Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans JC Latham BREAKOUT SEASON INCOMING, Underhyped Veterans & Surprise Impact in 2025

Episode Date: June 30, 2025

The Tennessee Titans are moving 2024 first-round pick JC Latham to right tackle and Latham has also transformed his body over the offseason. These two factors set Latham up to have a major breakout ca...mpaign in 2025 with a chance to ascend to one of the top tackles in the league. The Titans also brought in quite a few new veteran players and some of them are already looking like their impact will be underappreciated. Finally, some players, like punter Johnny Hekker, will surprise fans with the amount of impact they actually have during the season. 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 Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!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 get $150 in BONUS BETS when your first $5 BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.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 If the Tennessee Titans want to turn things around, they're going to need some key players to make a leap. And I think J.C. Latham is primed for a massive breakout in 2025. I'll explain 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 on today's show. We're going to talk about the Tennessee Titans most likely
Starting point is 00:00:41 to have a breakout season. We're going to talk about some veterans who I think are going to be unsung heroes this year. And we'll talk about some low-key contributors that might surprise you in 2025. Before we dive into all of that, 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 every dayers out there. Tune in Monday through Friday.
Starting point is 00:01:13 Couldn't do it without you guys. If you aren't an every dayer, you need to be one. Training camp is right around the corner. We're doing some top threes this week, but next week, we're going to start our in-depth positional preview series leading up to training camp. You aren't gonna want to miss any of the content that I continue to pump out all year long, always for free here on the Locked on Titans podcast. And that's rain, sun, snow, technical difficulties, sickness.
Starting point is 00:01:41 It doesn't matter. I'm gonna find a way to get you guys your content. So I hope that you enjoy the list that we go through this week. And I really like seeing your guys's feedback. Who are your breakout candidates, your unsung veterans and your players that might surprise, but we got to start with those breakout candidates. And JC Latham is at the very top of the list. There is no player on the team that I think is more prime for a breakout season than J. C. Latham. Number one, number one on the list of reasons why I think that it's a simple fact of he's going into year two. It's a point that I will always make about players going into their second year.
Starting point is 00:02:21 You should see some sort of big time jump if they are going to be the player that you hope that they're going to be at whatever level or whatever player you want to make that be. J.C. Latham obviously top seven pick in the draft. We need to see that jump to a Pro Bowl level player is what you have to expect when you take a guy top 10 as an offensive tackle. That's what you should be looking for and from year one to year two, think year one, you're training for the combine. You're training for the draft process. Some of these guys are rehabbing injuries that they played through in their final year of the college season. You're also starting a new job, brand new to the NFL.
Starting point is 00:03:00 You're moving to a new city. You have to get a new apartment. You have to get new clothes. You have to establish a new diet system, you have to find new friends, you got to make new relationships. There is so much going on from a life standpoint. I feel like, you know, when we talk about these players, we don't acknowledge enough the humanity of these players. Like whenever you get a new job, you move to a new city, you go to a new
Starting point is 00:03:25 school, it's hard. It's, it's difficult for everyone. I am an extrovert. I can make friends in a pile of rocks. I'll find something to talk about. Like I've always been able to do that. No shock, I'm sure to all of you guys, but even for me, new situations, new jobs, new schools, stuff like that, at, it's difficult to kind of find your place in things. So you have all of that off field stuff going on. And then you have the on field stuff of, hey, you're learning a brand new job. You got Bill Callahan. He's requiring you to do all these new things.
Starting point is 00:03:57 You're learning a new playbook. And I will tell you from the film study. J.C. Latham looked a little confused at times early in the season as to what his assignment was. If we see this front with this run play called, I have to block this man. Oh, they just shifted their front before the snap. Now that changes. He did look a little confused. First year on the job. That makes sense. So just the natural progression from year one to year two for anyone is the obvious number one reason. But then you have to get to the switch
Starting point is 00:04:35 from left tackle to right tackle. And I always find it funny that people out there will say, oh, well, you know, edge rushers are really talented on both sides. Nowadays, right tackles are just as important as left tackles. And look, you want to look at the pay the highest paid offensive tackles, right tackles. I get that. But at the same time, you know, they'll say, oh, well, right tackles more natural should give him better matchups this and that. Well, you know, if the head coach is saying, hey, he's going to get better matchups and stuff like that, it's going to be more natural for him on the right side. Well, I don't know because J.C. Latham was a left tackle in high school.
Starting point is 00:05:15 In theory, he's played left tackle longer than he's played right tackle. So, how are we going to say he's a natural right tackle just because he did that for a couple of years at Alabama. That just overrules the one year at left tackle in the NFL and the multiple years at left tackle in high school. I think he's more natural left tackle. You know what I mean? But what we're really saying is, Hey, JC Latham may not have the high level
Starting point is 00:05:36 athleticism to win on the left side consistently throughout his career. The right side may be better for him. Well, that right there is acknowledging that, okay, your left tackle needs to be his right side consistently throughout his career. The right side may be better for him. Well, that right there is acknowledging that, okay, your left tackle needs to be a little bit better than your right tackle. That's like
Starting point is 00:05:53 something that is real, you know, like left tackle is still the more important position is, I guess my point overall and I think it's funny that we try to argue it but with that being said, that should give them a better a better opportunity to, if that is his natural spot in all of those things and better matchups and then Latham should
Starting point is 00:06:11 have a slightly, even if it's minuscule, but slightly easier job, right? Right? So that's the second fact is he's moving over to right tackle. But then we talk about the body change. J.C. Latham talked about it publicly. He weighed 360, 370 at times last year during the season. And at first he thought he would be good to go. He's even said that Chargers game,
Starting point is 00:06:36 even though he gave up a couple of sacks that weren't really on him. If I'm honest, go back and look at them if you want. He said he felt good and then he played later in the season and he mentioned the Houston game and he was like oh I'm too heavy. I'm way too I'm not fast enough to deal with the Neil Hunter and Will Anderson. I'm not. So now he's lost 20-30 pounds, 340-330 somewhere in there and he wants to keep going. So the body transformation, the off field stability of year two, and then
Starting point is 00:07:10 the change from left tackle to right tackle, all of that combines for a clear path to a breakout for J.C. Latham. Now, the second player that I want to mention here is Tavondre Sweat. Shocker, the high draft pick from last year. This is when those guys make that breakout. But Sweat is set up for it perfectly because his pass rush numbers were actually better last year than maybe you would think. His pressure rates were pretty solid.
Starting point is 00:07:40 He was getting pressure into the backfield. Now, consistency is going to be key for Tavondre Sweat. Actually getting the quarterback on the ground when he gets pressure in the backfield is going to be key for Tavondre Sweat. That's something that I pointed out on his college tape. There was a bit of an issue. He just didn't seal the deal. He would get in the backfield, he would get to the quarterback and he would miss. You know what I mean? He would whiff in some way. So actually finishing the job, play good defense and then rebound. he would come back and he would miss. You know what I mean? He would whiff in some way. So,
Starting point is 00:08:08 actually finishing the job, play good defense and then rebound. You know, in basketball, they say a defense and possession isn't actually over until you secure the rebound. Well, Tavondre Sweat needs to secure the rebound to
Starting point is 00:08:19 finish his possessions. You know what I mean? Like that has to happen and if he's able to do that a couple of more times, we don't need ten sacks out of Tavandre Sweat. That's not the expectation, but instead of having one or two, if he could kick that up to four or five sacks, now we're talking about a guy who could play the run at that level and then get four to five sacks a season?
Starting point is 00:08:48 That's a pretty good interior defensive lineman. And I think that would constitute a breakout, quote unquote breakout season for Tavondre Sweat. Now, I wanna mention this, and look, when I do this, because I didn't like the sweat pick out of the gate, I'm gonna take more hate for it. I can live with it. All right, sure.
Starting point is 00:09:04 Come at me, bro. Tavondre Sweat forgave me personally, so why would I worry about what you got to say? But... Jim Wyatt, in his mailbag over the weekend, said that Tavondre Sweat looked just okay. That's what he said. I thought Tavondre Sweatt looked just okay this offseason.
Starting point is 00:09:27 Let's keep an eye on that. Let's just, I know I'm not the guy to do it. If someone else were to say it, you would probably take it more seriously, but that's Jim. He is the team reporter. He is not going to badmouth players or blah, blah, blah to not, you know, to just to admit that he thought he just looked okay. I thought that was interesting because if that's coming from the team guy who's paid by the team, you know, someone who isn't paid by the team may actually have other things to say that could be a little worse. So we will, let's just put a pin in that move forward. But the last breakout, and I can't say player anymore. The last breakout candidate that I'm going to talk about here is Brian Callahan. I thought
Starting point is 00:10:15 Brian Callahan actually did a pretty good job as an offensive play caller last year and a play designer specifically. I thought there were people open consistently that the quarterbacks didn't get to or the ball was inaccurate or you know, all of a sudden the protection fell apart, but the play was open. I think if some of the X factor players hit, especially Cam Ward, like we talked about the conversation around Brian Callahan, rightfully so being him on the hot seat right now could turn to, oh, now Brian Callahan
Starting point is 00:10:45 has looked out as an up and coming offensive mind who the NFL has to watch out for. Brian Callahan could be the breakout star of this season if he can get this team going back in the right direction. But let's talk about some guys who won't get quite as much credit. 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 purchase, Monarch puts you in the driver's seat.
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Starting point is 00:12:29 We talked about breakout opportunities for the Titans in the first segment, JC Latham, Tavondre Sweat, Brian Callahan, all coincidentally going into their second year with the Titans. No surprise there, breakouts in second years. It makes sense. But now I want to talk about some players who I think are going to be unsung heroes this year. I think they're going to have a major impact on the Tennessee Titans on their win loss outcome on the team behind the scenes. They're going to have a major impact in multiple ways. And they're guys who I don't think fans really talk about enough. And even when it happens, even during the season, I don't think that these players are gonna get enough shine. So I'm gonna do my best, I'm gonna do my best
Starting point is 00:13:14 to give these players shine throughout the season because I think it's pretty clear that they're gonna have a major impact. Now, before I dive into it, do wanna thank you again for making Locked on Titan your first listen each and every day, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. Make sure you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day. But number one is Kevin Zeitler.
Starting point is 00:13:34 We talked about the limited action for Kevin Zeitler during mandatory minicamp, which makes sense. He's 35 years old. Why would we need the 35 year old guy to be out there, you know, busting his butt in mandatory mini camp, getting reps against these young go-hards? That's not what Kevin Zeitler needs to do. Kevin Zeitler's impact on the Titans during the off season has been, will be, and is his locker room impact. The leadership, how he goes about his day, how he carries himself. Guys want to be professional athletes for as long as they can, and it's a career thing. Yeah, we all wanna be great, and everybody who's ever played sports wants to win Super Bowl MVP and championships and all, but really what a professional athlete
Starting point is 00:14:21 should worry about most is being employed. And if you do that, if you focus constantly on how do I keep a job in the league, you're probably going to continue to get better as a player and you're going to be a good professional and you're going to hit all of maybe not all of the things that you hope for and reach every gold championship and MVPs and bubble. I mean, if you're an offensive lineman, you're never winning in an MVP anyway. So those childhood dreams of being that like that's gone immediately. Anyway, being a veteran, being a, it's like I would compare it to,
Starting point is 00:14:56 and maybe this is a bit existential, but since I'm so sick, I'm contemplating my morality. Okay. But it's like how you would view life. It is a, you know, it's scary to grow old. You know, I'm 34 now and it's crazy to me. I still remember being 11 and 12 and I still feel closer to that than I do a 35-year-old man, you know what I mean? People call me sir. It does hurt my soul a little bit. But like it's a privilege to grow old. It's a blessing to be old. Like you got to live your life. You got to experience so many different things. And it's hard because getting old means
Starting point is 00:15:39 you get closer to death. But like at the end of the day, it is a privilege to grow old. That's a blessing. You can only hope that you get to grow old because many don't. Right. Many don't win the NFL. It is a privilege to be a veteran in any professional sport. It is an incredible accomplishment to play for 10 years in the NFL.
Starting point is 00:16:06 The average NFL career is three years. You know, so Kevin Zeitler with that knowledge, that perspective, that wisdom, that is going to be a major impact on the team. And obviously things like that can't be fully felt by fans. We don't get the insight to all of that. We don't get to see, you know, Kevin Zeitler sitting down for a second meal of the day and eating something healthy. And J.C. Latham looks at it and says, man, I guess that's what I gotta do.
Starting point is 00:16:33 Or Kevin Zeitler alone in the weight room working on his hand placement or out on the field. And Peter Skowronski gets done with his, you know, treatment in the injury room and looks over at Zeitler at what he's doing. And then he walks up, Kevin Zytler, you know, he's a great guy, he's a great guy. And then, you know, Kevin Zytler, he's a great guy, he's a great guy. And then, you know, Kevin Zytler, he's a great guy, he's a great guy. And then, you know, Kevin Zytler,
Starting point is 00:16:54 he's a great guy. And then, you know, Kevin Zytler, he's a great guy. And then, you know, Kevin Zytler, he's a great guy. And then, you know, Kevin Zytler, he's a great guy. things are so hard to even quite even if you saw them happen, it would be hard to quantify just how impactful that stuff can be. But that's what I think Kevin Zeitler can do. And excuse me, not out of the woods yet feeling better, but not
Starting point is 00:17:16 out yet. But with how young the Titans offensive line is with a Jackson Slater young the Titans offensive line is with a Jackson Slater in there and even sorry, an Andrew Rupsich, a John Ajuku, obviously Latham and Skoronsky who I already mentioned, but the Titans offensive line needs that leadership and that wisdom so desperately. So I think Zeitler, not only on the field where he's a top 10 guard and a consummate professional and solid rock at right guard, not only that, but what he can do off the field. I just think he's never going to get the props that we probably need to give him in season or before. The second player that I got to mention is Draymont Jones. All right. Now,
Starting point is 00:18:09 Kevin Zeitler is off the field on the Draymont Jones is an on the field help Draymont Jones versatility to take snaps at edge. And then you come inside on passing downs where he'll be able to win inside. He's obviously not as big as Danico Autri. Danico Autri was 6'6", 270, you know. Draymond Jones is more 6'3", 250. But the inside-outside versatility in the pass rush, and look, there are other, I think Arden Key has inside-outside versatility. He has throughout the best moments of his career. But when you have despicable edge-rush pressure numbers, and Arden Key is actually your best guy analytically in getting pressure on the quarterback,
Starting point is 00:18:55 you can't take him off the edge and put him inside and use him. When Arden Key was getting used like that, it was when he was on teams that had more edge rush talent and they could afford to use him on the interior. Well, the Titans couldn't. So now you have a player in Draymont Jones who you can play on the inside, play on the outside, let Arden Key be on the outside and let Femi Oladejo be on the outside and then you have Draymont Jones and Jeffrey Simmons and you rush that as a third down package. That's great.
Starting point is 00:19:30 Not great, hold on. Scratch that. Great is an overstatement, okay? I'm just excited about the potential because it's the best pass rush group I think the Titans can put together. It's the one that I want to see out there on third downs the most is that group right there. But we don't know what we're going to get from Femi as a development player. And you know, at the end of the day, Draymont Jones isn't Chris Jones or something like that. But I'm just saying, I think that the versatility that Draymont Jones provides to rush inside and outside is going to allow the Titans to put together their best combinations and to continuously rotate their best combinations. And I think with a pass rush group, that's not going to be that great no matter what.
Starting point is 00:20:17 I think having the versatility to change groups around and keep guys fresh with a rotation, that's actually going to be what helps the Tennessee Titans maximize what their group can give them, even if I think that the ceiling is pretty limited. So Draymond Jones is a guy who I think is not going to get enough credit. He's going to be an unsung hero this year, but the trickle down effect from having him on the defense, I think is very, very important. And then the last guy that I want to mention as someone who I think is going gonna be an unsung veteran hero for the Titans Is Xavier Woods at safety? He's just versatile
Starting point is 00:20:53 He can do a little bit of everything is any of it great. Does he have elite speed? You know, is he a super physical big power hitter in the box to intimidate guys? Is he a super physical big power hitter in the box to intimidate guys? No. Not a lot of A's on the report card for Xavier Woods, but a lot of B's. Coverage versatility. Play in the back. Play split. Play a cover for a quarter.
Starting point is 00:21:18 Match that cover for a quarter. Come down in the box. Be a guy who can play dime linebacker and be physical enough to step up, be a guy who can get on the outside and match up on a tight end. I don't think you want Xavier Woods playing man coverage on tight ends over and over, but he can overhang and do that. So I think Xavier Woods' versatility, his reliability, again, very similar to a guy like Kevin Zeitler on the offensive side of the ball, but now on defense. The Titans safety room last year, you know, they were just trying to make things work. And I think DeNord Wilson did a pretty good job,
Starting point is 00:21:54 but they were cycling through so many different people after the quandary digs injury, and I think having just a solid veteran there to, and not only that, but like Draymont Jones, Woods is kind of a best of both worlds from what we've talked about. Allowing Imani Hooker to roam more and use his ball-hulking and use his ability to create turnovers. Having a guy that you trust in the back end and Xavier Woods, like when you trusted Quandre Diggs, it allows Imani Hooker to play his best football.
Starting point is 00:22:22 And Imani Hooker had a low- low key pro bowl level season last year. So let him on a hooker do his thing. Xavier woods is someone you can rely on and he may not make the big plays. He may not get all the interceptions. He may be a guy who fans don't get excited to talk about but Xavier woods is going to have a big impact on this team. And I think Zeitler Dremont Jones and Woods by far are the guys who are... There are other veteran players, like a Cody Barton. I called him unsung earlier because it was just based on this offseason so far.
Starting point is 00:22:54 Once we get into the season, I think people are going to talk about a guy like Cody Barton quite a bit. You know what I mean? So there are other veteran additions that I think will help the team as well, but they're going to get a little bit more shine than I think Zeitler Woods and Draymond Jones will get. So let me know your unsung veterans that you're predicting. Now we're going to talk about some players who I think might just surprise fans this year. Titans fans, let's cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast.
Starting point is 00:23:40 We've talked about my breakout candidates. We've talked about players who I think will be unsung heroes for the Titans this season. Now I got to talk about some players that I think might surprise folks. Before I get into it though, do want to thank you again for making Locked on Titans your first listen each and every day. For your second listen, check out Locked on NFL Scouting. As training camp gets closer, moves are being made. Host Kyle Krabs and Joe Marino will make you the most informed NFL fan this all season.
Starting point is 00:24:06 Find locked on NFL scouting on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. So looking at some potential surprises and I got to start with tight end. David Martin Robinson. Now we saw a massive trade happen in the NFL on Monday. Jalen Ramsey, John whomith for Minka Fitzpatrick. And then there's a fifth and a seventh round swap in there as well between the teams. But we also got a follow-up report after that trade that the Dolphins could be looking to trade for a tight end to replace John O'Smith.
Starting point is 00:24:41 And obviously the Titans might be a team that would love to have those conversations. And with Chigga Conquo being in the last year of his contract, being a guy who sort of mirrors John Oosmith's skill set, that could be enticing and I think that Chigga Conquo would be cheaper than a guy like Kyle Pitts or a guy like, uh, maybe who else would be available? Uh, Cole Comet from Chicago. Maybe Kyle or maybe Chicka Conkwell would be a little bit cheaper. Maybe you could get Chicka Conkwell for a fourth round pick or a fifth round pick, which is what he got drafted for, which to get the production out of him that they got and then get the pick back afterwards, that would be great.
Starting point is 00:25:23 Okay? So, you might see something like that. And whether that happens or not, Josh Wiley, I don't think they'd be interested in Josh Wiley whatsoever. Why would any team want to trade anything for Josh Wiley right now? But I think Josh Wiley might not make the team. And that comes back to my point about David Martin Robinson. If Josh Wiley doesn't make this team, if Josh Wiley or Chigga Conquist were to get traded, if none of that happens and just all four of
Starting point is 00:25:51 those guys battle it out in camp, the, you know, Chig and Gunner and DMR and Wiley. I still think that David Martin Robinson could have a contribution to this team that will surprise people during the season. A lot of casual Titans fans will be like, who in the world is David Martin Robinson? You know what I mean? But obviously, last year he impressed during training camp. That's why the Titans kept him on the roster despite not planning to use him very often and make him active because they wanted to continue to see his development.
Starting point is 00:26:20 And this year, he shone. He's done pretty well. I think I saw Jim Wyatt say that he's had 10 catches in the all season program. He has kind of a mesh between Chicka Conkwo's skillset and a guy like Gunnar Helm's skillset. He is closer to Chicka Conkwo's size, a bit undersized, about 6'3", but he's a bit bulkier than Chicka Conkwo,
Starting point is 00:26:42 maybe not quite the athlete that Chickigga Conquo is, but I think he can do some very similar things as a move tight end. And in the Titans system, the system that I believe Brian Callahan wants to run, he wants a true versatile wide tight end that he can have out there in his three wide receiver sets. He wants a gunner helm.
Starting point is 00:27:02 He wants a Nick Van Net. He wants a Josh Wiley in theory. Josh has never really turned into that for multiple reasons we can talk about at different times. But I think that Chigga Conqua, while being a talented player that obviously can help the Titans offense, I think in a Brian Callahan perfect world, the Gunner helms of the world are the guy who he would want to use as his tight end with three wide receivers on the field with a tight end. They can do it all. They can catch the ball and be big enough to block in circumstances. And I think David Martin Robinson can be a knockoff Chigga Conquell. Would you rather have David Martin Robinson in a third round pick,
Starting point is 00:27:45 David Martin Robinson in a fourth round pick, David Martin Robinson in a fifth round pick going into next season? Or would you rather have David Martin Robinson in nothing because Chigga Conqua is going to leave as a free agent? You know, like the Titans have to have that conversation. So I think David Martin Robinson, especially now, and on tomorrow's show, I'm going to talk about potential trade candidates for the Titans. Obviously, Chicka Conqua will be on that list. We'll talk about surprise cut candidates for the Titans, and maybe it's not a surprise at this point,
Starting point is 00:28:16 but Josh Wiley will be on that list. So we'll talk about the other tight ends. But David Martin Robinson is a guy who I think could make contributions during the season and fans will be like, who in the world is that? And it would surprise him. I think the other guy that we need to consider is more of a veteran player and it's Van Jefferson. And everyone is so excited about the rookie pass catchers that I think we're discounting Van Jefferson and where he is in the pecking order.
Starting point is 00:28:47 I said when I did my depth chart projections, what was it three weeks or a month ago, that I think Van Jefferson is actually going to be one of the three starting wide receivers out there on snap one for the Tennessee Titans. He's six foot one over 200 pounds, has speed. So size and speed, a combination that the Titans didn't have a lot of in recent years. He's versatile enough to play all three of the wide receiver positions, whether it be slot or the outside spots, Z, X, inside, it doesn't matter.
Starting point is 00:29:17 So I think that versatility, that size speed combination, he is gonna play more and get the ball more and have more opportunities than most Titans fans are expecting, in my opinion. And with those, I think he'll make surprise contributions. And the last guy I want to mention here is Johnny Hecker. And look, I'm not going to take a ton of time to explain why I think the punter will be a big surprise, but I think a lot of people love to Ryan
Starting point is 00:29:39 Stonehouse, me included, and then before that it was Brett Kern. And I think that the excitement for the punter is at an all time low. Look, Johnny Hecker is a solid player. I think people are excited for the special teams to improve, but like Ryan Stonehouse actually had like a fan base and Brett Kern, we obviously know how beloved he was by this fan base. So Johnny Hecker has the least amount of hype and like fan love of any of the punters the Titans have had since before Brett Kern. So with that, I think that Johnny Hecker could maybe be the best punter since we saw some of Brett Kern's best seasons.
Starting point is 00:30:17 Ryan Stonehouse really did take a step back after the injury and you can't really blame him for that at the end of the day but the lack of directional punting, the lack of hang time, the line drive deep punts that give a ton of room between the returner and the coverage team that allow for build up. Some of that did have to do with why the Titan special teams was so bad. The coverage units and stuff like that were bad. The coaching was obviously pitiful, but Ryan Stonehouse's regression definitely fed into that as well. So I think Johnny Hecker at punter is a guy who you're going to like midway through the season be like, man, Johnny Hecker is way better than Ryan Stonehouse was last year. I'm kind of surprised by that. And that'll be a big part of why the Titans are improved on special teams. So give me Johnny Hucker, uh, Hacker, Hucker. Johnny Hacker is a guy who might surprise, but
Starting point is 00:31:11 again tomorrow we're going to talk transaction stuff because with the big trade happening between the Steelers and the Dolphins there are domino effects that could happen as well, but that's going to do it for me today folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rollin, and this was Locked on Titans.

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