Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans SECOND YEAR STEP UP from Kevin Winston, Femi Oladejo & Marcus Harris is CRITICAL

Starting point is 00:00:00 The Tennessee Titans need Femiola-Dagio to step up in year two. But he's not the only one. I'll break it down 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 second-year Titans that need to step up this season.

Starting point is 00:00:39 We'll talk about the defensive side of the ball where there are more sophomores that the Titans are going to be counting on than there are on the offensive side of the ball, but there are still guys on offense that need to solidify who they're going to be. Now, not guys that are going to step up, but there are guys during OTAs that are fighting for their roster life. We'll talk about some of the surprising names on that list. Now, again, we are going to start with second-year players that need. need to step up for the Tennessee Titans. There's been so much focus on the free agents, on the draft picks. Cam Ward, obviously a second year player that needs to step up for the Tennessee Titans.

Starting point is 00:01:15 But I look over at the defensive side of the ball. And the Titans are counting on a lot of second year guys when we don't really know who they are as players or whether they can be counted on as players right now. They're guys who in theory you expect to be good, you hope, are good and you typically will look at them as a spot filler. Femiola Dejo, Kevin Winston, Marcus Harris. Right now, all three of those second-year players are set to essentially be starters within this defense.

Starting point is 00:01:52 I mean, you could look at Femi and we've had the conversation and we'll continue to have the conversation what he's going to be. But it's not crazy to say that all three of those guys are expected at this point to be starters. You talk to any Titans fan, you start going over the defensive depth chart. At least Kevin Winston and Marcus Harris are starters right now, right? Marcus Harris, in the slot, Kevin Winston, at safety. Maybe you don't consider Femi a starter.

Starting point is 00:02:20 Again, we had the conversation yesterday about the roster battle that's about to take place. Who is going to get those snaps between Femiola-Dazio and Keldrick Falk on the edge on early downs? We know passing downs. We'll expect Keldrick Falk to be working on the Eighty-Dak. inside with John Franklin Myers, Jeffrey Simmons, and Solomon Thomas. But on those early downs, where Femmy can make the biggest impact because he's a run player right now who needs to develop as a pass rusher, well, if Keldrick Falk is better than him on run downs, then when is Femmy going to get to play?

Starting point is 00:02:57 How is he going to maximize his value? If he isn't the starter on early downs and he's just in a rotation. on early downs and then on passing downs. You'd probably rather have Jacob Martin in immediately. Yeah, Femi would be a development project, but if you need to get pass rush right now and have somebody get to the quarterback, and Jacob Martin represents more of a speed-type rusher

Starting point is 00:03:18 where Femmy is similar to Jermaine Johnson in a way, if you're going to have Falk on the outside or Jermaine Johnson on the outside, pairing them with a Jacob Martin or even a Jalen Herald at this point, who we'll talk about later on in the show, it would be fair to say that might be a better immediate return than Femiola Dejo as a pass rusher right now.

Starting point is 00:03:39 But a Titans legend is going to try to help Femiola Dejio get better in the pass rush. Javan Curse, the freak, according to Terry McCormick, is going to be in Nashville during training camp to personally mentor Femiola Dejio. You love to hear that because if, Femmy, you know, like we're talking about stepping up in year two. And Femmy does need to step up in year two and hopefully Javon Kurs can help him.

Starting point is 00:04:10 But it's not just about him being a better player. Like he's really got to step up because think about what's happened here. Femiola Dejo was a former offball linebacker who is now being transitioned to an edge presence in the NFL. Well, the reason that Dinar Wilson liked Femiole de Jio in his defense is because he would run those simulated pressures, and he would drop his outside linebackers, his three, four type edge rushers. He'd drop them into coverage and blitz off the other side and do things like that. Well, Robert Sala has more traditional defense events. Now, he'll do, you know,

Starting point is 00:04:49 simulated pressures and zone blitzes and all that. So it's not like that's completely irrelevant, but Robert Sala even said earlier in the all season, we want Femi to focus on putting his hand in the dirt. He is going to be a defensive end. You can say edge, whatever, he's a defensive end. And that's new to Femmy. That's a third new position. That's different than the hybrid outside linebacker edge position that he had last year, the off-ball linebacker position that he had in college. So there's a big scheme change that maybe isn't as good of a fit for him.

Starting point is 00:05:23 I think he can do it still, but it's not what they envisioned when they drafted. them. That makes things murky. And then it's clear that Robert Sala prefers two other players to Femiola-Degio. Right, Jermaine Johnson, they traded for. He loves Jermaine Johnson and Jermaine Johnson and Femi do the same

Starting point is 00:05:43 stuff. Like, I hope that Femi is as good as 20-23 Jermaine Johnson this year. That's the breakout for Femi. Seven and a half, eight sacks. That would be a massive breakout for Femiola-Dazia. So you know that Sala trusts Jermaine Johnson more.

Starting point is 00:06:02 And then Sala's prototype defensive end is Keldrick Falk and we talked yesterday about how Gus Bradley talked about the every down edge and then the power edge rusher who kicks inside on early downs or on late on passing

Starting point is 00:06:18 downs. Well if Keldrick Falk is the prototypical guy for that and Jermaine Johnson is the prototypical guy for the other role where does that leave them? So he's going to have to step up quickly and prove his work. or he's going to get passed up on opportunities for guys that the coach likes more and has more faith in.

Starting point is 00:06:39 So I'm looking at Femmy and I've had as much faith in Femmy as anybody. I was excited when they drafted him. I think he's got a ton of potential. And I think that Robert Sala and his defensive scheme, it's a perfect situation to tap that potential all the way. But he better do it quickly because there are other guys here. and I think he can and I think

Starting point is 00:07:01 making sure that he gets his proper bite of that rotation and making big plays against the run on early downs and proven as a pass rusher I think four or five sacks we need to see four or five sacks from Femi this year

Starting point is 00:07:16 as part of that rotation. That's not too much to ask. He was a second round pick and again I've had as much faith in Femi I've backed Femi or Femi, I've publicly, you know, supported him, preached patience. But like, he was a second round pick.

Starting point is 00:07:35 Going into year two, it's time to do it. So he's got to step up in a major way. Now, he's not the only one. Again, on defense, we talked about Kevin Winston early. Is he going to be that big nickel? Is he just going to be a true safety? And is he going to stay healthy? Coverage IQ on the field.

Starting point is 00:07:57 We never talk, and it's because he was banged up. He was, you know, didn't get a ton of opportunities early, all that. We didn't have major exposure. But like, we don't know that Kevin Winston's going to be good, and he's expected to be a starting player. And when Amani Hooker was outright bad last year, and Tony Adams is a jag, he's just another guy. There are a ton of Tony Adams.

Starting point is 00:08:27 out there that you could flip-flop him with, he's not going to make a difference. Well, then what? So if Kevin Winston were not to work out, if Kevin Winston isn't a good player, you have nothing at safety. Literally nothing. I mean, maybe Amani Hooker takes a step up too and gets back to his pre-2020-5 form,

Starting point is 00:08:49 but the guy I saw last year on film with Ami Hooker, that with a bad Kevin Winston and Tony Adams, that's one of the worst safety groups in the lead. So if Kevin Winston doesn't step up, it's scary for the Titans. It's worrisome. They need Femi in that rotation of those other edges. They need Kevin Winston desperately

Starting point is 00:09:17 to be a major impact player in the secondary. Because if he's not, if he's not that good, then it looks bad, right? But the way that we view it, and the way that we talk about it and the way that we expected to go, we're like, oh, well, Kevin Winston's going to be good. And if you have Kevin Winston and you at least have him,

Starting point is 00:09:37 Adams is okay, you'll get through one year of Hooker and then replace him after the year, it'll be all right. But that requires Kevin Winston to step up in year two, be healthy and play well. And that's just something that we kind of, you know, just write in pen right now. And we don't know that. So he's got to do it.

Starting point is 00:09:57 He's got to do it himself. And Marcus Harris, with all the hype he's been getting from the coaches. Like right now, he is the unquestioned starter at slot. He's the unquestioned starting slot cornerback. And it's just crazy to me that a day three second year player coming off a knee injury is just unquestioned with no real veteran competition whatsoever.

Starting point is 00:10:22 It's just crazy. So he better have already started stepping up to earn that kind of praise, and that praise better be warranted when he gets out on the field. Because if they're just going to go into training camp and then go into the season with no veteran option in the slot and just hand in the crown to Marcus Harris,

Starting point is 00:10:43 he better step up and earn that. So those are, you know, we can talk about offense all we want, we're going to talk about offense now. But honestly, the second year players on defense, outside of Camp Ward, of course, are far more impactful to the Titan success as a football. team. But with that, let's go to offense. Do want to let you know that today's

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Starting point is 00:12:29 We talked about the three main guys on the defensive side of the ball with Femiole dejo, Kevin Winston, and Marcus Harris. Now I want to transition over to the offensive side of the ball where some of the names are more obvious than others, but nonetheless, everybody needs to do their part. Before we dive in, though, do want to thank you for making a locked-on-tight. your first list in each and every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free.

Starting point is 00:12:53 Make sure that you get subscribe, stay subscribed. 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 again. The Titans have open practice for OTAs on Thursday. We're going to be here to break that all down.

Starting point is 00:13:10 Get subscribe, stay, subscribe, stay locked in with the number one Tennessee Titans podcast in the world. locked on Titans. But again, we talk about the offensive side of the ball. Cam Ward, we have talked about Cam Ward stepping up and why it's so important. I don't think that I need to spend a ton of time telling you that Cam Ward needs to step up in year two

Starting point is 00:13:29 for the Titans to do well. But I do think we need to spend some time on the offensive guys because with what the Titans have done so far in the offseason, it is fair to say that maybe they are not believing, and their long-term start a potential. And of course, I talk about Chim D.K. And Elyke. When they were drafted last year,

Starting point is 00:13:56 we were all hoping that Eich Eio Manor could maybe turn into a number one wide receiver. He had the build, the skill set, had that good game against Travis Hunter in college. Like, I broke it down. It was awesome. It was exciting. Everyone was excited about Elico Manor. I would say he was the most exciting out of Gunner.

Starting point is 00:14:17 Hunter Helm, Jim D.K. Elick Iommaner, the three, you know, round four picks. Everybody was most excited about Iommanner. But I would say that now it's the opposite of that. I would say Iommanner is ranked third. And at the end of the day, he was drafted third out of that group, which might tell us a little something. I'm just saying, the Titans brought in Cornell Tate, who is going to do similar things.

Starting point is 00:14:47 to what I.O. is going to do. And I think that Tate and I.O. could play together, so it doesn't completely crush I.O. manner. But it's just a situation where if he doesn't prove it early, if he doesn't step up early on, he will get left behind. And everybody's posting I.O. Like, you know, he's so jacked.

Starting point is 00:15:10 He looks so much stronger this year. All right, great. Did he strengthen his hands? is he going to be a better deep route runner? You know, those are the things that, because you can't be a big, strong, physical, contested catch, wide receiver that can't catch. It's not going to work.

Starting point is 00:15:34 Now, Cam can be more accurate with some of his passes down the field to Elyke-o Manor. I think when you look at the tape, you know, it's not as bad as maybe some of the analytics would tell you because of maybe some of the off-target passes. But Iommanner had enough drops last year, enough situations where I thought he could have attacked the football better, could have been better in contested catch situations, all of that.

Starting point is 00:15:57 Like, there are enough of those on tape as well to say that Iommanner needs to step it up. And again, with more competition on the roster that can do things that he can do with Carnell Tate, he has no choice. He has no choice. He's going to lose opportunities, significant opportunities, this year. Especially when you look at the other wide receivers, again,

Starting point is 00:16:29 Chim D.K., Calvin Ridley, Wondell Robinson. Those are not guys who are big and physical and you want them in isolated situations playing X wide receiver on the line of scrimmage taking press coverage. You want D.K. and Ridley to use their special. speed. You want Wondale Robinson to have a free release out of the slot and get into his route so he can shake a guy. You know, that's not what you, so if you can't trust I-O. to do that and you have to put Cornell Tate in that role, well, it's not like you can play those other guys

Starting point is 00:17:04 in that role. So it limits who can play that, which on one hand creates opportunities for I.O. Manor, because he's one of the only people that can fill that role. But at the same time, when you have a guy like Cardnell Tate, they could say, hey, we're just going to play Tate in that role nonstop. We never need to take them off the field. We can't trust IOManner anyway. It's just got to be Tate. And with the top five pick, they may go that route.

Starting point is 00:17:28 So, time to step up for IOManner. And who is Shemdek going to be? Is he going to be what I have typed cast at a mess? That utility infielder. He's not a starter, but he can play short, he could play second, he can play third in a pinch,

Starting point is 00:17:42 come in, put a bunt down, maybe pinch run for you. He's just a utility player that's good to have on the bench that can do a bunch of different things, but he's just not that starting guy. Is that DK? Elite returner, just a utility wide receiver, just a wide receiver four for all eternity. Could do a little three, can do a little two,

Starting point is 00:18:04 but I'm not that guy. The route running will be key. He's going so fast that his routes can be a little rounded. his brakes aren't quite sharp enough, which isn't fully utilizing his speed at the end of the day, even though he's going so fast. So if he could just reduce the speed just a little bit to run sharper routes and then use that acceleration when it's the time to do so,

Starting point is 00:18:28 catching the ball after that quick separation is created to extend it, then Chim D.K could turn into, again, and I've said this, I think, it could turn into a situation if Chim DK steps up this year and becomes a better player and takes a step forward, it could be a situation where D.K. takes Ridley's spot. And Ridley becomes the veteran

Starting point is 00:18:51 utility guy who, hey, Ridley, not dealing with physicality at the line of scrimmage, playing in the slot is what's best. If DK and Tate turn into the one-two punch with Robinson in the slot, and then Ridley can spell

Starting point is 00:19:10 D.K at Z. and Ridley can spell Wondale Robinson at Z and based on different matchups you get against different teams week to week, they can move Ridley around and use him sparingly

Starting point is 00:19:23 as that veteran guy and he can get, you know, 30 to 35 snaps a game based on certain matchups and routes they want to use him in. Then that creates longevity for him too. So that would require D.K. stepping up to be a true

Starting point is 00:19:36 number two wide receiver. I just don't know. I just don't know, right? How can we know? That's why it's a huge question mark. Can he step up and be that? Gunner Helm is one that I am as guilty as anyone. So I'm not casting blame.

Starting point is 00:19:54 I am guilty. All right. You got me. I'm guilty. I live on nightmare on Helm Street. I am just, yeah, Gunner Helm's tied in one. He's tied in one. He's tied in one.

Starting point is 00:20:07 We just move forward. That's already been decided. But, you know, he needs, to prove it. If you're going to be tight end one, because last year the Titans treated Chig like tight end one for most of the year. It wasn't until later in the year that I felt the snap counts were

Starting point is 00:20:23 evenly distributed for who should have been getting them. They were way too committed to Chig throughout the season instead of Gunner Helm who's a more versatile, well-rounded tight-end. But like Daniel Belinger knows the system. Daniel Belanger is a talented guy. He can do multiple things. So

Starting point is 00:20:39 if Helm doesn't come out and prove it to the coaching staff, and take a step forward and be like, yeah, I'm a starting tight end in the NFL, then Bellinger could get more reps and we could be frustrated. But maybe it's stuff that we don't see, you know? So I want to see Gunner Helm take that firm step this year of, I'm tied in one, I get the most reps every week, Bellinger is clearly tied end to, he needs to take that step up

Starting point is 00:21:07 and confirm that as well. Because right now, I admit, I am guilty of riding him in pen in that regard. And maybe that's not fair. Maybe that's overzealous by me to act like that with Gunner Helm. And I'm just, it's my personal bias of wanting him to work because I liked him

Starting point is 00:21:24 coming out of the draft and stuff. Maybe it's just, you know, that. So I'll be honest. We need to see him step up as well. And Jackson Slater, of course. We've talked so much about Jackson Slater, though. I don't think I need to do a reminder. Can he be a starting guard?

Starting point is 00:21:39 Again, the Titans try to trade up in the first round to get a guard. I think that shows that they do not believe in Jackson Slater right now as a starting guard. So can he prove them wrong? Can he actually take that spot right now? I think he's going to be the starter. So we're going to see early on whether that works or whether it doesn't. But with that being said, I want to move away from second year guys who need to step up

Starting point is 00:22:00 and talk about guys who are just fighting for their roster life because there are some second year players in that mix as well. Do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by game time. stream anything, order food in minutes, do everything from our phones, and somehow buying tickets to live events still feels way harder than it should be. Long lines, confusing checkout, prices jumping at the last second. It shouldn't be that complicated, and that's why there is game time. It gives fans the advantage and makes getting tickets fast and simple. I buy all my tickets on game time, NFL, NBA, WMBA, MLB, concert, comedy, because they have the best features in the

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Starting point is 00:23:42 as we go into the next phase of OTAs. But I do want to thank you again for making Locked on Titans. Your first listen, if you're a real Locked on Titans every day, or you've got to join the Locked on Titans every day or club. Hit the link down below in the description. You're going to get commercial-free versions. of the podcast added to the Locked-on Titans group chat with me and a bunch of other

Starting point is 00:24:03 everydayers again. Hit the link down below in the description, join the Locked on Titans Every Dayer Club now. But with that being said, there are some guys on this team that are fighting for their roster life right now who I think that not enough people are acknowledged.

Starting point is 00:24:19 I think a big one that would catch people off guard is James Williams, linebacker out of Miami. He was a seventh round pick three years ago. those guys don't hang on long. Okay? So will James Williams

Starting point is 00:24:35 who through a different system, new coaches, he finally started to make an impact on special teams last year, which I think is great news for James Williams. But can he actually be somebody who challenges to be in that linebacker conversation? He has an excellent skill set,

Starting point is 00:24:59 great body type, former safety in college, physical heavy hitter, just never really been able to put it together from a coverage standpoint, from reading the run game standpoint, just never really got there, I think, mentally. Because transitioning from safety to linebacker, it's difficult. And it's hard to put your physical skills on display when you're thinking so much about what you're doing, which may just be a problem for. But I think that James Williams is more on the roster bubble right now,

Starting point is 00:25:30 then people realize. I think he's going to make it, and I think they'll give him an opportunity and they're going to continue to work with him, but he's just not as certified and solidified as I think people are acting like. I feel the same way with Calell Mullings, who was just drafted last year,

Starting point is 00:25:49 running back out of Michigan, dealt with a bunch of injuries last year, only had a couple of carries, wasn't very impressive in them. Wasn't terrible in them either, though, but didn't make as big of an impact on special teams as you won, although the flashes are there. But with Nick Singleton being added,

Starting point is 00:26:10 Taj Spears and Tony Pollard, they're not going to get rid of those guys to keep Calo Mullings, who's proven nothing. Again, he's a late pick. And when you're a late pick that wasn't with this coaching staff, they could churn you. They could look to get, you know, one of these undrafted free agents who this coaching staff actually like to take their place.

Starting point is 00:26:35 I think stuff like that is possible. So I'm looking at Kellell Moll Mullings with Nick Singleton, Michael Carter. I'm looking at James Williams with like Shad Banks, for example, as an undrafted free agent. Maybe they outperform and it's a new coaching staff and they want change. I think the same thing could happen to Brendan Crenshaw Dixon at offensive tackle. previous coaching staff, new offensive line coach, new coaching staff, new offense, they may want to go with one of their new young guys, like Emil Wagner, Miller out of Louisville. Maybe the new coaching staff wants to go with their own project young guy

Starting point is 00:27:20 instead of the previous coaching staff's project. You know, Xavier Restrepo, fighting for his roster life. I think Will Levis fighting for his, if he is terrible, We don't talk about this enough. Because we're like, oh, if Levis does well, they'll keep him on the roster. If Levis does well, we can trade him. But if Levis doesn't play well,

Starting point is 00:27:42 and he's awful, they'll probably just cut him. And it's not as he gets older. It's not like he's going to have unlimited opportunities to be a starter again. He may never get one period. Like, that's not a crazy outcome. that Will Levis just

Starting point is 00:28:00 he goes to two different teams after the Titans cut him this year six years in the NFL and then he has to be out of the NFL like that's not out of the realm of possibilities so Will Levis right now needs to play well he's fighting for his roster life

Starting point is 00:28:18 his NFL life Xavier Restrepo the moment he was in that rookie mini camp we all should know they view him as someone who's worthy of being in that rookie minicamp. You have not proven anything.

Starting point is 00:28:33 We don't think that you're very good. You're nothing more than an undrafted free agent who needs to be out here trying out. Now, according to accounts of people who were there, I mean, Xavier Ostrepo was clearly the best player that was catching passes. Both days, tons of catches. Cool.

Starting point is 00:28:56 But that doesn't mean that he's going to be, and this could be a, maybe they don't even keep him, on the practice squad. Cam can't save him forever. Mason Kinsey as well. Previous coaching staffs have loved Mason Kinsey, but Robert Salah preaches fast and violent. Robert Salah does not seem like the guy who's going to be enamored with the folklore of Mason Kinsey and keeping him around at 28 years old. You know what I mean?

Starting point is 00:29:20 So I think those are all names. Levis, Mullings, Restrepo, Kenzie, Brendan Crenshaw Dixon, James Williams, Jalen Harold? I mean, there's Fulke, JJ, Femi, Jacob Barton. They brought in Malik Herring. Would they keep Jalen Harrell around? I think they're going to. Harrell looked pretty solid last year.

Starting point is 00:29:50 I think he can really help this year in a small role. So I wouldn't get rid of him. But hey, again, new coaching staffs, late round picks. You just never know. So keep your eye out because some of these guys, Restrepo, Kenzie, you know, Brendan Crenshaw Dixon, Mollings, like, these guys hypothetically could be churned before training came.

Starting point is 00:30:12 So it would be interesting to see what Robert Sala does with some of these late-round, undrafted free agent-type guys who have been on the roster with previous coaching staffs. It's going to be interesting to see. 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 SECOND YEAR STEP UP from Kevin Winston, Femi Oladejo & Marcus Harris is CRITICAL

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