Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans get PRIMETIME MATCHUP in PRESEASON & EXCITING NEWS on Titans Increased Practice Time

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Tennessee Titans just got a primetime game, but it's in the preseason. I'll tell you why I'm excited anyways. Plus, the Titans just did you a huge favor. I'll explain on a newspacked edition of Locked on Titans. You are Locked on Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland Titans fans on today's show.

Starting point is 00:00:38 We have so much news to go over Titans news, NFL news. We're going to talk about how the AJ Brown and Miles Garrett trades help the Tennessee Titans. Plus, I'll tell you why I'm over the AJ Brown thing. Also, we've got to talk about Caleb Williams being on the cover of Madden because I think it shows us that Cam Ward will be a Madden cover athlete before you know it. But we got to start with news about the Tennessee Titans actually playing. football. We got some more open OTAs for Titans fans to enjoy, and we finally know the Titans preseason schedule, which includes, again, a prime time game. So the Tennessee Titans

Starting point is 00:01:17 preseason will consist of three matchups. Again, their week two game will be at home against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, and it's basically going to be Sunday night football. It's going to be 7 p.m. Central time on Fox, on. Sunday night at home against Seattle. And I know, I know, I know, it's a preseason game. It's not going to have anywhere near the pop of a regular primetime game, things like that. But I think there's a good chance that with it being the nationally televised Sunday night game on Fox that probably get Tom Brady on that call. We should have Fox's number one crew.

Starting point is 00:01:59 They're going to have some good interviews, some good insights. they're going to be trying to get warmed up for their prime windows, their 425 window games during the season. So I think there will be a little bit of an increased feel to that. But what's most important is that the Titans are going to be able to have joint practices with the Seattle Seahawks. Obviously, Super Bowl champion team, great coaches, great players, competitive roster, do things the right way.

Starting point is 00:02:26 Having the Titans go head to head against Seattle, I think is absolutely fantastic. that the Titans are going to be at home for the week. So those joint practices are going to be in Tennessee, which gives the Titans just a little bit of an advantage. They're not on the road. They're in their own beds, things like that. I think that also helps even the scales

Starting point is 00:02:44 because the Titans are not going to be a Super Bowl team. But either way, I love the fact that the Seahawks are a great practice, joint practice team to go against because they are so good and such a good benchmark test for the Titans. but also I like that there will at least be a little bit of a feel of a big primetime game that they're practicing for at least, you know, Cam Ward's going to do interviews with Tom Brady and Kevin Burckhardt, right?

Starting point is 00:03:13 Is that their top guy at Fox? But either way, there will be a little bit of that. And I hope that the Titans get a taste of. I don't want it to be the real thing. I hope they get a taste up and say, hey, you know what? Next year or at the end of this season, we're going to find a way to get ourselves our own real, primetime game. So for a couple of different reasons, I know it's not the real thing and blah,

Starting point is 00:03:35 blah, blah, blah, but I think that it's a good thing for multiple different reasons there. And again, that's week two. Week number one, the Titans are at the San Francisco 49ers, which again, that's crucial with the joint practices because Robert Salah, Kyle Shanahan, mutual respect, they know each other. I think that that's obviously going to happen. And that is a great test for the Titans too because San Francisco is a great team. San Francisco has been one of the best teams in the NFL for years now. Great roster. We know they have great coaches replacing Robert Salo with Rahim Morris.

Starting point is 00:04:10 That's a very good coach right there as well. We're going to know if the Titans can compete with San Francisco and with Seattle in those joint practices. Not the games. It's the opposite of Alan Iverson. Not the games. We're not talking about preseason games. we're talking about practice.

Starting point is 00:04:30 But practice is the real thing in these scenarios. That's where the real work between the starters, the majority of it is going to play out, is in those joint practices. So with the Titans, we're going to know in the preseason if the Titans can hold their own against San Francisco and against Seattle in those joint practices, we're going to be like, all right,

Starting point is 00:04:49 we might have a real team on our hands here. So I'm happy about that. And then the Titans finish with Chicago, another playoff team from last year, an up-and-coming team with good young talent and good coaching. That's at home again. So that final warm-up, that final tune-up is against a very good NFC team.

Starting point is 00:05:07 And I love the fact that they're all three NFC teams. The Titans don't have to give away any conference secrets. They don't have to play against any coaches in the AFC. I like that. Just NFC teams all the way, good. And three good teams in the NFC as well. So hopefully they get joint practices against all three, like Robert Sala was saying.

Starting point is 00:05:29 But the first game against San Francisco is going to be Thursday, August 13th, to 8 p.m. Then Sunday, August 23rd against Seattle, 7 p.m. And then Saturday, August 29th, last game, Chicago, 5 p.m. All central time right there. But very excited for preseason football to come. But more excited, right now at least, in the short term, for the Tennessee Titans opening up two additional OTAs next week.

Starting point is 00:05:57 for us to enjoy. So the Titans didn't have OTAs this week. There was nothing open to the media. There are four sessions next week. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Thursday and Friday. Going into today, Tuesday, is it Tuesday? Is it Wednesday? I get my days mixed up. It's Wednesday.

Starting point is 00:06:22 Going into Wednesday, only Thursday was going to be available for the Titans. but now the Tennessee Titans have opened up Monday and Tuesday for media as well. So we're going to get updates, reports, reactions, observations, highlights from the Titans media staff, all of that. We're going to get all of that on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday next week. What a gift. What a kind present from the Tennessee Titans organization to go,

Starting point is 00:06:52 hey, we've only let you, because there are other teams that all of their OTAs. are open to media. And not only that, but media could take video seven-on-seven and tweet out who's starting where and who's lined up here. And Cam Ward just through a deep post route against zone coverage and beat Kevin Winston deep. Like Titans media aren't really allowed to say too much.

Starting point is 00:07:18 It's getting better, in my opinion, though. It is getting better. So credit to the Titans for that. But it's not quite as much access as other teams have. So the Titans, in a moment of kindness that we all appreciate as fans, said, all right, since we didn't have OTAs this week, since we've only let you have one per week, the first two weeks, we feel more comfortable with where we're at in our process.

Starting point is 00:07:42 We'll have three of the four days be open. It's going to be so much fun. So more access and information of position battles, the growth of the young players, the connection of Carnell Tate and Cam Ward, just more. And that's all we want, right? I am often critical of the Tennessee Titans media practices,

Starting point is 00:08:04 whether the things that they put out, how they do it, what they don't allow compared to other teams in the NFL. I am critical of them in that regard. So I give credit where it's due for them to go out of the way to do this, certainly appreciate it. Like, it's just, it's more fun, the more access we have with the football team that we love. And why not?

Starting point is 00:08:28 Like having a little bit of a media availability at OTAs in the beginning of June isn't going to ruin some competitive advantage or mess with wins and losses. Like, I just don't buy that. Because again, as I point out often, some of the teams that allow the most access in the NFL are some of the most successful franchises in the NFL. So put two and two together there.

Starting point is 00:08:53 It's not like it's going to hurt you all that much. But very exciting news there with the Titans, prime time in the preseason, joint practice opportunities, and then again, more open OTAs for us next week, which on Sunday night, I'm going to get us ready for the week ahead and talk about where we're at with position matchups

Starting point is 00:09:12 and what to watch, all that. So much fun. Can't wait for a week of Titans practice. And then mandatory minicamp is the week after that. We're going to get another three-day a week of open practices. Football, man. could smell it in the air. But with that being said again, big week of news. Now the rest of the news though is more Titans adjacent because Caleb Williams was announced

Starting point is 00:09:35 as the Madden cover athlete. And I had a few interactions with folks on Twitter that just got me thinking, I think that's something that Cam Ward will be doing in the years to come as well. Do you want to let you know that today's episode is sponsored by better help. Summer is supposed to be a season that everyone looks forward. forward to. Vacations, longer days, more time outside, more plans with family and friends. But for a lot of people, summer can also feel surprisingly overwhelming. Schedules get packed, routines change, and sometimes it feels like you're trying to do everything at once instead of enjoying the season. That's why it's important to make time for yourself too. And therapy can help

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Starting point is 00:11:34 Caleb Williams, getting the Madden cover, Drake London's contract, A.J. Brown, Miles Garrett getting traded. I'm going to dive into all of that right now before I do, 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 00:11:57 Tuning in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys. If you aren't an everydayer, you need to be one. Again, Titans OTAs are going to be open pretty much all of next week. Mandatory mini camp right around the corner and then training camp will be here before you know it. Stay locked in to the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world. on Titans. With that being said, though,

Starting point is 00:12:16 Caleb Williams gets the cover of Madden. I think the cover looks incredibly goofy. He's trying to recreate the Michael Jordan like free throw, pose, jump throw thing that he's trying to emulate with the skyline in the background. The idea, good, the execution, a little walking, in my opinion. But regardless,

Starting point is 00:12:35 people are fighting over, you know, why is it Caleb Williams? He doesn't deserve it yet. Guys, it's a video game designed to sell product. it's not the MVP award. They're not voting on it from the media and who's the best player is on Madden. It's never been that.

Starting point is 00:12:51 It's been what player can sell the most video games. And I don't even blame EA Sports for that. That is what they should be doing. Like, you know, they should be getting the most marketable person they can to help them sell their product. That's, you know, it's what they should be doing, not just going Matthew Stafford was the MVP, so we'll pick him. That's not what they're doing.

Starting point is 00:13:12 But with that in mind, why is Caleb Williams? Marketable, fun, sell video games. Because he has an exciting play style. And I saw somebody post a video of a throw that Caleb Williams made and it said, you know, 13 in Chicago and 17 in Buffalo and 15 in Kansas City are the only guys who can make this throw. and I looked at it, I'm like, number one in Tennessee can make that throw.

Starting point is 00:13:47 Cam Ward can make every throw Caleb Williams can make. I think Caleb Williams puts a little more velocity on the ball. I think he throws it a little harder than Cam Ward does. So maybe you could turn that into, he could throw it further. But I don't know that that translates. I think that Caleb Williams throws the ball with more velocity than Cam Ward, which Cam throws it very fast as well. But Caleb Williams has an elite.

Starting point is 00:14:11 He has elite arm talent. You know what I mean? Let's be honest here. So I get that he should be in the conversation arm talent-wise with those other guys. But Cam Ward should be in it as well. Somebody responded, I love Cam Ward, but show me. Well, go look at the throw he made against Kansas City.

Starting point is 00:14:30 45 yards on a rope to the sideline, falling left out of bounds while getting hit by two guys. The Caleb Williams throw was a 45-yard throw into the end zone where he was rolling to his right and had less pressure on him. Not trying to downplay the throw for Caleb Williams. It's an absurd throw. It's one of the best throws of the entire NFL season. Like, I'm not trying to tell you it's bad.

Starting point is 00:14:53 What I'm trying to tell you is Cam Ward can do that. And it's just funny to me to see people be like, oh, I don't know if Cam Ward can get to Caleb Williams level. Why not? Did you see Caleb Williams rookie year? And Caleb Williams is not completion percentage Maverick. Tom Brady style or anything, he's a big play hunter. Very similar to Cam Ward.

Starting point is 00:15:16 So, yeah, like, I think Cam Ward is a playmaker. Like Caleb Williams, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, call me a homer. I don't care. It's the truth. I've seen it. I've broken down the plays myself. I've posted the highlights numerous times. We've seen Cam Ward make the most electric throws in football, period.

Starting point is 00:15:49 Falling out of bounds, cross-body, taking pressure, getting hit, dots down the field, lasers. And we're only going to see more of them if there are a more competitive team with a more healthy offense. We're only going to see more opportunities for Cam Ward to make those plays and make people notice. As Jeffrey Simmons would say, give them a reason. Cam Ward's going to give him a reason to see him on that level. Now, I'm not saying Cam Ward's going to win MVP and blah, blah, blah, blah.

Starting point is 00:16:19 I'm saying Cam Ward is an incredibly exciting player who's capable of making the type of plays that make him a marketable superstar. And I think with the New Jersey's, the new stadium, the NFL is going to be invested in elevating the Titans right now. It would be a good way to flip one of their smaller, market lesser prestige franchises into one of the more prestige franchises that hosts a Super Bowl once every five or six years. They do the draft once every 10 years. One of the highlight

Starting point is 00:16:53 premier cities of the National Football League in the United States of America. This is the perfect time to have a super marketable superstar in Cam Ward on a team that's rising with cool jerseys, brand new, fresh vibes, great city, unique city as well. It tells a unique story. I just think a lot of things are in line. The stars are aligning in a way where I could absolutely see Cam Moore be on the cover of Madden. Now, immediately when you say that you're going to get the Madden curse, the Madden has been going for so long now that I think there are enough

Starting point is 00:17:32 examples of the Madden curse did not hurt this person. So whatever. You know what I mean? Like there's enough examples to show that it's not. Not every year something bad happens to people who are on men. I remember when there was a long run back when I was in like high school, you know, that was a thing or early college. But we have enough guys who have been on the cover of Madden who didn't have a terrible season afterwards to where we could put that to bed.

Starting point is 00:18:00 And I would be excited as a Titans fan. Who was the last Titan to be on Manhattan? I like was Derek Henry? I buy digital copies. So it's like I never really see the cover in person. Derek Henry ever get on the Madden cover with Titans? If not, before that, was it Vince Young? I mean, how long ago was that?

Starting point is 00:18:21 That was a long time ago. So, there's no way, there's no way that I would be mad. Cam Ward was on the cover of Madden. I've seen that reaction from some people, and I just, I can't get down with that. I would be hype. I would be hype.

Starting point is 00:18:37 That would be fun. So, yeah, I'm going through the list right now. never got on during his prime with the Titans. It was freaking Mahomes and Lamar, and they had a Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, year, and Gronk, and, yeah. So all the way back to Madden 08, Vince Young, which was nasty. And, you know, Vince Young wasn't the MVP either, but it was awesome. And I think Cam Ward could be awesome like that.

Starting point is 00:19:02 And it helps even more if he has a superstar wide receiver. And I just wanted to take a moment. Drake London from the Atlanta Falcons got a $35 million per year extension with the Falcons well deserved. He's one of the top You could argue top 10 wide receivers in the NFL Top 15 at minimum, right? Probably top 12.

Starting point is 00:19:28 You know, I can see him be in 12 or something like that But Drake London, one of the best second tier wide receivers in the entire NFL. He's not a Jamar Chase in my opinion. He's not Justin Jefferson, Pooka Nucca. who, A.J. Brown, George Pickens from last year. He's not quite on that level, but he's literally in the tier right below that.

Starting point is 00:19:48 And I talk about this group of wide receivers a lot. Like Nico Collins, in my opinion, is in that tier. T. Higgins is in that tier, you know? But Drake London just got $35 million per year. And Cornell Tate was drafted in the top five. And he's going to get, you know, a good amount of money for being a top five pick. But this is why the conversation was there

Starting point is 00:20:17 about positional value. What running back is getting $35 million per year? And I just told you, Drake London is a tier two wide receiver. One of the best wide receivers in the NFL, but not one of the true elite top of the top wide receivers. And he's getting $35 million per year. You know what Cardnell Tate is hitting the salary cap for this year? $9 million.

Starting point is 00:20:45 If Carnell Tate can be even close to Drake London, right now with my thought on who Carnell Tate was going to be coming into the draft, and then if people are right about what he's doing at OTAs, who he could be now, I would not have put him in the category where I'm about to say, but he could be a Drake London level player. I think based on the OTA hype, you could conclude that he could be that level of player

Starting point is 00:21:15 in that T. Higgins, Nico Collins area. And if the Titans get Drake London, Nico Collins, T. Higgins, level play out of Carnell Tate. Well, his next four or three years after this year, it's $9 million this year,

Starting point is 00:21:37 11 million next year, 13 million the year after that, and then 16 million, his final year. And by the time that we get to the fourth year of Carnell Tate's contract and he's making $16 million, the best wide receivers in the NFL will be making $50 million a year. But if that would have been Jeremiah Love, the best running backs in the NFL are getting about 17, 18 million. He would already been at half that.

Starting point is 00:22:07 With the most guaranteed money of any running back in the NFL, zero value. Zero value there. But massive value on Carnell Tate and the Drake London contract gives you an idea why. But with that in mind, again, more NFL news that I think impacts the Titans. A.J. Brown, Miles Garrett were traded. And that's great news for the Titans. Do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by Square. The business platform that helps sellers become neighborhood-faced.

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Starting point is 00:23:49 Fans, let's continue and cap off today's edition of the Locked-on Titans podcast. We talked about the Titans getting a primetime game in the preseason, but I'm still excited. We talked about the Titans opening up two more OTAs next week. Very thankful for that, Cam Ward, potentially being on the Madden cover one day and why that makes sense.

Starting point is 00:24:22 And Cornell Tate being a great value based on what we're seeing contract-wise. Now I want to talk about the AJ Brown and the Miles Garrett trade and how it helps the Tennessee Titans before I get into it. I do want to thank you for making Locked on Titans your first listen each and every day.

Starting point is 00:24:36 Speaking of every day, you got to join the Locked on Titans Every Day or Club. You're going to get ad-free versions of the show in your favorite podcast app, no commercials. That's worth it right there. You're going to get added to the Locked on Titans group chat

Starting point is 00:24:49 with me and a bunch of other everydayers. I'm going to be doing a mailbag on tomorrow's show. I'm going to be getting those mailbag questions from the Locked on Titans every day or group chat. So make sure that you hit the link down. below in the description and get joined up and become a true locked on Titans every day or now. But A.J. Brown traded back to Mike Vrable with the Patriots.

Starting point is 00:25:11 Miles Garrett traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Los Angeles Rams. Yeah, the Titans used to have AJ Brown, but does this really affect the Titans in any way? It's just, yes. The Titans had AJ Brown. and Miles Garrett on their schedule this year. Eagles week two, Brown's week six.

Starting point is 00:25:39 They're not on those teams anymore. That makes those teams worse. I know newsflash, hot take, but losing A.J. Brown and losing Miles Garrett makes the Eagles and the Browns worse, respectively. Shocker, right? But that's important. The Titans need to get off to a fast-star. And the Eagles, I don't know.

Starting point is 00:26:06 It's not like the Eagles are bad, okay? It's not like the Eagles are bad. But A.J. Brown made them special. And maybe they didn't realize it. But once A.J. Brown showed up, the Eagles got special right away. Jalen Hertz turned into who he is now. Better version of what he was before. He turned Jalen Hertz into a legitimate starter when their chemistry was right.

Starting point is 00:26:33 But the point is, the Eagles traded AJ Brown for a 2028 first round pick. That's not going to help their team be better when they play the Titans in week two. So the Eagles are worse. And look much more, and I think Mackay Lemon will be good. And, you know, they got some other pieces in there.

Starting point is 00:26:53 They drafted Eli Stowers to be a bigger, taller guy and this and that. But I just think with their offensive line, the durability questions, them get older. I just think the Eagles are much more beatable today than they were Sunday. That's how I feel. And then the Browns. I mean, the Titans beat the Browns last year with Miles Garrett and the worst coach in the NFL.

Starting point is 00:27:21 The Titans should have beat the Browns with Miles Garrett anyways. They definitely should win that game now. And look, Jared Verst is a very good player, you know. But come on. Come on. You can't lose to the Browns. It's a must-win game. can't afford it. There is no version of this season

Starting point is 00:27:39 where the Browns are a good enough team where I would be okay with the Titans losing to them. I don't care. Not everything goes exactly how we think it's going to go, but there is no version. There is no version. Now, I also want to say this. On the squad show,

Starting point is 00:28:00 Julian asked me and Brad, because Brad obviously played for the Titans. I have loved the Titans for 27 years now. So we're a little more invested in Julian, you know, covers the team, You know, it's not like he grew up loving the Titans forever. How I felt after A.J. Brown was traded back to Mike Vrable. And I'm honest with you guys all the time.

Starting point is 00:28:22 I was up here telling you before the Super Bowl, I want Mike Vrable to lose because I don't want the Titans to look even dumber. Like, I'm petty. I'll wear it on my sleeve. I'm not, I don't want the Titans to look bad. Stuff sucks. And I'm honest about it. I don't try to act like it doesn't suck. I don't care who you are watching A.J. Brown ball out

Starting point is 00:28:41 and kill the Titans. that first year, and then John Robinson get fired, like, that game sucked. You can't tell me, oh, the Titans traded him, he's gone now. It is what it is. No big deal. It's not any worse than any other game. Like, you're lying. You're lying.

Starting point is 00:28:55 So I'm going to be emotionally honest to you guys. But I'm being honest when I say this. I really didn't care. I didn't want Mike Frable to win the Super Bowl. I didn't want to see A.J. Brown do awesome with the Eagles early on. but Mike Vrable losing the Super Bowl, this scandal that he's been involved with. AJ Brown kind of looking like the bad guy in Philadelphia,

Starting point is 00:29:21 pout and throwing a fit, forcing his way out of town after two Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl victory in four straight playoff appearances. Like he doesn't look good in this either. And if you're somebody who said, AJ would have forced his way out of Tennessee eventually, no matter what, you kind of have some ground to see. stand on today. He does look like a malcontent. Even if things are good and you're winning and,

Starting point is 00:29:44 you know, you're at the heights of the NFL. He still won't be happy. So I'm going to be honest. It doesn't make the Titans trading AJ or firing Mike Vrable less stupid because those were really dumb moves. But I just, I don't know, it didn't really hurt me to see AJ go back to Vrable and go to the Patriots. I guess I'm just, I don't know. Like I'm over it. I truly am. And this Cornell Tate thing, if Carnell Tate can really be a stud wide receiver,

Starting point is 00:30:18 I've always said, the only thing that will take away the hurt of A.J. Brown is when we replace him, period. So if Carnell Tate can be the A.J. Brown replacement, that's going to help heal the A.J. Brown wound even faster. But with that being said, again, tomorrow, mailbag question, did Carnell Tate and Wondell Robinson and what the Titans did this all season,

Starting point is 00:30:46 did they solve the wide receiver issue? It's a good question. We're going to be answering it on tomorrow's show, but that's going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.

Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans get PRIMETIME MATCHUP in PRESEASON & EXCITING NEWS on Titans Increased Practice Time

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