Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - TITANS SQUAD SHOW: Joint practices are CRUCIAL for Cam Ward's development

Episode Date: July 3, 2026

The Tennessee Titans are taking a gauntlet approach to the 2026 preseason, locking in joint practices with all three exhibition opponents: the 49ers, Seahawks, and Bears. We break down why matching up against these physical, elite defenses is exactly what quarterback Cam Ward needs to accelerate his development heading into a crucial Year 2.    Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast. 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) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

83, really? The disrespect. And that's not the only rankings that were maybe a little upset about. Where did ESPN place the Titans when it came to their skill positions? We'll let you know. And I don't know. I might have a hot take that you guys can all get on, like a hot stack of pancakes. Titan up.

It's the Titans Squad. Everything Tennessee Titans. up. It's the Titans squad. Everything Tennessee Titans every week. Covering all the big hits and game-changing plays from the heart of Music City, the way only the locked on podcast network can. Squad up. The Titan Squad Show starts now. And welcome to the Titan Squad Show. I'm your host, Julian Minnisone, joined by Kayla Anderson and Brad Hopkins. Today's episode is brought to you by Fandul. The biggest stage in world soccer is here. Let there be goals on Fandul. Visit Fandul.com to get started. And we are going to start with the Titans and the news of the day when it comes to their best

player, Jeffrey Simmons, being ranked 83rd, is the 83rd best player in the NFL. And it has caused quite the stir among not only fans of the Titans, but media as well. I think it's way too low. Disrespectfully so. What do you guys think? All right. I am a Big Jeff defender. You guys know that.

When I saw this, I thought it was a typo. I thought it was me how I'm numerically challenged sometimes where I flip the numbers. Like I'm a, what is it called? when you flip things in like a word. I do that with numbers. And I was like, this got to be flipped. Like, there's no way. Then I went back and looked where he was placed in terms of like the former NFL network rankings.

And he was 73rd in 2024, 58 in 2023, 54th in 24th, and 24th in 2022, and 78th in 2021. and you're meaning to tell me he came off of his biggest year yet today. And this is where they rank him. I thought it was so disrespectful. Again, like, you look at some of the players around them or him. Some of these guys, I understand, you know, comparing and contrasting. But I heard it from Derek Henry. He's like, this guy should be top 10 for sure.

I know Tyler Shugg, the Saints quarterback, came out and said, like, this was the best defender in terms of an interior defensive lineman we faced last season. I don't get it, you guys. I don't get it. You know, it's out of sight, out of mind. Rarely do, I think, players that are really talented, that are really good on teams that pick high in the draft, do they get their flowers?

They just don't because we don't talk about them enough. And I think to the casual observer, it's easy to overlook guys like Brian Burns. you know if you're not if you're not a true like football fan you watch the game I mean maybe just through the lens of the only team that you ever root for that that's one thing you don't know who talented players are like him and I think it's just simply like you start going through a list of players that you think are impactful blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah and this thing you know someone goes what about jeffersonams you already picked 82

guys you know what I mean like damn you know I forgot about him but this is reality people The list are stupid Because All right, let's just say this You got two seconds left in the game The ball's on the 28-yard line Okay, and there's no more downs to be had It's fourth down.

Who's the most important player? You're damn kicker. How about the offense? It's third one. The offense needs to convert To maybe even run out the clock, get that last first down, right? Who's the most impactful player?

Who's the best player? it's all situational and there are way too many situations and moving parts for it to sit there and start ranking these guys from one all the way down to 100 it's almost impossible and what's going to happen almost organically is that the teams that get talked about the teams that are on prime time consistently the teams that we almost become household names almost every household those are the ones that we talk about first because there's some really really good players on some really really bad teams it's just the way it is in the NFL, right? Everybody was the captain of the football team in college. Everybody was an all-American. Everybody was all this, all that. And it's not like every team

doesn't have an all-pro. They do. But we don't talk about it to that degree, about giving him their come-upits. Why? Because their team struggled. I mean, we picked fourth last year in the draft. And probably rightfully so. So are our guys like Jeffrey Simmons, probably the face of our franchise, unfortunately. I'm saying unfortunately, because they're very rarely do you see interior defensive linemen be the bell of the ball. But in Tennessee, that's who it works. Most impactful player, period. So we understand his value.

But nobody's outside of this small NFL market, comparatively speaking, know who the hell is Jeffrey Simmons is. It's unfortunate. Well, that's what I was going to ask you guys, because this list was voted on by the players. And so when you're thinking about, hey, media might be out of sight, out of mind, because, you know, we're national media aren't necessarily watching the Titans because

of the struggles that they've had the last few years. But this are, this is voted upon by a list of, of his peers. Does that surprise you even more of the fact of how low he is, Tihop? Well, you only play what, let's say, you play your four teams that are, you play your three teams rather than

your division twice a year, right? Right. And then you play another division, just one from another conference, right? And then some teams sprinkled in from other divisions within the conference. So you're not playing. playing everybody. There might go years go by before you see a certain team. Like Paul can do the Chargers play the Giants. Yeah. Paul can do the Buccaneers play the Chiefs. You see what saying? So unless you were actually sitting there played everybody ever seen, which is impossible

because there's not enough games to do that. You're going to miss something because you didn't even see that guy that might be having the best year of his career just a different sentence. So in other words, either a third or probably even half the league didn't even get to see Jeff play. And they probably didn't even go watch the tape. because they weren't playing like teams. That's the only time you recognize somebody. You really start recognizing teams and players on those teams

when you're playing like opponents or they're within your division. Right. And to Kayla, to that point right there from Bhop, that's what Tyler Shuck, who played against the Titans last year and knows very well what Jeffrey Simmons could do, came to his defense today about that because he saw it firsthand. Right. I still, though, don't understand

that he had his career best year, you guys, and that did not go unknown in the NFL community in terms of players. And he's ranked the lowest he's ever been ranked in terms of the last five years. That's what I don't understand. And again, you're right, Brad. When it comes down to it, it comes down to lists are dumb. Like that's exactly right, because this makes no sense when it comes to lists and comparing them to what he was ranked in the past five years.

I'm gonna say this. I remember when we used to vote for the pro bowl. And it was always guy that's name that we recognized. And they might not even have been having even the best year. And maybe the guy that was in the candidate list for guys that were having a pro bowl had the best numbers that he had all of his career, but we didn't know his name. You see what I'm saying? So we get there and we wrote, we voted on like I think it's offensive line and we voted on defensive players, right? Of course, right?

And usually, if we didn't know that guy's name, we're like, what the hell is this guy? You know what I mean? So you're going to get him the boat. And that's how it's so easy for guys to be incumbents when it comes to making the Pro Bowl and all pro, especially if you're a household name. So you're not going to sit there and say, you know, a guy that is in a small market like Tennessee that had a, the team had a very below average year because they picked, in the top five in the draft is going to have somebody that's in the top 20 Pete Prisco from CBS had him in the top 20 yeah but these are guys that studied the game so for players it's even worse because guess what players don't study each other unless they're playing against each other

yeah yeah unlike commentators we have to mean you know guys my my side host is I work for serious xm right I got to know all 32 teams you know I just can't know the Titans so yeah it puts me in a space of having to know. I mean, I'm right in the middle of doing the NFC South right now in our predictions. We've done six divisions already. Sure. Me and the Lexus have. So I've had to run through every single team in the AFC to this point we've already done that and the games that they play and predict winning and losing. So I've got to study this and kind of trying to figure out, well, dang, who's got a good defense? Who's got a quarterback that's seen it all? You know, have these team played until the last year? How much change has happened within those, the last,

you know, 365 days since they played each other? All of these things, right? But when you're just on your team and you've got a 17 game schedule, you know what I'm saying? And you're not playing everybody in the league. Your focus is just on what you're doing. You don't get to see one half the guys that you probably should be voting on. Just the way it. Real quick, too, you mentioned kind of in there, they played on a really bad team. This was their worst record in a long time this past season with just three wins. And I do think Julian and Brad that that can affect too, like in the front lobe of players when they're making these votes, you're associating players with winning teams too.

Sometimes when you're doing these things. And that's just not something that the Titans were. I'm not making that an excuse. I'm just trying to put myself in the mind of a player who maybe doesn't know as much about Big Jeff on its own. Well, and Kayla, you were an AP voter for college football. I'm currently an AP voter for college football. It is very difficult to watch every single minute of every single minute of

every single game when you have to have your rankings every week. And in turn, when you're doing the end of the year AP stuff, with for players, we didn't see every single snap from every single guy. And so to that point, you know, if somebody didn't watch Jeffrey Simmons or the Titans as closely as maybe the guys within their division did, they're saying, okay, well, Jeff had a great year, but there's only three wins to show for it, you know? And so certainly could have impacted that. Yeah, I think it's unanimous here way too low.

I would have at least put top 30, right? Yeah. Yeah. Easily. I mean, put it this way, you cannot be, you can't set, reset the, the market for interior defense alignment. It just can't happen. You know what I mean?

Because put this way, there's no way that an NFL team is going to pay way more than they need to to get a guy. For the least the best player. Unless you're Deshaun Watson. And that's the point in, you've got to be within this. It's almost like, you know what, the houses in your subdivision, there were $100,000 and you go put a gold driveway in years and make yours a million. I mean, you're pretty much a dummy.

You know why? Because the tops around you aren't going to get you what you want on that. It's just not. So they're not going to do that. They're not going to price them so high that they can't unload them. That's just, what I'm saying? So I remember this. I know this too.

I'm not a Hall of Fame voter, but I am. You know why? Because I got three dudes that vote in the Hall of Fame to call me and ask me what I'm, when they give me the list of guys that things you are inductees, who should go in this year? They just want to know my opinion. You said what I'm saying? I don't know.

It swings them one way or the other, but they had the smarts to at least reach out to guys, especially nowadays when guys in my peer groups, group are getting induct into the hall of thing. You know what I'm saying? I don't know how many guys are getting into the hall of thing that I play with or against. You know what I mean? So makes sense.

Yeah. Well, and if you're a player who voted Jeffrey Simmons this low, just know that I think that you're going to get a very motivated Jeffrey Simmons if he finds out who you are and you're facing him across the other side. Oh, I know who did. It was CJ Stroud. He did it. It was Trevor Lawrence.

He did it. Daniel Jones. All three of those guys said that they're terrible. That's the mindset he'll come in with regardless, guys. I don't think he even cares. And I know when it's all said and done, he got his payday, and that's what really matters. But the way that Simmons is wired,

he's going to take this and he's going to take it out on every opposing quarterback and offensive linemen. No, 100%. As he's standing over, was it you? Exactly. Well, was it you? That is hilarious. Yeah, well, yeah, that's one guy I do not want to make mad on the Titans, that's for sure.

On the other side of the break, we are going to talk about another list that came out last week when it comes to, Brad's already shaking his head, when it comes to the skill position rankings for the Tennessee Titans. We're also going to talk about the importance of the crucial joint practices that the Titans have coming up in training camp and what that means for Cam Ward and company. That's next here on the Titan Squad show. Do not go anywhere. The biggest stage in world soccer is here, and every match feels like it has potential for a memorable moment. One goal can completely change the energy of a game,

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And I was looking at the odds earlier today for U.S. and Belgium on Monday. Ricardo Pepe plus 175 to score a goal, especially with Flo Balligan out. You might want some of that action there. From the opening whistle to the final kick, let there be goals on Fandual. Visit Fandul.com to get started now. All right, guys. So last week, ESPN's Bill Barnwell came out with his list of the best skill position groups in the NFL. Now, this includes wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs.

And it's regardless of the O.C. It's regardless of the quarterback that you have in place, just the talent of the skill position group. He had the Titans at 25th. This was a slight improvement from last year when the Titans were dead last coming into the season. So, Kayla, I ask you, because you teased it right off the top. Is that fair? Yeah, at first I was a little bit befuddled. I was like, wait a second.

Like I feel like they did a lot to address that in the off season. And obviously the biggest one being the draft pick of Cardinal Tate. But I was reading kind of Brian Barnwell's explanations of what he went off of with these lists. And a lot of it is like with like, it's like the talent in 2026. and when it comes to draft picks, he kind of compares them to other people that have been drafted around that spot. He brings injuries into play,

even though if someone is healthy, he still kind of plays off of what happened last season. And then he kind of puts emphasis on really those star players. And so when I was looking at the Titans and how he broke it down, and when he started to put out and kind of lay it out, it was like, okay, Carnell Tate, definitely what we think is going to be a hit and going to be their number one wide receiver, but hasn't yet proven himself at the NFL level. You've got Wondale Robinson who, I thought there was a little shade in how he said, you know,

he had to be the guy that stepped up last year in place of, why am I blanking his name? Malik neighbors. Yeah. Malik neighbors and his injury. And it was like, okay, that's. that's great he had to step up but he stepped up and he showed out like he's moved he could do that and so i thought that was a really really good ad especially under brian dayball here and then i understand the calvin ridley thing right he's 32 years old he's coming off of injury he's has yet to prove himself here uh in Nashville hate red pull it he feels strongly about Calvin

He's very strong about Calvin Ridley. I don't know if he was yelling at me saying, Mom, you're being too hard on him or what. So I kind of understand. And then you go down the list in Elyke-I-O manner in Chimberay-DK, they are still kind of proving themselves. Sure. The tight-end positions, I think they kind of say, well,

you've got Gutter Helm, he's still young. What more can he do? Daniel Bullinger, but you get rid of my gosh, I'm blanking on. Chigacanquo, yeah. Chigacuonkwo, who's now in Washington. And then Tony Pollard, who's really, we know the value of him. I don't think he's valued as much around the league.

And then behind him, it's like, what do you have right now? Tage is still trying to stay healthy year to year. So when I put that all together, I did kind of feel like, okay, maybe it might be a couple too late. Maybe they should be up a couple spots. but it seems to be okay. Bihap. Yeah, you know, I think that a lot does hang on what Cardinal Tate does at the receiver spot.

I mean, when you look at Cordell Plot, when you look at Alante Taylor, both of them had, you know, starting reps, I think he played in like Cordell played in 14 games last year. Alante was a starter in New Orleans. No one where, you know, like world beaters, but they're still consistent players. You know, I really like Alante Tia. I think he's going to be something for us. But these aren't guys that, you know, have really just kind of kicked the door in and have been nationally recognized as the players to be. Offensively, Wondell Robinson got his start because of the league neighbors being hurt.

You know what I'm saying? Did he do a good job out of position? Yeah, you got a thousand yards. He's normally a stock receiver. He was playing the one. So he had to do what he had to do because, you know, injuries dictated that. Like you just mentioned, Caleb. Calvin Ridley didn't play pretty much, you know, last year.

So that's, you know, kind of a question mark there. And then, of course, you're talking about Cardinal tape, the draft pick. We don't know what it looks like in the NFL. You know what I mean? We don't even really see them in patches yet, which, thankfully so. So when you're coming out with this list, there's really not a whole bunch of metrics to go along

of the last year. So, you know, conventional reasoning would be, well, what have they done for me lately? Right, Janet Jackson? And at the end of the day, we're trying to figure it out. And so I think it's like, like Barnum said, at the end of the day, when we look back at this list, when we look back in the skilled positions, what did Carnell take do to elevate himself? Some guys have him as offensive rookie of the year, some big pundance. And that's no joke.

You know, because he's not a burner, you know, anything like that. But you talk about contested catches and, you know, high point and ball and all these things. He checks off so many of those damn boxes. And if Cam has ample enough time to stretch the field, getting him opportunities like that, then you're going to hear Carnio Tate's name getting called. You know what I'm saying? Especially in Brian's offense.

They're going to make that correlation. Look how much better. Brian Dayball has made Cam Ward, and he's using his weapons like Cornell Tate and gun or helm. You know what I mean? So that's going to be the national narrative when it comes down to it. And we'll look at this list in the division's history, and he's going to have already put that caveat in there,

it depends what Cornell tape does. Kind of already know what Calgary is. Can you stay healthy? Kind of already know what Wandae Robinson is. He won't be the feature. It will be a good two, three, wide receiver. And then that's when things will get said. Well, I was just going to say, I think a lot of it has come down to, at least in this

ranking, to youth and unproven nature of some of the guy. Like a lot of question marks going into 2026, right? Like, Juan Dale Robinson, we know where he's going to get targets. We saw it all at training camp. or at least mini camp and OTA so far. They are looking for that guy. We know what Tony Pollard has been able to do with this team. Like even with an up and down offensive line,

he was able to run the ball and get over 1,000 yards again last year, right? But everything after that is kind of like, yeah, is Tate's going to be a star, is going to how I'm going to take the leap that Bhop that I know you really think that he can this year? He just hasn't done it yet. Calvin Ridley, what's left in the tank for him? And then, you know, I didn't want to talk about Chimdike and Alec Ayo Man. And I think there's a lot to be excited about with those guys.

But their rookie year was very much a rookie year. You know, there were some good moments. There were some learning moments. And the hope is that they can do it consistently, especially Chim Dekh coming off of an all pro season when he did it in special teams. Can we, he had the receiving part to the mix. And so there are pieces and by pieces, I mean Brian Dable and hopefully an improved Cam Ward that could only elevate these guys too.

but I agree with you, Bhop. It starts with the feature guy, and that is going to be Carnell Tate and his potential star power. Let me ask. Go ahead, Biop. I just going to say real quick, the reason why I feel so strongly

about Gunner Helm and about what Wondell Robinson could possibly do is because that might be all the time the cam has in the pocket to do it at all. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? At least a start here. If you were in a go-rock,

you were in a post or something like that, that takes about three. four seconds. And what if he's only got two at the most? You know what I mean? So that ball doesn't come out quick. And we saw a lot of that stuff in training camp, right? Well, not training camp, but OTA. There's safety valves. Safety valve galore these two. Yeah. 100%. So that's where, actually, that's where Xavier Reseppo has been making his hay too. Because he can stop, find the hole, you know, make the catch. But it's not going to be 20 yards down the field where it takes time to find that guy. You know what I'm saying? So at the end of the day, when the protection dictates

where Cam goes with the damn football, it might be the tight end and the slot receivers that end up getting the most attention. Go ahead. Well, and those guys as the offense are going to be tested because they have some joint practices at the end of training camp that are going to be very crucial for this team. They're going to Kayla's neck of the woods. I might be actually planning on being out there. Okay, there you go. They're going to be in Santa Clara for a joint practice with the Niners in August. That's going to be followed by two separate sets of joint practices. one with the Seahawks here in Nashville and another with the Chicago Bears here in Nashville.

And so Bhop, when it comes to how important joint practices are, especially when these are also going to be three playoff teams that you're going to be facing in the preseason, just how valuable is that going to be for a young team and particularly a young quarterback Cam Ward? It doesn't get any truer than playing in a joint practice because you really know what you have when you're playing against an unconsor. common opponent and all eyes are on you. In 7-on-7, when you're watching the receivers and dbs goes against each other, when you're watching 1-1s, down in the trenches, when you're watching 9-0-7, the run game on focus. I mean, first of all, the intensity ramps up like, wow, you know what I'm saying? Because you're not just being judged for your team in that practice.

You're setting tape out there. Hell, even the team you're playing against looking at you. You're taking note. Yeah. Yeah, that's right there. that 54 he's been flying along all over the place he's been making play and they're all taking notes right and that's kind of what preseason games themselves are you know are pretty much for but as far as the competition the intensity um and it's not like they're game planning you you know what I'm saying

it's just really football you I mean do you have enough of the intangibles do you have enough of the skill set do you have enough talent to make a difference when all eyes are on you so that's why these joint practices. I mean, we had some of the hardest practices that you're ever going to have. They're harder than during the season. Yep. Playing against a team that you've got to play that Sunday. And it's like you're playing many games

up until the real game. You know what I mean? And that's why you see all these fights that be happening in training camp. Have you ever noticed that during training camp when you have joint practices? There's a lot of fighting. Titans had some last year. Yeah. Yeah. I don't do that stuff during, you know, during the regular season. You'll be fighting these other like that. But you do

when it's an uncomfort. an opponent and they're trying to knock your head off in practice because there are no but there are no brother-in-law's situations going on when you're playing against a team that could possibly end up getting you cut you know so that's why those those practices are so intense and i'll be on the sideline for that game too kela so um nice maybe that week we can get doing and do a do a lockdown podcast yeah for me i know i'm excited when i saw that on the you know schedule and terms of the preseason. I was like, Titans?

Down there? Like, I'm like, and we cover the Niners heavily up here. So I was like, I got to get down there for the guys. It's funny, Brad and Julian, I remember when Taylor LeWan was here still.

And they were having their first big joint practice with the Patriots at the time. And that was a big deal. Obviously, Tom Brady was still there. And he was coming back. And, you know, Mike Braille was a head coach.

And I remember LaWan, and you know how blunt Milan is, when we asked about joint practices, I mean, he let it all out there. He was like, God, I freaking, hey, and these are, I'm being very, you know, I'm not actually saying what he said. But you can imagine what language he was using when it came to describing joint practices. And, you know, he said, but when it's all said and done, it's the best work we get in the off season right before the season starts.

And he championed it. He said he absolutely hated it, but he said it does prepare you the most for that start of the season. And I think that's why, too, guys, we were starting to hear a little bit more about these preseason games. Kind of they're getting little, they're getting cut little by little. And I'm not saying they're going to completely go away because I think they're valuable for those guys still trying to make the roster. But this is the real work where your quarterback, your wide receivers, they're getting in work with the ones on these opposing teams, like a couple years ago when the Seahawks came to town.

And that cornerback room, you know, we all know what that is coming up against, I think it was Will Leibis at the time. And it was like, welcome to the NFL, you know. So it is a good dose of what you're going to get to start this season, but just in a more managed atmosphere. I freaking love joint practices. And these are going to be three joint practices. against three Super Bowl contending teams, including the defending champs, which is going to be invaluable.

Bhop, do you have a memory, a joint practice, an intense joint practice memory? Yeah, totally. The year we went to the Super Bowl, we played the Rams in preseason, and I'm telling you, we fought every other play. And that actually was what made us, when we won the AFC championship game, we found out we were playing the Rams. We literally looked each other and said, oh, my God, we're going to win the Super Bowl because we beat him in a regular season and we beat the crap out in practice, you know what I mean?

So we just knew we got these guys number, you know what I mean? And, of course, we were a little shell-shocked in the first half. It's going to like, what is going on here? You know what I mean? So, but just the level of competition and guys really trying their best. You really are trying your best in practice, which very rarely happens.

you know what I mean, you kind of leave a little something left, you know what I mean, when you leave the practice field, even though you're working on certain things. But there's no such a thing when you're playing against a guy that he's trying to make a roster, you know what I mean? Or you're going up against somebody really good. If I'm putting my hand in the dirt and Kevin Carter is across from me and we're just practicing, I'm like, you know what I mean? So you got to get, I remember one time. I don't remember who it was, what player was a rookie, he lined up against me. and their offensive defense of line code said

you better get your mind right. That's all he said. You're ready to write. And the thing is, he was right, because what's the last thing I want to have done to me playing against a rookie?

You're going to embarrass me out here. You know what I'm saying? So I'm going to put you on your back and rub your belly. You know what I mean? That's what a veteran's thinking is. But that rookie's thinking, man, you know what kind of name

I can make myself? if I get a second on this. Yeah. So it just the levels, you got to be at the same level because if you come half-ass that and you think you'll just, you know, just show up like you do kind of in practice because in practice against each other, you know, come on. We're going to take, it's called it seven-eighth's hickory. You know what I mean?

Because it's like 100%. But that's just silly. You know what? You know, you know, you don't need to do all that. But guess what? It is 400% when you're in these joint practices, that's the real. No, 100%. and the ones that are in Nashville, August 21st against the Seahawks and August 27th against the Bears,

both of those pre-season games against those teams. So certainly something to look out for as we get deeper and deeper into training camp. On the other side of the break, B-Hop's got a hop take for us. That's next on the Titan Squad Show. Get your daily Titans fixed completely ad free by joining the every day or club today. Start your seven-day free trial right now and get closer to your team without the interruptions. Check the link in the show notes or go to the URL right. there on your screen if you're watching on YouTube.

And if not, it's locked on podcast.com slash every dayer. Once again, that is locked on podcast.com slash every dayer to claim your free trial. All right, Bhop, it's another segment of BOP's hop take. What do you got for us? Well, sidebar for the hot take. We did put in our notes. Maybe we'll talk about Chris Johnson, which at some point we really should. a hot take on one I'm praying for is that he sets a new precedence against ALS.

That, you know, he has the fight in him and in the endurance to allow the research to make an impact. You know, that's what we're paying attention to most this week. Totally tragic to see someone as young as he is with kids as young as he has going through such and so debilitating. that usually is in the senior realm, right? But we're all praying for him and whatever can be done. You know, I think that just the visibility and the recognition, which is what Chris wants to bring about from the situation, hopefully they'll make a difference.

Now, my hop take, last year, Jim D.K. and Jeffrey Simmons were the only two pro bowlers. And it kind of lends to the very first part of our show when we're having this discussion about our talent of not getting the flowers that it probably deserves. Does Jeff Simmons deserve all the flowers? Absolutely. And the Titans paid them as such, and nobody in the league bought that back. It just kind of

showed you. But I'm prepared to say that the Titans will double their Pro Bowl appearances this year. And it really is predicated on the connection that Brian Dayball and Cam Ward have with one another. If Cam has a year where

there, dare we say, 500 or somewhere close to that. Cam will get the respect that that warrants. Number two, Peter Skronsky. He's another guy that I think this should get the Pro Bowl knot. Someone that missed it maybe last year, maybe he needs to buy a hair on his chiny, chin, but totally a respectful guy. And if you throw Simmons and D.K. in there again, these are some players that should double the two that we saw last year. And I don't even throw another one in there.

If Cam Ward actually has the kind of year that I suspect he can have in this new offense led by Brian, Garner Hill will be another guy that gets a lot of attention and will be a catalyst for a lot of the winning that we could see here potential. So you could possibly have five, which was more than double. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say, hey, look, the Titans had two cold bowlers last year. They got four in 2006. Kay, what do you think? I don't think that's too far out. Remind me to you, I do want to come back to the CJ thing.

I don't think that that is like making an unrealistic prediction, Brad. I think that I feel so confident in Brian Dayball, and I'm going to speak about the offense first. And maybe you listed off Chim D.K. again, possibly, you know, Cam Ward, if he does kind of have this breakout season, if he finds that connection with Carnell Tate. what if he, you know, what if he is that rookie that just kind of blows everybody away? It's not like it's never been done before. And so I always think, too, defensively, you got Jeffrey Simmons. I think there could be a surprise one in there just because we are talking about a Robert solid defense who I believe he puts players in the best positions to succeed and to thrive.

And so I could see maybe like somebody on the defensive side of the ball that could surprise us this year. We talk sometimes about, you know, these linebackers and, you know, maybe one of these young guys surprise us on on that side of the ball. So I don't think you're too far-fetched, Brad, when it comes to doubling that. I think that's a really actually decent number to strive for. Well, like I said earlier in the program, that somebody, I can't remember who it was. is actually a couple of guys that said Carnot-Take could definitely be an option for office-a-rook of year. If he's an office-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-a-year, what the hell does that make Cam War?

Somebody got to be holding the ball. So I think that those two things happen, if they feel so strongly about Carnot-Tate's impact as a rookie, well, you got to give his quarterback some love too. And I'm going to throw another name in the mix, you guys. Cedric Gray, you know, obviously have. Yeah. Yeah. You know, top five in the NFL and tackles this past season.

season. We've seen what Robert Solic can do with that linebacker position. And the hope is that with kind of the attacking style of defense that they have, that he'll be all over the field, even more so this year. I mean, he established himself last year as a pillar on these defensive side of the ball for years to come. And so just because of the sheer numbers that he could potentially put up, that is another one that I wouldn't be surprised if he's flirting with that accolade next year. That's for sure. Bhop and Kayla, you know, I want to give you guys the floor to talk about CJ2K. And Bhop, you mentioned it earlier.

What was kind of your reaction when you saw the Good Morning America interview? Shocked. Complete shock. And it's not like this team hasn't dealt with ALS before. Tim Shaw, another guy that had ALS. And I failed to make the correlation between playing football. in ALS because ALS is so prevalent

in society. It happens to so many families that never even saw football. You know, but at the end of the day, it's identifiable people like Chris Johnson, like Tim Shaw, that bring visibility to this horrendous disease.

And in listening to Chris, first of technology is amazing. It is. Just like him, didn't it? Yeah. voice box, it sounded just like him. And the way he was actually able to put together a sentence just by looking at his screens. Right.

Now, it's not even close to being any sort of replacement for him being actually being audible, right? But when he said, my mind's still sharp. Yeah. I still feel the way I can feel, you know, but just his body is not cooperating. That is terrible. You know, so. My youngest son text me right after because we put them our family thread. My brother, he's always on watching the ticker tape and stuff.

And he sent that article to our family thread. And my son sent a thread to me and Bryson just by ourselves. And he said, Dad, I'm so glad that you made it out healthy. And he actually said, Bryson, and I'm so glad that you're retired. Yeah. Because my son retired after four years in the league. just wasn't for him. And, you know, I don't know.

Maybe there's were blessings that I, you know, was actually able to come out with just a titanium knee to show for my wares. You know, I had a handful of surgeries, literally. But for the most part, you know, right now, God's blessed me. But who knows what will happen tomorrow. So. I tend to be a pretty, I think my career, the best part of my career, the best part of my career is like covering the athlete.

Like I'm probably going to get emotional like this. I just like relate to adversity with a lot of the athletes that come into my life. And not to that level because we all go through different things. But I always root for the athlete for the most part. and when I saw this interview and I watched it live, because I was hoping it wasn't something about his health. And when I saw it, and again, I've met CJ, 2K, maybe once. I've never really sat down and had a conversation with him,

but I feel like being a part of the Titans community, as long as I was, I felt like I knew him and knew how big he is to not only the Nashville community, but the football community. And so when I watched this live, my heart sank and I did exactly what I'm doing now. I teared up and, you know, it made me sick to my stomach. But when I was watching the interview, first and foremost, I thought he had his beautiful wife by his side.

And it's so important in this ALS fight to have champions around you. And that is what I know Chris has, not only in his immediate, family, but all this family that surrounds him with former Titans, fans, people that love him. And my mind went directly to someone who I have followed who has been fighting this disease for 15 years in Steve Gleason. Steve Gleason is from my hometown of Spokane, Washington. He was a Washington State Coug. He was a very, very beloved player for the New Orleans Saints.

And he was diagnosed with ALS almost 15 years ago. And he has fought that FN disease for 15 years with the most grace I have ever seen. And his wife is by his side always and his kids are by his side. And in that moment I thought, you know what, Steve is doing this and Steve is paving the way. And it's awful that CJ has to be in this category now of having to continue a fight like this, representing the football world as like a face. But what I will say is Steve Gleason is in his corner. I know Steve has reached out to CJ and his family and said, whatever you need from me,

let me know. I'm going to do everything to help your journey as well. And man, those two are two faces that, if anybody can raise as much awareness and try to beat this disease, it's those two guys. And that did make me have a little bit of peace in the moment, knowing that C.J. had somebody in his corner that is going through the exact same thing. And that can hopefully, you know, in a way, hold his hand in this process. But it's just, it's a horrible disease. And I just hope those two to fight this and raise it. awareness. No, 100% absolutely. I think, I think, you know, be hot from a perspective of like

Kayla or myself who aren't professional athletes a lot of times when growing up, we look at them as almost immortal and untouchable and like nothing bad can happen to them because it, you know, they are performing at the highest level that we can't. And so to see something like that happen, it is quite jarring, you know, but Kayla put it perfectly there. And I already know that the ALS, you know, Ice Bucket Challenge, you know, Johnson has already called upon that. And it's catching steam again to raise awareness. And a number of his NFL peers have already started doing that and echoing that sentiment.

And just like Kayla mentioned, whether it would be with CJ or Steve, he's not going to quit. No. I think, well, with the, you know, I'm one of the ambassadors for the NFL Alumni Association. and I reached out to our ED right when the news broke, and we do a number of campaigns, whether it's for cancer, you know, colorectal, prostate, lung, we do things on obesity, wellness, mental health, all these things. I said, we need to be more aggressive when it comes to early detection. Yeah.

You know, it's a, it's really a hot button topic because a lot of people need to go see the doctor regularly and most don't even have a regular care position. It's just so hard nowadays, you know, just even have good, whatever. But the point is, as best you can, you need to go to see the doctor because when you're dealing with things like that, the sooner you catch it, the better the results possibly can be. Now, obviously, there's no cure for ALS. You know, but maybe that does spark more funds and resources that go into finding a cure, or at least stopping the development. You see, maybe some of these drugs that we know that he's taking right now might slow down its progression. And maybe it slows it down to where it just stops.

You know, full disclosure. You know, I have heart disease. And I'm on so many of the statins right now that will slow down the calcium buildups that are in my heart. But, you know, I have to go get my heart screen to see that. And they're actually developing. Now, as they calcify, it becomes less dangerous because it's the sticky ones, the one. that actually can break off and move, they get lost into your artery. And that's, you know, you're, you're gone.

And, but it's early detection that helps me be able to know that I'm doing the right things. I'm exercising. I'm trying to watch what I eat. You know, but at the end of the day, we've got to have that be more consistent. Having that kind of relationship with someone you trust that can give you the answer to how your body is actually, um, handling things from one year to the next. Yeah. No, 100%.

And Bhop, Kayla, thank you guys so much for sharing that, opening up here and wishing the best for CJ2K, that's for sure. On the other side of the break, we have some questions and comments, and we'll wrap up the show that way here on the Titan Squad show. Don't go anywhere. All right. Patty Boy 27 has a question for Brad Hopkins. They ask, how much preseason did you need to know that you were ready for the regular season? So the year dictates that. you know, I started ever since I was a rookie,

so I needed every single preseason game that I could give my hands on. You have me? This is when we played four games, and I played in every single one of them. And it wasn't by like, oh, I think I need to play. No, you can get your big butt in there, rook, and you're going to give as many reps to you possibly can't. Now, I didn't play in as many of the pre-I did play in all the preseason games because when I played, we all played in them,

whether it was just for a quarter, you know, whether it's for a half, because that's what we did it. First game, you played a quarter. second game you played a half the third game you played into the third quarter so that way you can get your body adjusted to halftime and coming back out and playing and then the fourth quarter

we had played. That's the way it was when I was playing. But as I was a younger guy, I needed as many reps as I possibly could. By the time I got to year 13 you know, come up, you know, leave those reps to guys that are actually turning to tournament as far. I'm not trying.

I do anything different than I did three years ago, you know what I mean? So it's truly dictated by the year that you're in the league. Now, obviously, a lot of people don't get to play 13 years in a league. So, you know, that may be a blessing of curse. But either way, it's like, it may not be necessary. But I'd say, the younger you are, the more preseason you need. That's usually how it comes down. Kayla, are you on board with that? I think so. I think it's hard because it's like, again, what are we down to? Are we down to free preseason games or two?

Yeah, three. Yeah. Three. Three. Three. Yeah. Every year it gets. it's less and less. Like when I first started covering the Titans, we had four, you know? Right. But yeah, I do believe, and you're right,

Brad, like nothing, nothing can match just getting those live reps and getting that experience. And also just getting that exposure, like, in an actual, I know it's a preseason game,

but for these young guys, it means a lot. Like, it's getting used to the field for the first time, getting used to, in some places, you know, fans are,

more so apt to come to to preseason games than others. But when it all comes down to it, you just get your footing a little bit more there for the start of the season. And at some point, I agree with Brad. I don't think you need those extra reps in preseason games. And I get why the vets, you know, play a series or two if that. So I think like, yeah, even, you know, as a rookie playing as many preseason and snapped as you can.

I think it's actually pretty beneficial. You know what? I would say this also, just about the whole reduction in preseason games. It does kind of make it harder to make a team, right? But no one wants to get hurt in a meaningless preseason game. And I get it. And if you're going out there pretending this is a game, not saying pretending, because it just doesn't count as a regular season game, pay me like that, right?

So if you're going to pay me, you know, to play football, I'm going to go out here and have a dress rehearsal. to where I could possibly get hurt and then, you know, lose out an opportunity to play in the regular season, at least make it mean something. So I think that I'm doing a collective bargain agreement comes around again. You start talking to players about field surfaces, first off, getting back to natural. Yes. Extending it, I think that there's an opportunity for them to find some sort of common ground in that, look, you're going to compensate me like it's a regular season, so we get to make more money during the season. But also, I'm not going to go out here and

and play my best and play as hard as I possibly can and not have my injury and not count for something because inevitably we're going to get hurt. And that's another reason, like, if Zytler, let's say, were to decide to come back to the Titans, he doesn't need all of the, you know, OTAs. He just, you show up, you're 36 years old, whatever, and play. Yeah.

He's done that whole thing before. Munch was my left guard when I was a rookie. I was supposed to play a long time. You know how many times do you practice during a week? None? Zero. Yeah. And we'll go out there on Sunday and lay folks out.

It was the most amazing thing. You know what I'm saying? He never practiced during the week. Obviously, super, super studied of the game because that's the way he taught us, how to study and all the things. But he would just go out there and wear dudes out and never practiced out one time during a week. Incredible.

Doesn't surprise me with lunch. Geez. We have one more comment here from Ben Anderson 3-7-8-4 when talking about Jeffrey Simmons being ranked the 83rd best player in the NFL. Remember, it's just people's opinions. Yeah, but those people played. Some of them did. Now, there are probably a handful of those guys that know just how, like you said,

Tyler Shuck, he knows about Big Jeff. Okay, yeah. But name some team that. we didn't play or haven't played in the past couple of years. They don't know Jeff's gangster like that. You know what I mean? So they're not going to sit there and say, yeah, Jefferson, I'm going to argue the fact he's 83.

You know what I mean? Because they're probably going to say that the guys that they played most recently are the ones that they're going to say first that are in front of Jeffries. So, yeah, there's some degree of that. It's just people's opinions. At the end of the day, even if they're just players, it's still their opinion. Right.

But also, not everybody got to see up close and personal. just what a dog that guy is. Kayla, where'd you go? Kayla had some internet issues. She should be hopping back in here shortly. But yeah, I agree with you. I think the fact that the Titans won six games in the last two years, they weren't necessarily on any prime time games,

zero primetime games, right? You only cycle through certain divisions every single year. I bet you the players who are all in the AFC South, that have to face Jeffrey Simmons twice a year. He's not 83 on their list. Hell no. That's a great. You know what, Julian, that's probably the best most sound point that we've made

is the fact there's no damn way in the world that anybody in the AFC South has said Jeffrey Simmons is not a top 50, at least top 50, a player in the league. No way. Yeah, no, 100%. I'm texting Kayla. Her internet is kind of whacking out on her. So, but we thank her for sharing all her opinions and being vulnerable, especially when it came to CJ2K today.

And you as well, Bhop, you know, it's obviously a tough situation. But again, we know he is going to fight and we are all keeping him in our thoughts and prayers. That's 100% for sure. And we wanted to thank you guys for joining us today here on the Titan Squad Show. Make sure to like, comment, subscribe, all of that fun stuff. get us wherever you get your podcast and right here on YouTube live multiple times a week. It's one time a week right now through the dog days of the summer, but we'll get back to twice a week, especially as training camp kicks off with the Tennessee Titans,

a lot to talk about when it comes to them. All right, that'll do it for us. I'm Julian Minnisone. That's Brad Hopkins and shouting out Kayla Anderson. We'll see you guys next time.