, with that, it said, hey, the Titans look like they came in with a chip on their shoulder. It was hot down there in Florida, hotter than the Tennessee Titans are used to.

Starting point is 00:02:48 In Tennessee, there is a difference between Tennessee and Florida heat. That's just a reality, and the Titans went down there. They made plays on the defensive side of the ball. They took advantage of some opportunities that the Buccaneers gave them. They really held their own and made it difficult on a very, very talented offense that had an up-and-down day at best. And then on the Titans side of things, there are some things to be very, very excited about that the Titans were able to do.

Starting point is 00:03:10 Again, against a very, very good defense that I've talked about throughout the week, very aggressive. Blitz is a ton, has a lot of talent, and the Titans did some good things. So, overall, my number one tank, I guess, coming out of the joint practice is it's a great thing that the Tennessee Titans were able to go and match a team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Starting point is 00:03:32 who I think is going to make the playoffs, going to win their division, going to be one of the more formidable teams in the NFL throughout the season. For the Titans to go in there on the road in Tampa in a tough environment with the heat and everything and equip themselves very well

Starting point is 00:03:48 and make the Tampa Bay people be slightly impressed with their performance. I think that's a great... Now look, we're not out here saying that the Titans are going to make the playoffs. We're now out here saying the Titans are going to win 10 games because they had a good joint practice with Tampa Bay. Maybe you believe those things anyway.

Starting point is 00:04:03 So you already thought that. So this joint practice just reinforces that thought. I don't think the Titans are going to win that many games. I don't think the Titans are going to be a playoff team. But I think the Titans need to improve this year. The Titans need to be a much better, more competitive football team week to week. They need to double their win total, really.

Starting point is 00:04:22 all right to do that they just need to make massive improvements and if the titans are able to improve this year that means that cam ward was better at quarterback than what the titans had last year that means a lot of these young players took steps forward to make an impact for the team so the titans being an improved football team that wins double their games this year even though that's not six wins oh that ain't that cool man but for the titans and what it would mean for the titans to get to that win total i think it would mean great things in this joint practice while not being able to confirm that quite yet, it does leave me encouraged about the Titans improvement this year. Now, obviously, center of that improvement is Cam Ward. And Cam Ward had a decent day, I would say out there. Jim Wyatt from Tennessee Titans.com said that Cam Ward had an impressive, quote, impressive day.

Starting point is 00:05:12 All the stats that I use here from Jim Wyatt's article. He keeps track of all that at Training Camp. If you guys want any of that information, of course, check out his article is breaking it down. but Cam Ward went 20 for 30 on the day, 15 for 24 in team period. Started out really hot, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reporting side of it was super impressed with Cam Ward early saying that they were to slice it up. The buck's defense in seven on seven.

Starting point is 00:05:37 Ward went five for six in seven on seven. Chim Dike Eil Manor catching somewhat deep passes. And then you go into the team period where Cam Ward's able to throw a strike over the middle of the field to Gunner Helm. Gunner Helm, we're going to talk about him and a little bit. Best practice of training camp by far. Calvin Ridley caught a nice pass over the middle of the field

Starting point is 00:05:58 a quick strike over the middle so you love to see that in the red zone period where the Titans have struggled in the red zone throughout this training camp if you're kind of keeping track for the patterns and things like that like I am. They have had some of their biggest struggles in the red zone.

Starting point is 00:06:12 Well, Cam Ward able to go two for three in the red zone deliver two touchdown passes one to Bryce Oliver, one to Chim Dek The Titans quarterbacks as a whole actually had a pretty good day. Brandon Allen had a pretty good day out there. But look, that's the good from Cam Ward. And he definitely showed well for himself. And he looked like he belonged out there.

Starting point is 00:06:33 And he made plays and made the Tampa Bay side of things even be like, hey, Cam Ward did pretty good. Cam Ward was very complimentary to the Buccaneers defense, handling everything so perfectly media-wise. Cam Ward is like just such a darling in that sense. But, again, it wasn't all good. There was a major fight, and we'll talk about that fight

Starting point is 00:06:54 when we talk more about the defensive side of the ball, but there was a big-time fight between the Tennessee Titans' defense and the Buccaneers' offense, the D-line, and the offensive line. You could probably guess who on the Titans' defensive line got into a fight. But we'll talk about that in detail

Starting point is 00:07:09 at the end of the show. But the point is, is that Cam Ward was out there, doing what he needed to do, stayed focused, did a good job, and then after the fight, throws an interception to Hassan Redick. So the interceptions have not stopped for Cam Ward.

Starting point is 00:07:28 There was a couple almost interceptions as well, but I mean, if if was a fifth, we'd all be drunk, so you could say almost interception here and there, make the interception if you wanted to count. But he did throw another interception and throwing it to Hassan Redick, who's a pass rusher or an outside linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers,

Starting point is 00:07:44 and throwing it in the flat, probably a zone blitz, where backside pass rusher is dropping into the flat. Cam Ward sees the pressure, goes to throw hot. The guy's right there. We saw Will Levis throw an interception like that against the Miami Dolphins. So that stuff does happen when you just miss the read and don't see the defender. But again, you want to highlight the good stuff that Cam Ward did

Starting point is 00:08:07 and some of the connections that he's making out there. Again, it was a good practice for Cam Ward. He looked like he'd belong. He was impressive, quote unquote. But it wasn't all perfect either. So we got to keep some semblance of honest. here and like I've talked about earlier in the all season. Cam Ward's

Starting point is 00:08:22 a gunslinger man like we're probably going to have to deal with some crazy interceptions but he needs to make more plays that are good than plays that are bad and that's always going to be the balance with Cam Ward and hopefully eventually he can find a perfect balance of playmaking and necessary

Starting point is 00:08:38 risk taking that we all have to accept with his gunslinger play style I'm perfectly on board with it as some of the first memories of NFL football that I have are Brett Fawley of in the Green Bay Packers winning the Super Bowl. Like, that's the first NFL game

Starting point is 00:08:52 that I can remember as a kid is that Super Bowl. So, I grew up on Gunslingers. I'm all here for it. But with that being said, so much else to talk about. The rookie weapons stepping up in a big way.

Starting point is 00:09:04 The defense continuing the best trend of training camp. Can't wait to dive into all of it with you guys. Do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by Monarch Money. Ever wish managing your money felt easier? With Monarch money, it can. Whether you're growing your savings or planning a big

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Starting point is 00:11:38 Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of the Locked-on Titans podcast, breaking down everything. You need to know coming out of joint practices, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I talked about my overall thoughts on the team's performance, which I think is a great sign for Tennessee Titans fans. I talked about Cam Ward's up and down day, but overall did a good job. Now I need to get into some of the stuff on offense

Starting point is 00:12:00 that we have to discuss, and these rookie weapons, these rookie weapons, they just continue, continue, continue to impress. We're going to talk about the defense at the end of the show and do some injury updates. Before I get into it, I want to thank you again for making Locked on Titans. your first listen each and every day and for being in every day or here with us at the Locked on Titans podcast.

Starting point is 00:12:21 It's your team every day. Make sure you get subscribed, stay subscribed, all of that. But Elicayo Manor was a standout. He won a rep in one-on-ones with a nasty whip route where he goes up the field, faked going outside, cut back inside,

Starting point is 00:12:38 and he absolutely smoked. The Buccaneers defender that was guarding him. absolutely smoked it. Okay. Iyo had three catches on the day. Had a touchdown in, uh,

Starting point is 00:12:53 or not a touchdown, but had a deep catch in seven on sevens. He's just impressive. A guy his size should not be able to run routes as well as Elicio Manor is able to run routes. It just should not be possible. And I continue to say,

Starting point is 00:13:10 and we'll continue to say, I think he is the rookie receiver who can make the biggest impact right away because his skill set fits perfectly to be that big, that physical, be able to play the X wide receiver position on the line of scrimmage. He is a tenacious and willing and driven blocker in the run game. I think I.O. is going to be a starter by Thanksgiving. He's going to be starting for the Titans. He's just, he's going to be good, man. He's going to be good. He continues to be impressive throughout training camp and now he's showing up in the joint practices.

Starting point is 00:13:43 That is 100% what you love to hear. And as a matter of fact, I do think that Elyle Manor caught a touchdown, but it was from Brandon Allen in 7-on-7s. If I'm remembering off the top of my head correctly when I was making my notes from all the reports and everything like that, but also Chim Dike. Chim D-K did catch a touchdown pass

Starting point is 00:14:03 over the middle in a tight window and got his feet in from Cam Ward in the Red Zone drills, caught a deep pass from Cam Ward in the 7-on-7s. absolutely roasted Antoine Winfield Jr. on an end-breaking route during one-on-ones. Like, he had four or five yards of separation. Chim D.K.'s speed is going to make a difference. D.K. right now is the backup slot receiver to Tyler Lockett.

Starting point is 00:14:28 Again, another position. I think Chim D.K. is going to be a better player than Tyler Lockett this year. That's what I think. But it wasn't just that Gunner Helm. I saw multiple reports talking about Gunner Him. I saw Jim White say it was Gunner Helm's best practice of training camp. He had four catches on the day. Again, a deep pass that he caught down the middle from Cam Ward.

Starting point is 00:15:01 Catcher balls from other quarterbacks too. Gunner Helm, I even saw one of the beats. I forget who it was, say Gunner Helm might be tied in one. Like, I said this when he was drafted. I made the argument with my film breakdown on the Tick-Tac Titans channel. I've continued to say it throughout the process. I think that Gunner Helm takes the most snaps of any Titans tied-in this year. Now, that's barring injury.

Starting point is 00:15:28 Again, I'm not going to take a victory lap if there's injuries that causes that. But if all the tight-ins stay healthy, I think it's Helm that gets the most snaps. I really do. Chica Conquo is a more explosive weapon, but Gunner Helm, is a better tight end. And for all of these young wide receivers to be making plays, we didn't hear a ton about Tyler Lockett. I didn't hear anything about Van Jefferson.

Starting point is 00:15:55 Calvin Ridley made plays because Calvin Ridley's going to make plays. And boy, Calvin Ridley had one of the nastiest routes. He had a skip release against a cornerback. He goes to the outside and he kind of, It almost reminds me of like a post move in basketball when you kind of give a shoulder back to kind of fake like you're going one direction

Starting point is 00:16:19 and then you can kind of spin back and hit a fadeaway jumper going the other way or go with the opposite hook. You know what I mean? You're in the post and you kind of work in your shoulders. Fake a shoulder in. Calvin Ridley went to the sideline a couple steps and then kind of faked back towards the line of scrimmage and then went upfield and woo!

Starting point is 00:16:36 Now, the report's coming out of one-on-ones is that the Titans actually struggled in one-on-ones, and just some of the highlights that I'm happening to bring it up, like I.O's route and Calvin Ridley's route were good. But, I mean, Xavier Restrepo burned somebody for a catch in one-on-ones. I saw, again, Chim D.K. against Antoine Winfield Jr., like the Titans' wide receiver group, whether it be in the one-on-ones, and some of the Titans-wide receivers didn't do good in one-on-ones.

Starting point is 00:17:03 But not all the Titans-wide receivers are very good. So, like, whatever. Like, Bryce Oliver got assaulted. On the sideline by a Buccaneers defender, J.J. Roberts. A lot of people seem to like this J.J. Roberts kid in Tampa Bay. He got a lot of rave reviews and made plays. Shout out to him on the Tampa Bay side. But ripped one away and got an interception and one-on-ones on Bryce Oliver.

Starting point is 00:17:28 Like, it was crazy. Bryce Oliver made his own good plays. He had a Red Zone TD from Cam Ward as well. So I don't want to crap on Bryce Oliver, who's had a good camp. But it just wasn't, you know, he didn't a standout on the day, I guess. Xavier Ostrepo, though. Xavier Ostrepo had three catches. He had a touchdown in a red zone period as well.

Starting point is 00:17:48 Xavier Ostrepo continues in the situations that are the biggest. Xavier Ostrepo is a gamer, man. He's a gamer. When you get out on the field, when you play the games, when you're in joint practices, when the tension is highest, Xavier Ostrepo is going to come through with a play. He did it during his college career. He's going to keep doing it.

Starting point is 00:18:04 He's just a guy who maybe he doesn't like the world on fire and practice. But in the games, he's going to, to step up and make plays, and that's why they can't let him go. And James Prochet looks like he is the only option that the Titans are going to have at punt returner, according to Buck Rising when James Prochet isn't the punt returner, things fall apart, is I think what the quote was, which is bad news for Xavier Restrepo. But man, I don't see how they can't, how they can afford to let him walk away.

Starting point is 00:18:35 They just can't. They got to find a way to keep him on the roster. but the weapons, awesome, the O-line. Now, it's not all perfect, but I saw Tampa Bay reporters talking about the Tennessee Titans run game, how the Titans were busting off runs against Tampa Bay. That's what we need to see.

Starting point is 00:18:56 That's what we need to hear. The best thing that could happen for Cam Ward is to be protected by a good run game. That would make everything so much easier. The Titans run game was not good enough last year, and early down efficiency was terrible for the Titans' run game last year, especially first down. If they do that again, Cam Ward's going to be in a ton of third and long situations,

Starting point is 00:19:17 not what you want for your young quarterback, even if they're rep in those situations as much as they can. But regardless, on the offensive side of the ball, positive updates from the offensive line, positive updates from the weapons. Cam Ward had a good showing, not perfect, but a good showing, and the Titans team overall, Match the Buccaneers on Thursday.

Starting point is 00:19:39 That's great news, and a lot of that had to do with the Tennessee Titans defense. And again, fight! There was a massive brawl. Today's episode is brought to you by five-hour energy. It's time to fuel up and turn it up with five-hour energy transfusion. It brings the bold, grape, ginger, and lime flavor of your favorite golf drink,

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Starting point is 00:21:40 I do want to thank you for making Locked on Titans your first listen for your second listen check out locked on bets betting experts Lee Sterling and Kevin Rogers have daily MLB locks and can't miss football futures find locked on bets on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts the defense continued to force turnovers and that's been a concerning trend throughout the beginning of training camp because it's the Titans offense that is turning over the ball And we've got to be concerned about that. But that turnover trend for the Titans defense continues here. They were able to get an interception with Xavier Woods.

Starting point is 00:22:12 Amani Hooker had a pass breakup that was almost an interception. The Titans' second team defense was able to force a fumble, which was recovered by Daryl Baker. I mean, the Titans defense came to play in this game. And I saw the Buccaneers reporting saying a lot of, like there were drops and overthrows and miscommunications by the Buccaneers' offense, and there's good and bad in there. But hey, at the end of the day,

Starting point is 00:22:36 you get judged on how the offense performs against you. And if the Tennessee Titans defense was able to hold down the buck's offense for the most part, that's a good sign. But the Buccaneers' offense definitely had their wins. Baker Mayfield completed a few ones to Mike Evans. He had an awesome red zone corner pass to Mike Evans over Imani Hooker. He completed a great pass down the sideline to Jalen McMillan for 30 yards

Starting point is 00:22:59 at one point during a team period. Like, make no mistake. The Buccaneers' talented offense had their moments, and if you go to one-on-ones, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers really put some hurt on the Titans' cornerbacks, which is something that I was worried about going in. But overall, again, a good showing for the Tennessee Titans' defense.

Starting point is 00:23:16 Overall, there were wins and losses in there, and then, of course, we have the massive fight. Jeffrey Simmons and Cody Barton kind of got into it with Graham Barton, no relation to Cody Barton, on the offensive line, Luke Godecke, the right tackle on the offensive line for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Starting point is 00:23:35 and both teams flooded onto the field. Cam Ward was trying to throw footballs and hit Tampa Bay Buccaneers players from staying away. He said that I've got to stay out of the skirmishes but I'm hard-headed and I couldn't help it. Cam Ward's trying to throw footballs and hit take out Buccaneers like he's throwing darts and shooting bows and arrows from the war machine.

Starting point is 00:23:55 Like I love hearing all of that from the Tennessee Titans as a whole. You know, like Jarvis Brownlee Jr. is trying to fight fans on the sideline. Fans are talking crap. Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. is having to be pulled away. Like, I like the intensity from the Tennessee Titans defense. Again, they came in there with the heat, man. Like the Titans, we're not going to lay down against a team that is, quote, unquote, better than them on paper.

Starting point is 00:24:20 So I thought it was a good day for the Titans overall. Really liked everything that we heard coming out of joint practices. Now it's time to shift our focus to that preseason game. I'm going to be here tomorrow with a bonus episode to break down everything that I'm watching for in the Titans' first preseason game of the year. Make sure that you don't miss that. But that's going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host.

Starting point is 00:24:41 Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, nope. Cut the outro. We've got to do injury updates. I couldn't promise that to you guys and not deliver. So no Tavondre sweat, no Kevin Winston in this practice. They said that they're still managing Kevin Winston. I sure hope that Kevin Winston plays in the preseason game. Brian Callahan's doing a radio appearance on Friday morning.

Starting point is 00:24:59 press conference before the game on Saturday, I would imagine. We'll get our update and we'll know going into the game, but I sure hope we see some Kevin Winston. But Brian Callahan was effusive that there's no injury to report. It's just management and soreness for Kevin Winston. So I guess I'll believe you, Brian can't. Brian Callahan. Note to Vandre Sweat, bit of a concern.

Starting point is 00:25:21 Went out for individuals yesterday on Wednesday. Left early. Didn't come back. Now he's out again. That's concerning. after Jim Wyatt said that Defandre Sweat looked just okay and a mailbag during the all season. I'm a bit, I'm a bit concerned. Brian Callahan did say though that Legerius Needed and Lloyd Cushenberry could.

Starting point is 00:25:39 He said maybe he stressed the maybe, maybe could do some on-field work and start to really, you know, begin their ramp-up process next week. So we'll have an eye on that. But there is all your updates now. That is going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland. and this was Locked on Titans.

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Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans BRING THE HEAT in Buccaneers Joint Practice, Cam Ward Competes & D Gets TURNOVERS

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