The OTP | Pregame - Week 14

Published Dec 6, 2024, 2:00 AM
Mike Keith and Amie Wells are joined by Titans Radio's Rhett Bryan on the OTP: Pregame, presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans.

This is the OTP presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. Farm Bureau Health Plans where you are the plan Farm Bureau Health Plans makes it easy for you to get the health coverage you need for less than you think. See how at FBHP dot com with Amy Wells. I'm Mike Keith Snicker's hot seat occupied by Coach Dave McGinnis. Thank you for taking time with us for the OTP pre gig.

Anything for you and Amy Wells and Snickers.

Yeah, we have to get him here with snacks like lay a trail and he just follows the snickers.

Yeah.

The kids in East Nashville appreciated this last one.

Yeah.

Back October thirty.

First thirty first they loved it the fever.

Now you can hand out things for Christmas. I will just walk through the neighborhood.

I will get I'm gonna put a little ribbon on, run the ease and this he's a Christmas present.

Well done? All right? So you know the OTP pre game five topics for the guests in the Snickers height seat. We want a bit of a history lesson from Coach Mac for topic number one and so here it is. We all know Walter Payton as a football player. You knew Walter Peyton well as a person because you were on the Bears. Yes, it did when he was playing. Why is the Walter Peyton Man of the Year Award named for Walter Payton.

Well, let's take his football accomplishments and put that aside right to begin with, because it was the leading rusher till Emmett broke it of the league.

But what Walter did not.

Only for the community there in Chicago, because when Walter first joined the team, they were really bad and he was basically all they had. But Walter became the ambassador for the Bear in the city of Chicago. They were when they were making their rise. Everything was centered around Walter Payton. Then when Mike Ditka was hired, it was Walter, Walter Payton, Mike Ditka, Walter Payton, Mike Ditka. There were six Hall of Famers on that team from eighty four to about eighty eight to eighty nine, but Walter Payton was the fulcrum of everything. Everything revolved around Walter Payton, what he did in what he did in the community, what he did. Walter would come in Mike and Amy some days and have the receptionist move and he would answer the phones for the Bears, so when people would call into the Bears, they would get Walter Payton. Walter was such a unique hell he did. He was such a unique human being. Everybody knows the superlatives of him on the field, but off the field. This is why it's named for him, because what he did, especially for the Bears at that time, to make them a premier. They'd been really great with Papa Bear, then they'd gone downhill. That's why Mike Difko was hired. But Walter was there through the whole time. And when he was drafted out out of Jackson State, people wondered, why are you taking Bill Tobin was involved in that, God Rest his soul. The drafted him and they were wondering, why would you take this guy out of Jackson State to bring to the Chicago Bears when they need so much other help. Well it played out Walter was a wonderful, wonderful human being. When I was hired at the Bears, the first guy that came and welcomed me to the Bears and said we're really glad to have you was Walter Payton. That's what he was with everybody. It's very well named, very well deserved, and it's a high honor in this league.

Did he have specific community drives that he was famous for?

What were anything and everything? Anything and everything he was involved in, just about everything. The other thing is, guys, anything that he was asked to do in the community, he did, he did it. He did it, and he was the dude. And because he did it, then everybody else that came into the locker room when they were asked, guess what they did it because if Walter can do it, then I can do it.

Yeah.

Jeffrey Simmons is the Tennessee Titans Walter Peyton Man of the Year award winner, which means he is one of thirty two nominees. For example, the opponent this weekend is Jacksonville. Their Walter Peyton nominee is Eric Armstead, who's a defensive lineman like Jeffrey Simmons, but obviously a great ambassador in the community through his time in San Francisco and now with Jacksonville. So all thirty two go on and then one is selected as the NFL's Man of the Year. How jeff Simmons was told was very special.

It's very sweet. He was at an event and he was doing things with a bunch of kids, and one of the kids was kind of interviewing him, asking him questions and then mentioned him being the one Payton Man of the Year. Well, Jeff thought he was talking about last year. Jeff thought he misspoked because because Jeff was the Man of the Year last year. And so it took some of the people standing around to be like, no, man, we mean this year, you did it again. And he was so surprised and so touched, and that's just a really cool moment for someone who really cares, like Jeffrey Simmons doesn't do things in the community just because you know that's the thing to do, or other guys do it so he will too, or because he gets attention for it, or anything like that. From the day that he was drafted to the Tennessee Titans, he stood up in front of what one hundred two hundred season ticket members and said, I will be a man that you can be proud of in the community off the field as well as on the field. And he has stuck with that from the very beginning, and so to be able to honor him in the things that he does in the community. With this award, with this honor that he gets to, I mean he will forever be back to back Tennessee Titans Walter Peyton Man of the Year winner, and that is that's a huge thing.

What is it about guys from Mississippi feeling that that, oh, that's a nice tight Yeah. I mean Steve McNair was like that too.

That's a nice that's a nice Titan. You know. A little bit on Jeff We all know how grateful Jeff was to Amy Adam Strunk for bringing him in here. And he made that very evident because there, you know, there there were there were there were some there were some hiccups along the way, and Amy Adam Trunk had to had to sign off on Jeffrey Simmons coming off of an acl injury in the pre draft position. But he stood up and told everybody here that just what she said. But he felt he feels a real obligation. Not only that, it's a it's a feeling of gratitude too, absolutely, And it's the same way Walter was. Walter was really really had a sense of gratitude to the Bears for drafting him in the first round and bringing him from Jackson, Mississippi to Chicago, Illinois. And so I think both of them very similar in that way.

Could he really walk on his hands the length of the field?

He was incredible, wolf.

Have you ever heard that?

No, but that's wild.

He could walk on his hands the length of the field. So the story goes. The other thing too, is he was in he could.

Throw the ball. No, no, no, the first seventy yards. The first two out on the field. Well, again, we're going back a long time ago. But when I first got there, the first two guys out on the practice field every day when I was there, before anybody came out to play long toss, Walter Payton and William Perry. They could both throw it and spin it as far as you wanted him to throw and spin it. So they would you know how you play long toss us You start out about twenty yards apart and moved to keep back and moved to thirty. Every day they would be out there playing long toss and they could both just spin it as nice as you'd ever want it to be thrown. And they Walter loved the game. He just loved he loved playing ball. Walter would jump in you know when it was the defense's turn, and he would take practice team reps as a running back against the defense. Now, the defense didn't like it because we couldn't touch Walter. And so you know when they when they kept with that, that was that was that was a sacred rule that when the pads were on, everybody else was pretty much live. Thump not Walter. You don't hit Walter. He could also kick no, which which was both. He could he could do anything. The other thing that he could do is if you were playing, if we're the three of us were sitting here playing spades, and it was Amy's turn to deal, and she had the cards. Walter just come by, patter on the back, setle me still the car's been a bam, pop them right in half and set it back down on the table. If you ever, if you ever watched Walter's game tape, you can watch how he carries the ball like this, and I'm showing that. I mean, he just he carried the ball. He never tucked the football. He was like this. He always had like this. His his hands were vice grips.

Well that's wasn't He famous for pinching guys in the locker room you didn't want to really hurt. I mean, like that's what he did for fun. He would sneak up behind you and pinch you.

It's not fun, well yeah.

Or or shake your hand, because I mean it was it was crush city, you know. So you didn't do that, and you never wanted him to grab you from behind and start squeezing you because it was like a python. I mean, you just you just had to go limp and just give up. I'm telling you, incredibly incredibly strong human beings.

Well, and there were some characters on those eighties Bears team characters some would some would say hooligans characters, I mean wild men.

Well yeah, I mean I mean just started looking.

They were all in awe of wal Everybody when you would hear McMichael and Hampton and Marshall and Dan and McMahon and Perry and all these other guys talk about Walter over the years.

No, that's it. It was Walter. It was always Walter. It just it was just it was like they all genuflected at the altar of Walter, at the altar of Walter, just just because just because of the way that he when we played that first game in London, you know, we played that first overseas game in eighty six, after the after the their eighty five Super Bowl year, we went over there and played the Cowboys. It was a big deal and you know everybody, I mean, Walter was like he was like one of the Beatles right as soon as he got anywhere Walter walked. It was just a group of people. And back then they didn't have the security that we have now for overseas games. I mean, people were just I mean, we had Phil Collins and we just had people everybody on the field with us, but they were all around Walter Payton.

He wore kangaroos, so both the shoes, yeah, those were the shoes, and he wore the beret, which are the kanga raised still today. But but I mean he sort of created that style. He was the first guy who had a shoe. Yep, the ruse, and and that was the whole thing, is you you I mean you couldn't.

Get them really.

And really, Mike, they were they were like turf cleats. They were they were awesome.

They were they were wanted, they were really they were cool, but they were they were very very light, very I mean, that wasn't there there was hardly any something. Now here's here's another thing on Walter. Yes, I can go deep on Walter anytime. Walter would get a new pair of shoes. What she got all the time, you know. And then then Rus bought him a Lamborghini too, by the way, then he had he had share of those. He would rip the insoles out of the shoes because from Jackson State on he had played with such old shoes that he could feel those old seven studs come through the bottom of them. And he said it just helped him feel the.

Ground, helped him feel the ground. He would always I read that fascinating.

It's true. He was just always brand new Ruse rip those out and then.

Feet on the ground. Wow.

It was fun talking to Jared Payton about his dad when he played for.

And you know, Jeff Fisher, Jeff Fisher bringing him in here was he Houston and and and Jared and and his you know, and his mother and sister. They're very proud of this award. You know, when it's awarded, it's it's a big deal. I'm very proud of Jarrett and his sister. They've just been well, they've and and Connie, Connie their mother you know Walter's former wife just they are great people.

Good stuff. Okay, So congratulations Jeffrey Simmons, two times Tennessee Titans, Walter Payton Man of the Year. All Right, Topic number two, Coach Mack former head coach in this league. We draw on that experience as we asked why was Brian Callahan not pleased that rookie cornerback Jarvis brown Lee mentioned the cold as a possible reason that affected the team's play Washington.

Because it should make no difference. It should make it make zero difference. Both teams are playing in the same I mean that that and I heard what coach Kylahan said. That's an excuse. There are no excuses. Let's go back to the Bear days. We had no indoor facility. Gets a little bit chilly up there this time of year, and Wendy all the way sitting there on Lake Michigan all the way through the playoffs, we had zero, zero indoor facility. So regardless where there was snow, where there was sleep, we were outside. Okay, and so as a coach, you know, my first year there, at the end of October, when the kids got through trick or treating, I came into my locker. My locker was right. Mike Dicker gave me one of his lockers because he had two. I mean, it's not like it used, not like it is now, So he gave me one of his lockers. So I was always dressed next to Ditka and there was a snowboll bill suit in my locker. Coach Mac on it with some of those Eskimo muckluck boots you know that, come up? And I went, what's his? And all the veteran coaches, Oh, you'll find out. We were outside every day, every day, didn't matter. Suit up, go up. I mean we had Mike richardson our corner back La. Mike you know the play of Arizona stairs from La. He would practice in December with his hands in his pockets because he just couldn't take it. But we were out there every day, so the cold, the cold has never I mean, come on, man.

Is he also trying to teach the rookie a lesson about what you say in those instances?

Yes? And look, I'm sure that he was searching for things to say, because when you get beat down like that, defensively, you try to search for things to say. But at the bottom of the list, and really not on the list is how cold it was, because guess what, it's not cold. It wasn't cold. You and I did a live television thing before the game out there and we're still alive. It wasn't cold.

He is from South Florida.

He is, And does he ever really search for anything to say? No?

He uh. He usually has an answers.

Asked, Okay, he had an answer.

Was it just But I tell you that may be one of the few mistakes Jarvis Brownlee has made this season.

Coach Yeah, I mean, and the head coach hailed it perfectly.

He went no, Well, he didn't chide him, he didn't didn't take him a party, did not him.

He just went Yeah.

The interview you did with Jarvis Brownlee for Titans All Access really really good. And and he's a like I said, he does not lack for words or thoughts or feelings or no.

He had he has thoughts and feelings, which I appreciate when you're.

That's always when you're doing an interview.

Yeah, you like that, you want people to have things to say. But no, it was really good talking to him. I really enjoyed getting to know him a little bit better and just kind of listening to him talk about I mean, we all know his story and where he's come from, and I mean, my man hasn't had it easy, and so just the way that he draws on all of that and the way that he plays now really a good conversation. But also what stuck out to me about him is he came up. We were doing this on a Friday, and typically on Fridays just a little behind the scenes. If you're doing something after practice on a Friday, you better be ready to move pretty fast because guys are trying to get out of here on Friday. Friday afternoon is their time. And that's not just the tight Yeah, No, that's across the board, across the National Football League. If you want something from someone after practice, you better be ready immediately on Friday. Yeah, And so I anticipated a quick turnaround, so we're ready to go do the interview. He comes in directly off the practice field, still has his ankles taped, like, his shoes taped to his legs, and he comes in and then sits down and was like, I'm excited to talk to you. Like I appreciated that he tried to cover it up by being like, oh no, I couldn't wait to get up here to talk to you, like I know, I know it's Friday.

Well I want to make I want to make a request here. So on Titans All Access, we can't show the entire interview, no, correct because we do have like commercials correctings we have to do. Could we show the whole thing here? Listen to the whole thing here on the OTP.

Yeah, let's do it.

We can. All right, let's do that. Here's Amy's full conversation with Jarvis Brownlee on the OTP.

Pregame, Jarvis, you're a rookie. This is your very first year in the NFL, but it does not feel like you're a rookie at all. Do you get that same feeling that like this feels like a very comfortable place for.

You, No doubt. I've been getting that since I've been here. Then, So I'm not gonna have the same ride as a rookie. H When I first came in, Coach Denard already had then told me what my role was gonna be, and you know, it kind of stuck with me since I got here, and you know, I kind of had that that kind of is that kind of standard about me that you know, I can't come into the national Football thinking that I'm a rookie. You know, I knew I was gonna have a lot on my plate, and you know, I was just ready for the challenge and prepare.

What role did he tell you were gonna have?

He told me that I was gonna be a big part of this defense and that when it was my time, you know, be ready and be prepared. And he kind of gave me that same speech, you know, before the first game and kind of told me, you know, like you know, you don't have time or regular time as a rookie to get ready, you know, to prepare and things like that. So whatever you need to do, you know, to get ready for this season or this first game, then I.

Need you to do it.

When he put all of that on your plate as a rookie before your very first game, how did you handle that?

For me?

I really took it as you know, a big step. I took it as you know. He respects me a lot, He sees a lot in me. He loves my ability, my talent, my skill set, and it showed that you know, these guys they drafted me for a reason.

Does that respect, that recognition of what you're able to do. Does that build confidence that you are walking down the right path, you're doing things the right way and what you do is good enough?

Of course, But you know, some some days I still find myself like getting down on myself, you know, and it just be about little things, you know, like just trying to be productive throughout the day or you know, not trying to let anybody get me out my comfort zone anything like that, but just working on the little things and just with in myself and that that's kind of the things that I try to work on every day. But it gives me a lot of confidence. It boosts my confidence. You know, I already play with the edge, just how I play football, I play through pay. So for me, just knowing that my defensive coordinator, you know, my coaches, my head coach, the vets that I'm around, these guys that I've been watching on Sundays before I was here. Just seeing that these guys believe in me, you know, believing a young kid from Miami, Florida that went fifth round. It's I'm grateful and just blessed to be a part of this organization and just blessed to be a part of the National Football League.

Confidence is an interesting thing because for some people it's just natural, they are born confident, and for some people it's almost a skill or a muscle that they really have to practice and work at it and almost flex that muscle and learn how to do that in certain circumstances. Which one are you? Did you have to learn to be confident or have you always had a natural confidence?

I think I always had a I think I always had that confidence by myself, just knowing that the you know, the effort and the work ethic that I put into this game, and just knowing, you know that all the things that I've been through and the things.

I had to do to get here.

So yeah, I would say that I was a guy that already had confidence. But you know, sometimes I have to remind myself that you know you you you a top guy. You know you a dog, So keep being that guy and don't ever get down on yourself.

You've talked about your style of football, because that's just what you do. Is your style of football. Describe that to me? What is that?

My style of football is, you know, being physical, playing with aggressiveness and just playing with an edge on my shoulder. You know, I came into this season with a chip on my shoulder, not just because I went fifth round, but you know, my I I I put like a uh paper on my wall, which is every defensive rookie that went before me, and that kind of gives me an edge, you know, to show that, you know, I deserve to be one of those top guys, and I am a top guy.

Do you track how those guys performed throughout the course of a season.

No doubt, I might not say nothing, but I'm I'll be looking for sure.

And some of those guys.

You know, I'm I'm real close with, so you know, I I try to keep up with they game and see how they doing, and hopefully I could call them like that next day or think and be like, you know, hey, I saw this, so I saw that, or hey it's time for you to s tighten up, like step it up, that ain't you and things like that, And you know, it kinds of runs the same way with those guys when I get calls for them.

So is that a a a built in almost system of accountability where you can see not only your own performance against other people from like a competitive standpoint, but also just kind of seeing where where you fit within within the group, no.

Doubt, no doubt.

You know, we kind of have those those uh competitive edges with each other.

You know.

I might call one of my guys and he might tell me like, Okay, I'm gett more picks than you this year, and we kind.

Of just go like that.

Even with guys that you know I'm close with that I have to stick on the opposite side of me. I challenge those guys, you know, just to work me, like, don't take it easy on me when it even when you're not running the route, like try to block me and things like that. So I try to We try to challenge each other and every way we could, no matter if it's on or off the field, And I think, you know, it helps It helps me and them with their games a lot, just knowing that, you know, it's a certain standard that we have to play to.

In your young career, you've gotten a lot of recognition. You've been recognized by the general manager of this team, Ran Carthon, by head coach Brian Callahan, by your position coach, by the defensive coordinator, by other play in the National Football League Justin Jefferson had a lot to say about you. Does that encourage you and give you that confidence or is there also a sense of like, oh, man, I gotta do it again, like you have to keep showing up a responsibility.

I guess I think it give me that confidence, but it also like tells me that that you know, keep progressing, you know, keep going. You know, you never try to get too complacent about yourself.

And your game.

You know, I'll go about my days knowing that it's it's always room for improvement. So man, I'm always trying to get nicks and next or things like that to just up my game, or to in the film room when I'm studying and things like that to help me on the field. Just knowing the things that are coming at me or who I'm facing. So man, it gives it gives me a lot of confidence because you know, you dream of these moments. You know, these are people that I I used to watch and just look up to on these Sundays and be like, man, one day I'll be able to stick this guy. And Justin Jefferson he was one of those guys that you know, I always wanted to stick, you know, and just get that challenge, you know, just to be able to be in front of him, Like I told him on the field, man, I'm just grateful just to be here and just to be able to get this opportunity to be able to shut you down and things like that. But yes, no doubt, do.

Other players appreciate your style of play or does it just bug them?

Majority?

Majority of times, I think it bugs them that I just won't stop. I just won't stop being physical. But more than anything, I think they respect my game and knowing that with me just being physical, not only in games, but in practice, you know, I I I try to be the same way cause I know it's helping those guys, and when another guy steps in front of them, you know it won't be no different. They already know how to respond or how to react to certain things. So man I I I try to stay at it every time. But majority of the time, Gods, they respect it and they respect the way how I play. And you know, just knowing my story, guys, guys, it made them respect my game a lot.

You're relentless, no doubt, resilient, and you like that. Let's get you smile. Relentless is good, No doubt. It keeps people consistent, keeps them honest. Have you taken the time to step back and evaluate how much you've accomplished?

Not really like it's it's a lot of great things that have been happening, and that's been good to me this year, and like I'm still in a shocking moment where a lot of things didn't hit me, Like even with me being in the National Football League and everything that I'm doing, everything that I'm comfortous, like, it didn't really hit me yet to where I got that tears of joy even with me like uh having my newborn, like when my daughter, like like it's an amazing feeling, but I don't think it it really touched me yet, you know, if tears and joy. But soon I think it's coming. Like I think by the end of the year where I can just sit down and relaxing look back at everything, I think that's when it hit me and I'll finally like shared a couple of tears about it.

Are you afraid to stop and take it all in because you've got so much momentum going right now?

Yes, I don't. I don't think I'm really trying to just look back at it right now, I think I'm just trying to stay pushing forward and just keep everything that's in front of me, you know, focus on the main thing, and that's about it.

You know. I think my mom and.

My family members and you know, my friends, you know, they kind of remind me of the things that I'm doing. You know, some days I could come home and be like, you know, man, I don't like I didn't like my performance, or yeah, man I I played good, but I gave up one catch that ain't me? Like how can I stop giving up one catch a game, you know, and just.

Made my game better?

And you know, my mom or some of my friends, they be like like, like, bro, like why you so hard on yourself? Like, yeah, you gave up one catch, but you had a great game, like you having a great season. And I'll be like, you know, like it's it's not about that. It's just about being consistent and knowing that in those moments, you know, they're critical and it's things that I can do to affect the game and help us win. So you know, I try to think outside the box. But you know, my my, my, my mom and my friends, you know, they kind of remind me that bruh, you you doing some great things like take it, take it slow a little bit, like, you know, be proud of yourself and give yourself some praise.

So yes, ma'am, you've gotta have both. You have to have the drive to be better, but you also have to have Mom to tell you that you're doing alright.

Mom.

She she she kind of do both. She she she do both. She tell me what I'm doing good. But if I go out there and give up a please, she gonna tell me about it too, and I'm gonna keep hearing about it until that's next week.

So that's why I don't try.

To give up please, because then I gotta hear her mouth and Donor's mouse.

I try to limit who's worse, your Mom or Donnard.

Uh.

It kind of it's kind of fifty fifty.

I don't really know the answer to that year.

But I'll just be knowing that they just want the best out of me, and you know, they really care for me. So when i'll be when they come at me, I'm knowing this for the better, so I don't take it any worse than that.

Jarvis Brownley, thank you so much for spending some time with me. Hey, Titans fans. With a Kroger Boost membership, you'll score big with double fuel points, free delivery, and lots more. Go to Kroger dot com slash boost for details. Kroger Official grocer of the Tennessee Titans.

Tighten Up Home is at the forefront of all that we do. It's why we're so committed to caring for the places and spaces in which we work and live. Ashley, the official furniture provider of the Tennessee Titans. All right, welcome back everybody, Coach Mac and the Snickers hot seat. We heard the Jarvis brown Lee interview before the break. That was very very good, well done.

Thank you. I know you guys are very kind.

I mean people are talking about it.

In the Mountain.

Can I say something for Mike and I please? I don't want to talk for Mike Keith. I never do.

You can't. You should go ahead. If it's nice, people would prefer it.

If they were bad, would tell you, oh yeah, real quick.

So have I ever told you an interview was bad?

No, but you have told me other things that I know to mean that was not so I have you haveqs? No?

I don't.

Oh, you totally have CU worked with you for twelve years? Do you think you don't have tails? Of course, tell you totally have tells?

Well, yeah, towards positive I've never been negative towards your interview. I just think your interviews of late have been especially.

Good, which is delayful. I so appreciate that. That's very kind, Mike.

Be honest with her. I really haven't, and that's not so that that to me.

I'm totally not honest.

No, and she I know better and she's your favorite.

I'm not, actually I know better.

Yeah, well we've delineated that.

Yeah, no, I'm so aware on the list of favorite, I don't crack it.

Amy knows that I would tell her it was bad.

Yeah, Mac would tell me, all right.

Speaking of Mac, yes, topic number three on the OTP pregame. Mac Jones is going to be Jacksonville's quarterback on Sunday against the Titans. We have seen him once before. He started against the Titans as a rookie for New England. Actually beat the Titans, throwing for over three hundred yards in that game. Now, year four, coach Mack with Mac jones style and his skill set, how will he make the Jaguars offense different and what challenges will he add?

Well, I already watched him. He's been on tape, you know, for them, and they haven't changed their offense. They haven't changed their offense because he can throw. He's not as mobile, he's not as mobile as what is what Trevor Lawrence was, but he can make all of the throws and so and you know you've always heard me say this, but he's a first round pick for a reason. He's got requisite skills. He's not an empty chair No, he's not an empty chair back there. But they're not going to alter their offense very much at all. And if they do put him on an edge, if they do put him on an edge with the play action game, he can still. I mean it's not like he's pulling a piano when he's running. He's just not a real space quarterback. But he can throw the ball.

Pulling a piano when he runs.

I know, I was thinking about that.

I've never heard that before, but I like it. And it's a very clear picture of like on your back, Yeah, someone who's pulling a refrigerator.

It's the same thing.

Yeah, I think it's great.

It is.

It paints the picture.

It indeed does.

Yeah.

All right, so the last two topics are tied together. Okay, do you want the positive or the pseudo negative first?

The pseudo negative?

Okay, So topic four, where in Dave McGinnis's opinion, do the Titans need to improve the most over the last five games of the season.

They need consistency. They need consistency with their offense, because we've seen improvement with the offense. You need consistency, and you need to score touchdowns in the red zone. If you want to dial it down, you need to you know, we've kicked too many kicked at and have made the field goal kicking has been superb this year, superb. That whole battery is they're they're really good, but we need to score more touchdowns in the red zone because games can flip on that. That's that's the number one. That's the biggest improvement that has to be made. The other thing that they need to do is get back to, not unlike last week, but is play consistent run defense. Because that's really what gave him a chance in most games up to the Washington game is they were playing very consistent run defense. You could lean on that, you could lean on that as a unit, they've got to get back to that. But they need to score touchdowns in the red zone.

Well, it's interesting because Folk, if I'm not mistaken, has as many field goal tries as he does extra point tries. Wow, I think that's exactly the same, or maybe one off. I'd have to look, but it's very close. As the Titans went through kicker Polooza during the disastrous they were dark days. Yeah, I mean they're bad. I mean eight of eighteen teams in the high school state championships in Chattanooga are better than forty four percent on field goals, and there was a professional team that was the worst in history. But the Titans overcame that because they scored so many touchdowns, thank you. And if they only tried eighteen field goals that's that year and they kicked you know, forty something extra point.

That's such a great point. That just illustrates right there what has to happen. It seemed like for a while during that period, because we were all here together during that period, every time we played somebody else they had a kicker that we'd had, Well they did, I mean, because we had kicker Polloose, we had kicker Poaloos. It was like it was like coach Max shoe Carnival that I used to do for Jeff Fisher every Saturday morning, when I would pay the practice squad players fifty dollars if they could kick a field goal, you know, from the twenty eight. Then we'd back up to twenty five. Then we'd back up to the third. I mean, so it was shoe Carnival. It was shoe Carnival the whole way. And so I agree with you. I'm so happy that group right now that we have. I mean, it's.

We need to be kicking more extra points extra points, okay. And so here is the more positive question for topic five. What is the most improved part of the Tennessee Titans through the twenty twenty four.

I think the development of this rookie draft class. I think I think we've got we had We've had some guys and we've just talked about Jarvis Brown a little bit, you know, in this I mean, the guy was thrust into a starting position. I mean, really, those guys were the fourth and fifth corners going into this into this season, and now you've got two of those guys that have played a lot of football. Uh, Jarvis Browning to me the way the way that that the big t sweat has come through with what he needed to do as far as buying into the program that was set up for him when they went to Huntsville, Texas to enter to interview his family and say, look, if we draft this guy, and they told him, well, here's what we expect you to do, and this is the program we're going to have. They laid it out and he he has, he has done that. Uh. And then there's been some contributions from that from this rookie draft class that has been big. And the other thing is and it needs to continue, is the development of Will Levis lowering his heart rate and doing the normal things as a quarterback does and then trying to do the spectacular things when they're needed rather than trying to do the spectacular things every time.

All right, let me ask you where do you think the Titans need to improve the most over the last five games.

Consistency is a very good answer. But I think that it is more consistency within controlling the controllables, and I think that's things like penalties. I think that's things like maintaining possession of the ball, not making silly mistakes with fumbles and turnovers and things like that. It's continuing to win the things that you can win so that you hopefully put yourself in the position to win the football game.

That's what I sort of say in NFL terms, are the hardball things. Yeah, that's why Baltimore is there every year.

Yep.

They have good players too, don't get me wrong. But it's also why the Chargers are in this thing right now is because they don't give games away.

They don't do those things. Yes, and it's detail thing. A lot of its mental stuff. A lot of it is just being disciplined in the way that you play the game. And that's on players, that's on coaches, that's on everybody across the board. But we've got to find a way to stop doing those things so that we can then focus on the bigger game thing.

Well, the Titans have no toes left right because they've shot them all off this year.

Yeah, and that has to stop exactly.

All right, So where do you think they have improved the most? The question I.

Ask coach Mac will Levis. I think will Levis is definitely my answer as well. The way that he has grown through this season has been just fun to watch, even with the ups and downs have come with this season, seeing the way that he has improved as a game manager, as a leader, as a person who is evaluating what he's seeing on the on the field during a game, trusting himself, trusting his instincts. All of these things are things that we have watched in very real time develop and I think that's something that's going to continue to improve as this season continues on. He's going to get better and better, as he's getting more reps, as he's getting more experience, as he's continuing to refine not only the way that he goes throughout a week, but his process off the field I think that's been a big part of it too.

I want to raise you one on that. I would say the passing game okay because of Will, but also so now they know how to use Ridley.

Yeah yeah.

Obviously Nwi has a specific role Tyler Boyd. We see him as the as the slot guy, and we understand that chickaconk Wo has seemed to find his place in all of this with the seventy yard touchdown they can throw to the backs that still hasn't developed quite as much, but the thirty yard completion down the field that Tony Pollard was a thing of duty last week, just seeing a PAS game start to manifest itself in a way that it can be so effective. I do think it starts with Will, but I think he knows who to count on. I think they know where to be for him. It just looks like it's in sync now.

Well, and the other thing is we talked about the quarterback. He's lowered his heart rate and he's not as frenetic playing the position.

At frantic.

That is, that's gone and it was there to begin with because you could sense it and it was it was I mean you could see it. I mean it was. It was. It was like the screen was jumping. Right now he's settled in and for all those reasons that you say, And plus the players are starting to come into this passing game system. I mean he The other thing is to and the head coach is calling plays to sync them up. But until you know who the players are and you can depend on, the first guy you've got to depend on is your quarterback to be able to put it where you want it to be thrown, but to also be able to take the options and work off of those options too. See. To begin with, it was like the quarterback was playing with no options. I mean it was either there or that's not a it's not a panic position anymore.

Well, and Will Levis now has a better understanding of within this system, what he likes, what he doesn't like, what works, what doesn't work. Brian Callahan has a better understanding of Will Levis and what he likes and doesn't like, and what works and doesn't work. All of these things are I mean symptoms of having a new group of people figuring each other out. And that's I think why we're starting to see a lot of this kind of gel together now they've had experience doing it together.

Right.

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A rookie mistake this football season. Maybe you should have had Snickers, because.

Now you can enter for the chance to turn those rookie mistakes into prizes, including a trip to Super Bowl fifty nine.

Visit Snickers dot com slash Rookie Mistakes for details. It's time for the key ingredients of the game, delivered by Little Caesars. Coach Mack is going to hold the Little Caesars box.

I love the Little Caesars. I love Little Caesars. I like the pizza. I like the box. I like the little Pizza.

Man, Pizza Man, Caesar a little season.

I've got a coach mac moji with this outfit on that we can't show you do Yes, really, yes, there isn't.

Gonna need to Oh my god, hang on, let me find my timer. Okay, I'm ready.

All right, here we go.

Hit it.

Key number one. Get the run attack going. The Titans fell behind in Washington, so they had to abandon the run. But running the ball just eleven times, Come on, that'll never cut it. Tony Pollard should be fresh, Taja Spears should be fresh. The Titans have a good running game. Time to show it off against Jacksonville. Key number two ties directly into key number one if the Titans can run the football. It puts the action back in play action. The offense can take advantage of play action, especially with Will Levis's ability to hit the deep ball. Play action can be a true added bonus for the Titans offense. And key number three, don't let the Jaguars run the ball. Seriously, what happened in Washington. Let's not even discuss that. The Titans run defense, however, was great in Houston. So let's get back to that. Don't let Tank Bigsby and Travis etn it started, make Jacksonville one dimensional and stop their run game.

You did a good job, Mike. Thank you, like fifty four seconds, good job, Thank you. Little Caesars is the official pizza partner of your Tennessee Titans. Download the Little Caesars app and get your favorites delivered today. Delivery fees apply pizza pizza. I always shake these now. Remember the one time there was pizza in it and we didn't know. Yeah, always shake it now.

I like this one too, Mao.

Helmans, by the way, go get you some Helmans there for your holiday dishes. We did people a favor reminding them to go out and get some Helmans before Thanksgiving.

Yeah, you're gonna need it for Christmas.

You're gonna need it for Christmas.

You put it in desserts too. It's not just savor retreats.

What desserts do you put it in?

You put in all kinds of stuff.

Like what dessert do you put mayonnaise in? Since you brought it up here on the OTP, you have to tell the ot people what dessert? Okay, put mayonnaise in so we can avoid Well, you're an excellent cook, so we go ahead. I am again like mayonnaise, but I don't know that I wanted in.

Dessert things that you put like a little dollop of it in to give it a little tang, like a jello dessert, to give it a little tang.

I am not okay.

I'm gonna okay, I'm gonna give you a Mayo tavation and then some.

I've got to read the line, and then are you ready look straight into the camera. I'm ready, all right, hit me of mayotivation from Helman's Mayo Titans.

Cheers, be loud, and your deviled eggs, potato salad and whatever holiday dish you wish to make make your mama proud. And the entire family. Proud Helman's the official mayo of the Tennessee Titans Mayo Game Day, be delicious. You have a bad attitude, Mike.

She overdoes it, doesn't she I didn't overdo it.

I just try to give it the appropriate amount of gusto, because I think that it's written for some gusto and your satur Yeah, I'm gonna find you a list of dessert Maybe I'll start slipping it in desserts.

Man, I don't know, maybe I'll start slipping I mean, I like it in potato salad. I like it.

You can put it in salads.

Deviled eggs. I mean, there's all kinds of I like Helman's and a lot of stuff. I like it on my burgers. I love Helmets. I can run down ham and cheese sandwoman cheese sandwiches, Helmans with Helmans outstanding standing.

But I'm just I'm gonna make you a list.

Maybe don't you make me a dessert with it in there, And maybe because you won't eat it, maybe.

A dessert ham and cheese sandwich, a dessert ham cheese.

You're so bad.

Oh my gosh, look at this. There's just tons of things I'm going to put together a recipe book. We're gonna have ten days of mayonnaise, twelve days of mayonnaise dessert.

It's not a thing. Oh that is so not a thing. Mary, thank you for joining it, like you wouldn't put it on snickers.

Those are two different things.

Well, that's what I'm saying, just to hurt and a meal or two different things.

Oh no, I'm just saying that those specifically two things don't have overlapping ingredients.

My grandmother easy, My grandmother used to make a salad with raisins that she put uh Helmans in.

I put Helman's in my seven layer salad, right, I think that's.

What it was, some sort of seven layers. It's kind of like one of those things they bring to the covered dish at church.

Oh that'sn't. My whole Thanksgiving is one giant covered dish. But like I make all the dish.

I used to love a covered dish at the church. I do.

They quit covered dishes because of cod COVID, because.

They were in Missouri. They brought them right on back.

They brought them the COVID dishes. Covered dishes don't want that, all right, So for coach Dave McGinnis and Amy Wells, I myke Keith o T people. Thank you for joining us for the oh t P pre game. See you Sunday.

You're gonna love the cookies.

I'm not having a cookie to manage.