Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Titans GM For a Day: Making Organization Decisions, Season Predictions & Malik v Willis Development

Episode Date: May 25, 2023

What would you do if you were the Titans general manager for a day? Tyler answers that questions and talks about changing the medical process, roster moves and picking a team direction. Next, which total will be higher, Derrick Henry's touchdowns or Trevon Wesco's receptions? Tyler dives into that question and so other "this or that" topics. Finally, how did the podcast come about and an important hydration question!!Support 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 “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.FanDuelMake Every Moment More. Don’t miss the chance to get your No Sweat First Bet up to ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS in Bonus Bets when you go FanDuel.com/LOCKEDON.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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Titans fans, what would you do if you were the general manager for a day? I'll give you my answers 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. Welcome to the Locked On Titans Podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland, Titans fans. A little mailbag episode to finish off this week of the Locked on Titans podcast.

You guys sent in your questions. I'm going to answer a couple of those. The first one, what would I do if I was general manager for a day? Before we dive into that, I do want to thank you guys for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen each and every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content on all platforms, all year round, always for free.

Make sure that you get subscribed and stay subscribed to the Locked on Titans podcast, where it's your team every day. So a little bit of a mailbag for you guys. I thought it was a fun way to end the week. I had people send me questions on Twitter. You can follow me there at Tic Tac Titans. But the first question that I want to go over here is,

what would I do if I was general manager for a day? And down below, let me know what you guys would do if you were the Titans general manager for a day. And this question comes from Dylan Elam again on Twitter. For me, I think the number one answer, now I have little individual moves that I would like to see the Titans make, of course. But I think at the end of the day,

the big thing for me is I would just commit to a direction. Now, if I'm the general manager, obviously I'm going to make the decision here in this scenario that we're talking about, but you still want to get input and intel from everybody. And at the end of the day, you're the general manager. You got to talk to the owner and all that.

So you take the temperature of how people around you feel and people that you respect and trust. But at the end of the day, the Titans just need to commit to a path because my biggest gripe so far about the offseason is it seems like they're trying to walk down two paths there and in fairness Ray Carthon has told us he doesn't want to rebuild his intention is to keep this team winning so we should have expected this all along but they're trying to fill gaps in the roster with free agent deals that give you no long-term penalty.

They're not really committing. And when you do that, that's fine. I understand people are saying, hey, that's the perfect thing for the Titans to do. But at the end of the day, if you get any kind of real answers, you're going to have to give them a bigger payday here in the future. And you're giving yourself a level of player talent-wise that is more of a risk than maybe somebody that you'd pay a little bit more who's a little bit more proven. So the Titans went the route of giving no financial commitments

in the long term with guys who have potential, who've been kind of on the bench or rotational roles. So I understand that, but to me, it's kind of a half step. If you have Ryan Tannehill, you have Derrick Henry, you should be going all out to win. I mean, if you're going to keep them around for the last year of their careers or the last year of their contracts

and they're getting paid high price, same thing with Kevin Byard on the defensive side. Now you've paid Jeffrey Simmons. If you're paying this high price for these high level players, you can't half step around them. You got to go for it. If you're going to do it, go for it. The worst thing you can do is keep Tannehill, keep Henry, keep buyer, keep everybody around and act like you're going for it while giving them a subpar cast that they could never realistically win with. And right now you look at wide receiver, you look at some of the free agent signings,

which I don't think were bad signings in a vacuum, but as a total effort, and you look at what they've added, it's like maybe they could have gone with a better offensive tackle than Andre Dillon or not taking the risk there. Maybe if you want to address pass rush, you go deeper into the pockets to do it. Wide receiver could have been addressed in any realm

if this is what they wanted to do with the draft and after the draft, why not spend some of the money at wide receiver? If you're going to go for it, then go for it. And then you add into the draft, you know, like we're all coming to terms with the picks, but again, if you're trying to maximize Derrick Henry, Kevin Byard, and Ryan Tannehill, you don't trade future picks and trade up to get a quarterback and then take a running back in the third round. That doesn't maximize Tannehill and Henry's last year. You're not giving them a real chance in their final year. So if you're not going to give them a real chance in their final year,

then why wouldn't you pivot and maybe try to save some money, go young, see what you have in younger players that you just drafted, you know, just commit to a direction. Now, outside of that general philosophical standpoint that I would do as general manager for the day, I would change the medical staff or change the medical procedures. I would just get a totally new voice on anything that is medically driven and start from the top. We just saw two years of historic injuries. I'm not a doctor.

I say that all the time. I joke all the time on the podcast. I'm not a doctor. So I'm not going to sit here and tell you that some of these people who have degrees for what they're doing are doing it wrong. But I also have to be a logical person and say when you had the most players on your roster in NFL history due to injuries, 91 in 2021. And then you follow that up with a league leading players placed on injured reserve in 2022. You're having league leading high level historic injuries and historic injuries in back-to-back seasons.

Something must be off, right? And hopefully that trend, now I'm getting sick. I'm hurt now. Oh, geez. But hopefully that trend changes. You know what I mean? But at the same time, you have to try to change up something because like Albert Einstein said, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result

is the definition of insanity. Outside of that, I would consider a release or a possible trade for Tannehill if you could get it. Go with Will Levis. I've been saying that from day one. Use the money that you would save on Tannehill to make moves. The Titans are in a financial crunch right now trying to add a little bit more money than the $11 million that they have.

And there you go. There's $18 million. And now that you're past June 1st or that you'll be past June 1st soon, it could be even more than that, $27 million for Tannehill. So I think that's a move that the Titans should consider. Trade for a wide receiver if possible. It's not always possible to make a trade. Takes two to dance.

But if there's something on the table, you've already committed a bunch of your draft picks next year and you don't have a lot of them. So, I mean, you might as well go get somebody who can help you right now or at least help you next season. And outside of that, I would change media restrictions. The Titans get some of the least in-depth coverage in the offseason of NFL teams because the Titans are so tight-lipped with what they do with the media. We don't get lineup information.

We don't get play descriptions of how plays broke down, what roles players are being used in. Other teams get that stuff, and the Titans don't. And at the end of the day, professional football is entertainment. Entertain your customers. So I would change the media restrictions to be more in line with other teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the Cincinnati Bengals or the Philadelphia Eagles, stuff like that, where the fans could get a little bit more information

about what's happening at practice. Now, that's a selfish one, but hey, I'm the GM, so that's what I would do. But who's going to get more? Derrick Henry touchdowns, Trevon Wesco receptions. I'm going to reaffirm my season prediction here. A lot more of your guys' questions coming here soon before we get into it. Do want to let you guys know that today's episode

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So make sure that you go to your local Walmart, go to your local Sam's Club, pick up a pack of Bilt Bars. They are the best tasting protein bars you will ever have. You can thank me later. Titans fans, we are going to continue with this mailbag edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Just talked about what I would do if I were general manager

for a day for the Tennessee Titans. Some changes I would definitely make, but let me know down below again what changes you would make if you were the general manager for the day for the Titans. I want to remind you guys that I do appreciate you making

the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year round, always for free on YouTube, your favorite podcast app. Make sure you get subscribed. Stay subscribed to the Locked on Titans podcast where it, your favorite podcast app. Make sure you get subscribed. Stay subscribed to the Locked on Titans podcast

where it's your team every day. Diving back in to these mailbag questions. Got a really fun question here from Jake Robertson at Glory Day Sports on Twitter. He says, who finishes higher, Derrick Henry's touchdowns or Trevon Wesco's receptions? Now, this is a very interesting question because Derrick Henry is basically penciled in

for double-digit touchdowns every single year. And Trevon Wesco, in four seasons, has only had eight receptions in his entire career, averaging two catches a season. But here's the thing. I think Trevon Wesco, and we talked about this on yesterday's show, my everydayers who listen to the show every single day throughout the week, they know because we talked yesterday about my concern

that Chinkaconqua would get the snaps that he deserves because Mike Vrabel just loves a Jeff Swaim tight end and that's what Trayvon Wesco was brought in to be. We talk about Jeff Swaim's snap counts in previous years and how high that they've been. And they're going to put Wesco in that role so he may get 40 to 50% of the snaps on offense Wesco may be in. So Wesco is going to have more catches than two this season.

I think he's going to have more catches than eight this season. I would bet that he goes over 10 and gets into the teens. I think he'll probably have 13 to maybe 12 to 15 catches on the season just because he plays so much for the Titans. So with that in mind, this is going to be close. Derrick Henry had 17 touchdowns in 2020, 10 touchdowns in 2021.

Of course, there's the injury. 13 touchdowns in 2022. So I think Henry is going to be right in the 10 to 15 range when it comes to touchdowns on the season. So I think it's going to be very close. They could even tie, but for the sake of the Titans, I'm going to say that Derrick Henry scores more touchdowns than Trevon Wesco catches passes.

That's going to be my official answer. But great question there, Cenk Robertson. I do really love that question. more touchdowns than Trevon Wesco catches passes. That's going to be my official answer, but great question there, Jake Robertson. I do really love that question. It's going to be really close. It might be something that we track throughout the season, you know what I mean, just to see what actually happens. But anyways, moving right along, got another question here, and it is from Jackson Johnson on Twitter. He says, what's your prediction for the Titans in 2023? So right after the schedule dropped, we talked about this. And I said that I think the Titans go 7-10.

If they have a healthy offseason, which, you know, I said during that episode, I'm going to make a new season prediction once we get closer to the season. I see what actually happens. So as the summer unfolds, as we get information on people, how they're doing, how they're looking, things like that, obviously who stays healthy, who's not healthy. As that information comes in throughout the summer, I continue to think about what I really think will happen.

But right now I'm still at 7-10 for the Titans, but I will tell you, I'm leaning into 8-9. I'm leaning into it. Simmons back healthy. Tannehill is back healthy. Henry showed up to OTAs early. Chikokonkwa is looking good. Traylon Burks looks in great shape. I just think, you know, there's a lot of reasons to think that the Titans may be one game better than maybe I initially projected. I'm usually pretty close. I got 12-5 in 2021 right on the nose. I did 9-8 last year. They ended up 7-10, but I think they would have finished 9-8

with a little bit more health. And they were right there. So, yeah, I think 7-10, but I'm leaning into have finished 9-8 with a little bit more health. And they were right there. So, yeah, I think 7-10, but I'm leaning into 8-9 right now is what I would tell you where I'm currently at. And then another question here from TheTitan830. He says, is Will Levis better now than Malik? Listen, I've said this before. I'm going to keep it brief and simple because I don't want to,

at some point, you know, I don't want to feel like I'm just piling on Malik Willis here. But at the end of the day, Malik Willis played in a shotgun only offense at Liberty and Will Levis was playing in a pro style offense in the SEC and in the Big Ten for his first two years before he transferred. Will Levis is just much more advanced at what's required. If Malik Willis had the same pro-style offensive experience,

calling the plays in the huddle, making the checks, doing all that, if he had the experience doing all that, then who knows who would be better. You know what I mean? Maybe if Malik can, you know, kind of cut that learning curve a little bit, then we'll see. I mean, the preseason is going to be so much fun getting to see Levis against Malik Willis. I mean, we've had to watch Logan Woodside the last few preseasons and then it's just like, oh, well, Malik Malik's out. This is boring now. Now, no matter who's in at quarterback until like late, late where they probably put like Mohassan in or whoever the camp arm is,

it's going to be fun to watch either way. That's all I know. But with that in mind, we are going to get into the last two questions that you guys had. There's a little bit of a condensed mailbag edition here to end the week. But we got more to talk about, some good questions coming your way, even if they're off the beaten path just a little bit. But before we get into that, I want to thank you guys again

for making the Locked on Titans podcast your first listen every day. OTA is again next week. Going to be breaking it down with you guys. Going to have a ton of reaction. Make sure you get subscribed. Stay subscribed to the Locked on Titans podcast. Titans fans, we are going to cap off today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. We've been taking your guys' questions in the mailbag,

seeing what you had to say, seeing what questions that you did have. It's been fun going back and forth here and getting to answer some of those with you guys. If you ever want to send in your questions, you can do that on Twitter at TicTacTitans is what my account is there. Also do have a Facebook page at Locked on Titans pod.

Have an Instagram at LockedOnTitans as well. Don't really shout out the social medias every single episode, but wanted to throw that in here at the end. Do plan. I know a lot of people on the YouTube channel are like, hey, are you going to take questions from the live chat and stuff like that? I plan on having a mailbag live episode for the YouTube crowd here soon as well. So just know your time will come.

But with that being said, we are going to move forward here. I got a couple more questions from you guys. And they're a little off the beaten path in terms of like straight up Titans questions. Do have one more that I want to slide in here that just came through. Want to try to get in as many as I possibly can. But Joseph on Twitter says, what's some of the best things you have seen out of the rookies in OTAs? For me, I think it's Tajay Spears. I really, really liked the pick when it happened. That was the first thing I said out about the pick.

I think he's going to add an explosive element to the Titans offense. I think he can catch the ball out of the backfield. I think he didn't do as much of that in college as he's capable of doing. They're already talking about having him as a kick returner and a pump returner as well. So I think he's going to benefit the team in a multitude of ways. So I'm really excited about Tajay Spears. Outside of that, I think Skowronski is going to start from day one. And listen, that's only the requirement is that he's one of the starters from

day one. Maybe you think that's a big requirement. I don't for a first round pick. But all I would say is if Peter Skowronski doesn't start from day one, then we have like a serious issue on our hands. Then we should be worried. So I think Peter Skowronski is going to play the role fine. I think he's ready to go from day one, and that's great. So those are my two number one observations that kind of pop out to me when you talk about rookies in the OTAs. So last couple of questions here. Like I said, they're off the beaten path a little bit. so last couple of questions here. Like I said,

they're off the beaten path a little bit. Uh, Cody, we said, or I'll do Hunter Payne first. Um, Hunter Payne said, how did you get started with the Titans podcast? Can you talk about the early days and how you,

uh, grow the show? So, uh, I did logistics by trade, uh, like logistics, coordination,

management, account management, stuff like that. Uh, coordination, management, account management, stuff like that. And one of my former bosses, I'll just say made a bad decision. And it really wasn't my fault, but I got let go. And I know everybody says that. And I would tell you the truth. Trust me, I've told this story before. And when I had more time to explain it on the show, and I got into further details. But anyways, lost my count. I got laid off. It was a Thursday.

That Friday, sitting at home, listening to Locked on Lakers, because I'm a big Lakers fan, and I listened to a ton of podcasts before. I listened to Locked on Titans before I hosted Locked on Titans, and I noticed that Locked on Titans hadn't come out in a few months. I went to journalism school in college. That's a whole nother story for another day.

But I had technical training in the field. I had done some side projects of my own writing for free at websites, doing like streams online, but talking about sports while playing video games, stuff like that. Uh, I did a lot of little stuff, uh, because this is just what I was meant to do. This is what I like to do is it's talk and, and talk about sports the most. Um, so yeah, I sent an email, uh, because I realized the show had stopped coming out and I had certain credentials and, uh, experience and I did a tryout and did an interview process

and it worked and we're getting ready to go into season five and I'm living my dream and thank you all so much. I can't thank you all who are listening, watching right now more than I already do. I'll try if I can. But the last question that I have here, again, like I said, these are just off the beaten path a little bit,

having some fun. Cody Weath has a great question. Remember here, again, like I said, these are just off the beaten path a little bit, having some fun. Cody Weath has a great question. Remember, guys, don't think I forgot. Take a drink of water. It's time. Hydration break, okay? But Cody Weath says, it's a hot day out, and you are parched. So you go to your local gas station or store,

walk up to get a cold bottle of water. As we all know, hydration is key. Indeed it is, Cody. What brand are you grabbing and why? All right. So if you guys are watching the show right now, let me know what your favorite brand of water is. Let me know on Twitter at Tic Tac Titans. This is a special Easter egg right here. Tic Tac Titans. This is a special Easter egg right here. This is late in the show, late in the mailbag show. Let me know. But my answer is Fiji.

I'm sorry, guys. Call it what it is, but it's just the best bottled water I've ever had. If it's not Fiji, then I'm going Smartwater. Love Smartwater. So, I'm going Fiji all day, every day. But if not, smart water, and I'm happy with that.

I can leave satisfied. But man, I'm ready to drink some more water right now. Get hydrated, people. It's the weekend. That's going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland. And this was Locked on Titan.