Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans Week 4 Game Postponed: What Next, Vrabel's Thoughts & Locked On Titans Fantasy League Update

Episode Date: October 2, 2020

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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, this Friday edition of the Locked On Titans podcast is brought to you by NFL Game Pass. This season, get football on your time with NFL Game Pass. See all of the action from every game with full game replays.

You can also replay an entire game and catch all of the plays in just 45 minutes with condensed games. Go to NFL.com slash Game Pass to start your free trial today. NFL Game Pass, where football never stops. And unfortunately, football will stop for the Tennessee Titans this weekend. The Titans did come back with a few additional COVID-19 positives, and the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers will be postponed for a later date in the season. So obviously, on today's show, we are going to start out getting you guys all of the most recent news and all of the latest updates from the situation regarding the Tennessee Titans and the COVID-19 outbreak that took place this week.

It is somber news. It is unfortunate news for certain, but we do still need to be as up to date as possible in regards to what this means for the Tennessee Titans going forward. Also, I will let you hear directly from Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Rabel, giving you his thoughts on the situation, what he said to the team, the team's response, and what this could mean for the Titans going forward as well. So we will cover every single possible avenue of this story in the first and second segment of today's show, but then we will have a little bit of fun to round things out for this week of the Locked on Titans podcast. I will give you guys an update after three weeks on the Locked on Titans Fantasy Football

League that I've been conducting with a few select listeners from this audience. So really enjoying having that Fantasy Football League with some of the listeners of the show. So I will give you guys an update on where things stand and spoiler alert, the host with the most not doing so hot. So we will discuss that to end off today's show. Although there is no game this week, I will continue to be bringing you guys Monday through Friday Titans content and getting you ready for the next game

the Titans have against the Buffalo Bills. So make sure that you subscribe to the Locked On Titans podcast for my Tic Tac Titan film breakdowns that will be centered around the Bills next week and all the additional content that I will be bringing in a normal game week going forward. So whether that's on Apple Podcasts, following on Spotify, please subscribe.

Also, got some really good information on the numbers on the show recently. I'll share that with you guys maybe at the end of the show, but a five-star review following me on Twitter at TicTacTitans. Those things are also appreciated as well. But we are going to dive into this Friday edition of the Locked On Titans and get you up to date in regards to everything surrounding the Tennessee Titans right now. Let's get it. After receiving two additional positive COVID-19 tests on Thursday, one from a Titans player and one from another Titans personnel member,

the NFL has officially decided to postpone the Titans' Week 4 matchup in Nashville against the Pittsburgh Steelers and reschedule that not for a later date in the Titans week 4 matchup in Nashville against the Pittsburgh Steelers and reschedule that not for a later date in the coming week Monday or Tuesday as has been rumored but to a completely different week later in the season obviously this is disappointing news for Titans fans and the organization as you would hope that a situation like this wouldn't occur. But considering the current climate in not only the United States, but in the world, it is only to be expected that at some point in time, the NFL would have to deal with some sort of COVID-19 major scheduling issue. That brings us to the player that did test positive additionally on Thursday.

And of course, joining the original three players that tested positive. Tommy Hudson, practice squad tight end. Bo Brinkley, the starting long snapper. And then starting nose tackle Daquan Jones. We had Wednesday outside linebacker Kamalei Correa. And then Thursday in what is the biggest on-field blow to the Titans. Rookie cornerback Christian Fulton joined that list. And of course, the Titans, as I mentioned, had another personnel member test positive as well.

That brings the total number up to 12. If you do include outside linebacker coach Shane Bowen, that is most certainly considered an outbreak. And it is the smart and sensible move for the NFL to limit any contact or any risk by postponing this game. But that brings us to the conversation of what this means for the Titans going forward and when exactly could this game take place later in the season. Well, first, to look at the scheduling of the matter, there is an easy fix to this issue in terms of how the schedule could be moved around. At this time, the Titans' regular scheduled bye week was Week 7. In Week 7, the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers, who is supposed to be the Titans'

opponent this week, have a game. So the Titans have a bye in week seven. Pittsburgh and Baltimore play in week seven. Pittsburgh and Baltimore both had their regularly scheduled bye week after that game in week eight. So in theory, the NFL could move Pittsburgh and Baltimore to week eight because both of them had an open bye week there anyways. And in return, they could allow the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers

to play in the Titans' original bye week in Week 7. The Ravens would then have a Week 7 bye as well, so it would still work out for all the teams involved. So that is a very easy fix to the schedule that could allow this game to be played in about a month. Now, that does make things a little bit more difficult on the Titans. Of course, having a bye in the middle of the season or closer to the end of the season is generally preferred by NFL players and coaches. An early season bye week, especially after you've only played three games so far,

doesn't really maximize the player's opportunity to get as healthy as possible for the stretch run of the season. But some positives for the Titans to take into account. The Titans are not a healthy team right now. Adoree Jackson, their number one cornerback, A.J. Brown, their number one wide receiver, and Taylor LeJuan, their number one one tackle all were most likely not going to be playing in this game against the Steelers against a 3-0 Pittsburgh Steeler team that is a good football team the Titans chances were very low without those three players this will give them an opportunity to possibly get healthy and be available for the Titans week five matchup against

the Buffalo Bills who are also an undefeated team who has played very well this season. Another thing to consider is, other than just the healthiness of the players in terms of injuries, is the antibodies that should come from beating the coronavirus or recovering, in theory, could potentially keep the Titans safer later in the season. And from a mental perspective, the Titans will be prepared for any adjustments in their schedule that could happen later in the year. One thing to note here is that the 49ers had their bye last year in week four and made it all the way to the Super Bowl and head coach Mike Vrabel due to 9-11 in 2001 played 14 straight games with the New England Patriots that culminated in a Super Bowl championship.

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share in his Zoom conference from Thursday so I'm going to play you some of the highlights from that. Obviously the audio is courtesy of TennesseeTitans.com but the first thing that we really need to hear about from head coach Mike Vrabel is what he told the team this morning when he got word officially from the NFL that week four has now become the Titans official bye week. Meeting with the team this morning at 830. the team that in light of the two recent positives test that we had, the NFL had made the smart and safe decision to postpone our game and that we would be on a bye week starting now. We reminded them to not gather with each other, players and staff until we can find a safe way to enter in back to our building. Hopefully, which would happen Monday or Tuesday, which we would then prepare for our preparation against.

Told them to try to mentally recover from emotional few days so that we can proceed with our season and build on a 3-0 start. That was my message to them this morning. And from here, the question quickly becomes, well, what was their message for you this morning? How did the players respond and react to this news? Obviously, very disappointing for the players. Imagine how, as a fan, as people who love watching the team, for me, I love covering the team, I love watching football games, breaking down film. It's obviously disappointing, but this means so much to the players in the locker room as they pour their

blood, sweat, and tears, their souls into this game. To have their season derailed, and of course, the players themselves are probably a little worried about whether they could be the next person to test positive, a little worried about what it could mean for the rest of their season. There are tons of things to worry about at this moment in time. So what did the players have to say back to head coach Mike Vrabel when he broke the news to them? I think they were somewhat shocked. They wanted to play. They were preparing to play.

They were, they wanted to play, they were preparing to play. But I think that they understood and realized why the decision was made. And, you know, I think that they'll handle this like they do everything else. They'll handle it with professionalism, with understanding and a compassion towards not only ourselves and those people that have been affected, but also Pittsburgh, the Steelers that were preparing for a game. And now we'll have their schedule changed as well. And speaking of those schedule changes,

as mentioned, this week officially becomes the Tennessee Titans bye week. So they are going to have a very long stretch of games ahead with no reprieve, with no break, with no extra bye week in there. At this time, just one thing that I've seen floated around that I think is a pretty good idea, quite frankly, is maybe the NFL should consider having two bye weeks at the end of the season. I think the Titans situation was easy to navigate because of the way that the bye weeks worked out, as I mentioned in the first segment. But what if something like this happens later in the season, week 14, week 13, when there

are no bye weeks left, what would the NFL do then if they had to postpone a game? So obviously they're looking to do everything possible to not, you know, have games forfeited or not cancel games entirely. So maybe it would behoove the NFL to schedule, you know, a two week bye week or a two week off week before the playoffs actually start. One that allows all the playoff teams to get a little bit healthier, which will be better for the product and better for the game on the field.

But also, it might allow them to use the first bye week, week 18, and play any game that had to be postponed. That might be an option that they need to consider. So that's something that we'll see if the NFL adjusts going forward or how they handle any additional outbreaks. Quite frankly, I know this happened to the Titans, but hopefully it does not happen to anyone else going forward as well. But speaking of that bye week and that disadvantage disadvantage of the long stretch Mike Vrabel

talked about that exactly and gave his thoughts on what the team's mentality should be going forward Terry what we're focused on as a team right now is now using the these next few days like we would our normal bye weekweek to mentally and physically prepare ourselves for a push for the rest of the season. That's what I explained to the team. I was part of a team in 2001 that had, after the 9-11 incident, played 14 straight games and won the Super Bowl that year. So however many we have to play in a row, that's what we'll prepare for. But our focus, our singular focus is on the next week, which would be Buffalo. And speaking of Buffalo and the next week, one of the realities of this situation that is a positive for the Titans is their ability to get players healthy.

It's something I mentioned earlier in the show. Adoree Jackson, A.J. Brown, Taylor LeJuan. I mean, at this point, it looks like it's possible that all three of those players could be ready to go for the next game. And if the Titans would have played this game against the Steelers, they certainly would not have been ready. So this is, in some strange way, a blessing in disguise in terms of the football. Now I don't even feel right saying that because there are players and people testing positive for COVID-19.

And it doesn't feel right to say there's an advantage to that situation. But the reality is these injuries should be healed and ready to go by week five so it does help the Titans from a football sense but ultimately you know you just wish for the health and the safety of other human beings whether they're Tennessee Titans players or coaches or whatever just anybody in general dealing with this virus you you hope only for the best so while it does leave a little bit of a dirty taste in your mouth to talk about the advantages that this may give the Titans, it is my duty and my job to bring you guys every perspective possible. So had to make sure that I mentioned that. And Mike Vrabel talked about that as well. And this was his thoughts on that.

You know, part of that, you know know your responsibility as a professional football player is to try to stay in shape i think it's important that that they try to find a way to do something um to stay active you know to get outside to do something uh and then you know that was my message to the team was you know if this is going to be our bye week, you know, there's a lot of players that can use this time and use this advantageously to possibly return for us to continue to improve, to play better. You know, we've played three games. We've won them all.

Could have played a lot better. But we've won the games that we've played, which has put us in a good position. We'll have to play much better and continue to improve. But that would, the time we have to use now. Not certain why the audio cut off there, but he just said you have to use this time to our advantage. So you know that Mike Rabel,

while being cognizant of everything going on from a personal standpoint, is also going to do everything he can to put this team in the best football position as well. But we are going to step into a much more fun and light portion of our Friday Locked on Titans podcast. I am going to give you guys a little bit of an update on the Locked on Titans Fantasy Football League next. But before I do, I want to tell you guys a little bit about rockauto.com. So one reason to repair and maintain your cars on your own is to save money that you can use for more important things

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had people go ahead and take advantage of a sponsorship that we are running with none other than rockauto.com who I just told you guys about and been really enjoying the league the banter and a nice DM on Twitter with everyone in the league so it's been a really good time for me to connect with some of you a little bit more and I look forward to doing this more in the future and getting more people involved so be on the lookout for that next season if you aren't already in the league it's only 11 people out of the thousands of people who listen to this show every day so I know that there are people chomping at the bit to get in the league and a few people who were just a little bit past the deadline who did take advantage of Rock Auto but had already

filled the league so got got a bunch of people who are going to be interested in doing it in the years to come but wanted to give you guys an update on how this year is going as I promised that I would when I officially announced that the league would actually be a thing going forward so just feels like a good opportunity have a little bit of fun after a tough episode I'm sure you guys can hear it in my voice. This is a tough, a somber episode. I mean, there's not much that I can do to not give you guys my real emotions for the situation. And I'm sure that's something that you appreciate is just me being honest about how I feel. And you can feel how I feel, hear how I feel.

And I know how you guys feel too. So it just made sense to do it this way. But I want to have a little bit of fun, talk a little bit of fantasy here at the end of the show and at the end of the week. First off, shout out to all of the different members who are in the league with me. Kenan Jones, Pablo Catala, Jeffrey McCullough, Kevin Schventer, Matthias Moeller, Sean Barker, BK Smith, Jack Courtney, Robert Parker, Chris Lee, Colin Sarnoski. Shout out to all you guys. As for how the league is going, well,

I'm the only 0-3 team in the whole league. I'm the host. What are you guys doing to me? And my team is not even bad, man. It even bad I have Clyde Edwards Hilaire Austin Eckler Terry McLaurin Adam Thielen DJ Moore Michael Gallup Malcolm Brown I just I don't understand how I'm so bad I don't get it but shout out to Kenan Jones the WC Cardinals. He is 3-0 on the season. Same thing, Sean Barker, no flags. He is 3-0 on the season. We got the Game Drakers with BK Smith at 2-1. Pablo has his Argentina Titans 2-1.

I do want to say that I am a top 10 football podcast in Argentina right now. I'm number 9 as of this recording on Thursday night. So shout out to Argentina, man. Really feeling the love. A top 10 football podcast in Argentina. That made me emotional when I told my mother about that, who's my biggest fan. Never thought that I'd have a following in Southern America.

So shout out to all the Argentinians listening to the show and Pablo, who is the fearless leader of that group. Jeff McCullough, Titans Jr., 2-1, doing a great job. After that, we got the middle class of the league here. Kevin, 1-2. Matthias, 1-2. Jack, 1-2. Robert, 1- and 2 the refs with Chris Lee 1 and 2 Colin 1 and 2 so all you guys are the the middle class currently still fighting it out but of

course of course it's me sitting here at 0 and 3 worst team in the league, but I'm getting screwed. I'm getting screwed. And let me tell you something. I have the most points against me of any team in the league. I just get crushed by the highest scoring team every single week. It's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. But on the flip side of that, if I'm honest, I have the second lowest total points scored too so not a banner effort from uh from your host but uh having a great time with the banter of the league having a fun time playing fantasy and listen to me and listen to me now it's early and I'm on my way back but wanted to have a little fun have a light conversation here at the end of the day I

know it's not always a great time listening to other people's fantasy teams but wanted to update you guys on that give a shout out to the members of the league who I've enjoyed having those private conversations with and and like I said just kind of finish out the week with something light something enjoyable that maybe uh we don't have to talk about such heavy, heavy things all the time. But I look forward to getting back in the swing of talking about football with you guys next week. I'm going to dive heavy into the matchup with the Buffalo Bills. Obviously, Monday we won't have a game recap episode.

Tuesday, we're not going to have a Tic Tac Titans game to break down. Rewatch Wednesday, there's no game to rewatch. So I'm going to use those opportunities to kind of laser focus in on the Buffalo Bills who are 3-0 and undefeated at this time with a game coming up this weekend. Going to be breaking down all their tape, taking a look at what they do best. I have a good idea about the Titans at this moment in time through week three. So I'm going to take this extra opportunity without a Titans game to break down some more Buffalo Bills tape and Buffalo Bills film

and see if I can give you guys an inside advantage or insider knowledge of what we can expect from this Bills game that will be incredibly critical for the Titans if they're able to get a victory over the Bills and go to 4-0 through five weeks with a game against the Texans who are really floundering right now at home and they're able to beat. I feel better about beating the Texans than I do beating the Bills. So if the Titans in some way are able to defeat the Bills and go to 4-0, I feel really good

about their chances to get in 5-0. And even if they are, even if they will take a loss to a Steelers team who I think is pretty good, at that point the Titans are 5-1 with a game against the Cincinnati Bengals coming up next. So I feel really, really good about where the Titans are and where they can be if they can beat the Buffalo Bills at home in Week 5. And having this bye week right now

will give me and the Tennessee Titans extra time to prepare for that matchup. So excited for what is coming next week on the Locked on Titans podcast. As I said, please subscribe to the show if you're a new listener and you're just joining us this week. Also, please give me a five-star review if you feel that way first off, but if you do enjoy the show and you enjoy the content that I give you guys Monday through Friday throughout the entire year and all the effort that I put into the film breakdowns on Twitter, my film analysis, the study time I put

in along with my 10-hour regular job, then just throw me a five-star review. It means a lot to my rankings. It means a lot to getting the podcast in front of other people who can enjoy it as well. I don't ask for a lot. The show is free and you guys do a great job of letting me know how happy you are with the show and things like that. So if you want to give me a five-star review, I would appreciate that. And what I'll do for you guys as well, going forward, if you do give me a five-star review, I'm going to give you a shout out on the show and read the review on the show as well. So that's something I'm going to start to implement into our weekly content

and give you guys more opportunity to interact, get your questions on the show, talk to me directly, and I'll give you shout-outs and read those things live on the air. So just wanted to extend that olive branch. If you guys wouldn't mind letting me know how I'm doing on the Apple podcast reviews. I greatly appreciate all of you who reach out at any time. That would mean a lot to me as well. But that's going to do it for our show today. That's going to do it for this week of the Locked on Titans podcast.

Not the best week in Tennessee Titans football history, but we're going to get through it. And one thing that I want to stress is I wouldn't feel any more confident with any person leading this charge than head coach Mike Vrabel. I just feel like he's the perfect man to handle this situation and to keep this team on track. So hopefully next week we have less bad news to talk about, more football to break down, and I'm excited to do that. So have a safe, have an enjoyable weekend. Take this opportunity to get things done that you needed to get done on a Sunday.

Maybe spend time with the family. If you're a football junkie like me, though, this will give you a good opportunity to just watch a bunch of football and not have your emotions completely shot by a Tennessee Titans game. So trying to find the positives there. But you guys take care. Enjoy your weekend. Thank you so much for everything you do for me. That's going to do it, though.

As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans. Thank you.