Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Titans Christmas Eve - Gifts/Coal for the season & Rowland's Rant

Episode Date: December 24, 2019

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Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast. I'm your host, Tyler Rowland. Titans fans, happy holidays and Merry Christmas Eve to you all. Hopefully, during this time, you will be able to have a safe and enjoyable time with your family and friends as we all should be. In the meantime, I know that there is a lot of traveling and there's a lot of commuting going on during this holiday season. There are a lot of different Christmases for you all, usually multiple Christmases within most families. So that is also the case for me and your other hosts of your Locked On podcast.

That means I want to talk a little bit of housekeeping real quick before we jump into the show. For the next probably three days, I'll be giving you guys a two-segment show. I want to make sure that you have something to chew on during the biggest week of the season, but also be able to accommodate everyone's busy holiday schedule. So we will have three shows the next three days. Today, we are going to start out in our first segment talking gifts and pieces of coal from the Titans season. So I'll give you three

gifts and three pieces of coal. And then I'm going to jump into a little bit of a Roland's rant about the state of the team. However, I never want to leave you guys without a nice film breakdown and a crossover podcast. So whether it be Thursday or Wednesday, I will get you a two segment crossover podcast, most likely be able to do three with that one depending on the schedule. And then whichever day, I can't get the Crossover Wednesday pod out to you guys because scheduling things right now with the different hosts can be a little bit difficult as you all should understand. Whichever day I do not put out the Crossover episode, whether that be Wednesday or Thursday, I'll get you guys a film breakdown and talk about everything that goes into this Texans matchup. Now there's no need for a Rollins Rewind. I'm sure you guys all remember Week 15. We're going to cover that game extensively

in our breakdown. So it'll probably be about two segments per show for the next three days before we get into Friday's monstrous game preview. So I just wanted to make sure you guys were on the same page with me going forward into this holiday season. I appreciate all of you, and as I said before, I hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday, but I also want to make sure I give you guys something for this big week. So, as I said, today's episode, we are going to do gifts and coal on the Titans team, and then I'll give you a little bit of a roll and ran about the state of the team and how it appears to be Groundhog Day for the Titans, at least for the last three or four years. So, we'll talk about that. Ready to jump into all of it with you guys. Let's get it. Your Tennessee Titans lead story will be a little different today.

With it being Christmas Eve and the middle of the holidays for everyone, I want to go back, look at the Titans season, and see who has been a gift to the Titans and who has been a piece of coal. So let's talk about what Santa brought the team this year. And first, let's start with the crazy fact that it seems that Santa has brought the Titans mostly offensive gifts this year. The Titans are a low end defense by the numbers. They don't give up a lot of points, but yardage wise, especially in the past game, they have really dropped off from what their performance has been the last few years. But the offense has reached a new level that we haven't seen in quite some time.

So with that in mind, all of the gifts do come from the offensive side of the ball. We will start with quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He has been 6-3 in his nine games. He's completing 70.7% of his passes for 2,544 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He added in 4 rushing touchdowns as well. Pretty impressive. Tannehill was traded for a 4th round pick swap. The Dolphins are still paying $5 million of his salary. If that is not a wonderful gift, then I don't know what one is. Moving forward, Derrick Henry, the foundation of this team. I know that he rested in week 16, but it seems to be a wise decision despite what I said last week about momentum. Derek Henry made

his first Pro Bowl this season. He's got career highs mostly across the board. He's rushed for 1,329 yards, 13 touchdowns on the ground. He added in 18 catches for 206 passing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, but mostly, and also on the side that I want to point out, he has improved drastically in pass protection. So that's been really important as well, and the Titans have gone to using Anthony Ferkser in the backfield as sort of a pseudo Derrick Henry for some of these pass protection situations where Deion Lewis was not getting the job done. Lastly, for the gifts, A.J. Brown. He could be the AFC Offensive Rookie of the Year if he puts together a strong performance against the Texans. He has absolutely exploded in recent weeks when he's gotten the opportunity and gotten more snaps. If you go to

Week 9 against the Panthers, he had 69% of the offensive snaps. That was his season high to that moment in time. Look at the jump after that going into the Kansas City game. 94%, 70%, 90%, 84%, 91% against Houston, and he was out there for close to 100% of the snaps against New Orleans last week as well. was out there for close to 100% of the snaps against New Orleans last week as well. 48 catches, 927 yards, 7 touchdowns, 60 rushing yards, and a touchdown on the ground as well. Like I said, he may be the offensive rookie of the year. As for the pieces of coal that the Titans have received this year, we will start with possibly the worst kicking situation in the history of NFL and the

worst percentage since 1982. That starts with Ryan Suckup going on IR early, which led to the signing of Cairo Santos, which led to the signing of Cody Parkey, which led to Suckup returning from IR to go 1-6, which led to Suckup going back to the IR once again. The Titans are 8-for-18 on the season. Ryan Suckup's injury and poor performance put them in this position, and his, quite frankly, overvalued contract put the Titans in this situation, and he wasn't able to perform when he got his opportunity either. So a lump of coal for the Titans for Ryan Suckup in the kicking situation in general. Next, I know some people

may be upset by this, but Marcus Mariota has been a lump of coal for the Titans. He led the team into a 2-4 hole, which they had to dig out of. He only completed 59% of his passes, which is very, very poor for 1,179 yards. He threw for seven touchdowns and two interceptions, both of those coming in the last game that he played while his stats are not completely miserable in terms of the touchdown to interception ratio in the yards the completion percentage is and his performance on tape was very poor moving into the last piece of coal it's a combination here two veterans that were supposed to make a big impact for this team in a role. Cam

Wake and Delaney Walker. Wake only had four tackles on the year, two and a half sacks, which all came in the first game. Two tackles for loss, 11 QB hits, and only played in nine games. Delaney Walker had 21 catches, 215 yards, two touchdowns that both came in the first game against the Browns, and only ended up playing in seven games. So those are your lumps of coal. Roland's rant. I just wanted to speak on something quickly before we get out of here and you guys go to enjoy the rest of your Christmas Eve or your holiday season. This team hopefully will be nine and seven for the fourth season in a row going to the playoffs two out of those four years. And I understand why people in the Titans community, fans online, you guys on Twitter and on Facebook, are maybe upset

about that. I see a lot of people, maybe not upset is not the word, but perturbed or annoyed. And I understand those emotions. And initially, you know, that was my thought. Oh, here we go. Another nine and seven season. Why can't we just win 10 games? But what I want to rant about is something that we all have to remember. The holiday season is the time to think about what you're grateful for, all the great things going on. And I don't know about you guys, but I remember the 3-13, 2-14. I remember some of the middle-of-the-road Titans teams from the early aughts that didn't have a chance to make the playoffs and were just in the middle but without chances to make the playoffs. These Titans teams the last few years, with the exception of last year

due to the injuries at the quarterback position, have played decent football. They've given us winning seasons. They've been in the mix. This will be the third year in a row that the Titans have a win and end situation in week 17. Guys, the seasons have been compelling and interesting and fun all the way up to the finish line. And quite frankly, the Titans are getting a draft pick in the late teens, 19, 20, things like that, 22. 22 and there are 20 other teams 15 other teams at the minimum 10 other teams who would much rather be the titans than be where they are right now and this year specifically is specifically compared to previous years the titans have won with defense and complementary football this year

the titans are coming out and putting up points, scoring, throwing the ball down the field, huge chunk plays, 90-yard touchdowns, wide receiver reverses for a touchdown, screens to the tight end. Everything is humming right now for this Titans offense, even with the terrible pass protection, the injury to Derrick Henry. How could anyone complain about this year? Yeah, I want a 10-win season too, guys. I would love to have the Titans be already clinched and not have to worry about these things and worry more about a bye week than worried about getting in in the wildcard spot. But gosh, we could be the Browns.

We could be the Jets. I mean, things could be worse, guys. I mean, we could be the Buccaneers. We could be the Panthers. There are just so many other teams and fan bases, quite frankly, that would kill if you told them, hey, three years in a row, you're going to be playing a game in Week 17 with a chance to make the playoffs

win and you're in. How many fan bases would sit back and say, oh, no, same thing over and over again? Sometimes we just have to step back and remember what this team was under Rustin Webster. It's hard to get upset. I know, like I said, I want 10 wins too, but it's hard to get upset with this team or be disappointed as a fan when your team is consistently coming out, competing every single year, and why things are just so strange. The Titans win games that they aren't expected to win, lose games that they

aren't expected to lose. I understand that that can get frustrating, and this team has a weird kind of up-and-down quality to it that can be frustrating for a fan, but at the end of the day, this roster is one of the more talented rosters. This offense is finally fun and exciting to watch, and this team consistently puts a product out on the field that we can be happy about and that we can count on to be there at the end of the season. So I don't know how this game against the Texans will unfold. Obviously, there are hopes that the Texans will maybe sit some starters, which will allow the Titans to get in with ease.

And quite frankly, if you ask any other fan other than a AFC South division rival or a Raiders or Steelers fan, if you ask any other fan base, they're going to tell you that they would rather have the Titans in the playoffs because they're more fun to watch. And that right there is incredible. So although the Titans are 9-7 again for a fourth season and in week 17 fighting for a chance to go to the playoffs, this team has been incredible to watch this year and fun to watch this year. And that's something that has been different from the past few years that we need to focus on as well.

So I know that I'm ranting and that's the name of the segment, but the overall point is do not be upset that your team is competing for the playoffs up until the last week of the season every single year since John Robinson took over. There's no reason to be upset about that. We can all make our jokes. I made a joke. Hello, nine and seven, my old friend, come to talk to you again. I understand it's fun, but reality has to set in at some point. And we are in a great spot as a fan base and as a team to be consistently competing, regardless of the injuries, the quarterback play, all of the

different things that have happened to the Titans over the last few years. This team has still come out and competed every season and put themselves in a position to play playoff football. And you know what happened the last time the Titans got into the playoffs and played the Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs, which is looking like the most likely matchup for the Titans if they are able to win. What happened last time? So never count this team out. And because we can never count this team out. And because we can never count

this team out, we as fans have to appreciate that and be thankful for what John Robinson has done for this roster, for this team. And even though, like I said, things are frustrating and I want the 10 wins in the division title as well, this team is so much different from what it had been the previous five years. And as Titans fans, like I said I said get your jokes off but at some point time let's sit back and appreciate that this team is constantly competing for the playoffs so that's all I had to rant about I've just seen a lot of negativity around where the Titans are no one wants to be nine and seven forever but guys we have a chance to make the playoffs again and for that we have to be happy and appreciative and before before we head out of here, I once again want to remind you guys,

please have a safe and happy holidays from me here. I'll be trying to do the same, but I appreciate all of you. And now is the time of year where you got to appreciate everything that you have and mostly be safe and kind to everyone else. So that's the one thing I want to leave you with during this holiday season. Thank you for listening to the show. Extend that courtesy to the team by being happy about where they are. And then also, extend that kindness to your fellow man and have a great, happy, and safe

holiday. So that will do it for me. I am your host, Tylerland and this was locked on tight