Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans Want TALENT OVER FIT, Shedeur Sanders Arm Concerns & Titans Tape-Driven Team

Episode Date: February 25, 2025

LIVE FROM THE NFL COMBINE: The Tennessee Titans have an interesting decision if they go quarterback in the Draft because Cam Ward has more talent, but Shedeur Sanders appears to be the better fit. However, head coach Brian Callahan clearly prefers more talent over a scheme fit as a general philosophy. Also, Brian Callahan discussed the perceived lack of arm talent for Shedeur Sanders, but talked about the other aspects of his game that make up for it while also acknowledging there is threshold that must be met. Finally, Mike Borgonzi talked about how the tape is their main priority in draft season and how meetings can only make a small difference on the draft board. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!FanDuelRight now, new FanDuel customers can get ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in Bonus Bets if your first FIVE DOLLAR bet wins!Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. 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)

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan prefers talent over fit. And he told me himself live from the NFL combine on today's edition of locked on tight. You are locked on Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast, part of the lockeded On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked On Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rolland, Titans fans. On today's show, I am live from the NFL Combine. I got the opportunity to speak with Titans head coach, Brian Callahan, got to talk to Titans general manager,

Mike Borganzi as well. We have so much to go over their thoughts on quarterbacks, generational prospects, a whole lot. Before we get into it, do want to thank you for making the locked on Titans podcast. You are first listen each and every day. Remember Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. Make sure that you get subscribed. Stay subscribed. It's your team every day here on the locked on Titans podcast.

Speaking of every day, shout out to my every dayers out there tuning in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys. If you aren't an everyday or you need to be one because this time of year, there's breaking news all the time, a ton of roster moves to be made. And I'm going to make sure that you are as informed as any Titans fan could be, especially with free agency in the draft or right around the corner. I'm going to do full free agency previews, full draft previews as well.

You're not going to want to miss all of the great stuff that we're doing here on Locked on Titans. But again, I am at the NFL combine today. Got to be a part of the interview process with Brian Callahan and Mike Borganzi. And before we dive into their comments, I do want to bring back up a conversation that we've been having on the show for a while. And it's the conversation of talent versus fit.

Because since the middle of the NFL season, I have basically said Cam Ward is the more talented player and quite frankly that cannot be argued. Cam Ward has a much stronger arm than Chidurr Sanders. He's a much better athlete. He is a more sturdy, durable athlete as well. So without a doubt, Cam ward has more natural talent than Chaudhuri Sanders. But on the other side of that, I have continued to say that I think Chaudhuri Sanders is the best fit for Tennessee Titans offensive scheme, precision, timing, accuracy, quick little two man reads on one side of the field

where it's I'm throwing to this guy, I'm throwing to that guy. Get the ball out of your hands. Reading the inside zone of a defense where you have a short guy on a curl and then you have an in route coming behind him. What's that linebacker gonna do? Is he gonna come up to the back on the curl? Are you gonna be able to hit the dig behind him? Those quick little two read plays that the Titans run within their passing game, very West Coast, trying to get the ball out quick. I think it's clear that Chedur Sanders would be a cleaner fit as a player based on what we've seen on his tape

for the Tennessee Titans, then Cam Ward. But that's how I feel. The question is, Brian Callahan, head coach of the Tennessee Titans, what do you feel about the question of talent versus fit and Brian Callahan had a fantastic answer and the person asking him that question You might recognize the voice Brian on that note when you talk about the difference between fit and then talent level How do you kind of measure where maybe a guy is a more physically gifted player but hasn't done things in college that fit what you might ask of them versus a player who has done things that you've asked about

but may not be the physical talent that maybe another prospect would be? Sure, I think the best way to put that is our job as coaches is to put players in the best position to have success. And I would never sacrifice talent for system. It's always gonna be player driven and player first. So if you can find a great player, we fit them. And however that looks, there's plenty of plays in football in all three phases that you can find ways for guys to have success.

So I would always say the player is gonna come first. And it's our job as coaches to fit what we do around that player Whether that's a an offensive lineman a receiver a quarterback a pass rusher Whatever that looks like our job is to fit the system to the talent and I would never sacrifice scheme over talent At the end of the day as a general philosophy I Would never sacrifice talent for scheme.

It's right there in front of you. And look, Brian Callahan talked about Chaudhuri Sanders in glowing ways. And we're gonna talk about what he had to say about Chaudhuri Sanders here in just a moment. But this conversation of talent versus fit, I have been uncertain, quite frankly. I've been, the fit is better with Sanders.

Would they go that route because of the fit? But, you know, you don't want to read too much into combined comments. At the end of the day, Brian Callahan is not trying to tip his hand. He would not intentionally tip his hand in a question to the media. That's not something that he's going to do. But I think Brian Callahan is a guy who we have learned different than Mike Vrabel will answer these questions. Honestly, he will give you his honest answer to the question.

And I think Brian Callahan is being honest when he says that I'll always take the more talented player over the player that fits better in my scheme. Because at the end of the day, a good football coach builds their system around their players, not puts players into their system. Look in a perfect world, you would love a guy to be super talented, but also have experience in his college scheme, doing things that the Titans are going to ask them to do in the NFL scheme. It's not just quarterback. I've compared this to an offensive lineman. The Titans ran a versatile run scheme last year where zone runs and some power runs. They had a mixture.

Now there could be an uber talented offensive lineman who only did zone runs, heavy zone or RPO style system in college that really doesn't translate to the Titans diverse run game that Brian Callahan is employing. But I would still take the ultra talented player who maybe didn't have experience in the run game. You know, the blocking schemes that I'm used to over a guy who is not as talented, but did do those things in college, because at the end of the day, it comes down to the level of talent you have on your team.

And if you think that all of the best players in the NFL were a scheme fit for the team that drafted them, It's just simply not the case. A good football coach will find a way to take the most talented players and then mold them into their scheme. Fold them into their scheme is the better way to put it. And quite frankly, it's not even just about that. It's about changing your scheme a little bit to help the player. And quite frankly, I think Brian Callahan did that last year with Will,

with Will Levis. Brian Callahan didn't want to do as much of the play action, deep shot, long developing plays that he ran last year, but that's what was best for Will Levis. And Brian Callahan talked about that earlier this all season that they tried to add in things that made Will Levis more comfortable. So that's what a good coach is going to do. And again, you don't want to read too much into these comments, but at the end of the day, in my opinion, Cam Ward is just a supremely more talented player than Chider Sanders. So if the Titans are going to take quarterback at

number one overall, again, I would prefer other options, a trade down, Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter. But if the Titans do take a quarterback, I'm on board for it. But I certainly would prefer Cam Ward, who has the higher upside and is again, the more talented player. But with that in mind, Brian Callahan had a lot more to say. Again He talked a lot about Shader Sanders and the arm strength and you know, why he's not that concerned about that, but it's still something to discuss. Quite honestly, a lot of answers that we got from Brian Callahan and Mike Borganzi on Tuesday really aligned with what I have been trying to tell you guys all of last week.

["Locked on Titans Live!" by The NLF plays.] Titans fans, let's continue today's edition of locked on Titans live from the NFL combine. Been in Indianapolis all day. Happy to take everything that I, uh, I've heard and give it back to you guys. But with that being said, I do want to move forward to other comments that Brian Callahan had to say. Quite frankly, I think the talent versus fit conversation is maybe one of the best answers that he gave throughout. Pretty good question.

Just gotta say, but there are some other things here that I think are very important and he talked about the quarterback position and what he's looking for and it's something that Brian Callahan talked about earlier in the all season. But he talked about decision, decision making, timing, accuracy. But he also said that it's not an exact science because there are guys that he thought would do well at the NFL level who did those things well, who didn't ultimately do well at the NFL level. And there are also players who maybe didn't do those things very well in college, but got to the NFL and very much improved and became very good players. So again, it's not an exact science. There's not one thing that you can point to and say, Oh, this is what is going to make a good quarterback. Like there is no way to accurately pinpoint

what exactly makes a good quarterback. It just doesn't work like that. It's not this 40. There are guys with fast 40 times who suck. There are guys with good college tape who weren't good. There are guys who have high end traits who didn't pan out and develop. Like we've seen it all happen. Every single thing that you can think of in the NFL, there is an exception to that rule. And likewise, for every

presumed thing, there's an example of failure. There is no exact science, but Brian Callahan did talk about those three things. Decision making, timing, accuracy are the things he looks for, even if it's not an exact science. And that doesn't mean that if a player has those, that they're all of a sudden going to become a good NFL player. Now on the flip side of that, the other big thing that's a topic of discussion when it comes to traits for a quarterback is arm strength. And let me say this.

is arm strength. And let me say this. So, there is, there are people out there, especially people within the Titans ecosystem, who will tell you that arm strength doesn't matter. And I'm sorry, but I think that that is insane. Arm strength absolutely does matter. Velocity on your throws absolutely does matter.

Again, when we talk about arm strength, a lot of people instantly think how far they can throw the ball down the field. But it's not just about that. It's about what Brian Callahan talked about. Tight windows. Being able to throw downfield. Yes, the downfield, but it's not just that. It's are you going to be able to get it to the sideline?

Can you throw it over the middle in a tight window? Arm strength is not just about distance. It's velocity. How fast you can throw the ball because the reality is the slower the football goes out of your hand, the smaller the windows get, the better you have to be with your accuracy, the better you have to be with anticipation. And Brian Callahan admitted, look, arm strength isn't everything, but he said there is a requisite amount of arm strength.

He said there is a threshold. Okay. Now I will say this. I think that Chedur Sanders is past the threshold. Okay. Now I will say this. I think that Chedder Sanders is past the threshold. I don't think that Chedder Sanders arm is so weak that he can't succeed at the NFL level. I don't think that's the case, but the reality is that is a downside. But Brian Callahan talked about what would have to happen to counteract that. And he said that you don't he said, quote, you don't have to have the strongest arm in the draft, but there is a threshold,

a minimum requisite, but anticipation and accuracy is just as important. And later in a different media availability than the press opening press conference, Brian Callahan talked about how he thinks Chaudhry Sanders throws with anticipation and throws with accuracy to where his lack of arm strength isn't as big of a deal because of the other things that he brings to the table that help him play quarterback. because of the other things that he brings to the table that help him play quarterback. So I know that you could hear the talent versus fit conversation and say, oh, well, they want Cam Ward, but they went out of their way during this process to talk about how Shadr Sanders lack

of arm talent won't hinder them from potentially looking at him as an option. You know what I mean? So I thought that was very important. Brian Callahan also talked about the difference between going after a rookie or going after a veteran. And he said, you know, we're looking for a player that'll be better, longer, looking for the long-term, playing their best for the longest. Well, if you want to get somebody for the long-term, it's not Matthew Stafford. It's not Sam Darnold. It's drafting a quarterback. Now, just because Brian Callahan said that he would prefer a long-term solution at

quarterback does not mean that the Tennessee Titans are going to draft a quarterback. But again, it's something to keep in the back of our mind here, because there are other things that were said. It might lead you to believe that it's time to draft a quarterback and the Titans are going to do that. But there are other things that were said where you're like, Oh, I don't know. So the Titans did very, very good at the press conferences on Tuesday,

not overplaying their hand. I guess, but I also want to talk about what Brian Callahan is looking for right now at the combine. So he says, obviously the evaluation of the tape is something that you're looking for, but you also need to learn them as a person How do they see football? How do they interact with their teammates their knowledge of football? Schematics, but Brian Callahan also talked about guys Like we mentioned earlier who were able to get out and get on the board. They can talk it. He said they can

They could do the schematics. How does that go on the field though? Is what Brian Callahan asked. So again, this is something I talked about on yesterday's show. Just because a player goes in and does a great job with an interview, does not mean that that player is going to get moved drastically up the draft board by the Tennessee Titans. And it shouldn't. If your tape is crap and you're great in an interview, I don't care. The tape is crap.

You can know all the scheme that you want. You could totally fully understand your college playbook. Your recall could be at 100% efficiency and you could still be a terrible football player in the NFL. You want an example? Well, not a terrible football player in the NFL, but look at Brian Callahan. Look at Matt Lafleur. Look at Mike McDaniel.

Look at Sean McVay. Obviously, you can't put Brian Callahan in this bin, but some of the best coaches in the NFL, some of the scheme Lord coaches who are innovative, who were pushing the game forward on offense and defense, quite frankly, weren't good NFL players. Brian Callahan himself was, I'm not going to say he was a bad football player. He played at UCLA. He was quarterback way better football player than I ever was. So I'm not going to say that he was bad, but he clearly was never even close to being good enough to go into the NFL. So Brian Callahan is a perfect example. Brian Callahan could get in there, run you in circles, talking about scheme and on the board and, hey, we go to this progression, we go here. If they run this coverage, the rules change.

We need to go here. He could cook that, but can he do it on the field? No. Quite honestly, that's what coaches are for. Coaches are people who understand the game, but don't have the talent to execute. Quite frankly, that's my situation. All right. I know football far better than some of my buddies who played college football.

They were way better football players than me. We grew up together. They were always better than me, bigger, stronger, faster, way better athletes. But none of those guys that I'm talking about can diagnose an NFL defense. Like I can. None of those guys understand the diversity of the run game that the Tennessee Titans put out there. They don't know. They don't know what an OZ is.

They don't know what duo is. You know, they don't know what cover four man is. They don't know what duo is. You know, they don't know what cover four man is. They don't know those things, but they were far better football players than me. So again, it just proves that, you know, these meetings are incredibly important, but as Chad Brinker said, it starts with the tape. It ends with the tape, it ends with the tape. And Mike Borganzi had an incredible quote that continued that thought philosophy. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode

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That's Fandle.com for your shot at $150 in bonus bets. Make every moment more with Fandle, the official today's edition of the locked on Titans podcast again, live from the NFL combine. We talked about talent versus fit. Then we talked about all the other comments. Brian Callahan had to say notably about arm strength and the threshold there. But now I want to get into what Mike Borganzi had to say because he had another comment here that listen folks, I may be just a guy, but I tell you this stuff every week and then

when the Titans coaches and general manager go out there and speak, they confirm exactly what I'm trying to tell you, which quite honestly is the opposite of what others may be trying to tell you about the Tennessee Titans in their mindset. So the number one thing that I want to talk about here with Mike Morganzi is where they're at in the process of scouting these players. Now, before I do, thanks again for making Locked on Titans your first listen each and every day, Monday through Friday,

Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free. You're not gonna beat that anywhere else. Make sure you get subscribed, stay subscribed to your team every day. But Mike Borganzi talked about where they're at with their board right now. And again, there are some out there that

are telling you that the Tennessee Titans don't know what they're going to do. The Tennessee Titans don't have a clue yet. They haven't decided. They're not blah blah blah blah blah. And I'm sorry, but there are some things that Mike Borganzi said here where I guess I just simply don't believe that.

He was asked about where they're at in their process. And he said, we have set the board. Phase one is what he calls it with the scouts. It's not final. A lot of information left to gather. We try not to make drastic changes. The medical can change things. The testing can change things a little bit.

But not drastically. He said, quote, we want to be a tape driven team. Folks, I went on a rant, what was it, yesterday? The last episode of last week, where I've been trying to tell you, there are people telling you that the Titans are in the same place right now that they were a month ago

in their decision making process. Nonsense. The board is set right now. The Tennessee Titans have Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter, the quarterbacks. They have them ranked. They have them ranked. Mike Borganzi knows right now, right now, which player he has ranked number one on the board. And again, he says the medical or the testing could change things a little. And he talked about how there are certain red flags. Like if a wide receiver runs, he didn't say these specifically, but I'm giving you examples of what they could be.

A wide receiver runs a four, seven. Nope. Can't draft them. Uh, and all offensive tackle has less than 34 inch arms. Nope. Can't draft them. A quarterback has less than, you know, nine and a half inch hands. Can't draft them.

Like they have their red flag. Nope. If you hit, they hit this and that could change things a little bit. But again, when we talk about the quarterbacks and Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter, well, Travis or Abdul Carter and the two quarterbacks and Travis Hunter, they're not even going to do testing.

And there's no known or even theorized medical concern for any of those four players. So if they're not testing and there's no known big medical issues, then that means that there is nothing that could change the Titans mind on these players from what they have ranked already. The Tennessee Titans just spent no daylight February. For the last month, they've been locked into meetings. And you think that they're in the same place a month ago

that they are today in terms of what they think they're gonna do? I'm sorry, that's nonsense. Mike Borganzi lays down at night and puts his head on his pillow. He closes his eyes and he knows who he wants to pick. And like he said, we want to be a tape driven team. These meetings with these quarterbacks, they can break ties.

They can answer questions, but if cam ward is the number 10 player on the Titans board, they're not going to go into a meeting and bump them up all the way to number one. That is not happening. If the Titans going into the combine did not want to take one of the quarterbacks, what they say in these meetings is not going to change it and make the Titans take a quarterback. So I pushed back immensely on the fact that these meetings can have a significant change to the board.

And the Titans general manager, Mike Borganzi, literally said, it can change things, but not drastic. And he's talked about medical and testing, which is totally different than the meetings, which is what everyone is telling us is the meetings could change things. No, they can't. No, they can't. The board, the tape, the film, the football, that is what matters. And you can't get, you know get swayed in a meeting with a guy if you didn't believe that he was the level of player that you're now going to elevate him to.

Craziness to me. So they told you that arm strength didn't matter. Brian Callahan said there is a threshold and a requisite that has to be met. They told you that the Titans haven't made up their mind on anything. Well, they told you they're bored set and they don't want to let too many things move them off of what they saw on tape. Two things that I have been preaching to you guys against other voices and the Titans most important people in the organization go out and confirm those thoughts at the combine. The last thing that I want to say here is, uh, Mike Borganzi did talk about the number one overall pick quite honestly.

It was a nothing burger. Uh, he said, anytime you have the number one pick, it's always going to be a topic of conversation. We've had some phone calls. I'll keep those phone calls to the vest, but conversation. We've had some phone calls. I'll keep those phone calls to the vest But yeah, we've had some phone calls No surprise there. No surprise there. No new information given still open for business Still not giving away who they're gonna pick what they're gonna do, which is exactly what they should have done today

Give good answers give it insightful answers But by no means show your cards. It's not what the titan should be doing no matter what. But again, with that being said, I do want to take a quick moment here. Being at the combine has been an incredible experience. I posted this on my socials and things like that, but I just want to talk to folks out there Who feel like maybe their dream has passed them by folks. I was 28 years old. I had No money. I'm serious. I had negative money in my bank account. I'm not joking negative money. I

was a college dropout I of money. I was a college dropout. I was renting a spare room from my little brother at his house to have a place to sleep. I had a hand-me-down mattress that I got off a kid who's five years younger than me because I didn't have a mattress. I had it on the floor in that spare room with no box spring. I had nothing. I got fired from my job. And the next day I sent an email to Locked On. And six and a half years later, I'm at the Combine with a media credential with a great career that supports me with a fantastic house. Like I was 28 years old and a bum. I thought I would never, I've wanted to talk about sports for a living

since I was 12 years old, when everybody started to grow taller and I didn't. I was like, probably not in the cards for me to play sports. I've wanted to do this for my whole life. And I went 17 years with that dream thinking it would never happen. When I dropped out of college, cause I didn't have money. I thought there's no chance that I'll ever get to work in sports journalism ever again.

I failed. You don't know that folks. It's never too late. You're never too old. Never let your dreams die. You gotta work your butt off to do anything in life. And you gotta network and meet people. And get phone numbers and email addresses and that's part of it too. But I'm just telling you folks, anybody listening to this, anybody watching this, no matter how you feel about where you're at in your life,

you can change it and you can make your dreams come true. So I know that has nothing to do with the Tennessee Titans, but it's a message that needs to be heard. And I'm grateful every day that you guys let me live my dream and let me get to this point, 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.