Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans Cam Ward WILL BE MVP, Calvin Ridley Goes for 1200 & Jeffery Simmons Sack Record

Episode Date: September 1, 2025

TITANS AWARDS PREDICTIONS: The Tennessee Titans kickoff the 2025 season this week and there is no doubt that Cam Ward will be their most valuable player and while the confidence level in the rest of t...he team will vary, confidence in Ward should be high across the board. His connection with Calvin Ridley is inspiring and Ridley should be able to eclipse the 1,200 yard mark if the pair remain healthy while a budding connection with a rookie draftmate in Gunnar Helm should result in one of the best rookie pairings in the league. On defense, Jeffery Simmons is set for a record year in the sack department and having some help in the secondary from Roger McCreary and Kevin Winston should help.  Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitans TicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop/tictactitans-gear/C3AAPNWXSXA6SBYG3USV2I7R?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=asc Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitans Follow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPod Subscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videos Listener SurveyWe’ve put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcasts even better. Go tohttps://lockedonpodcasts.com/survey/ to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of ten $100 Amazon gift cards. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!DoorDashWith DoorDash Streaks, you save every Saturday you order — stack it up all season and you could save up to $250. Order this Saturday. Keep the streak alive. Fuel your gameday — only with DoorDash. Terms apply. Promo period through 11/18. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year. UpsideDon’t let this offer drive on by, download the free Upside app now using my limited time promo code TOUCHDOWN for a limited time 25 cent per gallon bonus! Offers vary by user and location, Go to upside.com for terms and conditions.Click Here to download the app: https://getupside.onelink.me/zlLr?af_xp=custom&pid=barrington&c=barrington_lockedon25&deep_link_value=promo&deep_link_sub1=lockedon25&af_dp=upsideapp%3A%2F%2F Yahoo FantasyPresented by YahooFantasy #YahooPartner. Draft now at https://yahoofantasy.com/lockedonnfl.PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Cam Ward will be the Tennessee Titans most valuable player this season. I'll tell you how many yards and touchdowns I think Ward throws for, and we'll do some other Titans awards predictions 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. Today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast is brought to you by Fandual.
Starting point is 00:00:41 Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you'll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app on today's show. We're going to be doing some Tennessee Titans awards predictions. I'm going to tell you why I think Cam Ward will be the Tennessee Titans most valuable player this year. I'm going to talk about who I think will be the Titans Offensive Player of the Year Offensive Rookie of the Year Maybe the big disappointment on the offensive side of the ball
Starting point is 00:01:07 We'll do defensive player of the year Defensive Rookie of the Year as well So much to discuss on today's show Can't wait for you guys to play along with me Down in the comments below Or hit me up on Twitter At Tic Tac Titans at Locked on Titans on any other social media network
Starting point is 00:01:23 And let me know your thoughts 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. Tuning in Monday through Friday, couldn't do it without you guys. If you aren't an everydayer, this is the perfect time to be one.
Starting point is 00:01:48 The season kicks off this week. Tomorrow, I'm going to look at the reasons for optimism for the Titans, why things might go better than I expect record-wise. We're also going to have crossover Thursday to go behind enemy lines and learn about the Broncos. A game preview. I'll be live here after the game on Sunday to break it all down. Football is back. So make sure that you stay locked in with the Locked-on Titans podcast. But obviously, I don't think it's much of a hot take to say.
Starting point is 00:02:15 I think Cam Ward will be the Tennessee Titans most valuable player in 2025 as any good quarterback should be for their team. But it goes further than just Cam Ward's the quarterback of the team. Like, that's the obvious low-hanging fruit here. I think when you look at how the Titans will win, when you look at what's exciting about the Tennessee Titans going forward, when you think about
Starting point is 00:02:37 what the Tennessee Titans really have to build off of. I think the majority of that will come from Cam Ward. Like, when the Titans win football games this year, I think it's largely going to have to do with Cam Ward making miraculous play.
Starting point is 00:02:53 Be honest. This wide receiver group isn't that incredible. This defense might be pretty good but could also be pretty bad. It's kind of hard to tell right now. When the Titans have games that they win, I think this year,
Starting point is 00:03:09 and this may be the hot take of it all. But I think the Titans' offense might be more reliable for the Titans this year than the defense on a week-to-week basis. Like, I think the Titans' defense will be very up and down. And I think you're going to need Cam Ward to go out there every single week and give the offense an opportunity
Starting point is 00:03:27 and give the team an opportunity to win by making special plays. Now, the problem with that is, I think that'll be difficult for a rookie to do with the cast of characters that he has at wide receiver. But I think Cam Ward's going to answer the bell more often than he's not. So when the Titans, I talked about the Titans win in five games,
Starting point is 00:03:44 when the Titans win those games, when they play close with Kansas City and San Francisco like I think they're going to do. I think when the good moments happen for the Titans this year, it's going to be because Cam Ward rose up and made special plays. So if he is the one that's the catalyst for most
Starting point is 00:04:01 of their victories and their better performances, then clearly he's the most valuable player for them. And then as we've talked about recently, it goes further than just on the field getting things done. It's his energy, his leadership, his demeanor, the swagger that he carries about himself that can
Starting point is 00:04:17 not be only felt on the field but will be most felt off the field for the Titans. So whether we're talking about how the Titans win games this year and what they're able to accomplish, whether we're talking about how the Titans are perceived and how the locker room feels about the future going forward. I think all of that hinges on Cam Ward. I think he's going to be able to deliver this year.
Starting point is 00:04:40 Tomorrow I'll tell you how I think that resonates with the rest of the NFL. Maybe a little rookie of the year prediction. But I think Cam Ward by far will be the MVP for the Tennessee Titans this year. like we talked about last year when I said hey Will Levis needs to be the MVP of this team and he was the LVP of the team and things went very very poorly
Starting point is 00:05:07 so again if things go very very poorly for Cam Ward you want to look at it at the other way then that's going to just crush the team and they'll probably be the worst team in the NFL again but again I think Cam Ward is good enough to make some special plays to make some miraculous moments to galvanize his teammates to the small successes
Starting point is 00:05:24 that I think they can have this year and a build on for the future. So to me, Cam Ward's going to be the MVP. Now, the question becomes how many yards are going to throw for? How many touchdowns? And I've talked about this and I know that this isn't satisfactory to some fans.
Starting point is 00:05:43 But look at Caleb Williams season last year. Like, I think when you're looking for what a successful year could be for Cam Ward, I think that's where you look. Now, I know a lot of you guys go out there and you say Jaden Daniels. Maybe you could go out there and you say Bo Nix. But I guess it's just clear to me that the commanders
Starting point is 00:06:01 and the Broncos were much better teams last year than what I think the Titans are going to be this year. Like, I think that's the concern. So I don't think that you can expect Cam Ward to come out there statistically and have a Jaten Daniels type season. But Caleb Williams threw for 3,500 yards, 3541. Caleb Williams had 20 touchdowns, passing, six interceptions. I think two game-winning drives or one game-winning drive, two fourth-quarter
Starting point is 00:06:35 comebacks, and there should have been more in there because the Bears are so poorly coached, that there were so many mistakes down the stretch of games. Think about against the Washington commanders, the Hell Mary. Think about the Thanksgiving game against the Lions that they ruin the clock situation. So I think you look at Caleb Williams season. and if Cam Ward is able to throw for around 3,500 yards, over 20 touchdowns, I think there might be a little bit more interceptions with a guy like Cam Ward, but he's able to lead the Titans to some comeback victories,
Starting point is 00:07:07 some fourth quarter comeback, some game-winning drives, three of those. I think that's a good season. So I'm actually going to go with, and I think this is a great year for Cam Ward, and if we're comparing it to Tennessee Titans' quarterback history, it's certainly a good year. I think Cam Ward throws for 3,300 yards. I think he throws for 21 touchdowns.
Starting point is 00:07:28 He adds three touchdowns on the ground. So 24 total touchdowns on the year and 12 interceptions. I do think Cam Ward's gun slinging style and the Titans are going to be down in a lot of games where Cam Ward has to throw the ball a lot. It's just going to give them a lot of opportunities to get intercepted. So I think 3,300 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions is what I would say for Cam Ward
Starting point is 00:07:52 from a statistical projection standpoint. So that's what I'm rolling with. Let me know your projections for Cam Ward down below in the comments or hit me up on social media. Let me know your thoughts there. Again, I think Cam Ward will be the MVP of this team but I think Calvin Ridley will be the offensive player of the year for this team. We'll talk about some offensive awards
Starting point is 00:08:12 and finish with defensive awards on today's edition of Locked on Titans. Today's episode is presented by Yahoo! Fantasy. The NFL season is here, folks. You can feel the buzz, and that means that fantasy football season is here as well. Everyone's researching, drafting, building their championship squads. And if you haven't joined the league yet, now is the time. It's all happening on Yahoo! Fantasy.
Starting point is 00:08:37 This year, I am going to be playing Yahoo! Fantasy football on Yahoo! Fantasy, and you should do, whether you're a first-timer or a veteran and creating your millionth league. Look, I know I've been teasing the Locked-on Titans fantasy football league. It is going to happen behind the scenes. There are some gears turning that need to turn first. And we might be kicking off the Locked-on Titans fantasy football season after the week one games,
Starting point is 00:09:01 which with what I have planned should still work. Absolutely fine. But hey, the season does kick off on September 4th. So now is the perfect time to join Yahoo Fantasy Football. There are so many ways to compete with the Yahoo Fantasy guillotine leagues. You can play instantly with friends with the new draft with Friends mode. If you like the classics, you could play a head-to-head private league. You can join a public league as well.
Starting point is 00:09:24 The NFL season again kicks off on September 4, so don't wait. Start your league now. Drap now at yahoofantasy.com slash locked on NFL. That's Yahoo Fantasy.com slash locked on NFL. Titans fans. Let's continue today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We're doing some Tennessee Titans awards, some Tennessee Titans superlatives. Obviously everything is just about on the Tennessee Titans. On tomorrow's show, I'm going to do some more big picture predictions.
Starting point is 00:10:06 I'm going to do some reasons for optimism, some injury updates, all that different stuff. but got some awards to get into here because it's not just about Cam Ward at the end of the day, folks, but the offensive player of the year, I think it's going to be Calvin Ridley. And I talked about the statistical projections for Cam Ward. I think for Calvin Ridley, he's catching 81 passes this year. He's going to go over 1,200 yards, 1270, and he's going to score six touchdowns. I think the Calvin Ridley Cam Ward connection is absolutely fantastic. I think they're able to hook up a ton and quite honestly,
Starting point is 00:10:40 I think the Titans are going to force the ball to Calvin Ridley just like they did at the end of the season last year. And Calvin Ridley got off to a really slow start last year. I don't think that's going to be the case this year because Cam Ward and Calvin Ridley have way more chemistry already than Will Levis and Calvin Ridley did. So I think the Titans' most important offensive player this year outside of Cam Ward, who obviously is the straw that stirs the drink.
Starting point is 00:11:08 Outside of Cam Ward, I think Calvin Ridley is going to be the Titans most important player He's going to be their offensive player of the year And again I just Calvin Ridley in fantasy leagues Calvin Ridley and fantasy leagues As long as he stays healthy and Cam Ward's healthy Calvin Ridley is going to have a massive massive year
Starting point is 00:11:28 Now I do want to give some love to the big guy So I think the Tennessee Titans Offensive linemen of the year Is going to be Peter Skoronsky I think Skoronsky is going into year 3, where J.C. Latham's going into year 2, we should expect more from Peter Skoronsky. But just seeing Pete in the preseason and knowing how he is and how now he understands the techniques that Bill Callahan is asking for and he understands the runs that we're looking for and
Starting point is 00:11:56 the angles and he's got better people around him with a guy like Dan Moore who, listen, I know that J.C. Latham was solid last year, but I think Dan Moore is an average tackle and I think J. C. Latham was averaged to just a little bit below average in his rookie season. We've heard J.C. Latham talk about all the weight that he was carrying and how we finished the season so poorly. Well, you could see that. You know what I mean? So I think Dan Moore may be a little bit better than what J.C. Latham was as a rookie. Now, J.C. Latham in year two, J. C. Latham in year two at right tackle, going to be way better than Dan Moore, in my opinion. That's what you're looking for. But at the end of the day, I think having Cushingberry back
Starting point is 00:12:34 for the season, hopefully. And then Dan Moore, there's security there, not a rookie, a guy who's a veteran, and you let Pete be in the middle of that, and you let Pete be on those pools where he's going across the formation, and he's kicking defensive ends out, and you let him bounce back and forth between helping Cush and helping Dan Mord. He just kind of gets to be a traffic cop out there in the offensive line. I think that Peter Skoronsky does take that leap to an all-pro-level guard this year.
Starting point is 00:12:59 I think he's going to make the Pro Bowl this year. I think he's going to be an all-pro-level player, whether he gets all-pro or not because the Titans aren't very good. I can't tell you, but I think he's going to be at that level. And I think Peter Skoronsky does get a Pro Bowl nomination and a Pro Bowl spot this season. I think he's going to be the Titans' best offensive linemen. And the thing is, with that conversation, though,
Starting point is 00:13:21 that means I'm not picking J.C. Latham. And I think that if you're the Titans, you actually hope that J.C. Latham is better than Peter Scoronsky. That's what you have to hope for. Latham plays a more important position. He has a higher ceiling as a player, in my opinion. Peter Skoronsky was the number 11 pick in a bad draft class. That's why you take a guard at number 11, because it's a bad draft class.
Starting point is 00:13:49 If it's a good draft class with quarterbacks, offensive tackles, pass rushers, wide receivers, and corners, you're not taking a guard at number 11. You know, and there are some people who think you never take a guard that high ever. And I don't disagree with that because, or I do disagree with that, because I think you need to be more situational. Like, Peter Skoronsky was absolutely worth the number 11 pick in his draft class.
Starting point is 00:14:13 And he's been better than the offensive tackles that people were going to take behind him. You know what I mean? Like a Bronrick Jones, for example. So, I am still perfectly happy with the pick of Peter Skoronsky. But if you're the Titans again, J.C. Latham was the number seven pick
Starting point is 00:14:30 in a really good draft class, and a great draft class from 2024. All right? Olu Fashtunu, Fashanu, however, I still hear it both ways, two years in, two years in. He looked pretty good for the Jets and his limited action at the end of his rookie year. We know that Joe Alt is awesome, and I know the Titans didn't have the opportunity to draft him, but Troy Fautanu looks pretty good as well.
Starting point is 00:14:57 Talisei Fawaga looks pretty good as well. Like, that was a really, really, really good draft class. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Neighbors and Brian, Thomas Jr. Like, it's a freak show draft class. You need J.C. Latham to turn into a top five, top 10 offensive tackle. Like, that's what you need to happen. So, I will say that I think Peter Skronsky is the offensive lineman of the year for the Titans.
Starting point is 00:15:25 And part of that is I don't think that J.C. Latham becomes that this year. I think it may take another year for that to happen. It'll be a slight disappointment, but I don't think it'll be like J.C. Latham's not a good player. I just don't think he'll be like immediately great like Slater was or Darisol was or, you know, guys like that. I think it'll take, or Pena Sewell, like I think it'll take Latham one more year to really get certified there. But for the offensive rookie of the year, the rookie wide receivers are available, of course. and I know that some would love to hear Elykeyeo Manor, but I think it's going to be Gunner Helm.
Starting point is 00:16:07 And I've been consistent with this since the draft. Gunner Helm is tight end one. And I think you look at what Gunner Helm can do this year. I think he can catch 40 passes for 480 yards and three touchdowns. I think eventually the explosiveness that Chigacanquo offers as a receiver is just simply going to be trumped by the versatility and the receiving ability of Gunner Helm. I think when we have these conversations and I'm guilty as well
Starting point is 00:16:33 I talk about how Helm is going to be more versatile because he's going to be able to block better than Chicka Conquo and that's already confirmed in my mind even from the preseason tape Gunnar Helm is going to be a way better blocker than Chicka Conquo he's just a way bigger guy well way bigger is all relative at the end of the day but he is a much bigger dude for NFL standards so that's like the main
Starting point is 00:16:55 you know selling point for the Gunner Helm tight end one conversation but what if I said what if I said out loud Gunner Helms a better receiving tight end than Chicka Conquo right now too he may not be as fast with the ball in his hands but he's a better route runner
Starting point is 00:17:18 his size and contested catchability is more valuable than Chica Conquo's run after catchability now luckily the Titans have both those guys and they can deploy both of them And I don't think it's going to be a thing where, you know, Gunner Helm's getting 60 snaps and Chig gets 10. I don't think it's ever going to be that.
Starting point is 00:17:36 They're going to be close. And they need to use Chigacanquo. They don't have a lot of explosive weapons. He can make plays. So they've got to use Chigacanquo too. But I just think Gunner Helms better than Chick-Chiccaquo at pretty much everything other than run after catch. Already right now better at everything.
Starting point is 00:17:53 So give me Gunnor Helm as the offensive rookie of the year. And I think his stat line actually will be better than what I initially anticipated or what I was thinking because I just think Gunner Helm is the better tight end. Gunner Helm isn't just a good tight, I think Gunner Helm is a pure number one starting tight end in the NFL and the Titans will feel good about him being their starter for years to come after the season.
Starting point is 00:18:15 I'm just, I'm so high on Gunner Helm and everything we've seen in the preseason has confirmed it. Now, it's been a very positive episode. I do want to add one category in here and it's the offensive disappointment. And at the end of the day, I think Dan Moore is going to disappoint. I wasn't a huge fan of the signing. I get that this is the best outcome the Titans could make.
Starting point is 00:18:40 But I just, I don't think that because Dan Moore played with Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, who are going to run into sacks and things like that. But you go back and look at all of them, and not all of them from last year, Dan Moore's league leading 14, 13 sacks, depending on where you look. I don't think you can say that a large chunk of them are the quarterback's fault. He got beat on a lot of those.
Starting point is 00:19:07 Now, again, the people who want to defend Dan Moore will come in with, well, he's in the AFC North and you get Watt and Hendrickson and Garrett. Okay, well, you're going to get Josh Heinz Allen, you're going to get Will Anderson, you're going to get DeNeil Hunter. You know what I mean? Like, it's not going to be easy.
Starting point is 00:19:24 So I just think at the end of the day that the Titans' offensive line will be significantly improved. I do believe that. But I also think that we'll be leaving the season like the Steelers have the last two years, three years, saying we need a better player than Dan Moore at offensive tackle.
Starting point is 00:19:41 So I think Dan Moore will give up 9 to 10 sacks this year, unfortunately. I just don't think, you know, he's a certified starting level player in the NFL and he's certainly not an above average starter. So I think he'll be the disappointment on offense. but I think Jeffrey Simmons breaks his record for sacks this year and I think Kevin Winston has a chance to be the biggest impact rookie on defense.
Starting point is 00:20:06 Can't wait to dive into my defensive Tennessee Titans Awards. Do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook. Again, the NFL season is here, folks, and Fandul is making sure that you're ready for kickoff with a can't miss offer. right now new customers can bet just $5 and if your bet wins you'll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app again new customers can bet just $5 and if your bet wins you'll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app why do I love using Fandle well number one I love their same game parleys not only are they so much fun to put together but I love tracking my same game parlay on Fandle the app look absolutely incredible. You can always jump into the action at any time with live betting. It's quick, it's easy, and it's truly the best way to add a little more energy to your Sunday. So are you ready to play? Download the Fandle app now by
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Starting point is 00:22:44 Titans fans. Let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast doing my Tennessee Titans awards, my Tennessee Titans superlatives for the season. Cam Ward, MVP, Calvin Ridley, offensive. player of the year. Peter Skoronsky, offensive lineman of the year, Gunner Helm, the offensive rookie of the year. I think Dan Moore will be the offensive disappointment. Now, on the defensive side of the ball, I really do think Jeffrey Simmons has a record breaking season for him. Now, before I explain that, I do want to thank you again for making
Starting point is 00:23:13 Locked on Titans your first listen today for your second listen. You need to check out our locked on NFL season previews. They're on the Locked on NFL podcast feed. The episodes have also dropped here on the Locked on Titans feed. But every division wins, Breakout stars, Super Bowl contenders. You get all eight divisions in an eight episode series with everything you need to know about the NFL season. Find Locked on NFL on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts as part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day.
Starting point is 00:23:42 But again, I think Jeffrey Simmons is going to be the Tennessee Titans defensive player of the year. And the thing is, no matter what happens with the Titans this year, whether they win more games than I say, whether they lose more games than I said, whether they win the Super Bowl, whether they get the number one overall pick again in the draft, doesn't really matter no matter what happens.
Starting point is 00:24:06 Jeffrey Simmons is going to be the Tennessee Titans defensive player of the year because he is simply by far the most talented player that they have. Now, I think that Cody Barton has a chance if it's going to be anybody other than Jeffrey Simmons, I think it's Cody Barton. But at the end of the day, I think Simmons really kicks up his game. I think the weight loss and all that, think it gives him an opportunity to be more consistent throughout the season, stay
Starting point is 00:24:29 healthier, longer, have better performances late in the year. I think that Jeffrey Simmons is going to have a huge, huge season. I think he's going to get nine sacks this year. Now, up to this point, his career high is eight and a half. I think he'll get to nine, nine and a half. I can't quite say that he'll get to double digits. I'm not 100% certain about that. but I do think, I do think that Jeffrey Simmons breaks his personal record this year,
Starting point is 00:24:59 gets to nine sacks at minimum, and I think it's a good season for Jeffrey Simmons, a season that is worthy of the contract that he's getting paid right now. Now, moving away from the defensive player of the year, though, the defensive rookie of the year, I think is going to be Kevin Winston. And we got really, really good news on Kevin Winston out of practice on Monday. Winston is back out on the practice field. Everybody's good to go.
Starting point is 00:25:21 We'll talk more about that. on tomorrow's show, I believe, but, but, what's most important is that Kevin Winston is going to be ready to contribute. And I think the Tennessee Titans need him because he is a playmaker. Nothing else to say about it. That's why I think he's going to be clear in a way
Starting point is 00:25:39 the Titans' defensive rookie of the year because one, Femiola Dejo, I think, is a development project, folks. It's not going to be right away that Femi's getting a bunch of sacks and balling out right away. Like, I just don't see that. So I think from that standpoint, it's going to be hard for it to be Femiola-Dagio
Starting point is 00:25:56 other than the fact that, well, he's going to get a lot of opportunities. But I think Kevin Winston will get less snaps on defense, but will make more big plays. I think Kevin Winston gets two interceptions this year. I think he makes two sacks this year. He's going to make a lot of big, noticeable plays that can change games for the Tennessee Titans. So I think that's very, very important. And that's why I'm going to go with Kevin Winston as my defensive rookie of the team. year. Now, I wanted to add in a fun category on defense, the underrated player of the year,
Starting point is 00:26:27 and I have a tie, because I want both these guys to get some love. Number one, like I said before, Cody Barton. I think Cody Barton is just going to be so outstanding for the Titans this year. It's going to feel like the Titans really have a middle linebacker that they can, you know, build around, that can hammer down in the middle of the defense. I think Cody Barton, he's not a perfect linebacker, he's not an all-pro linebacker, things like that, but I think Cody Barton for the price he's getting paid. I think he's just going to be such a value for the Titans. He's going to be incredibly underrated for the Titans as well,
Starting point is 00:26:58 getting guys lined up, telling them where to be, and he's going to be underrated this week as he gives the Titans some inside secrets about the Denver Broncos. But I also think Roger McCreery deserves to be mentioned in this vein. We have not talked about Roger at all. Like literally at all. All all season, there's been really no conversation, no buzz, no anything about Roger McCrary.
Starting point is 00:27:20 And you know why? it's because he's just so stinking consistent. He's just always good. In the slot, he's physical, come up and tackle. You let him play in the slot against guys his size. He's going to lock down in man coverage. He's going to know where to be in the zone. He's going to get his hand-on passes.
Starting point is 00:27:36 Roger McCreary is just one of the most consistent, solid starting players in the NFL period. Period. He's just super unheralded, super underappreciated, but Roger McCreary is absolutely fantastic. And I think him and Cody Barton in the middle of the Titans defense on the second level will be a super stabilizing factor. Now, the final category I have on defense is the disappointment category.
Starting point is 00:28:02 And I got to tell you guys, I hate to say it, but I think it's going to be Legerius Sneed. And here's why. Sneed in the games that he played last year, he wasn't terrible, but he wasn't worth everything the Titans paid to give up for him. And I think that I can't trust him to stay healthy. and even if he's out there
Starting point is 00:28:21 I can't trust him to play to the level he played in Kansas City's defense I just have a feeling that Steen is just going to be a massive disappointment he's going to be in and out of the lineup again I can't shake the fact that I just don't see a positive end to the Legerius Steed experience
Starting point is 00:28:39 for the Tennessee Titans I certainly hope that I'm wrong I didn't know if he would be ready for week one and it looks like he's certainly going to be ready for week one and he's going to be one of my key players to watch for the Titans. A little spoiler for you guys for later in the week. But I just have a feeling that Legerius Sneed is just not going to live up to what it costs to have them on the team.
Starting point is 00:28:59 I just can't help but shake that, or I cannot shake that feeling. I can't help but feel that way. But again, let me know your thoughts on all these awards down below. That's going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans. You know,

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