Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - TITANS SQUAD SHOW: Mike Borgonzi's search HEATS UP, how the Titans HC job COMPARES to other NFL jobs

Episode Date: January 6, 2026

The hunt is on for the new head coach of the Tennessee Titans. In this episode we debate our favorite and top-tier candidates from the available pool, including names like Brian Flores, Kevin Stefansk...i and Mike McCarthy. We also dissect the extensive list of coaches the Titans plan to interview, such as Chiefs coordinators Matt Nagy and Steve Spagnuolo. We also rank where the Titans job stacks up against other NFL openings.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Rocket MoneyLet Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. Join at http://RocketMoney.com/LOCKEDONBetterhelpThis episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist.Sign up and get 10% off at http://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDON. DripDropRight now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to http://dripdrop.com and use promo code lockedonnfl.Ultimate QBUltimate QB is totally free to play, has no ads, and works 100% offline — perfect for when you want to sneak in a quick game or two on the go. Just head over to http://ULTIMATE-QB.COM. FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. So before tip-off, check the FanDuel app and see what’s dropping during NBA Happy Hour — every Friday from 6 to 7:30 PM Eastern. A little basketball, a little action, and a whole lot of Friday energy.PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.ZocdocStop putting off your doctor’s appointments and get the care you need.Go to http://Zocdoc.com/lockedonnfl to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today.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.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hear me? The Titans aren't the only NFL coaching job open. Why they are more attractive than you might think that's coming up on the Titan Squad show. And we could talk about attractiveness, but I'm just happy that it's time to find a new head coach. I'm Tyler Rowland. Titan Up. It's the Titans Squad. Everything Tennessee Titans every week.
Starting point is 00:00:28 Covering all the big hits. 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 Titans Squad Show. I'm your host Julian Minnisone alongside Locked-on Titans host Tyler Rowland. We are getting you ready here as the off-season has officially begun for the Tennessee Titans on the show. We're going to talk about what we just teased up at the top, how they run. rank, how this head coaching job ranks compared to the other NFL openings, and also get to
Starting point is 00:01:06 the hot topic of the day, which is the interview requests given out by the Titans to multiple candidates, which ones we like, which ones we don't like. We'll also get in your questions, so make sure you like, comment, subscribe, wherever you get your podcast, and also get those questions in the chat. If you're live with us on Facebook, we'll do our best to answer them throughout the show and maybe even give your take on who you think the next Titans head coach. should be. So Tyler, we've seen a number list, a list of reported candidates out there. I'm going to put them up on the screen if you're with us on YouTube. If I'm missing anybody,
Starting point is 00:01:39 let me know. But the Titans interview requests include Chiefs offensive coordinator, Matt Nagy, Broncos defensive coordinator, Vince Joseph, Chiefs defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnola, Colts defensive coordinator, Lou Anerumo, former Falcons head coach who was just fired Rahim Morris and former Brown's head coach Kevin Stefansky. Am I missing anybody on that list? We have heard that Mike McCarthy will get an interview I think that was confirmed by East and Freeze of A to Z sports And then I saw my guy Cortland Griffin Who may not be the most popular guy who covers the Titans
Starting point is 00:02:12 But Cortland does great work And he also said that per his sources Cliff Kingsbury will get an interview with the Titans So I think there were eight total that we saw But you know we're starting to get confirmation of times And schedules and when these interviews are going to take place just kind of the more official version of announcing the interview. You know, like, hey, they're going to interview this guy on this day.
Starting point is 00:02:35 That's a little more official to me than per sources, they will request an interview. You know, once the interviews actually set, that's what's really important. So I think we have all our bases covered there in terms of who they've reached out to so far. Yeah, indeed. Well, out of the list, I'll tell you, Tyler, when the first four came out when it was Nagy, Joseph, Spagnola, and Anarumo, I was a little less than enthused. It wasn't exactly inspiring. But then it got a little bit better, I think, as the day went on with, at least in my opinion,
Starting point is 00:03:06 with Kevin Stefanski and Rahim Morris. I know you rode the Stefansky train this offseason on your show. Is he still the top guy on this list for you, at least of the initial candidates who are getting interviews? Yeah, 100%. I mean, Kevin Stefanski is my top option now that he is certainly available. It was Mike McCarthy prior and I still like Mike McCarthy and would like that. higher, but Stefansky is a guy who I think would be, it could allow the Titans to have their version of Mike Vrable, you know, a dysfunctional organization where the roster went to crap,
Starting point is 00:03:41 there wasn't a lot of help at the QB position left, and a good football coach was ousted by a bad organization, went somewhere else, and then immediately showed, hey, I'm a good coach. So I think part of that is admitting firing Mike Vrable was a mistake. I don't see, even as somebody who has to admit that I was wrong about that. I am willing to do that to admit the reality. The Titans made a mistake. Mike Vrable should still be their head coach. He's a good head coach.
Starting point is 00:04:09 And the grass is not always green on the other side. Well, I think that could be exactly the case with Kevin Stefansky as well. And I mean, we could get into the ends announced. There are a lot of people who don't like him. But I think what he did in Cleveland, six seasons with the Cleveland Browns, they hadn't won a playoff game in 30 years. And he won a playoff game. Now, he had COVID and wasn't there.
Starting point is 00:04:27 but that's his team. I don't buy the argument. He doesn't get credit for that playoff win because he had COVID and wasn't on the sideline. Like, he was clearly involved with the plan. That's his team. So to do what he did with the Browns, take them to the playoffs twice.
Starting point is 00:04:40 One of those with a young Baker Mayfield in his second year, which Cam Ward, first round pick, number one pick, about to go in his second year. You know, I think there's a lot to like about Kevin Stefansky and he would be my top pick. And it sounds like the Tennessee Titans
Starting point is 00:04:53 are having an in-person interview with him on Saturday. So hopefully they don't let him out of the building. Logistically, that can't work. We can talk about the Rooney Rule and all those different things. So the Titans wouldn't be able to hire Kevin Stefanski on Saturday if things went well. But I think it's a good sign that he's interested in the Titans because he has a lot of suitors right now. Yeah, I like Stefansky as well because you tend to see Tyler
Starting point is 00:05:19 when a type of coach doesn't work out like a first year head coach and Brian Callahan. A team tends to kind of go with the opposite. it. And we talked about it last week on the show. Brad was getting PTSD from the idea of hiring a first year head coach. So Kevin Stafansky obviously manages the game on the sideline. You talk about the idea of doing more with less. I mean, two-time coach of the year. And like you talked about a couple of playoff runs with the Brown. So I wouldn't be mad at Kevin Stafansky either. My question is, what do you think about like a Rahim Morris? Obviously, he just got fired by the
Starting point is 00:05:53 Atlanta Falcons, and I look at the Falcons roster, and I'm like, why aren't they better? But they did win four straight games to end the season. So, and there's obviously some organizational issues up there in Atlanta. So what do you think about somebody like him who kind of popped up yesterday? Yeah, Rahim Morris, I think his interview is scheduled for Sunday with the Titans. Look, again, not to be insensitive, but that does satisfy one step of the Rooney rule. You have to have two in-person interviews with a person of color or a one. woman. Again, I know that's a sensitive topic, but those are the realities that we have to
Starting point is 00:06:28 discuss here. But I think Rahim Morris is not a good head coach. I think he is a guy who inspires. I think he's like his guys played hard, like you're talking about. They finished with four straight wins even though they were eliminated from the playoffs and they beat the Rams in there. They beat some good teams in there. So I think he's a guy who can inspire a locker room and can lead men, you know, which is important. But I just think there's so much to be desired from a schematic standpoint. The defense was better under Jeff Olbrick, their D.C. They never really got as much out of the offense. And when you look at a team, I agree with you. The Atlanta
Starting point is 00:06:59 Falcons have so much talent. And for them to underperform, how can we expect Rahim Morris to take a team without that much talent and get them to play better than what they're supposed to do? He's just not going to elevate the talent around him. And the reality is, most coaches don't get a third opportunity to be a head coach. So I think one of the things that we have to acknowledge is that some of these interviews are actually to scout coordinator positions not for the head coach and I think Rahim Morris is a guy
Starting point is 00:07:28 and let's say this Julian a point I've been trying to make these are fact-finding adventures these are fact-finding missions not every person that you interview are is at the top of your list now you could be blown away but I think the reality here is some of these interviews are going to be hey what would you do with the roster what do you think about Cam Ward
Starting point is 00:07:46 what do you think our big weaknesses is where do you think we need to change as an organization What are your thoughts on player X? What would you want to get in free agency? How do you view our young players? Who's a piece and who do you not like? Like getting that sort of, getting the answers to those questions
Starting point is 00:08:02 from Clint Kubiak, Anthony Weaver, Rahim Morris, Kevin Stefansky, Mike McCrach, that is the way that you, Julian, you know, a smart man doesn't just make every decision on his own because he's so smart he has all the answers. A smart man or woman takes information from subject matter experts
Starting point is 00:08:21 takes information from different areas puts all that into a pot and says okay based on all this information this is the best decision to make that is the right way to make decisions so some of these interviews like I think Rahim Morris would be a great defensive coordinator think about Chris Shula from the Los Angeles Rams
Starting point is 00:08:37 their young defensive coordinator that's a first time head coach and the Titans may be worried about that so if you get a first time young hot shot defensive head coach like Chris Shula and you bring in Rahim Morris as a defensive coordinator who he's worked with, who's his friend. Now he has an experienced head coach to lean on the staff.
Starting point is 00:08:55 Same thing. All this Matt Nagy talk, I think the Titans could very likely hire a defensive-minded young head coach like a Jeff Hathley and Anthony Campanelli, Chris Shula, Jesse Minter, these guys who were going to talk about. And then Matt Nagy could be the offensive coordinator. And he's still a guy who's been a head coach before
Starting point is 00:09:13 that young head coach could lean on. So I think we need to keep our, when we see names that we don't like, which I don't like Rahim Morris as a head coach. I don't like Matt Nagy as a head coach option. When we see names that we don't like, we have to keep in mind that they may not truly want them as the head coach. It may be more scouting for information on how they see the team and potential coordinator position. Because remember Matt Lafleur interviewed to be the head coach and then ended up being the OC under Mike Grape. Indeed. And like you mentioned, Raheem Morris, I take him as a DC.
Starting point is 00:09:43 there are some guys who are just better suited to be coordinators. Absolutely. I think Banz Joseph was probably one of the more surprising names on the initial interview requests list because he didn't do that well as a head coach when he was with the Broncos. I covered the Broncos during that time. Now I know Trevor Simeon and Paxton Lynch were his quarterback options there. That's fair, yeah. Yeah, but you know, that may have been a name that was interesting.
Starting point is 00:10:08 And I know, you know, Borgonzi with his Kansas City Chiefs connection, obviously Negi and spegnola are on that list. What do you make of the fact that they're the amount of defensive guys that you have getting interview requests, given the fact that you have a number one pick in young quarterback who is still trying to find his footing in the NFL? Yeah, it definitely does make you raise your eye about, right? Julian, it's like, why are they so focused on defense? But I think part of the reason is there just aren't a lot of good offensive candidates. This is not last year. This is not Mike Vrable, Ben Johnson. You know what I mean? Like, this is not, that's why I'm so gung-ho on Kevin Stefansky.
Starting point is 00:10:46 I think he might be the only top-tier coaching candidate in the entire cycle. Like, it's just, and at least on paper, I'm not saying none of these coaches can be good coaches in the NFL. I'm just saying, on paper, there are no slam-dunk hires like there have been in previous years. So I think when you consider that, they're just trying to have the widest net that they possibly can and find the best guy because, like, look at the offensive names. Outside of Stefansky, you have a guy like Cliff Kingsbury, he's been up and down as a leader. I like Cliff Kingsbury.
Starting point is 00:11:16 That's one of my top choices, to be honest with you. But he doesn't seem to be a top choice around the NFL. We haven't heard a ton of Cliff Kingsbury getting interviews other than the rumor about the Titans one. So it's like Kevin Stefansky, Mike McCarthy, who's 62 years old and has also already had two chances. You normally don't get three. Clint Kubiak, my people in Seattle say that he is not ready to be a head coach. Now, are they doing some intentional sabotage to try to keep him in the building? Like, don't hire him. You know, he's got an interview with the Atlanta Falcons.
Starting point is 00:11:46 He's going to get interviews, but a lot of people don't think that Clint Kubiak is ready to be a leader of a football program, even if he's a great offensive mind. And that's the knock on Cliff Kingsbury as well. So I just don't think that there are a lot of good offensive head coaching candidates out there that are clean and exciting and all of that. So with that in mind, you kind of have no choice. But it's not just that it's defensive guys, Julian, to me, it's their older defensive guys. I mean, Rahim Morris isn't old, but he's been a coach two times.
Starting point is 00:12:18 Vance Joseph is near 60 years old. Steve Spagnola is 66 years old. Like these are old men. Luana Rumo, 60 years old. None of these guys, in my opinion, should be head coaches. They're too old. They haven't proven it on their side of the ball outside of Vance Joseph. I'm just so out on those guys
Starting point is 00:12:40 but again, got to keep in mind that some of this is fact-finding there are favors that are paid in this industry and Mike Borgonzi could be doing a favor to speak Steve Spagnola by giving him an interview and things like that so I'm just trying to keep an open mind about the process but you're 100% right those first four names that leaked made me want to go back to bed
Starting point is 00:13:02 quite honestly and I'm glad it got better in the afternoon. Yeah, you know and I do appreciate Burgundy if this is indeed is just an initialist of candidates that he is casting a wide net and that he is being thorough and like you mentioned fact checking like making sure like you know mike tomlin when he was hired nobody kind of knew what he who he really was or what he really was and then the steelers like let's let's hire this guy um we did talk to geoffrey simmons and in cam ward yesterday about the types of coaches that they want including that topic on the amount of defensive coaches that have been requested here is what they had to say having a defense
Starting point is 00:13:37 head coach, I mean, you love to see it, but, you know, it don't matter, man. To be an offensive head coach, as long as we have the best coaches that can win us football games right here, I'm excited just to figure out who it's going to be pretty soon, and hopefully we could get a winning head coach to, I just want to win a football game. The whole locker room, we just want someone who's going to lead us, is going to hold each, every player accountable. We know whether there's offense, defensive coach, they're going to always put us in the right situation. So we're not worried about that. It's more of more we want, you know, players,
Starting point is 00:14:10 coach who's going to listen to us, you know, care, care about our bodies and, you know, just do what, you know, he thinks is best for the team and the organization. And I'm a big fan of the Stefansky thing. I'm also a big fan of the McCarthy thing. I know McCarthy, you know, he's been around. He's not going to necessarily be the coach five to 10 years down the line, but I'm looking to just write the ship next year because if you swing for great, and you miss, again, it could send you back even further. Yeah, I think that's, that's not something that Titans fans like to hear. And I admit, it's kind of like eating your vegetables, you know?
Starting point is 00:14:50 Like, you're right. The Titans need to get back to a semblance of professionalism as soon as possible. Like, they need to raise their floor a little bit more than they need to worry about their ceiling. But if somebody says, why are we hiring somebody to just be good? Why aren't we looking for a coach, even if there's more risk, who can take us to the promised land? Like, shouldn't you be looking for greatness? Like, isn't that what we should be looking for?
Starting point is 00:15:19 So I think it's fair to be skeptical about that thought process of saying, hey, like, you know, Mike McCarthy may not take you to a Super Bowl, but he could be the Mike Malarkey to get you to the next step and get you back to being a decent football team. And if you want to push back on that and say, well, they shouldn't be hiring for good. they should be hiring for great. I think that's fair, but I quite frankly don't think they're in a position to take that risk. And I think they need to, they do need to be a little
Starting point is 00:15:44 more conservative and less risk involved. That's why I love Clint Kubiak. He's going to be a good head coach, but they can't hire him right now. They can't do that. You know what I mean? So that's why I'm skeptical of any first time head coach. But if they do it, then that would be them saying, hey, we're not just going for mediocre here. We're going to go hire the guy who we think will bring us championships. And I can't fault them for that. either. Yeah, indeed. Back-to-back, three-win season certainly makes this coaching hire, arguably one of the most important in Titans history. Now, on the other side of the break, we're going to take a quick break here. On the other side, we're going to talk about the other
Starting point is 00:16:20 NFL coaching vacancies that are open right now. And to us, where they rank, where the Titans rank amongst that list. We'll talk about it next on the Titans Quad Show. Keep it here. All right, finding a doctor you actually like can feel like discovering a diamond in the rough. Kind of like the Titans trying to find their diamond in the rough with a head coach. You want someone in network nearby with availability, but you also want a doctor who really listens, makes you feel comfortable, explains things clearly, and helps you walk out feeling confident about your next step. Your diamond in the rough doctor exists and finding them is easy with Zoc Doc. Zoc Doc is a free app and website that helps you find and book high quality.
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Starting point is 00:17:35 all right Tyler so we have a number of NFL coaching vacancies open not just including the Tennessee Titans you have the New York Giants Atlanta Falcons Cleveland Browns you have the Las Vegas Raiders after firing Pete Carroll and the Arizona Cardinals after getting rid of Jonathan Gannon so out of the six I think that's six NFL coaching vacancies at this time where would you put the Titans and And I'm saying this hypothetically for the sake of the pod, right? Like if everything, you know, if two teams offer the same coach, a head coaching job and the money is the same and the years are the same, just basing it off of like personnel roster and front office situation, where you think where the Titans would land in that list?
Starting point is 00:18:26 You know, I've honestly been thinking about that. My first, my fan brain, because the reality, Julian, is I'm a fan of the team. So my fan brain immediately said you got Cam Ward the most salary cap space in the NFL the roster has a Jeffrey Simmons on it has some pieces on it you got a good general manager who's willing to work with you
Starting point is 00:18:47 I think you're going to have a more patient owner than has been in the previous past just because she wants to push back on how quick triggered she's been before so no state taxes in Tennessee that has to be something you know the new stadium is opening they're going to get New Jersey's
Starting point is 00:19:02 that's high profile stuff like that. So I think the Titans are one of the top jobs, but I'm just not certain where they actually land. It's top three for me. I know that, but the things that I balance is the Raiders. There's no state tax in Vegas. You have Tom Brady backing you up, who's going to do a good PR job for you all the time. You have the number one pick in the draft. They have the second most cap space. You have a guy like Max Crosby, Brock Bowers, Ashton Genty. You could argue that the foundation in Vegas is better than the Titans if you like Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore.
Starting point is 00:19:37 Like if you, if they take a quarterback number one overall and you're a head coaching candidate and you're like, I like Fernando Mendoza better than Cam Ward. Cam Ward isn't as well loved in the NFL by the NFL and the people in it as he is by Titans fans. That doesn't mean that the NFL hates Cam Ward, but it's just more split and uncertain on him. There are people out there who do not believe in Cam Ward, do not think he's good and think his rookie year is an example of him not being very good and all the EPA per dropback and the bad analytics for him and stuff. So if you like Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore more
Starting point is 00:20:10 than you like Cam Ward, Las Vegas would be slam dunk better for you, right? Because the cap space is the same. The roster is better. You've got a better younger quarterback who hasn't already used a rookie, a year of his rookie deal. So I think the Raiders are the best fit Period. Where I come down after that, though, is the Giants. Because you've got to deal with Joe Shane, and he may be a lame duck general manager. And being off the schedule of general manager and coach can cause conflict. But if you like Jackson Dart, and I think Dart's a pretty good player, I don't think he's as good as Cam, but I think he's someone you can build around.
Starting point is 00:20:50 You got Malik neighbors, Andrew Thomas at left tackle, what they have there on the pass rush. Abdul Carter went nuts at the end of the season and was fantastic. You're in New York City, you know what I mean? So the tax issue, the money issue, but the profile of being in New York City, I think their roster and their found it, like, it wouldn't surprise me if the Giants were a playoff team next year with how good their roster is. I think their roster is excellent right now.
Starting point is 00:21:14 So, you know, it depends. I would put them in there, and then Atlanta. You know, maybe you don't like Michael Pennix. They don't have like the cap space and the wiggle, but you got Bejohn Robinson, Drake, London. All the reasons we talked about Rahim Morris earlier, underperforming with a great roster what they've done with Jalen Walker and James Pierce
Starting point is 00:21:31 and Xavier Watts and Jesse Bates like A.J. Terrell, that is a great roster. The Falcons should be in the playoffs right now and a competitive team in the playoffs. So those four teams are the top ones in my opinion but I think I would have the Titans at three right now behind the Raiders
Starting point is 00:21:47 and behind the Giants. I think it comes down to if you like the quarterbacks, right? Like you mentioned, if you love Cam Ward, the Titans are for you and you have the roster like the $100 million at cab space, new stadium opening up. And I do think it was important for Amy Adams Strunk, the controlling owner of the Titans,
Starting point is 00:22:03 to put out her open letter to fans, basically drawing a line in the sand, emphasizing the new clear power structure that they have with Mike Borganzi handling the 53-man roster and the head coaching search. And then Chad Brinker, director of football operations, dealing with the salary cap and analytics and all that stuff.
Starting point is 00:22:20 Because that was a big confusing topic for us in the media going into the season. It's like, who has the final say over this thing? She is eliminating any confusion because I don't know if you would feel the same, Tyler, but I think the thing that knocks the Titans head coaching job was the instability in the front office and the confusing nature of the power dynamic there. Now, that's how I feel when it comes to the Titans. Now, I think, again, going back to the quarterbacks, if you love Fernando Mendoza or Dante Moore, one of those two guys, the Raiders are for you. If you think Michael Panics could be something, the Falcons are for you. If you think Jackson Dart is the future for the Giants, the Giants are for you.
Starting point is 00:23:01 But I do think the Titans, one thing, Rice School, he is one of our regulars here on the show. He says Tennessee is a top two opening right now. Only the New York Giants can compete. The Giants roster is great. However, one thing I will offer is I think the Titans as a head coach, not that there's not pressure for one of the 32 NFL jobs, you can kind of fly under the radar a little bit with the Titans. The Giants, you're going to keep getting national attention.
Starting point is 00:23:25 you're going to be under a microscope more than you are, the Titans. And same thing goes with the Falcons. The NFC South stinks. And the AFC South hasn't been great. I know Jacksonville and the Texans are playoff teams this year. But I don't think the gap is as crazy as a lot of people may think. Well, it's not the NFC West. You know, like let's not pretend that.
Starting point is 00:23:45 You know, like that's why Arizona is the worst of all of the openings. To me, you're stuck with Kyler Murray's contract. The roster is good. not great, you're in a terrible division that's going to be very difficult with one of the worst owners in the NFL, and I know a lot of people would say, Amy Armstrong's one of the worst owners in the, and I'm just like, nonsense, you know, Amy Adam Strunk is not the kind of owner that, you know, Jerry Jones and Jim Haslam and David Tepper and Woody Johnson, like, you know, Titans fans, I think this is just fans in general, we're just too locked into
Starting point is 00:24:21 the trenches of the Titans day-to-day muck to properly event. people amongst their peers. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, Amy Adam Strunk has had a bad few years, but the Titans were wallowing in squalor before she hired John Robinson and Mike Vrable and she had the gumption, the onions, the Cajonis to fire Mike Malarkey after the first playoff went in a decade for this franchise
Starting point is 00:24:45 to bring in a better coach and Mike Vrable and the Titans had their second best run in franchise history. So it's like, Amy Armstrong has had a bad few years dealing with John Robinson tanking the team. and how to fix that, but it's not like she's been an absolute disgrace or anything like that. Like, it's just overblown nonsense. But I'm with you there. I think that being in Tennessee, I think Nashville is a draw,
Starting point is 00:25:10 especially for coaches, older guys. Maybe if you're, you know, a young player in free agency, you're George Pickens. You'd rather go to Miami than go to Nashville. You know, that's a better fit for you. But if you're Kevin Stefansky who's 47, 48 years old, quiet. Now, I know that Nashville people are like, Nashville ain't quiet, but compared to New York City or Chicago or whatever. And let's be real too. The passion, and I'm sorry Titans fans. I'm sorry Tennessee natives. I'm sorry, Tennessee natives.
Starting point is 00:25:39 I'm sorry, but it's the facts. The passion of the Cleveland Browns fan base is different than the Tennessee Titans. I'm sorry Titans fans. It's different. So the vitriol, the anger, the constant badgering, the criticism, that you hear. You know, Cleveland ain't New York, but Cleveland is different than Tennessee, too. So I think that's a big factor with no state taxes
Starting point is 00:26:03 and I want to say this too. We're talking about the quarterbacks and how they... Mary Kay Cabot, who is probably the most famous beat reporter for the Cleveland Browns and has covered that team for decades, said that Kevin Stafansky wanted to draft Cam Ward number two, and if Cam Ward would not have gone
Starting point is 00:26:19 number one, the Browns have would have stayed where they're at and taken Cam Ward because Kevin Stefansky liked him. So, you know, We're talking about the quarterbacks, blah, blah, blah, well, that matters. No state taxes, less of a critical spotlight, a good state to live in. Tennessee is a great place to visit and live. Plus, Cam Ward, I mean, why wouldn't Kevin Stefansky take that job? It sounds perfect for him.
Starting point is 00:26:43 Yeah, and when you think it's Stefansky, again, it goes back to a lot of his problems, at least in our opinion from the show, have not been solely on him. I mean, it wasn't his idea. Deshawn Watson thing wasn't his. Insane. Yeah, insane. And I don't think it was, from what you're saying, his choice to take Boshador Sanders and Dylan Gabriel in the same draft.
Starting point is 00:27:09 And when you look at Cam Ward, if you are the head coach and you're, you're hinging your success on the quarterback that is there or that is going to be there, and you look at Cam Ward and say, yeah, it was a rough start. But when the team just got competent with an interim head coach a Mike McCoy, look how much better he became, I could elevate him even further. So I think that certainly is a plus when it comes to the Titans. No, I agree 100%.
Starting point is 00:27:34 And look, there's some confusion in the chat. And Julian, I got to tell you, just a side rant. I think implying things that people say is at an all time high right now. Like I can say, I could say, I had a bad day. And the internet would say, bro, you're having a mental health crisis. Why are you so depressed? blah blah blah blah like it's one day so when I say that the NFL isn't unanimously high on Cam Ward not everyone in the NFL thinks Cam Ward is a good quarterback and then I get comments in oh so Cam Ward's not good uh look at what Cam Ward did with his Cassick you're all right I'm not saying that I don't think that Cam Ward is good I do I'm just telling you that around the NFL he is not unanimously loved it is not 100% that every person involved in the NFL code scout, blah, blah, blah, likes Cam Ward more than Jackson Dard or Fernando Mendoza.
Starting point is 00:28:26 It's not unanimous in the NFL. That is what I'm saying. That does not mean you can't take from what I'm saying there that I don't like Cam Ward and I don't believe in Cam Ward. But that is a false implication, not what I'm saying. So just remember that when I say, hey, these are things you hear. These are things around the league. This is how, like it's not like I believe all these things.
Starting point is 00:28:47 I'm giving you information, not my opinion in that circumstance. But with that in mind, I do this. they came word is better than all those people. And that's why Baker Mayfield is a young player taking him. Joe Flacko is an old man corpse, 11 and 5. Like, the fact that the Browns
Starting point is 00:29:04 won four games this year with Shador Sanders and Dylan Gabriel who have been some of the worst quarterbacks in recent NFL memory, the fact that they won four games to me is a miracle. So it's like, I think Kevin Stavansky did get this team to overperform. But outside of just
Starting point is 00:29:20 him as a player, yeah, I'm with you there that I think you look at the quarterback situation, everything else, and no matter where you place the Titans from one to three to whatever, they're clearly in the top half of the available openings. And I don't think that that is up for debate. I think the good thing is that Amy Adams Strunk is chosen Mike Borgonzi just to let him cook because from what we've seen from the small sample size of just the draft alone, he knows what he's doing.
Starting point is 00:29:47 And Jeffrey Simmons said it in the locker room this week. guys, they were having their final media sessions in Locker Cleanout Day is that Mike has seen it before. He has seen what it looks like when it comes to his success with the Kansas City Chiefs as an assistant GM. So only time could tell, but the head coaching search is obviously heating up. And it is that time of year, Tyler, where things in the media and on social media kind of get misconstrued. And that includes our chat as well. Okay, on the other side of the break, we're going to play one of our favorite segments as we do every week, tighten up and tighten down. but we're not going to necessarily talk about the game.
Starting point is 00:30:21 We can talk about it if you want at their season finale, but more big picture tighten up, tighten down when it comes to. It could be anything from the head coaching search to the personnel on the roster. We'll do all of that next here on the Titan Squad Show. Keep it here. All right, guys, the draft positions are set
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Starting point is 00:31:53 QB1, it's your legacy. All right, Tyler, now we usually play Titan Up, Titan Down after a game. You know, this past weekend, it was kind of a dud on the season finale against Jacksonville. But I wanted to kind of gear it towards kind of big picture for the Titans. You can make it whatever you want, tighten up, tighten down. It could be about the coaching search. It could be about the personnel and the roster and the situation. the Titans are in right now. Whatever you feel, I'll let you have at it.
Starting point is 00:32:23 And I'll let you start and choose whether you want to do tighten up or tighten down first. I'm going to do tighten up. And you know what my tighten up is, Julian? That the season is over. I am so excited for this season to be over. Look, I've enjoyed Cam Ward, the young players. You make the best of it. You know, I could be trapped in a cave with nothing but darkness in a rock. And I'd find a way to have some fun. That's just the human, you know, condition you got to. But I'm just happy that we can move on and get to the off season. because here's the truth. I say it all the time in the NFL. It's two things.
Starting point is 00:32:53 Either you're selling winning or you're selling hope. And we had no hope of winning during this season and now the hope is returned. We can talk about what can make this team better and you know, Cam getting hurt on the first drive. I'll tell you, Julian, this is
Starting point is 00:33:09 the worst Tennessee Titan season of my life. 25 years, 26 years now. 27 years. Actually, we're in 2026. I started liking the team in 19. 299. 27 years now, I've been a fan of the team. This is the worst season. Worse than last year. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Worse than last year, in my opinion.
Starting point is 00:33:29 Like, you know, Calvin Ridley was pretty solid last year. There were some things to like. There were some fun wins. This year was just decrepit. You know what I mean? The way that they were losing, this Titans team is top five all time and point differential in the NFL. Like, this is one of the worst teams. The Jets are last.
Starting point is 00:33:47 It's crazy. Titans were terrible, but the Jets were the worst team of all time in NFL history. The worst team in NFL history, any season ever. The 2025 Jets, worst point differential, didn't have an interception, didn't have a wide receiver go over 400 total yards. Like, they are, Aaron Glenn kept his job. It's absolutely insane. But regardless, the point is, the season was really bad.
Starting point is 00:34:11 I was tired of it. I'm ready to move on and talk about the things that can make this team better and get them on the path to winning games. So the number one tighten up of all the Titans up, is that the season is over. Yeah, my tighten up is, it kind of goes hand in hand with a tighten up and tighten down. And I guess we could lead into your Titan down as well.
Starting point is 00:34:30 But like my Titan down was obviously the worst case scenario on Sunday happened with Cam Ward getting hurt. Now, he did get some sigh of relief. And I think Titans fans got a sigh of relief that maybe it wasn't as serious of an injury, at least right now surgery he doesn't think is going to be required and he's just going to kind of let it heal. But when you're a quarterback that's still trying to find his footing, any off-season developmental work that you could possibly miss out on is kind of crucial.
Starting point is 00:34:56 And I will say that that opening drive was one of the better drives that the Titans had all season long. And that was great to see. And the ironic thing is, fans and media have been clamoring for Cam to use his mobility. And he finally does it for a play at the end zone. And then that's where he gets hurt on with the shoulder issue there. Now, I will say it's a tighten up.
Starting point is 00:35:17 but the idea of Cam Ward getting hurt isn't a tighten up but the fact that when he left the game and you knew the game was over, that is a Titan up to me because earlier in the year, whether he played or not, you didn't really feel like the Titans had a chance. And they got to the point where,
Starting point is 00:35:35 hey, if he's under center, we're at least going to compete as they did with scoring over 20 points a game in five of their last seven games. And so I think that lets Titans fans know when we talked about the attractiveness of the, the Titans job being connected to the quarterbacks. Hey, Cam Ward is the guy under center.
Starting point is 00:35:52 He's improving. And I think he is the right guy at quarterback for this team moving forward. No, you're 100% right. He elevated the rest of his teammates. He did that in the back half of the season. And that's what you want when you take a guy number one overall. He needs to elevate your team, not be, you know, there's a saying, Daniel Jeremiah from NFL Network, move the sticks, him and Bucky Brooks, their podcast.
Starting point is 00:36:15 They have a game, a saying, a phrase, whatever you want to call it, where as a quarterback, you're either a tractor or you're a trailer. Either your team has to pull you along or you can pull your team along. And I think Cam Moore proved in the back half of the season that he is a tractor. He can drive. He's a truck. He can drive this team forward. And I think getting them to 20 points per game in the last couple of games, that drive against, I mean, he was cooking, Julian.
Starting point is 00:36:47 He was cooking. And listen, I'm not totally opposed to Cam Ward doing some design quarterback runs like Ryan Tannahill. Tana Hill did some read option stuff. And what have I been saying all year, Julian? He's not a runner like Lamar, like Jalen, like blah, blah. But a read option in short yardage on the goal line, blah, blah, blah.
Starting point is 00:37:05 He can do those things. I don't like that you called it on first down in week 18 of a meaningless game with 14 minutes left in the first quarter on with five yards to go. Run that play on third or fourth down when you got to have it from the one yard line. Like run Tony Pollard up the middle a couple of times before we break out the Cam Ward QV run. But again, the throw to Elico Manor, he read the defense perfectly, read the zone defense perfectly, cover two, hit the corner route right on the sideline. The quick, easy dump off to Tajay on the screen, get down there, use your legs.
Starting point is 00:37:39 I'm athletic enough to make this play. and get there, like, I was fired up. I was fired. Simmons gets the sack on the opening play. They get a stop against this Jags team. I mean, remember, they scored three points against the Jags the last time they played. So they come out on the very opening drive
Starting point is 00:37:55 and Cam to cut the Jags defense up, which is awesome. Very fired up. So you're right, a major tighten up here. It may be a tighten down that Cam got hurt and that's the worst case scenario. But now that we know that the injury isn't immediately significant, it makes it feel less bad but at the same time yeah look at the positive there Cam Ward was cooking those boys yeah yeah and that's with a really tough
Starting point is 00:38:20 Jags defense that that has a bunch of different ways that they can beat you and remember how Cam looks so out of sorts against that Jags defense the first time they played my question next for you Tyler um when it comes to Cam and the injury perspective now now right now but that it hasn't been necessarily ruled out either what happens and this is just a what if scenario because we're potting what happens if it doesn't heal the way he wants it to heal and it's kind of a lingering kind of injury because that could happen with those ac joints and then you're looking at it well it's time to get surgery and then that that kind of six month recovery time starts later than maybe just getting surgery and nipping it
Starting point is 00:39:01 in the bud now like is that a concern for you because if he were to get surgery now he's out at least until July in the start of training camp. Yeah, I mean, that's a, it's a major concern, right? And I know that the reaction from a lot of people is, well, he'll be ready by the season. He'll be healthy. But like, you're about to have a new coach, a new offense, likely going to add new wide receivers in the draft and free agency.
Starting point is 00:39:26 Like, it's not just about being healthy for the season. He's going into year, too. This is maybe his most important offseason of his NFL career. He doesn't have to worry about the draft and getting drafted and the media appearances and all the stuff that comes with the draft process. Like, he could just focus on being an NFL quarterback working with his guys and learning a new offense with a new head coach.
Starting point is 00:39:47 That is valuable. That matters. So just being healthy for the season doesn't really make me feel better. But you're right, that is a possibility. I mean, it's not off the table. Cam Ward even said, you know, I don't think I need surgery. That's not what the recommendation is right now.
Starting point is 00:40:02 But I'll tell you this, Julian. I'm not paying attention to that. Nope. He's going to be fine. It's three to six weeks. He's going to be healthy. He's going to heal. It's going to be good. It's going to be okay. He's not going to need surgery. That's where I'm at right now, Julian, and that's where I have to be. Yeah. And something Cam Ward said in his press conference this week was when it comes to the offseason development work, he's working a lot of on his base mechanics. And so not necessarily the throwing motion. So he'll be able to get at least some offseason work while he is still healing in a way. The one thing I am worried about is just overall work with the current teammates that he has. You know, obviously he'd love to get out there with Alec and Chim and Gunner and develop, continue to develop this rookie class of the future. And he's going to be missing some time actually doing his throwing to those guys.
Starting point is 00:40:54 But the hope is that at least it's not too much going down the line where it's going to hinder him as he get closer and closer once the head coach is hired and we go to training camp. Do you have a tighten down for me this week? you know, at this point it's, it's like one of those things where it's like, I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed, you know? Like, they just played so poorly. I'll be honest with you, I really don't, because we could do tighten down for the secondary.
Starting point is 00:41:22 But are those guys even going to be on this team in three months from now? Like, you know, or what are we talking about? I'll tell you, Julian, I'm as locked in on this team as a human being could be. I truly do believe that I know this. football team as well as any person on earth. I had no idea who number 41 was. He was starting at safety. I don't know who you are.
Starting point is 00:41:44 Hallett? Who is that? What the halit? Like, I don't, you know, I don't know. So I don't really have a tighten down because I'm at this point where it's just like anything that was really bad is out the window. You know, like it's over now. We're all on to hope. I want to give one more tighten up.
Starting point is 00:42:00 Jackson Slater. Let's talk about the actual game. Let's talk about the actual player. Jackson Slater, the Titan 6th round rookie offensive lineman out of Sacramento State, got some snaps at right guard. I did some film stuff on him last night. I'm going to be putting that out today. But Jackson Slater looked competent.
Starting point is 00:42:17 And the Titans are going to have an open right guard position with Kevin Zitler likely moving on, whether he retires or goes somewhere else. I don't expect to see Kevin Zitler back. I think the Titans do need to probably grab a veteran in free agency just to be safe. but I think Jackson Slater looked competent. He didn't look like an absolute disaster.
Starting point is 00:42:36 He looked like a guy who could eventually develop into a long-term starter for the Titans, even if he's not, you know, he's not going to be Peter Skoronsky or anything like that. But I don't think you need him to be. If Peter Skronsky is a dominant all-pro level player, J.C. Latham improves next year to a pro-bowl level. Dan Moore was average at left tackle this year.
Starting point is 00:42:56 Let's just be honest about that. Cushenberry or Levin, I think Cushenberry a year removed from the Achilles, or if they go with Corey Levin and give him a shot, I think if you have Jackson Slater in year two as your fifth best offensive lineman at right guard, that wouldn't be the worst thing. And listen, I know that the Titans got a lot of money, but you have to have value. You can't go to the grocery store and buy all expensive steaks.
Starting point is 00:43:21 Like, you can't blow your whole grocery budget on the most expensive stuff. You've got to have, hey, this night we're just going to have some hamburger helper. Tomorrow we'll have steak and baked potatoes. You can't steak and baked potato every single night. We don't have the budget for that. So you got to have your hamburger helper dinners in there mixed in. And I think Jackson Slater could be some hamburger helper to allow the Titans to use their budget in other places and get more value.
Starting point is 00:43:44 Yeah, he didn't look like in over his head out there on Sunday. The other thing when it goes to the offensive line talk is like, I think that group answered a lot of questions in the back end of the season, the way they ran the ball and the sack numbers were down to where, you know, they already have a lot of invested with two top draft picks in Skoronsky and Latham, and then, you know, the, what is it, they, what was Dan Morgan, he paid four years? Is it 80-something million? Yeah, and it's like, you know, the guaranteed money is like 50 million.
Starting point is 00:44:13 So it's really like a three-year commitment. And it's like you don't know, now you know you don't have to overhaul that, that offensive line, at least in the off-season, just to keep Cam Ward alive. You know, they kind of played much better at the end of the year. Now, do you have any thoughts before we go to our, Titans talk segment on the other side and answer some fan questions? Well, I just want to say about the offensive line, I think
Starting point is 00:44:35 the biggest gap in the fan base right now between how the fans feel about something and then what it was on the field, I don't know if there is a bigger gap right now other than the offensive line outside of the offensive line.
Starting point is 00:44:52 The O line had struggles. There's no doubt about it. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that the O line was good. But I see people in my comments, in my mentions hit me up like, this team needs to draft O line round one, we got to attack the offensive line and I'm just like, for what? You want to draft a right guard with the number four pick?
Starting point is 00:45:09 You want to take Francis Mawaga and plug them in at right guard? You know, like, why? For what reason? The reality is this offensive line was better than what people think it is. The reality that people don't want to admit is early in the season, a lot of the sacks
Starting point is 00:45:26 were on Cam Ward. And a lot of the sacks for the Titans were on running backs and tight ends too. Cam Ward has the second highest percentage of responsibility for sacks in the NFL this year. Only Jackson Dart is higher. Cam Ward is second being responsible for the sacks on his offensive line. So the offensive line was not as good as we wanted it to be, but it's not as bad as a lot of casual fans think it is because it's hard to recognize when you don't have the All-22 tape
Starting point is 00:45:57 and you can't see the whole field and the routes and the timing, it's hard to recognize, oh, that sack was actually Cam Ward's fault, not the offensive line. So this offensive line is nowhere near as bad as the casual fan wants to say it is. And Cam Ward was more responsible for the sacks that he took this year than I think those same fans want to admit. Indeed, and I do think we saw some improved decision-making results
Starting point is 00:46:22 and pocket presence and all of that stuff from Cam later down the line as well. So on the other side of the break, we want you guys to keep, it's popping. I mean, the chat's going off right now. We have, we have so many questions and comments in the chat that we can address when it comes to whether the team or the head coaching search. We'll do our best to get them all in our final segment here called Titans Talk. Keep it here. Titan Squad show will return on the other side of them. All right, Fridays already feel different during basketball season and Fanduil is making them even better. Every Friday night before the games tip off,
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Starting point is 00:47:40 All right. So the chat is going off. There was a comment that I wanted to get to that was earlier in the show. It was, if I could find it, I'll put it up on the screen for our YouTube viewers. but it was from Jacoby Schmurter 2650 saying something to the extent of that we need to we need to have the Titans get to 9 and 10 wins and learn how to win consistently on that front before kind of swinging to great a here we go here it is I found it it says we just need a coach to write the ship get us to 9 to 10 wins consistently then figure it out from there that would lend credence to the the theory that we had about you know writing the ship with like a Mike McCarthy for example moving forward even if it isn't the sexiest of hires
Starting point is 00:48:22 and he isn't going to be the young hot-shot coach that is going to lead this team into a future like a Sean McVeigh or even like a Liam Cohen this year, for example. But just learn how to handle success is what Jacoby Schmurter is saying here. You've heard Jeffrey Simmons talk about this. They just need a coach that's going to hold the locker room accountable
Starting point is 00:48:44 and push guys and stuff like that. So, yeah, the Titans are in such a bad place right now that like we talked about earlier, it's hard to be mad at them if they go a little conservative and look for somebody to just get them back to that range even if maybe the long-term Super Bowl potential is limited. Yeah, indeed. And I think Titans fans, given how it's gone over the last few years,
Starting point is 00:49:06 would take 9 to 10 wins. Yeah, man, I have people pushing back against Mike McCarthy like Mike McCarthy didn't do anything in Dallas. He got fired. He had three straight 12-win seasons. I'm sorry, but Titans fans can't be, you know, homeless on the street and say, It's cool. I don't eat Big Macs.
Starting point is 00:49:23 Like, where's the steak at? When are you bringing me a ribby? Like, we don't have the luxury of denying a guy like Mike McCarthy who's been that successful. Like, it's just insanity. You know what I mean? Like, it just doesn't make sense to me. So, yeah, I'm with you there.
Starting point is 00:49:37 And it may not be as exciting as some hot shot Sean McVeigh style, young, genius, blah, blah, blah. But this team just needs to get back to good. You know, they need to walk before they can run. Yeah, indeed. There's another comment here from, Andrea La Custa, I think that's, let's just say how that's how that goes. He said, yes, Cam had no coaching and support, but again, he still needs a lot of work to do
Starting point is 00:50:01 and things to fix before he becomes anywhere close to a top 10 QB. However, I put this comment up on the board when we talked about the attractiveness of the Titans job and how a coach will now be linked to Cam Ward and the attractiveness of Cam Ward will be the attractiveness of the job. Cam Ward has played better with no coaching support and with a roster with so many deficiencies that they had, especially at the end of the year. Yeah, you're 100% right there. I mean, we should expect Cam Ward to be much better. He was in, you know, a bottom three situation in the NFL this year and still showed a lot.
Starting point is 00:50:36 So I think that is, you know, depending on how you view Cam Ward, that's a big feather in his cap. Here's one thing that says from PKEGZ6. If a coach gets nine wins, Amy will fire his butt. Six months later, that's the problem. You can't build anything under this owner. Yeah, go ahead. I just, I'm so sick of hearing you cry babies cry about Amy Adam Strunk. I'm so sick of it. You're childish.
Starting point is 00:51:00 It's a temper tantrum in the store because you can't get a candy bar. Again, this team was in the gutter, the gutter when Amy Adam Strunk took over. She hired John Robinson. She got Mike Mularky. She took this team to the playoffs. They had the second greatest stretch of Tennessee Titans football this franchise has ever seen. One of that was under her father, but the other one was under her.
Starting point is 00:51:22 Okay? She is the one, all of you guys are crying that she fired Mike Vrable. She is the one who hired Mike Vrable in the first place and fired a guy who had just won the first playoff game in a decade. That takes, again, Cajon's, onions. That's a big move, okay? Some people make mistakes. Recognizing your mistakes is the key.
Starting point is 00:51:40 The Browns have won one playoff game since 1999. They are always terrible. The Bengals are a disaster. They have the smallest scouting. staff in the NFL. Joe Burrow had to beg them to build an outdoor training facility. The New York Jets have been a disgrace for far longer. The Tennessee Titans, since Amy Adams Strunk has taken over as the controlling owner, are actually one of the most winningest teams in the NFL.
Starting point is 00:52:05 Now, over the last two years, they've gone 3 and 14 back to back. Probably not very good. But prior to that, the Titans were top five and wins in the NFL. And like Amy Adam Strunk's tenure as a whole, Yeah, the last couple of years have been bad and it's frustrating. But these cry baby, oh, she's just going to fire anybody good. It's just cry baby immature nonsense. Like you're just being a child.
Starting point is 00:52:28 You know what I mean? It's stupid. I'm just, this season, part of the reason I was so happy this season was over is because I'm so sick of the childish negativity. Look, this team sucks. They have a lot of things they need to get better at. But, you know, I could put, man, Jeffrey Simmons has been a dominant monster. He's an all pro.
Starting point is 00:52:44 And I'm going to get a comment of teams won three games. They suck. This is terrible. And it's just like, you're just being cry babies, man. Amy Adam Strunk is nowhere near the worst owner in the NFL. She's not a terrible owner. She's not this and that. She's made some mistakes.
Starting point is 00:52:59 She needs to improve. She needs to do better. She needs to find the right guys. But the only mistake that she truly made was trusting Rancarthon. She got sold by Rancarthon. And it led her to making him the GM, giving him the job, firing Mike Vrable. That is the only mistake that Amy Adams Strunk made is hiring Rancarthon. Like she has not been that bad
Starting point is 00:53:20 and all of these people are complaining about Amy Adam Strunk being involved and then you have people saying oh she needs to come out and talk she needs to give a statement she needs to give a what do you want Jerry Jones one of the worst owners in the NFL over the last 30 years he's got Super Bowl championships
Starting point is 00:53:34 when I was a child sucking on a baby bottle cool for him but what do you really want you want Woody Johnson going out there and saying hey our quarterback suck in the middle of the season you know those are the what people want Amy Adam Strunk to do to prove that she's not bad is to do the thing that all the bad owners do and come out and talk too much. So look, I don't mean to go off on you, P.K., listen, it's just,
Starting point is 00:53:59 I'm sorry, you're either being purposefully ignorant to how she compares against her peers or simply maybe you're a young kid and you just don't know any better. And listen, that's fine too. But I just can't take this crybaby boo-hoo and over Amy Adam Strunk. It's just not real. man. And to your point, Tyler, the idea of an owner recognizing mistakes and fixing him, I mean, we just saw how confusing the Chad Brinker Mike Borgonzi dynamic was at the start of the season when they were both hired and were like, who the heck has the decision making power here? So she nipped it in the bud and said, that's confusing. Let's set a power dynamic structure and make it clear and responsibilities decisive. That is another thing that she has just done that
Starting point is 00:54:47 is in hopes to help the football team ultimately get to a championship level and letting the football people do the football stuff as well. So that is a huge thing moving forward. We have one question about a personnel kind of roster question. This is more of from DeJohn Anderson. What do you think of Cedric Gray? And obviously a big year near the top of the NFL and tackles, Tyler. I mean, awesome.
Starting point is 00:55:12 Awesome. Coming into the season, again, we talked about this on the show a few weeks ago. at the beginning of the season, but coming into training camp, James Williams had the starting spot. He was the favorite in the clubhouse. He played more their rookie year. For Cedric Gray to not only take that spot back, keep that spot all year,
Starting point is 00:55:30 and be at the top of the NFL and tackles. Like, I think Cedric Gray still needs to improve as a coverage guy. No doubt about that. That's instincts, that's reps, that's understanding of route concepts, defensive coverages, what offenses are trying to do and where they're trying to attack. But boy, his athleticist,
Starting point is 00:55:47 his physicality, his ability to blitz, his ability to shadow running backs and tight ends. Like, I mean, he was awesome this year. If you're making a list of like five things that were good about this season, Cedric Gray absolutely has to be on it. And when you're looking for guys who are going to be pillars of the organization moving forward, he certainly established himself as that. And I've said it multiple times in the show. He made the position competition with James Williams at the end of it seem almost silly.
Starting point is 00:56:17 because Cedric was that, was that productive. Now, I wanted to lead that into another conversation, Tyler. The Titans have, was it, eight draft picks this year, obviously with the number four pick, but as we saw with Cedric Gray in the fourth round, and as we saw in the middle rounds of this past draft with Gunnar Helm, Elyke, Elik Ayelmanor, Chim Dek, building your roster in those middle rounds is important. Can you just kind of emphasize the later picks? Because everybody, I think, seems to be talking about what they're going to do at number four
Starting point is 00:56:46 with a pass rusher or trading back or a wide receiver. But you really build your team in those other rounds. You're 100% right. I mean, it's flashy to talk about the first round picks and the second round picks and all that stuff. But look around the NFL at the best teams. You know, look at the Los Angeles Rams and what they build consistently,
Starting point is 00:57:04 even without first round picks. Remember, the Rams didn't have first round picks for a couple of years in a row, and their roster is still phenomenal. The NFL is about the mid-rounds. That period, point Blake, if you win in the NFL, you're going to hit in the mid-round we can talk quarterback and coach and all this different stuff
Starting point is 00:57:21 but when it comes to the roster you are not going to be a good football team if you aren't able to consistently hit between round three and round five because those guys, their contracts, the draft capital value that's the best value and if you get high-level starters from those rounds it's literally a cheat code to building your roster so yeah having two-fifths having a third again wow we got a third round pick again folks that's so nice having a third again, having not only a fourth round pick,
Starting point is 00:57:49 but because of the rotation of the draft picks with four teams tied with the worst record, the Titans are once again a second year in a row going to have the first pick of day three. That's incredible value. So the Titans are in a great spot from a draft pick position and Mike Borgonzi showed last year that the most valuable area of the draft
Starting point is 00:58:07 he can be successful in. And again, that gives you hope going forward. One last question before we go. This is from Dion Bonner. Can we put James Williams and Cedric Gray on the field at the same time? I'm skeptical because neither of them are very good in coverage. Both are physical and downhill and want to play downhill and aggressive. So I'm skeptical of that.
Starting point is 00:58:30 But if Cedric Gray were to take a leap in coverage, then I think that would be more possible. But I feel like there's some overlap in their skill set that may make it, I personally want a pure coverage linebacker and then a run stuffing linebacker. Like that's what I would want in a perfect world. I like a varied skill set in my position groups. I want my wide receivers to look like a basketball team. Like I want a center and power forward, a point guard.
Starting point is 00:58:52 I want different skill sets and body types. And like I want variety when it comes to my running backs, my tight ends, my wide receivers, my linebackers, my corners, pass rushers. Like I like having that rather than stacking similar traits on similar traits and just going for that. That's just my football philosophy. You can build it different ways. But yeah, I think it's doubtful.
Starting point is 00:59:11 but if Cedric Gray takes a big leap in coverage, I think it's certainly possible. Yeah, you know something? Maybe this is just me, but when I was looking at the end of season stats, I was like, I guess, surprised that Cody Barton led the team in interceptions this season because it didn't seem...
Starting point is 00:59:25 Yeah, it just seemed like the impact was kind of minimal. I don't know. Oh, yeah. Well, you're 100% right, but then again, think about the injuries in the secondary the Titans had for most of the year. Yeah, that's true. It makes sense early in the year,
Starting point is 00:59:39 the pass rush issues. when the secondary was healthier the pass rush was worse and then the pass rush got better and the secondary got injured you know what I mean so it can never put the two and two together but yeah I think
Starting point is 00:59:52 I think the reality here is that it's going to be tough for them to play together but I mean this secondary overall didn't make that possible either yeah indeed
Starting point is 01:00:09 well if you're listening to us live on YouTube right now, Mike Borgonzi is talking. The power went out, Julian. Yeah, I saw that. There was some sort of power dysfunction. Everyone's freaking out. Yeah, I saw it looked like one of those crime thriller, like,
Starting point is 01:00:24 documentaries where they block out and you just have the silhouette of the accomplice or whatever. Yeah, so Tyler will have more on what Mike Borgonzi had to say in his show on Locked on Titans. Make sure you're in every day or to that. Make sure to like, comment, subscribe everything when it comes. to the Locked-on podcast network and the Titans squad show in Locked-on Titans. We are back to our off-season schedule, which is tentatively set for Tuesdays and Fridays
Starting point is 01:00:49 this week. And so hopefully Brad Hopkins will be back with us at the end of the week. But for now, I'm Julian Minnesone. That's Tyler Rowland. Thanks for listening. Thank you.

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