Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - TITANS SQUAD SHOW: TITANS WIN...FINALLY! Cam Ward LEADS game-winning drive, Jeff Simmons SHINES

Episode Date: October 6, 2025

Finally! The Tennessee Titans end their ten-game losing streak by defeating the Arizona Cardinals, 22-21. Cam Ward's game-winning drive led to Joey Slye's field goal to seal it. We discuss a wild one in Arizona.Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Supply HouseJoin the free TradeMaster program today and score serious perks like priority shipping, lower prices, and a dedicated support line. Visit https://SupplyHouse.com to sign up for free and use promo code SHNFL5 for 5% off your first order. PelotonLet yourself run, lift, flex, and push forward. Explore the new Peloton Cross Training Tread+ today at https://www.onepeloton.com.Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at https://monarchmoney.com/lockedonnfl for 50% off your first year.SquareTo learn more, go support your favorite neighborhood spot and see what Square has been up to in your neck of the woods. And then if you have extra time, check out https://square.com/go/lockedonnfl.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.FanDuelRight now, new customers can bet just FIVE dollars and if your bet wins—you’ll get THREE HUNDRED dollars in bonus bets to use across the app.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)

I'm Julian Minnensohn, and finally, the Tennessee Titans are on the board with a win. We'll talk about it. And I'm Brad Hopkins, and boy, there's this close to Halloween, some spookiness that was going on in that game. We'll talk about it. Tighten 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. Oh boy. Welcome to the Titan Squad Show. I'm Julian Minnesone along with Brad Hopkins, two-time pro bowler. Man, what a game. The Tennessee Titans get their first win of the season with the 22 to 21 win over the Arizona Cardinals. This episode is brought to you by Mazda. Like our players, We sweat every detail because when you make every move count, pulling off the unexpected is only the beginning. Stay tuned later for highlights in this week's moving the game forward. Mazda move and be moved and talk about an unexpected second half by the Tennessee Titans.

Oh boy, Bhop. I'm going to go right to you here. What is your initial reaction to describe what today win was like for you? well first off it's my mom's birthday today oh happy birthday yeah and my mom being one of the biggest diehard titans fans that there ever was i mean she was an oiler fan before a titan fan obviously and for the titans to give her a w on her birthday is fantastic so job well done brian and company yeah but uh there's something in the air going on down there in arizona man because if you look at the very beginning of this game i'm thinking oh god

God, here we go again. And I'm sure everybody was saying the same thing, especially if you're rooting for the success of this team, right? Or even if you just want to see what has been bad for the first four weeks, somehow get right. And it didn't seem like that was going to be the case. It looked like Arizona was a playoff team or something in the first couple of drives, right? Kyle Murray looked incredible.

You know, the offense, I think they scored three touchdowns, their first three possessions. Then they started screwing. up. They started doing stuff that we have grown to be familiar with Titans football. It was going on in Arizona. So whatever juju we had on us that was jacking us up, we somehow expelled it off of us and put it on to the Arizona Cardinals because there is no way that they should have lost that game, especially with the lead that they had in the way that they did it. Snake-bitten, maybe that's part for the course when you're talking about a desert state right because i mean if you

think about balls being snapped hitting them in kail's face uh giving up a touchdown for prematurely celebrating and an interception that should have ended the ball game to turn to a touchdown with what you know it's so it's funny but i'm glad i have this smile on my face because it is the first winning the Titans, 2025 season, and it couldn't have been in a more dramatic fashion to say the least. I mean, the most Tennessee Titans experience ever for a victory, right? Behop, I went on my 5 o'clock show, and I, the anchor and I were talking, I was like, oh, well, here we go again, same old story.

And then no more than an hour, an hour and a half later, I'm here in the sports office as they're winning this game. And I am, like, pacing back and forth around the newsroom. Like, I didn't know how to read. react to what I just saw. And you mentioned it. The gifts that the Cardinals gave the Titans. I mean, there are so many chances that they could have put this game away. And they didn't. You're talking about the 2019 first pick, right, versus the 2025 first pick going head to head, both of them wearing the number one jerseys. And I honestly feel bad for Kyler Murray because he's

going to get roasted tomorrow or even now for just the way the debacle that happened. out there in Arizona. You know, you're hosting a team that has yet to win a ball game. You're two and two. And sure, maybe the ball just didn't bounce your way in some instances. You could have possibly even had a better record than that. Had control of the ball game from the very beginning. But just for whatever reason, and we'll get into that further. When they say this team didn't quit on Brian Calhant, there couldn't have been any more of a fact than that. Sure. I think that legurious need, even though he didn't maybe have an effect on the running back releasing the ball before he got over

the goal line, as we may have thought in the very beginning, because I think he did that before there was actually even contact. But the hustle, right? After you watch this dude just split the middle of the defense, go straight down the middle of the field for whatever yard touchdown that was going to be. And for him to put that effort in, I think that that was synonymous with this team not quitting. You know, and that's the thing, those are the things get coaches fired. What gets a coach fired is when a team doesn't respond to him, when a team basically has thrown in the towel, when a team's basically saying, man, this sucks and I don't have anything left for this whole situation. That never was the case, even when they were down

20-something to six, even when, you know, Joey Sly missed another field goal, we'll get into that too. Good night. But the point is, this team still has grit. This team, this team still had determination. It still had will. It wasn't dead. And that was the only reason why they're able to take advantage of the miscues that the Arizona Cardinals had today. You know, I can't wait for the national opponents to talk about this tomorrow, you know, how the Arizona Cardinals gift-wrapped us a game, but they're not going to mention just the fight and the resolve that this Titans team had not having won a game looking like the same team that we saw the first four weeks and just never quitting on each other and it paid off you talked about the sneed play funny enough you know

whether he had an impact on that play or not i mean it's the fact that he didn't give up on the play a week after he was the one talking smack saying who and then getting torched on arguably the biggest play of the game and then not wanting to answer questions about it after the game And then Corey and I, my boss from News, too, for those who are listening, co-worker as he's yelling there in the back, he was talking, he was reviewing some of the tape on some of the defensive stops and how Callahan was running out on the field, high-fiving and cheering his defense on leading was something he couldn't do when he was the play caller of this team and leading this team.

That's a great point. And I will say that, you know, Bo Hardegree did a pretty good job, as did the offensive line. What was one of the things that we talked about last week before, you know, before, yes, or today, basically. The last time you, Tyler and I were on together, we were talking about we needed to see some improvement up front. Guess what? Two sacks? I'll take it. Because some of those sacks were just, you know, Cam not having anywhere to go with the football.

And that's a result of it. If coverage is what it is, he didn't make him. mistake and throw the ball, you know, in any sort of different direction. And the only interception he had on the game was a tip ball at the line scrimmage. So it wasn't like he was careless with the football. And it wasn't like those guys didn't give him ample enough time to make things happen. Sure, we did see some drops that, you know, could have continued drives and things of that nature, but we did see some big plays made by the big players, right? We saw Calvin Ridley today. We saw Chigal Conquo. Good night almighty, my boy was having a game.

was basically under witness protection in the first half and then all of a sudden came to life in the second and started making plays. That one where they had them kind of two defenders had him bottled up and kind of juked up field and took the sideline. Out of their shoes, out of their shoes, man. I mean, no, out of shoes, out of some draws, man. I said there was some underwear laying, there's some jocks laying out there on the field, you know? So, but just just the fact that we saw guys, you know, stepping up when they need to step up. Jeffrey. Simmons big dog had to eat today man you know there was put this way he had what one or maybe two sacks you could have four or five sacks if he were able to get guys on the ground but for the most

part he was disruptive he was unblockable in a lot of instances and you know you got to say that those guys that had that have the voice in that locker room they came to play and they did how how huge is just just just for just the relief and just the monkey off their back, at least if it's four a week. You know how distraught that locker room was after O'N4? And it's really dating back to last year. They ended up not being the, you know, extending that losing streak to 11 games, which would have been the longest in Titans history.

It stays at 10 just for Coach Callahan and the talk around him, potentially losing his job and the players in the locker room, Cam being frustrated. what does this do for a team moving forward? Again, going into next week where the Raiders are, it's a very winnable game. That's a very beatable team over there. For sure.

Well, the thing is, for me, I mean, my family is very cynical when it comes to the Titans because, you know, my brother, he loves the Titans because his brother played for him. My sister, you know, she doesn't have any other team other than the one I played for as well. But my brother's never won to just be like, you know, all diehard Titans, it doesn't matter whatever, blah, blah, blah, you know,

if they were lost, so what, they lost, you know, I, there's no skin off my nose, we were all cheering. We were all cheering. We were excited in instances. We were like, I mean, because, you know, we're all over at my mom's house, just my mom's desk, I was just watching the game. And I was looking around it, my entire family, Rudy, I felt like we were tailgating or something, you know what I mean, even though we're celebrating my mom's birthday. And just the feeling that I, I know how I felt. You know what I'm saying? And I'm sitting in my parents living room. I wasn't one of those guys in the locker room. I wasn't one of those guys that's about to board a flight to come back to Nashville feeling good about the second round of a three-game road trip, right? And it went

your way, especially in most instances, Julian, when it wasn't going your way. So you talk about a sense of relief, they didn't want to come back to Nashville, oh and five, having to look themselves in the mirror and face those questions that are going to come that seem to be at this point monotonous. Why can't this team win a ball game? Well, what they showed us today is that they can win a ball game. They are capable. Is everything fixed? Absolutely not. Could they play better? Most certainly. But they took advantage in most instances when a team was handing them the game, which to me says, hey, there's life. There's life. Don't shovel dirt on them just yet. Now, does this mean they get into the playoffs? Does this

mean, does this mean that, you know, they're going to be picking in the 20s in the draft next year? No. But it does mean that this team can come together. They do believe in each other. And for the most part, that there was some inspiring play that I saw from the Titans on this Sunday. And that's what that means to me. Yeah, the resiliency is the big thing that stands out to me is that even if they lost this game, they still competed. Like we talked about on our show earlier in the week, the defense needing to play for four quarters, right? And they certainly did that today. We'll talk about Jeff Simmons more a little bit later, but you have that.

Cam Ward struggled at the start of this game. And then those last two drives was dynamite clutch. And then even Joey Sly missing the extra point, right? which could have made it a one-score game instead of being still a two-score game, then he gets the opportunity to make the big kick there at the end at the end of the game. So the resiliency, I think, is the biggest thing that they didn't quit. That was the easy way out. They could have easily just laid down and say, hey, we're 0 and 5.

We'll have the Raiders next week, whatever. I wasn't paying attention. I wasn't looking at the screen before Slyke came out to kick the game-winning field goal. and they showed the one that he missed, you know? And I thought that that was the one. Not again. I said, I read. I said, oh, my God.

I was so mad. Did I realize that they were just showing the clip from the first one he missed, right? Yeah. Now, when he kicked that field goal, Julian, what were you thinking as it was heading towards that right? Oh, I thought he shanked it again. I said that's going to be the most Tennessee Titans way to lose. I could not believe that. I mean, honestly, I took a deep inhale when he kicked it off.

I said, like, oh, my God, I can't believe that they did all this stuff to get back into this ball game and then slide misses the game when he field goal. But, I mean, just by the hair of his chin-y-chin-chin, that thing went inside the upper, and I thought, my God, this is such a stressful game. Well, part of me was like, oh, maybe they should just go for the touchdown here because it's in a, in Sly's head, five missed kicks in the last two weeks. Maybe they're just better off trying to just punch it in the end zone. But I went to win.

Well, think about it. Spiro and Adam Archiletta, the guys that were calling the game, they were talking about going for two versus going for one. And, you know, he said, hey, look, you go for one. At least you're within, you know, a score because eight points will get you tied up in the ballgame. But if you miss or if you don't make the extra, if you don't make the two-point conversion, now you don't have any points. And what do we end up doing?

Not getting any points out of it anyway. You've got to be kidding me, right? So I'm not, you know, obviously there's enough blame to go around if this team would have lost, but we're not talking about a loss today. We're talking about the things that it took for this team to stay afloat and just keep hope alive that, you know, things can happen at least even better for the Titans in 2025. Indeed. Well, the Titans do you get the one.

We want to make sure to answer your questions. Keep the comments coming. Don't know how many wins you can get in the NFL season, especially with the Titans. this year. So we want to answer any questions or even just read some comments that you guys have. We're going to talk about Cam Ward's performance in particular, how he showed some resolve and ended up getting that game-winning drive. That's next on the Titan Squad Show. Keep it here. All right. This episode is brought to you by Square, your favorite neighborhood spots run on Square. There are certain businesses that make the neighborhood the neighborhood, and these are the places that become an extension of home,

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See you in the neighborhood. All right, Bhop, TBS. Somebody commented by the name of TBS. No Owen 17 celebrating good times to come. So, yeah, they will not be on. also not the only winless team here. I mean, the Jets lost again. So the Titans are a game up on them. I wanted to talk about Cam Ward's Day, 21 to 39, 265 yards, had the interception. He threw an interception that happened to lead for touchdown for the Titans, again, inconceivable kind of play.

But he showed some great resolve, and we talked about it, teased it a little bit in the first half of the show, the first segment. How did you like, or what did you like most about the way Cam kind of bounced back in his performance at the end of that game. You know, this is a guy that's in his first year in the league, right? Five games into his professional career. You couldn't tell that by his poise. When the game wasn't going his way, you couldn't tell that me, this guy was, he never was down in the dumps.

You didn't see him throw a helmet. You didn't see him, you know, just staring off into space because the moment was too big for him. He's never been that dude. and that's what you need you know when things are great it's easy you know character isn't revealed when things are going your way you know i mean characters reveal when when you're in the middle of the suck and how you conduct yourself to change things because it's easy to sit there and look around and wallow in the in the pity and the misery of things not going your way right but i think some of us want to get out of that we want to try and solve what it is that's actually the problem and he's always

had that forward thinking you know what I mean there was one instance I did like the fact that Taji Spears came in he took a direct hand a direct snap you know in a wildcat formation I like that that play calling I just wish that Cam would use his legs more you know what I mean I think that he wants to establish himself as such a passer that he's forgetting that you know what you don't have to just be avoiding tackles to show your leg capabilities get north and south you You know what I mean? It's okay. You know, I mean, we don't just think of you as just some running mobile quarterback. You know, I understand your ability in the pocket. I mean, for the most part, you can be accurate. A couple of overthrows and some drops didn't help. But for the most part, I want him to show that dual threat capability. And the only way you can do that is by, you know, getting gone sometimes, man. Get on not getting on your horse. Get going. Because defenses will respect you more if they do think that at any instance, this guy could take off. But right now, you know, I think Tyler brought it up in our last show, the fact that

the Titans are in 11 personnel more than anybody else in the National Football League. Now, 11 personnel is just one tied in, one tight in, one back in the back field versus two tight in sometimes. Now, we did see Mr. Helm in the lineup. Yeah. You know, he had a couple of key catches. I mean, just he and Chig being in the lineup was a good situation to see. You know what I mean?

Now let's see him on the field the same. same time. You know, let's see, let's see, and there were instances when they were attempting to run the football, and they put together a pretty consistent drive. It didn't come culminate in points, but just the fact that they were on the field, really mashing that front four in instances and getting some big, big play potential. Now, Tony Pollard only had 67 yards. I say only 67 yards, but, you know, he only carried the ball 14 times as well. They had under 20, I think under 20 carries that were designed carries. You know, involving the run game.

So, you know, balancing out the offense to me just makes you less predictable in the past game. And it does open up all the other stuff when you're able to effectively, you know, find those holes and stay manageable down at distances. You know, but for Cam, I love the way that he managed the game, you know, even when it wasn't going his way. Too many times on this show we've talked about, at least more recently when the Titan struggles have been happening, how Cam is pressing and it seemed like he's trying too hard to make the big play day. downfield and taking instead of taking of just what's in front of him. And that's what I think was most impressive on those last couple drives is it was very simple. You know, right over the middle, kind of where he lived in training camp in the preseason to O'Convo to Gunner.

And then it opened up the big play for Ridley downfield. You know, how much, as far as like him showing some growth in a moment like that, you mentioned the poise, but also, you know, being patient, I guess, with the game plan of what was, what the defense was giving him. Yeah, I mean, that's what quarterbacks have to do. I mean, you can have all these wonderful plays in your head and you can see how things go because it worked in practice and whatever. But the good quarterbacks take what the defense gives them. And what we mean when they say that is sometimes the defense might dictate, you know, the play calling because they're in certain coverages, because they're in certain looks. they're in certain fronts, right?

But I think that when you start looking at just how Cam would look at the situation itself and say, hey, you know what, I need to either check out of that or this needs to work. We need to go a different direction, you know, in this place. He managed those situations very well. And he also didn't create those turnovers that sometimes defenses can bait you into. You know what I mean? So I think ultimately we saw a guy that, you know, will still under, not under duress, but managing what he could and trying to get the ball out of his hands

to create opportunities for the offense, it didn't always look pretty and it didn't always go his way, but yet we didn't see him make those customary mistakes. Now, remember those one time when he was extending the play, kind of moving backwards, and ultimately realize that, hey, look, rather than try and sling this thing into a place that I shouldn't, I'm going to throw it out of balance. Throw it away. Yeah. There were a couple of times, though, when he did throw it in there. And I'm thinking, oh, my God, dude, that was close.

You know what I mean? You know, I know you're trying to connect with Calvin Ridley, et cetera, et cetera. And sure, we'd love to see the explosive play. But, you know, just be easy, bro. Be easy. And it did work out in the end. Jeff Simmons said this or last week that the best players need to play better. And he was backing it up this season so far.

You talked about Sneed earlier. But Calvin Ridley, I mean, five for 131. How nice is that for a guy who's been trying to get. going, has had the drop issues, was wearing those specialty dead-eye goggles at practice to try to get his mind right, try to get his game right, and then he ends up going five for 131 and creating honestly two of the bigger explosive plays downfield. There was the third and 10 that Ward hit Ridley on earlier in the game. And then there was the one down the sideline or the game-winning drive. Like just how big is that for somebody like Calvin Ridley, who is this team's number one receiver?

it was it was big because if you think about it the expectation um him being who he is as one of the more established receivers they expect that expect that big play potential right yeah and we saw that today we saw him catch the back end of the ball we saw him in traffic making things happen um there were a couple of things that i'm sure that he wished he could have taken back and he was targeted 10 times but only caught five of them which meant that he had five be either, you know, drops or, you know, the ball wasn't placed exactly where it could be to make him, allow him to be able to make play. But the opportunities were there.

The opportunities were there is what you're saying. Yes. But I'll take 131 yards. I'll take that all day long. You know what I'm saying? He'll take it too. It guaranteed. And Chig O'Konkwell, think about that.

Four recessions for 48 yards. I mean, when he was basically not involved at anything in the first half. And you know what they did with Chig that was, that was, what he does best is his versatility, right? just let him trust him to make a play and let him go like that screen pass that they had for him just trust him to make a play let let him go and that's what cam did mostly in the second half was trusting his teammates to make a play you got to put them in positions to make a play and that's what he did exactly and i think that him doing that it's it was so beneficial for the squad and i just like

how even both sides of the ball were we're rooting for each other you know what i mean on that Legerius need, you know, who wouldn't have knocked a ball of his hand, but he still Halloween spook. Yeah. Maybe he said, whar, maybe he did that in the end and made him drop it. You know, I don't know. So what are you doing something? But guess who was the biggest advocate for that?

Calvin, Calvin was like, ooh, you know, let's go. You know what I mean? So, and Jeffrey Simmons, always, after every drive that they're on there, just, you know, on the sidelines, making sure that his boy stayed in the game, stay connected. Because it's easy to lose focus when you're down like that. I mean. And when you hadn't scored a touchdown, it's easy to lose focus. But it wasn't the player, the coaches, I'm sure the coaches were saying some things about staying in the ballgame. And even like in the comments, Callie's enthusiasm was contagious. You know what I mean?

Just his excitement and even sometimes his frustration, you know, when Big Jeff's getting held and they're like, dude, that's twice. What's up? You know what I mean? Let's go. He's Ellen at the ref. Yep. Exactly. So just it was inspiring for the guys. They inspired each other. which I like that circle of the wagons mentality they had because at the end of the day, when it seemed like they were outnumbered, they were, you know, just outgunned, any of all that stuff, they found a way to win. I mean, it wasn't pretty by any stretch. And I agree with some of the comments.

It was kind of an ugly way, especially, you know, that offense could have done better earlier on. But, you know, Cam wore 21 or 39 for 265 yards, only one pick that was tipped at the line strip, like you mentioned, and two sacks. I'll take that. Yeah, I'll take that. I mean, Kyler Murray only had 220 yards and he had I mean, less attempts. But he had

oh, the bigger thing, three sacks. They were getting after them. I mean, especially in that second quarter, they were starting to apply the pressure. And when you see a team getting after a quarterback like that, it makes all the difference. That was the biggest difference from the first quarter to the second court. In the first quarter, they

weren't getting any pressure. You know what I mean? In the first quarter, they were making big plays whether it was a dig, whether it was an out, whether it was a go, a seam route, whatever. it seemed like they were connecting on everything, which is the reason why they had three touchdowns in the first three possessions. But then things started heating up.

You know what I mean? Kyla started then looking at that pass rush. And they started to become discombobulated. And that was the difference. You know, and you got big Jeff and they moved Jeff all around too. She was on the outside, on the inside. He was all over the place. So everybody got their fair share with this cat was coming up.

You know? We'll talk about the defense here in a second. Zach Carpenter has something. I didn't see this, but he said, did you guys see Cam Dap up the kicker and the holder after the game? He's the first one to give a guy appreciation a true leader. And that goes back to the cheering for each other leadership kind of stuff that you're talking about there. The defense is rooting for the special teams and the offense and every facet of the game is rooting for each other.

Yeah. And that's all you want. See, what happens when a team is really broken, when it's divided. it's easy to point fingers. Let me say that again. And I hope you understand what I'm talking about. When things are divided, it's easy to point fingers. I'm just going to leave it at that.

Because it's easy when things aren't, you know, I hope you understand where I'm going with that. Yeah, no, 100%. When things are divided, it's easy to point fingers and say, who's at fall, who's to blame, whatever else. But when you start coming together and start playing for one another or in some instances doing for one another, then that whole finger pointing and that whole divide goes away. Because at the end of the day, they need each other. We need each other. Hope you follow me.

Yeah. Bhop with some bars there for you here. a Titans win. Okay, we're going to talk about the defense and Jeff Simmons and dive into that unit a little bit more coming up next year on the Titans Squad Show. Don't go anywhere. All right, this episode is brought to you by Mazda's moving the game forward. For those who believe it's not just about playing the game, it's about redefining it. There are moments that do more than put points on the board. They move crowds, move culture, and keep the game moving forward. Now, this week's moment that moved the game forward is how about that game

winning drive from Cam Ward, leading the Titans down the field, showing some resolve, leading to the Joey Slide game winning field goal for their first win of the season. That is moving the game forward. Now, when you follow what moves you, the unexpected is only the beginning. And just like there's more to every highlight, there's more to every Mazda vehicle. Mazda move and be moved. All right, Bhop, again, Jeff Simmons, credited with a sack and a half and then a tackle for loss. again the best players need to play better he said it he's been backing it up is this some of the

best football you've seen jeff simmons play of his career because there was a comment that we had in there that said man i thought jeff peaked um a few years back it was from zach carpenter he's like i'm so glad i was wrong because he's a different beast this year the weight loss is certainly showing up on the field yeah it's i think that i think that he got used to the idea of forehands being on him at all times because that's just the way you got to block Jeffrey Simmons, you've got to have a couple guys do it, right? Not only is he used to being double teamed, but now he has the motor to keep going and fighting through the double team.

And I guarantee you weight loss has a lot to do with that. Because I remember being 346 pounds from my first couple of years in the league, right? And not having the stamina to play at the same level for four quarters. It makes a difference because fatigue makes cowards of us all, man. When you start getting tired, technique, focus, all that goes out the window. But what we're seeing is a tenacious Jeff Simmons. I mean, he's going to fight that double team.

Put this way, if you don't block him for a full, four or five second, however long it takes, you're going to have a problem, you know, because my man is coming. Now, there were some instances of sure when it seemed like the quarterback was, Kyle was just in his grasp, and then boom, you know, it falls down. Yeah, that was, I remember that was earlier in the game. Yeah. But what did you do? got back up and started

the pursuit. That's the difference. And sure, he was sucking when we got to the sideline, but guess what? That's a big body. That's a lot of muscle running around chasing people. You know what I mean? Especially like Carla Murray, but the fact that he's been able to fight through those things and get himself in the type of condition physically and mentally to deal with 60 minutes

of football, you're definitely seeing a guy that in his seventh year is he's setting a good example, to say the least. And we talked about that when we were talking about expectations going into the year for the Titans to have at least some success. They needed a huge year from Jeffrey Simmons, eight, nine, ten, whatever, however many sacks or numbers that you were going to put on it. But it also gets the other guys involved. Sebastian Joseph Day gets a sack. Arden Key had half a sack today too.

So how much when a player is playing like Jeff Simmons is and he is also the leader of your team, how much does that everybody just follows and raises their level of play too? because that's also important. It's not just Jeff getting just empty calories and stats for himself. No, but 100%. That's the thing. You know, when you have a family, your big brother kind of sets the tone a little bit. You know what I mean? Very rarely do you see the little brother leading the whole, the big brother.

It just don't work that way. It's kind of weird. Put this way, if the little brother's leading the big brother, you're going to have either he's an exceptional little brother or you've got a lunkhead for an older brother. you know what I mean something's going on there you know what I mean but they set the example right they set the tone and when you got a bunch of big brothers that are making plays when you got a big bunch of big brothers that are showing you the commitment you know what I'm saying that are leading the charge you have put it this way my big brothers coming into the national football league were guys named Mike Munchack Bruce Matthews Warren Moon those were my big brothers I don't a picture right here in our office of you next to Bruce Matthews right here. They set the tone. And when you see them flying around, making plays and doing and stuff, there was no option. Yeah. There was no option. This is the way you do it, young

fella. And if you can't do it this way, then you just got no business here. So at the end of the day, they teach you and show you just what it takes to be able to get the job done. So that's everything. I hate sounding like LeBron James and that fan do a commercial, whatever it is with him and Kevin Hart. Hey, what, you know, the Kevin Dyson one? He goes, what does a play like that do for the locker room? It's everything, man. And he just sat there.

But it's true. He's like, that's what you're going to say? Everything. Yeah. We're shocked at. You know what I'm saying? Exactly. The point is they are the ones that kind of give you the example of what to do and how to do it.

I wanted to talk about this defense as a whole, too, holding the Cardinals. scoreless in the second half. We know the point discrepancy that this team has had going into that fourth quarter and how bad the fourth quarters have been. And part of that is not on the defense. Part of that is also the offense, not moving the chains and the defense kind of getting gassed at the end of the games. But today, they dug deep and when they needed against big stops, they did.

How much will that defense, I guess, how much does that propel them after this performance for, hey, we. We can get big time stops in a close game, even if our offense is struggling most of the way. Yeah, that's the thing. The thing is getting off the field, okay? And it takes every single one of those dudes, all 11, to make that happen.

Because if you apply pressure, but the quarterback can get rid of the ball because he's got open receivers, that's a problem. When you have guys blanketed, but you've got no pressure, and the quarterback has all, day to eventually find somebody, that's a problem. When you can't tackle guys and get

off the field and stop first downs and continue to happen, that's a problem. So it takes all of those things to make it work and to make a defense effective. You got to have dudes that are flying around in the back end in the secondary making place. You got to have guys that are chasing a hell out of the damn quarterback. And you got to have guys that when they have an opportunity to get a guy on the ground, they get his butt on the ground. And you get off on third down and And you celebrate with your boys and you get ready for another situation to where you have to give that offense, give that ball back to your offense. That's the way this thing is designed. You see?

So when you have the complete balance in the complete chemistry of a defense that's playing well together, they've got great run fits. They're applying great pressure. You know, they're taking away the receiver, the quarterback's best option as far as receivers, making him look elsewhere, making him hold onto the football. That's ultimately what you want them to do. And when you can do that, they feel great about themselves because they know as a unit that they got it done. Well, another big key to victory here, Marvin Harrison in the first half, it looked like he and Kyler Murray were getting on track with each other because they haven't been through this point in the season. He had 79 yards in that first half, only ended up with 98.

That's when you talk about Legerius Sneed stepping up too, that's another big, big step in the right direction for him this game, not just the play where he was chasing down the ball carrier and he dropped it, you know, before crossing the goal line, but the defense and shutting down some of the Cardinals' best pass options with Marvin Harrison, McBride was held to 41 yards as well. That was huge for this team. Yeah. I mean, Marvin Harrison has been under the gun himself for a few weeks now. You know what I mean?

So the fact that he caught that ball in double coverage at the one yard line. I thought, sweet God, this dude would have the game, you know, of his life seemingly. And then, of course, him making plays over the middle, making catches, continuing first downs. I thought he would get on track playing us, right? Then he kind of went away. You know what I mean? Maybe it was schematically DeNar Wilson and company taking him away as an option. Or maybe it was just the fact that Kyla Murray was now holding onto the football,

trying to find other options to go to and just couldn't get it going. you know what I mean so and oh you know who else was frustrated Mr. McBride they're all to do everything tied in he was ticked off remember the halftime you watch him walking out the field he was shaking his head because he wasn't that involved he wants to make those big catches and those big plays and do this to his Arizona cardinal fan base yes give me my love give me my flowers I'm out here doing it yeah it wasn't the case you know because it seemed like whatever they're used to doing the Titans made second-half adjustments, recognize that, and took those options away and made them just less functional than they were to start the game.

Another guy who had a huge game, Cedric Gray, 12 tackles again today. He's had, what is that, make it 70, 29 tackles the last two weeks. You know, for somebody where going into the off season, it was neck and neck between he and James Williams, and for where that competition was to where this. guy is now. I mean, the dude's violent. He's an animal out there. He tackles with force. I mean, what are you seeing out of Cedric Gray in the middle of that defense there? Well, first of all, if he shouldn't help Michael Carter up on that one play. Hey, you're in war, man. You're daping them up. Get out of here.

Yeah. But hey, listen, the Titans need a sideline the sideline guy. And that's him. At least he's one of them. You know what I'm saying? He is a sideline to sideline dude that's making plays flying around, and you're right. When he, boy, when he comes, he comes with some intention. And there's nothing put this way. Ball carriers will recognize that, and they'll respect that, you know what I mean? Because they'll know they're about to get smacked. And you want guys like that that play ferocious with that kind of tenacity.

And I think that he sets a good example for that, you know, for a player that just got here, basically. You know what I mean? So, you know, I just want to, I want to see more of it. You want to see consistency. It's one thing for him to, you know, make those kind of plays and kind of establish himself as a guy that, you know, can be a guy that can do things. What was he, a fourth round pick last year? Yes.

You know what I mean? So he's still a relatively young guy, but is setting the tone for players around him to know, hey, look, I can trust this dude. Because when he's in open field or when he's in a sniff of the ball carrier, he's going to get him on the ground. And I think that you can respect that. We knew that they were going to have to have guys go sideline to sideline, too, because Kyla Murray, obviously, with his feet, only four carries, 25 yards,

had the one 12-yard run. But outside of that, he didn't really do much damage on that front. And he could have, considering, you know, the Titans troubles with maybe some running quarterbacks at times. Yeah. I'm going to say this. Matt Miller, hey, he hit it on the head in our comments. He said the problem is it's not replicatable.

Replicable. Yeah. Yeah, what you said. But so much flukeness in this game. And he's right. Yeah. Because had the Arizona Cardinals not giving them opportunities to take advantage of those flukiness, the craziness that was going on, the Titans wouldn't want to win the ball game.

So it did take a whole bunch of Arizona screw-ups to make it happen. But a bad team doesn't do that. A bad team doesn't take advantage of the miscures that the other team puts out there. Somehow a bad team will continue to flounder and continue to find ways to lose. This team didn't. you know what I'm saying so I'm not going to see they're a good team I'm going to see they're certainly not going to say they're a great team but they're not a bad team now what they are we don't know yet because this has been one game it's the first game that they won right

a lot of young players too now you go out there and you slap p. Carroll's boys in the mouth in Las Vegas now we might be raising some eyebrows you know what I'm saying but if you fall back into that same dysfunction that happened the first four weeks and start finding ways to shoot yourself in the foot and find ways to lose ball games then we're going to say you know what it's one of those um dennis green things we are exactly who they think we are you know and those things you know and we let them off the hook the whole deal and that's just you know we'll find out the character and the resolve of this team once they put this win in the rear view because guess what guys it's over you won the ball game it's over celebrate on the playing right back because it's

a long playing ride you know what i'm saying have yourself some libations when you get back to the crib you know then relax i'm sure you probably have a victory monday You don't have to come in, you know, and then get yourself ready to go to work again because you got to do it again. That's the thing. You got to do it again. And we're in the very beginning of the season, fellas. This isn't like we, you know, or landing this plane. This thing barely took off.

We barely through the first quarter of the season, and they need to start playing with some consistency to give people a reason to come out and root for them. Absolutely. Take wins how you can get it. Make sure to keep those comments coming because we're going to answer your questions in the next segment of the show. I've already seen a couple comments and questions for Bhop here on the Titan Squad show. Don't go anywhere. All right, the NFL season is here, and Fandall has an offer that you don't want to miss. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $300 in bonus bets if you win.

That's right. Pick a bet, put down $5, and if it hits, you'll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. It makes watching football even more exciting when you've got a little something riding on the action. that's for sure. So what are you waiting for? Visit fanduil.com to download the Fandul app today and get started. All right, Bhop, going to answer some questions and then talk about also what the Titans,

how they can build off of this and what you're looking for after a win now going into the week with the attitude is you want to see. So first, Zach Carter says, we talked about this a little bit, but how about the O line? They played great, gave Cam time to make the comeback. as you mentioned earlier in the show, Bhop, two sacks only, you know, that's back-to-back weeks where the sack numbers are down. And so that is a small winning of itself for this team, too.

That was struggling to start the year. Got to give them their props. Got to give them their flowers. We've been killing them all year, and rightfully so. But they played well today. Let's just say that. They played very well today. They gave Kim more than enough time to make it happen.

there were only there was that one where um where uh damn more was late off the ball you know and it caused the sack on the fourth down yeah that was the protection bus you were talking about yeah yeah that was so weird because was the ball snapped too early because it seems like a lot of people weren't ready for that you know i mean so that was the only real miscue that i saw and spears was lined up on the other side is what you're talking about exactly exactly because i was thinking at first you know were they squeezing for an interior? threat and left the end guy on the line of scrimmage for the running back, which would have been Tijed to kind of cross over Cam's face and then get to the left side, or was that an instance where Dan was going to be on an island, right? Just blocking one-on-one, whoever number five was. I can't remember what his name was. And that would have been an easy pickup. But for the most part, you know, I didn't see miscues. I didn't see them, you know, mishandling stunts and all kinds of craziness. I didn't see a bunch of dudes at camp speed at all time. He wasn't running under duress. He just, you know. Not a bunch of pre-snapsed stuff either. Yeah. So they were crisp.

They played well. You know, so I got to give them their profits just because of how much we've actually given a lot of the criticism for how this offense has been dysfunctional. They got it done today. So for Dan Moore, for Peter Skronski, for Lloyd Cushenberry, for Uda, on the right I mean, for all those, for you guys, hey, man, for a Zitler. Zitler, job well done. You did enough to allow this team an opportunity, you know, to get back into this ballgame and to make it respectable until ultimately you got your very first win. So you're right about that.

I can't remember who it was that put the question up there, but good job. Yeah, that was Zach Carpenter. He's had a couple really good comments today. This one comes in from Jeanne Packer. What do you think about trading Simmons now, B. Hobb? Don't get me wrong. I love him, but he's playing defensive player of the year ball right now where you can get a first and some other picks for him. Value is only going to go up right now.

I mean, Jeff is playing some of the best ball. I mean, Cali said in the post game right now, it's defensive player of the year kind of stuff. I get it. I get it. I'm just not one of those guys that wants to see my best players go someplace else. And a leader too. I'm just, I'm not that dude. You know what I mean?

Because to me, there's a nucleus that. needs to be held together. You know, there's guys that understand, hey, look, this is my locker room. I played 13 seasons for the Titans, 189 games I started for them, and never once did I think about leaving. Hell, I never got the free agency, you know, because I always got my contracts done a year before they were set to expire. And the reason why I say that is because this is my, this is my team. That's why I'm still sitting here talking about the Titans right now. After being retired from the game since 2006. This is my home. You know what I'm saying? I'm not one of

those dudes that wants to bounce around and all this other stuff. Yeah, so I would imagine that those guys in that locker room have a love and respect for one another that make them want to continue to fight for each other, you know, versus being a higher gun and getting all these other jobs. I understand getting draft equity and

developing that draft equity. That's Jeffrey Simmons. You see what I'm saying? So keep what you got. You know, let it continue to make plays for you. You're going to get better because you're going to have more draft picks, just pick the right ones and continue to show the same kind of development that you put in Jeffrey Simmons and they'll all pay off. I don't, I'm not one of those guys that prescribes to go ahead and see if I can't get so much more for, you know, a guy that we

know is playing very well. Because at the end of the day, I can't watch AJ Brown get another , get another Super Bowl. I can't watch Derek Henry Henry almost run for another Russian title. I can't watch Jeffrey Simmons all of a sudden go to the flipping Eagles or someplace else and and get 20 sacks in the season. I don't want to see. that. I don't want to see that. Yeah. Where would this defense be without Jeffrey Simmons? That's question there. Okay. There's Zach Carpenter again. Do you think Cam's throw to Ridley on that final drive was his best throw of the season? It's up there with that TD throw to Alec. It was a pretty darn good throw. He also had the one that we talked about earlier to Cam, which was, yeah.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Calvin's coming across. You know, and like I said, it caught the back into that ball, you know, on a deep route, it wasn't a post, but it was a deep rally through. And And then the one where he was getting hit as he threw to a helm, right? And just I understand it was about Calvin Ridley, but I'm just talking about the accuracy. Yes, in accuracy in some instances where Cam has really put the ball where it needed to be and allow his playmakers to make a play. So we saw that on a couple of instances. We did see a seemingly more concerted effort to engage Calvin Ridley from a Cam Ward standpoint, right? But at the end of the day, when the defense recognizes that you're going to keep going to

to this guy and they're going to make you, you know, find other options, you've got to be quick about it, you know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying? Because you don't have a whole bunch of time, not taking shots at the old line, just saying nobody has time in the pocket, you know what I mean, to sit there and throw the football like that. Nobody's just sitting back there needing, knitting blankets and stuff. You know what I mean? Get that damn ball out of your hands.

So find what the defense is basically taking what the defense gives you, right? And if they're not giving you, Calvin, really, you need to find that another guy. But there's nothing wrong with finding Calvin, really, and getting the ball to him because he's probably your most effective receiver when he does make those kind of catches. And it goes back to what we talked about earlier. That throw down the field on that final drive doesn't happen without some of the underneath stuff, too, the simple stuff that came where to also be okay with at time. Sometimes it's okay to be in second and five or third and three rather than, oh, we're in second and ten or third and ten. Don't make a bad situation worse, also is kind of what you're saying too. Exactly.

It's 100% the case. Here is another one from Focus One. The comments keep coming in. We love answering your questions, guys. Focus one. How about we sign Jeff Simmons to a three to five-year contract bump trading him? I'm glad to Jeff Simmons train right now. This is Jeff's team, period.

He plays like this is his team. He has a respect and a rapport with the guys that says he's the leader. He has taken on that role. I'm not saying that Jeffrey Simmons wouldn't be just as effective someplace else, but he plays hard for the guys around him. And I love that about him. You know what I'm saying? Just having dudes like that in the locker room is a complete necessity.

Having guys that own the locker room is so necessary for them to be successful. You can't have a bunch of dudes that are just now new to the building. I don't care how many years you've been in the league and are still trying to develop a rapport and chemistry and cohesive. with the guys around them. You got to have dudes that are already in there that know exactly where to go and exactly how to set the standard. Jeff's one of them.

Bhop, I want to end on this. You got the Raiders next week, which is a very winnable game, right? Then you have a chance to get right before Mike Vrable comes into town and a little bit of a revenge game there. What do you want to see from this team this week leading up to that next game after a win? because this is the first time this group in particular now has to handle a win. They've handled nothing but losses through this for four weeks of the season. One thing that wins like this give the Titans is confidence.

And confidence, it's so necessary for a team to be successful, to know in their minds that they can make things happen, that they can do seemingly unaccomplishable when people are rooting against you to have the confidence to know who you are and make things happen that is the difference so hopefully what they take from this game is to say we can do it despite all else we can do it if you take that confidence on the road again and you start showing that team that's across the line of scrimmage from you that hey look we're not down on ourselves this isn't the lost season for us, we came to play. And we have confident players that can lead the charge

and show us exactly how to get it done. That's what I want to see them take out to Las Vegas next week. And we'll see if the Titans can do just that. We wanted to thank you guys for joining us here in the Titans Squad show, a little post game with Bhop and myself. We love to hear all your comments and questions. Keep those coming every show. We are twice a week, Tuesdays, and on game days here on the Titans Squad show, wherever you get your podcast and here on YouTube live, like I mentioned twice a week. Titans get the win 22 to 21 over the Arizona Cardinals. And man, feels good to say that after the start to the season we have. But for now, I'm Julian Menonzo and that's Brad Hopkins.

We'll see you guys later this week.