Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans Practice Squad Additions, Titans Roster Moves & The Numbers Game

Episode Date: September 2, 2021

The Tennessee Titans began crafting their practice squad adding 14 players out of the 16 spots. Who filled them? Tyler breaks it down. Then, the Titans made other roster moves outside of the practice squad including a big cut and a familiar face re-signing. Tyler tells you what went down!! Finally, the Titans have a tough choice for how to balance out the roster. What positions allow for the most movement??Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitansFollow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPodSubscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube page:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP3332GMOh4y5PX3q9NFybwSupport Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Built BarBuilt Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKED15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.BetOnline AGThere is only 1 place that has you covered and 1 place we trust. Betonline.ag! Sign up today for a free account at betonline.ag and use that promocode: LOCKEDON for your 50% welcome bonus.Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.NorthOneWith NorthOne, you’ll never pay overdraft or NSF fees again, saving you hundreds of dollars per month. To get started, visit apply.northone.com/locked.RunYourPoolCheck ‘em out TODAY and get $10 off at RunYourPool.com and use promo code LockedOn at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland. Titans fans, this Thursday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast is presented by Run Your Pool. Check them out today and get $10 off at runyourpool.com slash locked on or use the promo code locked on at checkout. Titans fans, we have a ton to get into on this Thursday episode of the Locked On Titans podcast.

Tons of roster moves and roster news to discuss. First and foremost, the Titans have begun filling out their 16-man practice squad and we got 14 names who will be on that list at least initially. Of course, there's a lot still in flux with the Titans having now 10 players on the COVID-19 list. And speaking of that, the Titans did add another player to the COVID list on Wednesday. They also signed a player that was cut by another team. They had a player that they cut get signed by a team as well. So I'm going to go over all of the roster news you need to know. And then finally, we are going to cap off the show

continuing to discuss the roster options that the Titans will have. Are the Titans going to keep more wide receivers, more tight ends? How do they feel about the offensive line or the tight ends on defense, in the defensive backfield, and with the linebackers? All the different machinations that we can go through to discuss how the roster can be built, we will on today's show. So very excited to dive into everything you need to know about the Titans roster moves over the last 24 hours on this Thursday edition of the Locked On Titans podcast.

Let's get it. You are Locked On Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast, part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Let's dive into the practice squad that the Titans have put together on Wednesday. Before we do, got to remind you guys, I'm going to be putting out Monday through Friday, daily Tennessee Titans content here on the Locked on Titans podcast all year round. Make sure that you never miss an episode by subscribing

to the Locked on Titans podcast on whatever platform you stream podcasts. Also, make sure that you subscribe to the Locked on Titans YouTube channel and smash that notification bell so you know when new episodes go live. Also, check me out on social media, on Twitter, at Tic Tac Titans, on Facebook, at Locked

on Titans Pod. Let's dive right into all of these roster moves. Like I said, the Titans have begun to put their practice squad together, and it's a ton of names who are in Titans training camp. Let's dive right in. So number one, going to give you the headlines, and both of them come at the wide receiver position. Two guys who Titans fans have been keeping their eye on throughout training camp. Number one, wide receiver Mason Kinsey.

And number two, fourth round draft pick Dez Fitzpatrick. Both of those wide receivers have cleared through waivers. They were not picked up by other teams, and they are now back with the Tennessee Titans, but on the practice squad. So John Robinson spoke on Wednesday about, you know, Mason Kinsey being very excited for the opportunity. He also talked about Dez Fitzpatpatrick said it wasn't a skill issue

that prevented him from making the roster, but he just needs to get better with the fundamentals, knowing what's being asked of him and adjusting to the NFL. The reality here is though, Fitzpatrick is an older prospect when it comes to the drafted players this year. So the fact that he is having a very tough time transitioning to the NFL as an older prospect, not a great sign. But Des Fitzpatrick is the highest drafted player ever by John Robinson

to not make the roster. The last guy was DeAndre Walker, the fifth round outside linebacker out of Georgia. So not a great title for Des Fitzpatrick to hold, but either way, he's back with the Titans and they're going to continue trying to develop his skillset. And with the way that COVID has impacted teams this year, the way the injuries impact teams, I would not be shocked to see Des Fitzpatrick get a little bit of playing time with the big club, with the varsity team at some point this year.

Moving forward though, on the offensive line, the Titans brought back three guys who were in training camp with them. Number one, offensive tackle, Derwin Gray. Number two, offensive tackle, Christian DeLauro. And number three, interior offensive lineman, Jordan Roos. So those guys are back with the practice squad. lineman Jordan Roos. So those guys are back with the practice squad. Then we look at the tight end position and we have Michael Pruitt. So what the Titans did was they went out and brought back a familiar face in Pruitt who'd played with the team in previous years. I think that there's a high

likelihood that Pruitt makes his way onto the 53-man roster at some point in time. And one small note to take into account. So the way that these things work is veteran players, like a McCool Pruitt who's been in the NFL for a long time, if they're signed week one to the roster, it creates some complications in how you can move that player around. But if you sign a veteran to your roster in week two, it opens you up to move that player around, practice squad, the active roster,

and do different things. So I think that Michael Pruitt will be on the Titans 53-man roster more weeks than he has not. But I think the Titans are going to wait until week two to open themselves up for more fluidity with the roster, being that Pruitt is a veteran.

Also, Miller Forrestal, the undrafted free agent out of Alabama, will be joining the Titans practice squad after being cut by the Titans earlier this week. At fullback, Torrey Carter out of LSU is an undrafted free agent with the Titans in training camp. He has been placed on the practice squad. That makes sense. The Titans only have one fullback in the Takari Blossom game.

And if he were to get hurt or injured or COVID or anything, the Titans don't have another fullback to add. Now they do with Torrey Carter on the practice squad. Then on defense, you have Naquan Jones and Woodrow Hamilton, the guys who lost out the fifth interior defensive line spot to Anthony Rush. Both of those guys were added to the practice squad. Then at linebacker, Jan Johnson, who I said was the odd man out all along. He was added to the practice squad.

And then at defensive back, the Titans add one cornerback and one safety. They add Breon Boddy Calhoun at cornerback onto the practice squad. And then they also add safety, Jamal Carter. Now, at cornerback onto the practice squad. And then they also add safety Jamal Carter. Now, a late addition to the practice squad. This came breaking news from John Robinson's press conference at 5.15 Eastern time on Wednesday night. Matt Barkley, released by the Titans, will be added to the Tennessee Titans practice squad.

We're going to talk more about that in our next segment when we go over all of the roster news that isn't covered with the practice squad conversation. Before we get into that, though, I do want to tell you guys about runyourpool.com. Football season is back, and let's make the most of it with a better way to create your custom pool at runyourpool.com, the premier sports pool hosting service. Run Your Pool makes it ridiculously easy to run a, pick'ems, squares, margin, confidence pools, 33, and much, much more.

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Run Your Pool helps friends and colleagues compete. The NFL season starts September the 9th. Start today at runyourpool.com slash locked on and have your pool up and running in minutes. That's runyourpool.com slash locked on, game on. Titans fans, let's dive right back in to this Thursday episode of the Locked On Titans podcast. We just talked about the Titans 13-man' 14-man practice squad.

Mason Kinsey, Dez Fitzpatrick, Derwin Gray, Christian DeLauro, Jordan Roos, Naquan Jones, Woodrow Hamilton, Jan Johnson, Michael Pruitt. And that's not official yet, but all indications are that Pruitt is going to be on the practice squad. Miller Forrestal, Torrey Carter, Jamal Carter, Breon Boddy Calhoun, and then Matt Barkley. And that's the first news item that we're going to use today. Matt Barkley was released by the Titans on Wednesday, and as a lot of you know, I have been firmly in the camp of Matt Barkley

should be the backup quarterback over Logan Woodside. I don't trust Logan Woodside. But the reality here is the Titans organization feels comfortable with Logan Woodside. He's been in the system for quite a few years. But either way, even with Matt Barkley being released, he's going to be on the practice squad. So he's not going anywhere. They want to keep him in the organization. And I do want to mention that I had a little bet going with Justin Milo from Broadway Sports on who would win that backup job. And I lost. My guy lost. Matt Barkley lost that competition.

And because of that, me and Justin had made a bet that the loser, quote unquote, would make a $100 donation to a local Nashville charity. And that's exactly what I did on Wednesday. I donated to Taylor LeJuan's charity foundation, caring about making sure people are fed in the city of Nashville in Tennessee. I posted that on Twitter, at Ticic Tac Titans with my receipt where I donated. If you guys would like to make a donation, make sure you go do that as well. But the Matt Barkley release only happened because the Titans signed a player to the active roster on Wednesday. And that player was Corey Levin, a former Tennessee Titans John Robinson draft pick,

drafted in the sixth round in 2017. Levin played 16 games with the Titans in 2018. He made one start during that time. He knows the city. He knows the team. He knows the playbook. The Titans wanted some actual NFL experience at their interior offensive line spot. I mentioned this yesterday. I really like Aaron Brewer as a player, but he was an undrafted free agent last year.

He only started in one game in the regular season. So it's not like he has a ton of experience. The Titans wanted at least some sort of experience behind those guys on the interior offensive line. So it makes all the sense in the world. And like I've been saying throughout the preseason and training camp, those guys on the interior offensive line so it makes all the sense in the world. And like I've been saying throughout the preseason and training camp, it's time to get Daniel Murner off this roster.

Whether he goes to practice squad or not, I don't know. But all I know is the Corey Levin signing is a good sign that Murner will be gone. And I thought he played terrible during the preseason. Worth noting that John Robinson talked about the Levin signing at his press conference on Wednesday. And he said that he thought he played very well in the preseason and that's what led them to try to get him back on the team. So Corey Levin signed, Matt Barkley released, and that's how those roster spots even out.

Moving forward, more news surrounding the roster. The Titans added another player to the COVID-19 list. It continues. It was Cole Bonwart, the undrafted free agent out of Iowa. Now, you may be asking yourself, wait, I thought the Titans cut him on Tuesday. Well, they did.

But Cole Bonwart had a positive COVID test come back on Wednesday. And because of that, he has to go on a COVID-19 reserve list But Cole Barnward had a positive COVID test come back on Wednesday. And because of that, he has to go on a COVID-19 reserve list. And it would be with the team that he was on most recently. And that's going to be the Titans. So I would imagine that Barnward is going to be cut as soon as he comes off the list, which is going to be the case for a decent amount of guys who are on the Titans COVID list right now. Whether or not they want him on the practice squad remains to be seen.

The Titans have 14 guys on their practice squad right now with the addition of Matt Barkley and then the 13 original names I told you at the beginning of the show. So that leaves two open spots on the practice squad. Now it stands to question. A lot of the guys who are on the Titans practice squad right now probably won't be there when the COVID list is settled. You think about a guy like Nick DeZubnar coming back. Could he take the place of Jan Johnson if the Titans don't want DeZubnar

on the active roster? You think about Ben Jones and Nate Davis both coming back from the COVID list. We know the Titans are high on Aaron Brewer. Maybe even a guy like Corey Levin gets moved to the practice squad and opens up a spot. You got Jordan Roos on there right now. He could be pushed out as an interior offensive lineman for a guy like Levin. Racey McMath is on the COVID list right now.

When he comes off, he most likely will not make the 53-man roster. He could take the place of Kinsey or Fitzpatrick or just take one of the open two spots that are available. So there is a ton of roster moves still coming for the Titans as guys come off that COVID list. I mentioned it yesterday, but we absolutely

do not have any single resemblance of what the real 53-man roster is going to be or what the real practice squad is going to be with 10 guys on the COVID list. So I'm going to be monitoring all that. Worth noting as well, the last piece of news here, former Titans outside linebacker Wyatt Ray was claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals,

so the Titans let him go, and the team felt it was necessary to use their waiver claim to pick him up, so Wyatt Ray has joined the Cincinnati Bengals. Played very well for the Titans during the preseason. I like what Wyatt Ray brings to the table, but just kind of a deep group at outside linebacker for the Titans with Bud Dupree, with Harold Landry, Derek Roberson, the rookie Rashad Weaver, and then Ola Adani, who had a fantastic preseason for the Titans. So a tough spot there, but we're going to keep talking about the decisions that the Titans have to make because it's a numbers game at this point.

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need. RockAuto.com Titans fans, let's cap off this Thursday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We discussed the Titans practice squad additions. We discussed the roster news surrounding the Titans on Wednesday, including some more practice squad discussion. Now, let's talk about the actual 53-man roster and some of the choices that the Titans are going to have to make.

And it truly is a numbers game. So when you look at the roster, right now the Titans have seven players at wide receiver. So let's start there. On the offense, the Titans are probably going to have nine offensive linemen. going to have nine offensive linemen. And with that, they're looking at about four tight ends right now and seven wide receivers. That's a lot. That's a lot to have on the offensive side of the ball. Typically the Titans only keep six wide receivers and then they keep four tight ends because it's a heavy tight end offense. But with the Titans offense changing to maybe more of a wide receiver based offense, it makes sense that the Titans would keep seven, but then you have to

wonder, would they only keep three at tight end? I don't see a way that the Titans are going to be able to keep four tight ends and seven wide receivers. It's going to be very difficult for them to do. So they're going to have to make a choice there. Do you want seven wide receivers and three tight ends? Do you want four tight ends? And then maybe you cut a Cam Batson or a Nick Westbrook Akina to make that room. Jeff Swaim is on the COVID list right now. When he comes back, the Titans are going to be faced with that decision. They have three tight ends on the roster, Ferkser, Hudson, and Stocker. But if they only want to keep three tight ends on the roster, no matter what, Hudson, and Stocker. But if they only want to keep three tight ends on the roster no matter what,

then one of those guys is going to have to go, Stocker or Hudson. And now they just brought in Michael Pruitt to be on the practice squad. They could elevate him to the normal 53 eventually.

And that creates even more questions. So for my money, I think the Titans are going to focus on more wide receiver this year. I think that they're going to keep seven wide receivers and then only go with three tight ends. I ultimately think that's going to be Ferkser, Swaim, and then Pruitt, who are the primary three tight ends throughout the year. Also, continuing that conversation with the tight ends,

if the Titans view the tight ends as a bigger picture or a bigger part of the blocking game, would the Titans rather keep four tight ends and nine offensive linemen? Or if they do go with three tight ends, would they rather keep 10 offensive linemen? So you know about the tackles. LeJuan, Questenberry, Sambrillo, Lamb, Dylan Radins. That's the tackles. LeJuan, Questenberry, Sambrillo, Lamb, Dylan Radins. That's five tackles. Then you have the three interior offensive linemen starters, Saffold, Jones, and Davis.

Now we're up to eight. You add Aaron Brewer, who's going to be the primary backup on the interior. That's nine. Do the Titans want to have more depth there? Corey Levin was just signed. So technically, right now, if you combine all those guys, then Corey Levin was just signed. So technically, right now, if you combine all those guys, then Corey Levin would make 10. But Jones and Davis are on the COVID list, so that eliminates the Titans having to make those choices now. You've got Daniel Murner still on the roster.

But when both those players come back, if the Titans only keep three at tight end, would that lean them towards keeping 10 offensive linemen, the five interior guys, and then the five tackles? That's an interesting question to ask. And I personally would, again, staying with what I said before, I would like to see seven wide receivers, three tight ends, and then 10 offensive linemen. I think that makes a lot more sense for the Titans

than having nine offensive linemen, I think that makes a lot more sense for the Titans than having nine offensive linemen, four tight ends, seven wide receivers, what have you. I think offensive line depth is incredibly important in the NFL nowadays, and the Titans need to have as many good linemen as possible. So I'd like to see them keep 10 on the offensive line. And they're going to keep, right now they have two tight ends on the practice squad in Pruitt and in Miller-Forestall. I would rather Titans keep the reserves on the practice squad for tight end and stack the 53-man roster with offensive line and wide receivers where I think they have more talent that I'm not willing to sacrifice. So just some interesting math questions for the roster.

On the defensive side of the ball, we know that the Titans are going to keep their five outside linebackers, Roberson, Landry, Dupree, Weaver, Adani. We know that they're going to keep their five interior defensive linemen, Autry, Tartt, Simmons, Murchison, and Rush. But it's the other positions that get interesting. We talked yesterday, the Titans have 13 defensive backs right now on the team. That's just not going to stay that way.

But Mike Vrabel did mention in his press conference on Wednesday that the Titans place a great value on safeties press conference on Wednesday, that the Titans place a great value on safeties because safeties do so much within their scheme and within their concept. The Titans love running three safety looks on defense. They use those safeties as special teams contributors as well. So originally, I was thinking that the Titans

would only keep four safeties, but I don't believe that anymore. I do believe that they would keep five safeties around, which leads you to believe that the Titans would most likely at that point only keep six cornerbacks. You can't have seven cornerbacks and five safeties with 12 guys in the defensive backfield. The roster isn't going to be balanced enough to do that.

So for my money, I think the Titans will have six defensive backs. And here's one way that they can kind of get around this issue. So Chris Jackson has been hurt recently in camp. He hasn't been practicing and there are some whispers that he could be a candidate to go on injured reserve. And remember, if a guy makes the 53-man roster and then you place him on injured reserve, he has the opportunity to come back at minimum three weeks later. So the Titans could choose to do that. Similar thing on the offensive side of the ball with Darrington Evans.

If his lower body injury isn't rehabbed, we could see Makai Sargent and Jeremy McNichols both on the roster when McNichols comes back from the COVID list. And then once Evans comes off IR, then they have a tough decision to make. But you could see that move made with Chris Jackson, and that would leave Farley, Fulton, Borders, Jenkins, Molden, and then Chris Jones, who's still on the team right now as well. But either way, I think when the dust settles the Titans will have six

cornerbacks they'll have five safeties and then you have to ask the question inside linebacker if you're going to keep five safeties and six cornerbacks does that leave you only an opportunity to keep four inside linebackers the four we know Evans Brown Long and Rice

now Nick DeZubnar and Justin March Lillard are currently four inside linebackers. The four we know, Evans, Brown, Long, and Rice. Now Nick DeZubnar and Justin March-Lillard are currently on the COVID list, but I think March-Lillard is cut immediately. DeZubnar is the question though. Could he go to the practice squad? There are two open spots on practice squad. Could he take Jan Johnson's place on the practice squad? That could happen as well.

Or maybe the Titans decide to go with five inside linebackers and only five cornerbacks and then they can have their five safeties and they would cut Chris Jones, which would make a lot of sense from my perspective from watching the games

throughout the preseason as well. So a lot of questions still to be answered. A lot of mathematics still to be done by the Titans organization and John Robinson. So I will make sure to monitor all of that for you guys. Do want to say a little under the weather today. I apologize. Maybe not the greatest performance in Locked on Titans podcast history, but I appreciate all of you guys showing support like you always do.

And I will be back with you guys tomorrow for another edition of the Locked on Titans podcast, hoping to do a little bit of a special episode later on this week as well for you guys. But either way, that's going to do it for me today. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.