Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans REALITY CHECK NEEDED, Callahan Still Not the Answer & Gunnar Helm Must Play More

Episode Date: October 7, 2025

The Tennessee Titans got a big win in Week 5 over the Arizona Cardinals, but the reality is the Titans are still not a good football team and Brian Callahan is still not the coach of the future. While the win was fun, fans need to make sure they keep their expectations in a reasonable place about what this team will do going forward. This include certain player expectations as well like Cam Ward and the pass rush. With key players like Elic Ayomanor, Amani Hooker and Cody Barton doing so little, it is impossible for the Titans to gain too much momentum. Finally, the Titans can have some hope in the potential return of JC Latham, along with seeing more out of Gunnar Helm and Kevin Winston. 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!Supply HouseJoin the free TradeMaster program today and score serious perks like priority shipping, lower prices, and a dedicated support line. Visit https://SupplyHouse.com to sign up for free and use promo code SHNFL5 for 5% off your first order. PelotonLet yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year. SquareTo learn more, go support your favorite neighborhood spot and see what Square has been up to in your neck of the woods. And then if you have extra time, check out https://square.com/go/lockedonnfl.PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload 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)

It was great to see the Tennessee Titans win on Sunday. But if we're honest, this team is still terrible. It's time for a reality check 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 Fandall. 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, it's time for a reality check. I don't mean to be a wet blanket or rain on the parade, but I'm seeing a lot of crazy things being said out there. And we need to have a moment to be honest about this football team. to talk about the Titans schedule going forward and how many wins I think they might actually get the rest of the year. We'll talk about the status of Brian Callahan. And we need to talk about some players on this team who are just not living up to their end of the bargain.

But before we go, we are going to talk about some things to get excited about for this week coming up. Now, before we dive into all of that, thank you for making Locked on Titans. Your first listen each and every day. Remember Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content. All you always for free. Make sure that you get subscribe, stay subscribe. It's your team every day. Speaking of every day, shout out to my everydayers out there.

Tune in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys. If you aren't an everydayer, you need to be one. The Titans got a big game this weekend against the Raiders and hey, a lot of people are excited coming off that win. Maybe the Titans are able to keep the momentum going.

But I got to tell you, I'm not very optimistic about their ability to keep the momentum going. I think that we need to acknowledge, some realities here. That win was an absolute fluke against the Arizona Cardinals. Now, the Titans deserve their credit

from making play. Something I talked about on the squad show on Tuesday with Brad Hopkins and Julian Miss andown like we talked about, hey, the Cardinals gave opportunities away, but the Titans also took advantage of opportunities.

It's not like the Cardinals gave the Titans their touchdown drives that they went on. It's not like the Cardinals gave the Titans their defensive stops after that fumble at the goal line. You know what I mean? Like, the Titans took care of plenty of those chances.

But they should have got rolled by the Cardinals. If DeMarcato doesn't drop the ball at the goal line, the Titans are down 28 to 6 in the fourth quarter, and they absolutely get smoked and we're sitting here having the same conversations about Brian Callahan being fired and this team being the worst team that we've ever seen. I'm sorry, while there are things that I liked from that game,

and we talked about them all day yesterday. If you're going to get all mad and angry in my comments, oh, he's so negative. Then go back and listen to yesterday's show, where I talked about all of the things that I think are real and are encouraging and are exciting and optimistic for the Titans. But we've got to have the other side of that conversation. There are people saying, oh, the Titans could get back in it. Oh, the Titans might be able to get more wins than they got last year.

This team may turn the corner of it. No, no. I'm sorry, I'm not buying that. This team is still the worst, if not the second worst team in the NFL. I firmly believe that. Brian Callahan is still a terrible

football coach. He's awful. The Titans won this game in spite of Brian Callahan. Like, they came out totally unprepared, they got smoked out of the gate, they had no answers whatsoever

until the Cardinals provided them their answers. The Titans didn't dig deep and pull this out of themselves. The Cardinals gave this game away. And you look at the Tennessee Titans schedule going forward, and I'm sorry. But I don't think this team is winning more games than they won last year.

I think they'll be lucky to get the three wins. They play the Raiders this week in Las Vegas. That's their best opportunity. I think to get a win before Thanksgiving. Because after this, they're going to play the Patriots, the Titans are going to get throttled by the Patriots. Not only is Mike Vrable going to have his team playing on fire and you know that, but the Patriots are actually a decent football team.

So, with a decent football team, with Max motivation, they are going to smoke the Titans. I mean, it's going to be ugly. And then the Titans got to play the Colts in Indianapolis. Give me a break. The Chargers have not been playing good football lately They're beat up on the offensive line They don't have any running backs

The defense looks terrible But do you think A Jim Harbaugh team With Justin Herber at quarterback Is gonna lose to the Titans? No No Come on

And then the Titans play the Texans They just got beat 26 to nothing by the Texans And the Texans are turning things around now after their get-right game against the Titans. The Texans are never going to be as bad as they were the first three weeks of the season before the Titans, it's the opposite. They didn't turn into a pumpkin.

The Titans turned them back into a carriage. Is that how the metaphor would go? You know what I mean? And then they play the Seahawks who just lost to the Buccaneers but put up 35 points. The Seahawks are an awesome team. And then go from there.

They play the Jags I tried to tell you guys The Jags are a good team They were just hidden by bad coaching The Jax have a ton of talent Titans are going to beat the Jax Then they play the Browns December the 7th

All right There's an opportunity The Browns just traded Joe Flacco to the Bengals I think he's the only quarterback That I would have been worried about whatsoever To take down the Titans Just because he's a professional quarterback He knows what he's doing

But then again The Browns have a really good defense and a great player in Miles Garrett who could absolutely destroy the Titans. That's at least a chance though. Then they play the 49ers. Oh, come on. No way.

Then they play the Chiefs. Then they have the Saints. And then they play the Jags again to finish the year. And maybe Jacksonville is tanking that game because they have the division wrapped up or something. And they have a chance there. But I doubt it with how good the Colts are. So, I'm looking at the Raiders game this week,

the Saints game and the Browns game. Those are the only chances that this football team has to win a game. They're not going to get given a win like the Cardinals just gave them a win. That's not going to happen again this year. So, I think right now, if I had to guess, I would say the Titans win three games once again. And if we get to the end of the year, and the Titans have won three games,

What reason for optimism is there? The whole point of this season, I predicted the Titans to win five games. I'm not here saying, oh, that's not enough wins. But they needed to win more games than they won last year to show improvement. And I don't believe that that's going to happen because they beat the Cardinals in that fluke fashion.

No way. And even more so, like I was saying, Brian Callahan is still a bozo. Brian Callahan is still the worst head coach in the entire NFL. His team won in spite of him on Sunday. He makes terrible in-game management decisions still. The team has not improved.

A ton of players are playing significantly worse than they played last year. Like, you know, again, I don't want to be a wet blanket. I don't mean to rain on the parade but that game is over now and we got to move forward and I just

I'm seeing a lot of optimism that this team might have turn the corner flip the switch and I'm like what did you guys see what are we talking about an interception that got fumbled into the end zone for a touchdown

a guy dropping the ball at the one inch line this team is terrible still and they're not going to win more games than they won last year which is not the progress that we hope for. It's going to be a failed season. Now, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe the Titans do turn it around. They flip the switch

of some kind or whatever, but like, I'm still thinking about who the next head coach is going to be. Because Cam looks lost. The receiving group, still bad. The offensive line can improve, but the offensive line was playing pretty well and they were down 21 to 6 in the fourth quarter. You know, like there are just so many, issues with this team that still persist that I'm sorry it's impossible for me to be like that game was fun it was fun to win it was exciting to talk about that football game

and how things played out and it was exciting yesterday to talk about what I think is real but what I also think is real is that this team is still terrible and Brian Callahan is still a terrible head football coach and I don't think that those things are changing And when you have so many players for the Titans that are playing way worse than the expectations, that's going to make it even harder for the Titans to overcome and actually turn things around. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode is brought to you

by FanDul Sportsbook. The NFL season is here and FanDul has an offer that you don't want to miss. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $300 in budget. bonus bets if you win, that's right. All you got to do, pick a bet, put down five bucks. If it hits, you'll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. I love using Fanduel, whether it's money lines, spreads, over unders, player props. Doesn't matter.

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We talked about the reality check that I think a lot of people need to hear about this football team. This football team is still not good. The head coach is still absolutely awful. And that fluky win over the Cardinals doesn't change my mind on what this team is looking like going forward. I think they only get three wins, if that, on the year. Like, it's two or three, in my opinion, especially with a daunting schedule, still coming up ahead. But part of the problem is that the roster is still not good. That's the main impetus for me.

The roster is still not good. The coach is still terrible. And we talked about yesterday things that were real coming down to that game. Cam Ward being clutch at the end of games. Calvin Ridley getting things going. The offensive line playing well. Jeffrey Simmons at an all-pro level. Sneed playing well, Cedric Gray playing well,

Chim Dike as a Pro Bowl returner. All of that is real. And that's stuff to be excited about, for sure. But also, you know what else is real? This wide receiver group is terrible. Calvin Ridley may round into form, but where's Alecayo Manor been? Dropping passes every week?

Dropped a slant, dropped a crossing route. He's not ready to be what, everyone wants him to be. He has potential and like I said when he was drafted I don't think the Elicio Manor is a number one wide receiver I think he could be a good number two wide receiver he could be a solid role playing X wide receiver

not a superstar not a game breaker not a team changer he's not a J. Brown that's not the case now just because he's not that in my opinion doesn't mean that he wasn't still a steal as their third pick in the fourth round. He was absolutely a steal to become a certified starter at that ex-wide receiver position.

But he can't elevate this group like AJ did his rookie year. Like, that's not who he is. You know, the expectations are too high if people think the ELEC is going to be a number one superstar wide receiver. That's just not who he's going to be. And outside of that,

Tyler Lockett looks terrible. can't separate, no speed, dropping passes as well, 34 years old. What? Van Jefferson is useless. They won't play Xavier Restrepo. There's word that Traylon Berks is cleared to play football again and he's healthy according to the Titans team physician.

But the Titans waived him with an injury designation. He passed through waivers. So he's back on the Titans injured reserve and for the Titans to even get him back on the field they'd have to do like an injury buyout and then sign him back and that ain't happening and even if so, Trelinburgs is awful. They're not going to let Restrepo play so it's like Chim Dike is a good returner can be a gadget player in the offense but he's not ready to be a full-time wide receiver either

this wide receiver group is still awful. now a lot of good wide receivers coming up in the NFL draft the Titans could use two or three of those again but like that doesn't help now and let's also be honest the running back group is terrible Tony Pollard's fumbled twice Tony Pollard is doing the best that he can

but I look around at some of these other running backs in the NFL and I'm like Tony Pollard's like what the 20th best starting running back in the NFL You know, it's not, it's not enough juice. It's not good enough to make a difference. Taday Spears is unreliable, even if he plays well, how long until he's hurt again. Like, come on now. And then look at the offensive line, the offensive line's playing better.

I think they're going to play even better when they get J.C. Latham back in there, hopefully this week. but if they put Max Crosby on Dan Moore all game Dan Moore's going to get pantsed we know that he can't deal with elite rushers so when you have a tackle who's an easy target like that your O line can be improved and do good

but in critical situations when he goes against Josh Heinz Allen when he goes against Will Anderson Jr. when he goes against DeNeil Hunter like we even saw him against Josh Sweat A couple of pretty bad reps in there. So, you know, again, like, it sucks to get on here and be like, hey, guys, quit being so excited.

This team's terrible. But we have to be honest about what this team is, too. Especially when I'm seeing people get so excited and start to kind of build themselves up. It's like, take a deep breath here. And then look at defense. The Titans pass rush. got their highest percentage of pressors percentage of pressure

pressures that's a tough thing to say five times fast but the Titans had their best pressure performance all season but that ain't real Titans pass rush is still terrible Jihad Ward is their best pass rusher on the edge obviously Jeffrey Simmons is their best pass rush

but Jihad Ward Femmy isn't ready to be that guy Arden Key has been awful this year Dremont Jones has not been good so it's not like this pass rush group has turned a corner in some way and let's also be honest here

a lot of people say oh get Tavondre sweat back guys I gotta tell you whether you're paying attention or not the team is disappointed in Tavondre sweat there's a lot of talk and whispers out there that he's not taking his rehab seriously he's heavier this year than he was last year

despite what he says the team is not satisfied with what he's doing behind the scenes again I can't confirm that I'm not telling you sources blah blah I just you know you hear somebody say this you read somebody say this

and you put two and two together and connect the dots so it's not like Tavandre Sweat is going to show up and it's going to make some big difference in the pass rush. And then also continue going down the line. Cody Barton has been terrible. I was so excited for Cody Barton after the off season that he had. He's got all those picks and practice, great leadership, the miced up video.

He looks terrible. He's slow. He's not violent. He's not physical. He can't get off blocks. It's been terrible. Thank God for Cedric Gray. Ammani Hooker is playing the worst football I've ever seen him play.

I mean, just every week getting roasted in coverage, missing tackles. He's been terrible. Jalen Armard Davis, I think, could be a solid role player. But a starting corner, we saw what happened. can't handle good wide receivers. They're going to attack him. And the Titans were able to put Legerius Sneed on Marvin Harrison, Jr. and the only other options that the Cardinals have are, you know, Michael Wilson,

who's an okay NWI level player. But other teams are going to have way better options than that. Not the Raiders, though, luckily. But I'm just saying, like, and then Joey Sly has been awful he missed an extra point

he missed four straight field goals at one point in time between the last couple of weeks he has not been good now Brian Callahan is a lot to blame for that but that goes back to my original point this is a terrible roster with a terrible coach

so yes they got a fluky win against the Cardinals but guys don't let that get your hopes up that this team's turning it around I'm just trying to be honest with you that it ain't happening and I'll remind you that last Last year when the Titans got a big momentous win

that they had needed desperately against the Texans, they came back the next week and got beat by 40 against the commanders. So the Raiders are a bad football team too, but I'm just saying I don't have a lot of optimism that this team has turned things around or has hit a turning point or anything like that. But don't want to be down and negative the whole episode. Let's talk about some things to get excited about

going forward to week six. I'm Cody Roark from Lockdown Brocko's, and this episode is brought to you by Peloton. Peloton is shaping the future of fitness with the brand new Peloton, cross-training, tread plus, powered by Peloton IQ. This is Peloton's most advanced equipment yet, giving you real-time guidance and endless ways to move,

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training tread plus at one peloton dot com titans fans let's cap off today's of the Locked-on Titans podcast. We talked about the reality check that I think a lot of people need to hear about where this team is, where this roster is, and how bad their head coach is. We talked about all of the different issues

that still remain on the roster that lead me to my belief that this team is not going to win more games than they won last year. But I do want to finish with some optimism. Before I dive in, I do want to thank you again 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 you get subscribe, stay subscribed. It's your team every day. But reasons for optimism going forward. Reasons to get excited.

I feel very confident that J.C. Latham is going to be back out on the field this week. And my God, do the Titans need them? Last week, Max Crosby lined up on the left side of the defense, which would be going against the right tackle. Basically the whole game. He had a couple of snaps on the other side,

but basically the whole game he lined up on the defensive left well if Ali Udo is out there that makes me nervous but if J.C. Latham is out there he might be able to withstand Max Crosby enough. You know what I mean?

Like he might be able to do the job enough to where Max Crosby doesn't ruin the game for the Titans which that's a number one key to victory. Spoiler alert for you guys number one key to victory is stop Max Crosby. Do not let him. absolutely wrecked this game.

Okay, they can't allow that to happen. The Raiders don't have anyone else that I'm truly worried about. On defense. No one. The Raiders are not a good team. They're not a good roster. I'm not that worried about it.

But Max Crosby, I am desperately worried about. So getting J.C. Latham back, not only for this week as well, but for the future of the offensive line to let them play together. This offensive line in theory could be together next year as well. Kevin Zitler, I don't know.

know, but like to build the momentum necessary for the Titans to prove me wrong, they need their offensive line at full strength and full cohesion. So the first step to doing that is getting Latham back in the lineup. And I think that's going to happen this week. And I think that's something to be very excited about going forward because you take your worst offensive linemen on the offensive line and you plug in the bet, what could be the best offensive linemen on your offensive line. And that's always going to be good. So I love hearing that. not only that but more gunner helm

it's insane to me again coaching coaching coaching the coaches are morons man like I don't know how else to say this speaking of coaching morons do you guys hear the story shout out buck rising

from 104 5 the zone in Nashville but he had Ben Jones on and Ben Jones was saying that in the second half of the Kansas City Chiefs game, the playoff game that they came back and won in 2017

in the second half Ben Jones and Marcus Mariotta were calling the plays, not Terry Robiskey. This is why I tell you guys yes, I'm not an NFL coach. Brian Callahan has forgot more about football than I will ever know

and I know that. But that doesn't mean that these guys are always right or good at the job. It doesn't that a guy like me who watches tape and pays attention to other offenses and other teams can't look at what the Titans are doing and say what is going on out here. This is not right.

This is not good because you have stuff like that going on behind the scenes. Anyways, that was insane. But the point is just because Nick Holes knows more about football than me and Bo Hardegree knows more about football than me and Brian Callahan knows more about football than me doesn't mean that they are right about everything

and playing Chigacanquo the vast amount of snaps more than they have played Gunner Helm is malpractice and you know maybe it's my biases from before the season I have said all along Gunner Helm should be tight end one maybe Chick-a-conquo is more catches maybe Chick-a-conquo has more yards I could be fine with that that would make sense

but Gunner Helm should get more snaps and it has been a vast separation through the first five weeks of the season. Now, the reason this is in the optimism category of the show Nick Holt said at his press conference on Tuesday that Gunner Helm has earned more opportunities and it's like, well, duh, he runs good routes, he's sure-handed, uh, duh,

couldn't you see that on his copy? college tape. Isn't that why you drafted him? And not only that, but Chica Conquo has been a disaster as a blocker. And Gunner Helm is no George Kittle by any means or Jeff Swame or something like that. But he's 6'5, 250 pounds. He's 3 inches taller and 30 pounds heavier.

He's just bigger. So he's going to be able to block more effectively just from that alone. So you have a guy who's more sure-handed, a better route runner, and a better blocker, and he's not playing more because,

like it just makes no sense whatsoever. The only thing, the only thing that Chica Conquo does better than Gunnar Helm is yards after catch. That's it. Literally the only thing, Gunner Helm is better at everything else. right now immediately.

Chick is a terrible route runner. He has never been a good route runner, ever. And he can't block. And he's small. It's not rocket science. I just don't understand. You know? I don't get it.

So hopefully, with Nichols saying that, he's telling the truth and the Titans actually let Gunner Helm get more snaps. It's elementary, Watson. I don't understand why things can't be simple for a bad football team. Just play your younger player who's better at more things

than the other guy who's the veteran. I mean, groundbreaking analysis, I know, but whatever. The final thing is I want to see more Kevin Winston. Kevin Winston's back on the football field. I posted a funny video of him hitting a bunch of people on special teams,

which I think I mentioned yesterday. but bones fossil said or it could have been DeNard Wilson I forget now exactly but they congratulated as a team Kevin Winston in their film review that he's back out on the football field less than 12 months removed from an ACL tear

and he's hitting people and I think it was DeNard Wilson who said that because DeNard Wilson said that you know they plan to give them more opportunities on defense and look with Amani Hooker playing terrible. Xavier Woods played all right the first couple of weeks but has tailed off here. Quandre Diggs

is super limited at his age. Having a guy like Kevin Winston out there who has speed and range and has a great tackler and has physicality and size. Like, again we're to a point here. The Titans are one and four.

And why not play your younger players? Why can't Xavier Restrepo get a chance when Tyler Lockett's corpse is out there doing nothing. Why can't Gunner Helm play more than Chig? Why can't Kevin Winston get some opportunities? Like, why not? You know? Why not? So hopefully this inspires some optimism, some excitement, but let's get J.C. Latham back out there. Let's see more Gunner Helm and let's

see some more Kevin Winston. That sounds exciting to me. 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.