Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Titans Talk: Audio Highlights From Newly Signed Free Agents

Episode Date: April 1, 2021

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You are Locked On Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network, your team every day. Welcome to the Locked On Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland, Titans fans. This Thursday edition of the Locked On Titans podcast is presented by RockAuto.com. Amazing selection, reliably low prices, all the parts your car will ever need. Visit rockauto.com and tell them that Locked On sent you.

So for the next few days of the Locked On Titans podcast to send us off into the weekend, I want to take the opportunity to catch up on something that I've wanted to show you guys for quite some time. I have a lot of good audio from Tennessee Titans who not only have been new additions to the team, but also got some great audio from some players that will be returning. So I want to go over all of the best quotes that we got from the player press conferences during free agency.

And day one on today's show, we are going to go over all of the new additions. So we are going to hear from Bud Dupree, Jackrabbit Jenkins, some of the lesser mentioned signings, but some important signings on their own, Kendall Lamb, Kevin Johnson, Josh Reynolds as well. So a lot of names we are going to hear from on today's show. Of course, the audio is courtesy of TennesseeTitans.com, but I'm excited to dive into all of it with you guys. Make sure that you follow the Locked on Titans podcast on whatever platform you do stream.

Check me out on Twitter at TicTacTitans, and check out the new Facebook page at Locked on Titans Pod. We are doing some Titans talk and hearing some of the highlights from the free agency press conferences on this Thursday edition of the LockedOnTitansPodcast. Let's get it! The first player we are going to hear from today is Titans newly signed cornerback Janoris Jenkins, a 10-year vet in the NFL. He will be expected to start for the Tennessee Titans

and provide some excellent man coverage. So what are Janoris Jenkins' plans in Tennessee? Of course. Hi. Not concerned about nothing. plans in Tennessee? Of course. I'm not concerned about nothing. Where I go, I'm going to be a ball to my ball. I'm going to continue the ball and just lead. I see

the program going in the right direction. What will it be like to play in a secondary with a player like safety Kevin Byard? He was one of the guys that I noticed probably two or three years ago making plays, and just to be a part of it is special. Hopefully we can build, be something good, be something great over here

and just win a lot of football games. What kind of leadership will Jackrabbit Jenkins be providing? Get on them. I'm just going to try to pick their brain, have them understand certain things and formations, and just play football. I play with a chip on my shoulder because I'm from a small city, Pahokee, Florida, known as the Muck, and I like to win. If you look at my background from high school to college, all I did was win.

And every level I like to compete, so that's what I'm here for. As a veteran who's been in the NFL so long, what does Jackrabbit do for his body maintenance? Like I said, I'm going into year 10. You work on long distance running out. Your hips, just always being available. Just make sure you're healthy and available and just doing the small things. You don't have to go in the weight room and lift 300, 400 pounds.

Just keep the small muscles around your body just, you know, active and you'll be okay. Personally, for me, that was the highlight answer from Janoris Jenkins press conference because it brings us into his mindset he's not worried about being the top tier best athlete who can jump the highest run the fastest lift the most that's past him at this stage in his career at his age he needs to work on the fundamentals he needs to work on his technique so he can use his craftiness and his intelligence to be a productive player so I'm excited to see what he can do for the Titans in that realm next he talks about being a scheme fit for what the Titans are trying to do I'm a man to man corner um I'm sure y'all heard about it um know about it and just playing within the scheme not never try to do too much always do what

i gotta do you know what i'm saying to put my team in the best position to win um i understand the game now since i've been playing for so long so i understand how people gonna attack certain things and i just work on that during the offseason baby then finally, what is up with the Jack Rabbit nickname? Jack Rabbit. When y'all was calling me the Norris, I almost got upset, but I didn't. I just kept saying Jack Rabbit. But just refer to me as Jack Rabbit if you guys don't mind, or Rabbit. I've been going by that since I entered the league.

And Jack Rabbit it is, baby. Well, I'm from Pahokee, Florida. I'm from Pahokee, Florida, a small town in Pahokee, near West Palm, and we just known to chase rabbits. And I got to college my first year. I went early, making a lot of plays, but I didn't know no plays. And after the film, my coach just started calling me Jack Rabbit. And after that, I just ran with it.

Early in the press conference, actually, Jack Rabbit had to correct a few local media people when they were calling him Janoris Jenkins. You can hear him in the background. Try to correct folks and make sure that they got his nickname and got his name right. So it's a habit that all of us collectively need to continue working on forming. But before we go into the next set of highlight audio that I want to get into with you guys, I want to remind you about the title sponsor, RockAuto.com. RockAuto.com is a family business it's been serving auto parts customers online for over 20 years they have everything you need for your classic or your daily driver engine

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And whether you're a fan of one or the other, make sure that you place your order and get 15% off when you do. Once again, use that promo code LOCKED15 at BuiltBar.com. As we continue checking out the audio highlights of the Titans free agency press conference, we are going to dive into the Titans high-priced free agent signing. But before we do, I want to remind you guys about the new podcast from the Locked On Podcast Network, the Locked On Today podcast. All of the sports news you need in under 20 minutes. It's all the biggest news of the previous day, hosted by Peter Bukowski of the Locked On Packers podcast.

It is essential for any sports fan. It's like having the sports section read to you every morning. So make sure that you follow the Locked On Today podcast on the Odyssey app. That's A-U-D-A-C-Y or wherever you get your podcast. We are going to hear from Bud Dupree now. And first and foremost, the number one question to ask is, why the Titans for Bud Dupree? Yeah, man.

Multiple teams were involved. But, you know, just when my agent called me with the Titans, man, it just all made sense from the team standpoint, really. You know, I wanted to be on the winning team already and come in a program that already has its squad and be able to just help out as much as I can. So, you know, it all made sense just to be a part of this organization. It does make sense for Bud Dupree to join this organization,

but what can he bring to the Titans? Definitely, I'm going to go out there and just play with my hair on fire. You know, just trying to get out the quarterback as much as I can. You know, creating pressure. Trying to get the ball out. You know, just everything I can do, you know, just to be, to keep the train rolling, man, and to help those guys on D. You know, I'm all with it.

Bud gives us an update on his recovery from a torn ACL in 2020. Oh, yeah, definitely. I'm going to be ready in camp. I'll be full speed in camp, full steam ahead, you know, getting back in the groove and just making sure, you know, I'm healthy then. But, you know, I'll be full speed in camp four steam ahead um you know getting back in the groove and just making sure you know I'm healthy then but no I'll be healthy way before camp I'll be full speed training in May and uh you know I'm excited about that progress and the progress that I made so far in uh in XOs in Arizona you know that's why I'm training that now I'm doing my thing trying to make sure that you know I'm the best tiptoe shape when I get back.

trying to make sure that I'm the best tip-top shape when I get back. We recently got videos of Bud Dupree jogging during his recovery from an ACL, so that's great news, and it seems like he still is on that timeline to be ready to go by May. And speaking of being ready to go, Bud Dupree has gotten ready to go throughout his career by consulting with a pass rush specialist named Chuck Smith. And Bud talks about him here. Yeah, man, Chuck is a great guy, man, to work with, get foundational things from.

You know, he's always, you know, just teaching technique. I tell every pass rusher, man, you know, when you want to start, when you're trying to start your pass rush repertoire and getting better and better at pass rush, you got to kind of start with Chuck Smith because he always lays the foundation. And then you got also other pass rush specialists too, you know, who we work with, like BT Jordan and Mark Hall, people like that, man. It's a translation from Chuck,

being able to start from Chuck to go to guys like BT and Mark Hall, you know, those guys instilling the different types of techniques into them. And Chuck laying the foundation, it all plays hand-in-hand, man. And it's a great opportunity to be able to work with a guy like Chuck. He's one of the greatest ever do it at that. You know, it's just also, you know, all those guys, man, just also to work with them and keep learning from those guys, BT, Mark. You know, man, it's a great situation to be in

when you're with those type of guys, learning in the offseason, not only learning on the field, but also learning mentally. And when you think about things that Bud Dupree might be able to pass down to a Harold Landry, a rookie edge rusher, even a Derek Roberson,

that is one of those pieces of advice that Bud Dupree could pass along. Hey, here's a guy who can really help with your pass rush growth. But not only can he help with that, he can help with his mentality on field. And Bud Dupree talks about that here. Yeah, man, just chasing the ball, man, running to the ball, no matter what it is. If it's a pile, get in the pile, get dirty. A guy running the ball, chase the ball, man, get down the line of scrimmage

and make sure you're tackling the ball line of scrimmage. Never turn down contact. No, just trying to make as many plays as you can. Not looking around for somebody else to make a play, but putting it upon yourself to be like, I'm going to make the play each and every time. So you always have that mindset in the back of your head.

It's a big play you need to make. I know I got a reader want to make the play. Not necessarily saying that. That's just a mindset that need to make. I know I got a reader want to make the play, not necessarily saying that that's just a mindset that I have. And I feel like everyone on the field should feel the same way. Like every every player should be like,

this moment is crunch time. I'm about to make the play. So, you know, that's just a mindset that every guy should have on the field at the same time to make the unit great. One thing that a lot of people do mention, including myself,

when discussing some of the potential cons with bud dupree is all the help that he had in pittsburgh that could have influenced his play bud talks about his supporting cast of his former team that's that's how it happens in the business world uh you got four lead dogs but now we're gonna come make on this team we're gonna make 11 lead dogs on defense so you know uh we instill that into everybody, you know, making sure everybody's on the same page. It'll be 11 guys on the field, 11 guys want to make sure we take your face off.

So that's the fun part about it. And as long as everybody's on the same page, man, it's going to be a great time. And I already see those guys already moving that way. They have been doing it for the past couple years. And so, man, you know, I'll come in and bring a couple things of my game. And I'll take a couple things for those guys' game as well. And, you know, they can show me the ropes.

And also we can come collectively together, you know, and just make something special. Bud Dupree took some time to talk about his pass rush moves and his thought process before the snap. Definitely refining things. But as a pass rusher, you always want to be one step ahead of the offensive lineman. So, you know, maybe a new move that guys aren't really doing yet around the league because they already want to start.

So basically like the cross shot, a lot of guys start using the cross shot, so now a lot of linemen are prepared for the cross shot when we're doing it. So now we have to go into the lab and try to find another move to compensate for that. Anything like that, you've got to stay a step ahead, man, because O-linemen are really working in the offseason as well, just like we're working in the offseason. And then things got really fun here where Bud Dupree got another question

about all of the help that he got from his supporting cast in Pittsburgh, and I love this one. Yeah, I mean, just turn the tape on. You see the one-on-ones. If I get a one-on-one, I win. With chips, I win. In the run game, no outside linebacker playing a run like me in the league. So, I mean, I don't know what people get that from.

You just can't get mad because I got other great players on the team as well. It's just any way you go. There's always going to be excuses why people do this and why people do that. But if you turn the tape on and you see me here running back three yards behind the line of scrimmage, how can you say that it's because of someone else? Spicy and I like it. Finally, the last thing we hear from Bud Dupree is how much of an impact our guy, friend of the show, Ramone Foster had,

who was also a former Pittsburgh Steeler, in getting Bud Dupree to Nashville. Yeah, it's crazy because as soon as we found out they weren't going to franchise me again, Ramone came back and said, man, you might as well come to Tennessee. And we had a conversation. I'm like, man, you might as well come to Tennessee. And we had a conversation. I'm like, man, I wouldn't go to Tennessee last year if I would have been a free agent. And so he was like, yeah, man, they may come around.

So free agency came the day of, and they called. And as soon as my agent told me the Titans, he was telling me other teams and saying this and that. But as soon as he said the Titans, right away I said, man, go ahead and negotiate. Let's get it done. So that's exactly where we wanted to go. And that is exactly what you want to hear from your high-priced free agent signing. But we are going to move into the last section of this Thursday edition of the Locked on Titans podcast. Before we do, I want to remind you guys about our friends over at betonline.ag.

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for a 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit BetOnline your online sportsbook experts we are going to cap off this Thursday edition of the Locked On Titans podcast by hearing from some of the other new free agent additions for the Tennessee Titans before we dive into those, I do want to remind you guys about the Locked On NFL Draft podcast. Are you ready for the NFL Draft? Make sure that you join the Locked On NFL Draft hosts Trevor Sykema and Benjamin Solak as they give you their latest positional rankings and analysis on the 2021 draft prospects.

They'll have team-centric guest mocks that are right around the corner. Make sure that you follow the Locked On NFL Draft podcast on the Odyssey app. Once again, that is A-U-D-A-C-Y or wherever you get podcasts. But we are going to start our final section with offensive tackle Kendall Lamb. And things changed for Kendall Lamb. Pretty quickly after he was signed, looked like he was going to be a backup swing tackle. And then after the release of Dennis Kelly, it looks like he will be the Titans starting right tackle, at least at this moment in time.

So let's hear directly from Kendall Lamb, who I found incredibly interesting, gave very thoughtful answers as well. So excited to watch him as a player. But why Tennessee for Kendall Lamb? We'll flash back to Cleveland, man. Just running the ball the way we did and the things that we could do there. It's top notch. And then when the opportunity arose and came here, I mean,

literally I had Nick Chubb as a running back in Cleveland. If you want to argue with one of the only people in this league that may be better is as you guys call him King Henry. So the fact that I would have, you know, had the opportunity to block for a man like that, someone who's so top notch. And then at the same time, you know, I know coach from Houston when I played there my first four years, top notch guy. I know Ben Jones. I played against the Titans for years now

and just know the type of organization and the type of team that's always been here. So the fact that I could come in here and, you know, try to help and do the best that I can, I mean, I couldn't blink at it, man. It is a beautiful spot. And not to throw into, I'm literally from Charlotte, North Carolina. I went to school at App State.

This is not far from home. So to have my family closer to couldn't pass it up. I'm literally from Charlotte, North Carolina. I went to school at App State. This is not far from home. So to have my family closer to couldn't pass it up. And then speaking of his role, as I mentioned at the beginning there, what does he expect his role to be in Tennessee now with Dennis Kelly released? Your guess is as good as mine, my friend. You know, really and truly, I personally don't necessarily not to say worry about it because, of course, you want to know, but at the same time, bro, I just bring what I bring to the table and I let the chips fall as they may. I know there's a lot of things and, you know, the roles will be defined

when the time comes, but I always take the approach. I mean, I'm just going to try to learn this playbook, learn the guys that I'm around, you know, block for the people that I'm blocking for and just do what I can. And however that plays out, it's going to play out. people that I'm blocking for and just do what I can. And however that plays out, it's going to play out. And then ultimately, whether Kendall Lamb ends up starting or not, he should get ample opportunity to block for Derrick Henry. And Kendall Lamb gets me pretty excited when he talks about how excited he is to do just that.

Oh, man. I'll put it to you like this. And this is a true story. I remember warming up in Houston and going out there, and Bernard McKinney was our middle linebacker at the time. He came in with my class. And I remember watching Gary Henry in the far end zone warm up for the Titans before the game, before we all were stretching,

the whole team come out there. And I remember telling myself, he is literally Bernard McKinney size at running back. And then to watch him be able to do the things he does and to hear Ben Jones and other guys talk about how such a wonderful person he is at the same time. I mean, that's what you want. I mean, we literally play offensive line to open holes for a man like that. And to know that I'm going to be and have the opportunity to

block or possibly one of the best runners ever it's going to be so exciting man awesome story there from Kendall Lamb like I said gave very thoughtful answers excited to cover him and watch him play in Tennessee next we are going to hear from Titans special team addition and linebacker Ola Adini. So going to bring his highlights on here. And number one, what kind of mentality do you need to play special teams in the NFL? You know, you just got to be aggressive. And I know Coach Rayburn knows that.

He played the position, like I said, so he knows the mentality that you need to play linebackers. And you have to be aggressive. You have to be able to come hit anybody at any point in time. And you can't be scared. You got to be vicious and you got to be able to strike at the point of attack. You know, like I said, my special team game is still going. And I feel like this is a great organization that I can find.

And I can't wait to get there. great organization that I could learn from and I can't wait to get there. And surprisingly, Ola has a ton of connections on the Titans dating back through his NFL career to his college days at Toledo. I know I got some guys from Toledo that I played with, Logan Woodside, my quarterback, shout out to Logan. Kuzar Skipper, that's my dog, You know, he played on the other side of me. He was out 1-9. He was 1-99. So you already know what that attack was.

And Brett Kern. I know he was a punter at Torito. I personally didn't get to know him in Torito, but I just know a lot about him, and I know he's a great punter, and I know he's a great guy as well. That's all I know about it, but I can't wait to get with my boy Bud.

Shout out to Bud. Good state, man. Honestly, I learned a lot from him, and I just can't wait to get with him again. That's my dog. Next, we are going to hear from Titans brand-new long snapper and all-pro long snapper Morgan Cox, who comes over from the Baltimore Ravens. And he talked about his connection with Brett Kern and his connection to the state of Tennessee you know I just it just takes putting

in the work and um and you know Brett's here in town uh and and we've already talked we're we're gonna go get to work and um and work on that that timing exactly what you're talking about and uh I'm excited to work with him I've I've uh worked with him last year at the Pro Bowl and um you know we already kind of have um I kind of already have planned it out in my mind and stuff and so I'm excited to get together and and uh get to work yeah it was a huge attraction for me I mean mean, you know, getting to play high school ball in Memphis and college ball in Knoxville, it just seemed fitting for me to come, to come here. So I'm, I'm really excited.

My phone has been blowing up ever since the news hit. And so in fact, I need to stop right now, but I'm just, I've been invested in the Titans for Titans for many years now. I mean, I remember when they came to town and they were playing in the Liberty bowl back in the day. And, and I came to games when I was in high school. And so I love this organization. This was an easy, easy yes for me. I mean, as soon as I learned that they were

interested I mean I was ecstatic just on that and then yeah to hear the news to get the news that we had finalized it was was beyond now we will hear from Titans free agent acquisition

wide receiver Josh Reynolds who I personally was very excited to see the Titans sign in free agency. I thought he could be a very good replacement for Corey Davis at a low cost, and boy, did that ever turn out. So excited to see what he can bring to the Titans. But why Tennessee for Josh Reynolds? I picked him because, I mean, it just kind of made the most sense for me and the family.

You know, as far as at the point in my career I'm in, you know, I'm just trying to create a name for myself. And I think with Corey Davis leaving, I think I can go in and fit that role pretty good. But, man, yeah, I'm extremely excited to be a, you know, be a Titan and getting ready to get this thing going with the team. And I've been, I talked with Coach Vrabel a couple of times before I actually signed and, you know, I'm excited to actually meet him in person. And, you know, I'm excited to actually meet him in person. So, yeah, I mean, you know, and basically looking to bring kind of the same aspects as Corey did

and maybe a couple different things. But, you know, ultimately trying to just fill in that spot and make a name for myself. I really love the transparency in that answer from Josh Reynolds. I mean, make no mistake about it. He is replacing Corey Davis. He is going to be in that Corey Davis role, and I really like that fit. He's a guy that I've had circled throughout the offseason. A lot of you guys have talked about that on Twitter.

We've discussed it. I like that fit, and one of the reasons I like the fit is because he fits in the scheme just like Corey Davis did and Josh Reynolds talks about his scheme fit with the Titans here yeah yeah I mean it's almost it's almost uh it's almost exactly the same kind of like you were saying with the play actions and the uh and the zone running and and all that so you know it's almost basically just gonna be a little plug and play with me and uh to be able to you know, just come in and do what I was doing with the Rams and, you know, maybe get a couple more deep balls than I was getting over there. But, you know, ultimately, you know, I'm I'm ready to go, man.

I mean, it shouldn't be it shouldn't be that hard adapting with the to the playbook. And, yeah, ready to go. So he knows his expectations. He knows the role that he's going to be in, and it's just about increasing his productivity. And I like putting him in a comfortable environment to do that with A.J. Brown taking a lot of the attention and Derrick Henry taking a lot of the attention. But the last player that we are going to hear from today is cornerback Kevin Johnson.

I left him at the end because I know for some reason he makes a lot of you guys rage out. So you can skip the Kevin Johnson comments if you want. That's why I put him at the end. But once again, the age-old question for any free agent is why Tennessee for Kevin Johnson um you know like you said uh I played with Vrabel um when I was in Houston he was a defensive coordinator um uh Anthony Midgett was my defensive backs coach when I was in Houston so

there is also familiar familiarity there with the scheme um the scheme the staff um it's a great city i'm very familiar with the division as well playing in houston for four years and of course his reasons are all the things that do make sense scheme fit familiarity with a few coaches so we will see if kevin johnson can have a better year than last year and to do that he'll need to utilize his entire skill set and according to KJ what is his skill set as a cornerback? I just think I'm all around corner you know I think I can cover you know I think I can cover I can play inside I can play outside you know you know man-to-man coverage zone coverage I like to play physical so basically just you know, man-to-man coverage, zone coverage. I like to play physical. So basically just, you know, trying to do it all,

trying to be an impact player. That's my style. That is going to do it, though, for the audio highlights from all the free agent press conferences, at least the newly acquired free agents. Tomorrow we are going to dive into some of the highlights from the guys who will be coming back to the Titans from last season.

So excited to dive into part two with you guys as well, but that's going to do it for me today. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans. Thank you.