Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans Top Five X-Factors, Top Five Breakout Candidates & Top Five Potential Disappointments

Episode Date: June 20, 2022

The Tennessee Titans have a wide range of potential outcomes this seasons, so what will determine whether they hit their ceiling or floor? Five X-Factor players could make the difference, who are they? Tyler goes over his top five. Next, which Titans have the best chance to have a breakout season and take the next step in league standings? Finally, it is only logical that some players will have a disappointing season. Who are the five Titans most likely to underperform to expectations??Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitansFollow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPodSubscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitansSupport 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.BetOnlineBetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!Rock AutoAmazing selection. Reliably low prices. All the parts your car will ever need. Visit RockAuto.com and tell them Locked On sent you.Blue NileMake your moment sparkle with jewelry from Bluenile.com, and LOCKED ON SPORTS listeners get $50 off purchases of $500 or more using code LOCKEDON. 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, on today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast, we will continue Top 5 Week. I have three brand new Top 5s for you guys today. First, who are the Top 5 X-Factor players on the Titans this year? The players that will determine whether the Titans hit their floor or they hit their ceiling.

Also, who are the top five breakout candidates on the Tennessee Titans? We'll discuss that. And finally, who are the top five potential disappointments for the Titans in 2022? We're going over all of that and more on today's 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. Titans fans, it is another top five episode for this top five week here on the Locked On Titans podcast.

We are going to be diving into first my top five X factors for the season. Very excited to dive into today's three top fives. Before we do, I want to thank you guys for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen every day. If this is your first ever listen to the Locked on Titans podcast, make sure you subscribe on whatever platform you do stream. I am going to be putting out free Tennessee Titans content all

year round on the Locked on Titans podcast. You can catch me on the Locked on Titans YouTube channel. Subscribe there. Smash that notification bell. Throw a thumbs up on the video if you're watching. Right now, you can follow me on social media at TicTacTitans on Twitter, at Locked on Titans pod on

Facebook. Again, doing top fives today. We're going to have another top five episode for you guys later in the week. Next week, we're going to do an AFC South divisional roundup. I'm going to have on the host from the Locked On AFC South shows. I'm going to do a recap of their offseason projection going forward against the Titans. So a lot of good content coming out for the Titans, even with it being the slow period in the NFL calendar. So make sure you stay subscribed to the Locked on Titans podcast.

But with that being said, I want to dive into this first top five, the top five X factors for the Titans. Number one, and to me, this person is far and away the number one X factor for the Titans. And it ties directly into yesterday, I did top five storylines for the Titans and my number one was the defensive potential. That's all Titans fans want to talk about, is how good this defense can be. Well, let me tell you who is really going to determine just how good this defense can be, whether it's last year's level or maybe even a little worse, or the Titans do make that leap into a top five, top three, top one defense.

It's Caleb Farley. Can Caleb Farley live up to his billing as a number one pick? Can he come in as the six foot two dominant lockdown corner? Can he even be a number one pick. Can he come in as the 6'2", dominant lockdown corner? Can he even be a number one cornerback for the Titans and let Christian Fulton be that number two cornerback that moves around with faster receivers? I mean, you got Michael Pittman, Nico Collins. Caleb Farley's going to have his work cut out for him in the division.

Okay? Can Caleb Farley be that guy? That so much of the Titans ceiling or floor where they land this season is what Caleb Farley can be. Can he be worth that first-round pick? The next guy is Austin Hooper. If Austin Hooper can truly be a real tight end one

for the Titans, 700 yards, 60 catches, five touchdowns, I mean, that is going to, everybody talks about replacing A.J. Brown. How do you replace A.J. Brown?

Well, one of the main ways you're going to be able to do it is if Austin Hooper comes out and plays like a real No. 1 tight end for the Titans. That would change the game a little bit on offense. It'd be huge. It'd just be huge. Again, this is about players who, if they don't play well, we're talking floor. If they do play well, we're talking ceiling.

And Austin Hooper is definitely one of those guys. And another guy is Dylan Radins. If Dylan Radins can be a solid starting right tackle, solid, solid starting right tackle, the Titans are in business. Because not only is that going to be good individually, but that's going to make Nate Davis play a lot better too. And, like I talked about yesterday,

the offensive line is the bedrock foundation in the run game. The offensive line in the run game is the bedrock foundation of this entire offense. The offensive line, even with the pass protection struggles, still got it done in the run game. If Dylan Radins can be serviceable.

And the left guard spot is the only thing that's shaky. Then the Titans have improved the offensive line from last year. Which is what we really want to see. So, Dylan Radins, a key X factor. Another guy, Bud Dupree. No secret, I don't expect Bud Dupree to be with the Titans past this season. He's not worth $20 million when they're going to be paying Jeff, they're going to be paying Landry. You can't pay

$20 million to Bud Dupree next year. But there is a scenario where Bud Dupree balls out and the Titans find a way to restructure his contract and bring him back if they do decide to let go of Ryan Tannehill. If they keep Tannehill. Thank you, Bud. It's been great. See ya.

There's no way. But, hey, if they think Malik's ready after the season, they want to cut bait with Tannehill, then maybe they restructure Bud and keep him around. But that would only happen after a great dominant season from Bud

Dupree that makes him one of the X-Factor players. We know that Landry, we know that Simmons, we know that Autry are going to do their thing. But if Bud Dupree is at his peak, okay, now things are really, really scary. Okay, so Bud Dupree. The last one for me is Traylon Burks. If Burks comes out and he plays like a number one,

first round wide receiver, and he gets, you know, 50, 60 catches, 800 yards, four or five touchdowns, then the Titans will be fine this year on offense. But if he doesn't, and I know right now we're all remaining optimistic, but God, in the back of your mind, you got to be just a touch worried.

If he does, for some reason, disappoint in a major way. With what the Titans have at wide receiver this year, it is going to be tough. It is going to be tough for them to accomplish what they need to and what we want them to. Quite honestly. But that's going to do it for the top five X-Factors. Caleb Farley. Austin Hooper.

Dylan Radins. Bud Dupree. Traylon Burks. Now we're going to get into my top five breakout candidates and different levels of breakout, in my opinion. But before we get into that, I do want to tell you guys about BlueNile.com. At BlueNile.com, you can celebrate all life's special moments, from creating the custom engagement ring of her dreams to gifting a classic and timeless jewelry piece all at prices you won't find at a traditional jeweler.

Whether you're ready to pop the question, you're celebrating a milestone moment, find jewelry that's as unique as her with the modern convenience of online shopping at BlueNile.com. Build the engagement ring of her dreams or celebrate life's special moments with fine jewelry. No matter what you're looking for,

Blue Nile has jewelry experts on hand 24-7 to help you make the best decision. Make your moments sparkle with jewelry from BlueNile.com and LockedOnTitans listeners. Get $50 off purchases of 500 or more. This podcast exclusive includes engagement rings. Use code LOCKEDON.

Once again, that's code LOCKEDON. Plus, every order is insured, ships for free, and it arrives in discreet packaging so you won't give away what is inside. Shop stress-free and find your forever peace. Go to BlueNile.com today. Titans fans, we are going to continue Top 5 Week here on the Locked on Titans podcast.

Did my Top 5s yesterday. I did my top five players. Did top five. Oh, God. That was so long ago. What even happened? Top five players. Did, I think, top five surprises.

Top five roster long shots was one in there as well. So that was fun. Go back and check that out if you missed that. Going to continue today's top five. We did X-Factors first. Now I want to get into my top five breakout candidates. Before I get into that, though, I do want to thank you guys again for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen every day. Make sure you guys check out the Ultimate NBA Mock Draft.

Started on Friday the 16th, but it's the same thing as the Ultimate NBA Mock Draft. Started on Friday the 16th, but it's the same thing as the Ultimate NFL Mock Draft where each host from each show makes the pick for their team. It's a lot of fun. One of the best exercises we do here on the network. Make sure you search the Ultimate NBA Mock Draft and tune in so you don't miss any picks. But my top five breakout candidates.

Number one, Christian Fulton. So I know that Fulton had a really good year last year. I recognize that. But, but, he's not really one of the top corners in the league on a national scale. It's more of a Titans thing. We know that Christian Fulton is amazing. He doesn't really get popped. People don't really talk about Fulton as one of the better corners in the NFL.

Okay? That ends now. That ends now. I think that Fulton is about to have a monster season locking people down week after week not only is he going to be more confident not only is he more adept into the system and the scheme

but his body is starting to round out I mean he was a skinnier guy coming in he's really starting to round out physically I think Christian Fulton takes the next step and breaks out on a national level. Titans fans knew that he was really good last year. Yeah, we knew. But on a national level, I think Fulton's name is going to be up there with the top corners by the end of the season. Another guy like that that does not get anywhere near

enough recognition or love is David Long. David Long. David Long is one of the better inside linebackers in the league. And the disrespect that one of the Titans reporters asked him recently after an OTA about all the national media guys mocking linebacker to the Titans.

He said, you don't know football. You're not watching the film if you don't know how good I am. And boy, he's right. And I'm very excited here in the coming weeks. A little project I got in my back pocket is a little David Long video

that I've been working on that I want to do. Not a highlight video with music. Literally me breaking down what I saw from David Long last year. So hoping to get that up and running in a couple of weeks. But David Long is going to be a guy that people know so well that they know not to mock a linebacker to the Titans next year. That's my version of a breakout. The next one, Nick Westbrook-Akina.

The guy just continues to impress. Yeah, we all want to see an improvement. I have said it myself. You can't have Nick Westbrook-Akina be your wide receiver too. You can't have that. Well, you know, what if I'm wrong? Shut up, Tyler. What if Nick Westbrook-Akina is just a beast?

I mean, he's an undrafted free agent who isn't appreciated enough already. He was the second leading receiver on the team last year. Had nearly 500 yards. He's going to get more opportunities this year. He's probably a better player now too. More confident player after last year. Why can't Nick Westbrook-Akina have 7-800 yards? Six touchdown catches.

Why not? Why can't he be a competent No. 2, No. 3 wide receiver? Why not? Why can't he be a competent number two, number three wide receiver? Why not? I think he will be. I think he will be. Now, it's not enough. It's not enough by any means, the Titans at wide receiver,

but I think Nick Westbrook Keenan is underrated, unappreciated, and he's going to be a guy who people say, oh, the Titans have this at wide receiver. He's going to be a name that gets included now after this season.

I think he's going to make a really, really big impact this year and be a nice contributor. Another guy who's going to break out is Nate Davis. He started to break out in 2020, got an all-pro vote. People were starting to notice. But then he played next to Questenberry, had the two bouts with COVID that he admitted affected his conditioning, affected his confidence, affected his strength.

So I think Nate Davis, healthier in a better environment, and a contract here, is going to just ball out this year. I think Nate Davis is going to have his best year as a pro. And then the last guy is Elijah Molden. And I don't think that Molden is going to break out in terms of being one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL or anything like that. But I think that Molden is going to have like six turnovers this year.

I think he's going to have like two or three interceptions with three or four forced fumbles. Scoop and score is going to score two touchdowns this year. I just think Molden is going to be a play maker. He's going to be around the ball. I think that his role will probably stay the same. It will be that early down slot. I think he might transition into that dang crookshank role

as the tight end stopper and Don. But no matter what he does, I think Elijah Molden is going to be around the football. I think Elijah Molden is going to make a lot of plays and it's going to be a breakout year for Molden as he announces himself as one of the more ball-centric defensive backs in the NFL and definitely with the Titans.

We're going to continue with today's top five edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Now I'm going to do my top five potential disappointments for the Titans. Didn't want to do it. Felt like I had to do it.

So we'll dive into that in just a moment. Before we do, I do want to tell you guys about betonline.net, your number one source for all your betting needs and sports information. Find all the latest sports developments, league reviews, and news, including this year's NHL playoffs and Major League Baseball regular season. BetOnline is your continued source for all your sporting wagering information, including live betting, esports, and scores. BetOnline.net remains the best spot for all the latest news.

This season, BetOnline.net is the fastest and easiest way to check in on all your favorite sports and events, including MMA, boxing, and golf. Head to their website today or use your mobile device to learn more about all the trends and all the action. BetOnline, where the game starts. or use your mobile device to learn more about all the trends and all the action. BetOnline, where the game starts. Titans fans, we're going to cap off this second part of Top 5 Week here with the top five biggest potential disappointments for the Titans.

We went over the top five X-Factors. We went over the top five breakout candidates. Now, you got to skew a tad bit negative. Before we get into it, though, I do want to thank you guys for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen. Every day, as for your second listen, check out the Locked On NFL podcast. It's also free and available on all platforms, including the Locked On NFL YouTube channel. Monday through Friday, under 30 minutes, all your national NFL news.

I host the Thursday show, so subscribing has given me some support as well, and I greatly appreciate that, but either way, let's move forward here. Biggest disappointments for the Titans. Number one's got to be Traylon Burks. I know, I know, I'm remaining optimistic too, but if you put out a list of who has the potential to disappoint this year, it's obviously Burks. Off to a slow start already. There were concerns during the pre-drop process about his weight, his work ethic, conditioning. All those are rearing their ugly head now.

I know that we're all deciding to remain positive, and I know that if you express any concern whatsoever, everyone yells at you in the Titans fan base and says you're being overly negative and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But, the foundation has been laid for a disappointing rookie year for Traylon Burks. It's already there.

And, when Isaiah Wilson was having trouble, now I'm not saying that Traylon's going to be Isaiah Wilson. I think that Burks will be a way better NFL player than Isaiah Wilson. But, the same Titans fans that Traylon's going to be Isaiah Wilson. I think that Burks will be a way better NFL player than Isaiah Wilson. But, the same Titans fans who are always optimistic, the Titans never do anything wrong, the Titans never make mistakes, the Titans never make the wrong move, all those Titans fans out there that are like that,

when everybody was worried about Isaiah Wilson, they were saying, oh, you guys are being ridiculous. It's way too early. You can't, you can't. Well, maybe we should have paid attention to the signs. And unfortunately, if a year from now, we look back and Traylon had 300 yards and 30 catches and a touchdown

and spent a lot of year hurt or not in the games or blah, blah, blah. Then we're going to look back and be like, oh, yeah, duh. I guess we could have guessed it might have been a disappointing year with how it started. So, the same people that said not to worry about Isaiah Wilson are the same people saying not to worry about Traylon Burks at all. Any concern. So, hey, I don't want it to be the case. I remain optimistic, but at the same time,

if you had to make a list of potential disappointments, you'd be a fool to not include Traylon Burks on that list and not only on the list, but high. Second, like with X-Factors, Caleb Farley tooley too i mean there's a chance there's a chance that caleb farley's just not that great there's a chance that the roger mccreary pick was truly insurance for caleb farley because they're worried about farley who although has all the talent in the world and the physicality that you want like stature wise body. He didn't look good last year when he got to play. He looked lost.

As a guy who missed a ton of time in college from injuries, converted wide receiver late in his football career anyway, so the instincts at corner and the experience at corner aren't there. Maybe the guy just can't play corner in the NFL. It's possible. It's possible. Again, I don't think any of these in the NFL. It's possible. It's possible. Again, I don't think any of these are likely, but it's possible. So have to throw that in there.

Same thing, Dylan Radins. Maybe the guy's just not very good. Maybe the Titans have been trying their best to get him to be something that he's not. Maybe he's just not an NFL player. Maybe he's just not good enough to be a starter. Maybe he's a backup level guy. It's definitely on the table. I don't want it to be the case, but it's on the table.

My last two, especially my last one, are probably going to upset some people, and I'm sorry, but Robert Woods. I've expressed this concern before. Robert Woods has been a number two wide receiver throughout the most successful parts of his career.

No question about it. He's a guy who is really smart. He's a good route runner. He's savvy. He knows where good route runner. He's savvy. He knows where to sit down in zone coverages. He knows how to set up his routes and set up the defender based on what coverage they're playing, the technique they're playing. And he gets openings because the attention is focused

on another wide receiver on the field, not him. Robert Woods as a number one wide receiver coming off an ACL tear. There has to be some concern there. He is not a number one wide receiver and the Titans are trying to put him in that role. And I think it's a dangerous game. Not to mention coming off the ACL. Not to mention being near 30. I mean, there is a world out there

where Robert Woods is a major disappointment for the Titans. I don't want it to be the case. That's why he's number four on the list. It's less likely, but it's all right there. Okay. And then finally, my last one.

Again, I know this is going to make some people mad, but Derrick Henry. I don't know this is going to make some people mad, but Derek Henry. I don't think this is going to happen. I don't. But maybe all the pundits are right, what they're saying is true. Too much tread on the tires.

Major injury. Getting up there in age. Titans offensive line setback. Offensive setback in general, Todd Downing, not a great play caller. All of that could combine together for Derrick Henry to have, you know, 1,100 yards, 10 touchdowns.

It's still a good year, but not necessarily a Derrick Henry year. You know what I mean? So again, I don't think this is going to happen, but if you don't acknowledge the possibility, you're lying to yourself a little bit. But that's going to do it for me today. I'm going to be back with you guys on Thursday

with another big set of top fives. And then, remember, next week, we're doing the divisional roundup going over each other team in the AFC South, kind of just peeking in on how their offseason is going. 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. you