Category: Titans training camp

Watch: Titans’ Robert Woods mic’d up at training camp

Titans WR Robert Woods was mic’d up at a recent training camp practice.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Robert Woods is having a strong training camp thus far and is showing no ill effects from the torn ACL he suffered during the 2021 campaign.

But Woods is also lending a helping hand to the team’s younger players, as fellow wideout Dez Fitzpatrick detailed recently.

“We added Bobby Trees — that’s what I call him,” Fitzpatrick told WKRN’s Kayla Anderson. “But that’s my guy, for sure. I ask him — he’s like my big brother — I ask him all the time, have his number, we text all the time so I’m kind of just always asking him, ‘what about this? what about that?'”

“He’s so smart, also,” Fitzpatrick continued. “He’s so detail-oriented, so whenever I ask a question he’s breaking it down. Even if I don’t get it, he’ll look at me and be like, ‘you get that?’ That’s like my big brother right now.”

Woods was mic’d up at a training camp practice recently, which gave us a look and listen at how he’s interacting with his younger teammates. Check out the clip below.

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Titans’ Austin Hooper talks versatility, helping Chigoziem Okonkwo

Austin Hooper says he’s helping Chigoziem Okonkwo “to the best of my ability.”

While Treylon Burks and Roger McCreary have dominated the headlines thus far in training camp, Tennessee Titans tight end Austin Hooper has kind of flown under the radar.

That’s not to say he hasn’t stood out in team drills or one-on-ones, but the 27-year-old is generally a quieter guy by nature.

After spending the first six years in the league split between the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns, Hooper signed a one-year deal in the offseason to come to Nashville.

His usage in Atlanta and Cleveland couldn’t have been more different.

With the Falcons, Hooper was a top target for quarterback Matt Ryan and notched a career-best 787 receiving yards in 2019, third-most on the roster. In Cleveland, he was utilized more in blocking situations, averaging just under 400 yards between the two years with the Browns.

Coming into the Titans’ organization, he figures to have a prominent role as both a blocker and pass-catcher. According to Hooper, he’s comfortable with whatever the team needs him to do.

“Fifty percent of my snaps in Atlanta, I was a slot receiver. And then, I was top five in the league in terms of hand in the ground when I was in Cleveland, so I’ve proven I can do whatever is asked of me,” he said, via AtoZ Sports Nashville. “If it’s pass-protection, gap schemes, zone, if you want me to be a slot guy, so my job is just to be a tight end and kind of earn my role earn to the best of my ability and be a good teammate.”

Tennessee didn’t get as much production as they would have liked from their tight end position last year. Anthony Firkser put together a solid offseason and training camp, but he tallied just 291 receiving yards and two touchdowns during the regular season.

Along with rookie Chigoziem Okonkwo, the Titans seem well-positioned to turn tight end from a weakness into a strength this year. Speaking of Chig, Okonkwo has been among the biggest standouts of the entire offseason.

Likely to serve as a backup to Hooper, Okonkwo can still carve out a role in a Titans offense that desperately needs impact pass-catchers. Hooper has  taken Okonkwo under his wing, a job he’s taken in stride.

“I like him. He’s funny, he’s young, and he’s got energy. He has a willingness to work hard, and I really respect that about him,” Hooper said of the young tight end. “Another thing, he doesn’t have an ego. A lot of young guys come in from time to time and think they have it solved. It’s been fun to work with him, really athletic, really hungry young player. Not lost on me, part of my role is to help him to the best of my ability, and that’s something that I embrace.”

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Report: Tennessee Titans signing OL Willie Wright

The Titans are reportedly adding offensive lineman Willie Wright.

The Tennessee Titans are reportedly signing an offensive lineman to their offseason roster.

According to Joe Rexrode of The Athletic, Tennessee is signing interior offensive lineman Willie Wright. The financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Wright has experience playing at both guard and center. It isn’t clear whose spot he’s going to take at the moment, but backup center Daniel Munyer did suffer an injury during Tuesday’s practice.

After going undrafted out of Tulsa, Wright, 26, has had a cup of coffee with the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears but has never played in a regular season game.

In our latest 53-man projection, we have Nate Davis and Aaron Brewer manning the starting guard spots, and Jamarco Jones and Corey Levin serving as backups on the interior.

We’d be surprised if Wright supplants either of the backup options, making it likely his best bet to stick in Nashville will come via the practice squad.

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Titans 53-man roster projection after one week of training camp

Our latest 53-man roster projection after the first week of Titans training camp.

After completing their sixth practice on Tuesday, the Tennessee Titans are officially one week into training camp and things are already beginning to take shape in terms of positional battles.

Of course, there’s still a long way to go, but the first week has given us some great insight into who among Tennessee’s players on the bubble are making the case they belong on the initial 53-man roster.

We’ve seen three of Tennessee’s rookies become the biggest standouts of training camp, with wide receiver Treylon Burks, tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo and cornerback Roger McCreary routinely shining in practice.

The emergence of Burks has been especially important after he got off to a rocky start thanks to asthma and poor conditioning, the latter of which the wideout has taken accountability for.

The Titans will have an off day on Wednesday before they return to the practice field on Thursday. In the meantime, let’s take a stab at a 53-man roster projection following the first week of training camp practices.

Titans DC Shane Bowen praises Roger McCreary: ‘He’s not a rookie’

Titans DC Shane Bowen has been impressed with Roger McCreary thus far.

After the first week of training camp, Tennessee Titans rookie cornerback Roger McCreary is already standing out.

The University of Auburn product has carried over his reputation as a physical player into his first NFL training camp, and his coaches have noticed.

Titans defensive coordinate Shane Bowen spoke at length about McCreary on Tuesday, noting he’s much further along in his development and doesn’t look like a rookie.

“He’s not a rookie. I don’t feel him as a rookie,” Bowen said via AtoZ Sports Nashville. “He’s poised, he doesn’t panic in coverage, he stays square, he challenges, he’s got a good understanding of what it takes to play man-to-man, and we saw that stuff from his college tape. He’s been able to come in here and translate. He’s been outside, he’s been inside, he’s handled it. I’ve been really pleased with where he’s at. He just has to continue to progress.”

McCreary and fellow rookie Treylon Burks have provided some of the more exciting moments in practice when going up against each other in one-on-ones.

On Tuesday, and with the entire team watching, Burks reeled in a pass against McCreary, but the cornerback was draped all over him and didn’t make it easy for the rookie wideout, leading to an impressive catch.

“He’s going to get me one day, I’m going to get him the next day. And that’s just doing nothing but making us better each day,” Burks said of McCreary, according to Sam Phalen of AtoZ Sports Nashville.

“I’m trying to get him better, he’s going to try and get me better,” McCreary said, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “If he makes a good play, I’m going to say to him ‘good job.’ If I make a good play, we talk back and forth.”

McCreary has been given an expanded look in training camp with Elijah Molden still sidelined due to injury.

The former is making the most of his opportunity, with one of the team’s beat writers deeming his Monday performance, which was his best of camp, as “dominant.”

“I wouldn’t say everything is really falling into place, it’s just a little routine everyday,” McCreary said after Monday’s practice, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “I just try to follow a routine and try to get used to everything, playing different positions and everything. But it’s been going great and I’m just trying to get better everyday. That’s my main focus.”

Kristian Fulton and Caleb Farley appear to have their grips on the starting cornerback jobs heading into 2022. However, McCreary could still carve out a meaningful role for himself if he keeps performing the way he has.

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Tennessee Titans training camp: Photos from Day 6

Some photos from Day 6 of Titans training camp.

The Tennessee Titans completed their sixth practice of training camp on Tuesday, the second in which pads were worn.

Among the highlights were a big day from wide receiver Racey McMath and a pre-practice spat between offensive linemen Jamarco Jones and Taylor Lewan, which apparently was initiated by the former.

In case you missed the events of Day 6, you can check them out right here.

The Titans have an off day on Wednesday and will return to the practice field on Thursday. You can view the entire training camp schedule right here.

Now, the photos from Tuesday’s session.

Biggest takeaways from Day 6 of Titans training camp

A big day for Racey McMath and a pre-practice spat were among the highlights of Day 6.

The Tennessee Titans were back at it on Tuesday for their sixth practice of training camp, and the second in which pads were worn.

Even before the team took the field there were some fireworks, as offensive lineman Jamarco Jones apparently went after left tackle Taylor Lewan in a pre-practice spat.

Training camp fights are perfectly normal, but this one is a bit different, as it’s between two players on the same side of the ball and it occurred before practice and not as a result of something happening on the field during it.

This is definitely a situation to monitor, with Jones vying for the left guard job against Aaron Brewer, the winner of which will line up next to Lewan.

In more positive news, wide receiver Racey McMath was the biggest standout of the day, and it was a great session for the offense overall.

Now, a look at all of the biggest takeaways from Tuesday.

Titans’ Malik Willis talks footwork, processing; Todd Downing gives early evaluation

Titans OC Todd Downing gave an early evaluation of QB Malik Willis

As Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis takes part in a battle for the backup quarterback job with Logan Woodside in training camp, he’s also trying to get acclimated to the NFL game ahead of his first season.

Willis has been having an up-and-down camp thus far. While he has made some nice plays along the way, the rookie has also struggled, which is to be expected from a young signal-caller.

During his time in college, Willis was able to get away with things simply because of his physical gifts, but as offensive coordinator Todd Downing points out, the Liberty product won’t be able to do the same in the pros.

“He’s so physically gifted and I think sometimes when you have those tools you can get away with things at the collegiate level, and I think he is starting to find out some of those tight-window throws, or if you’re a little bit late on something, you can’t necessarily just make up for it with ball speed. The DBs are going to close that window a little bit faster,” Downing explained, via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.

“So, there’s a development there, right? And there’s a dependency on physical tools that sometimes needs to progress to more of the footwork and listening to your feet and letting your feet redirect your eyes and those kinds of things. But Malik is on a good trajectory. He’s had some learning experiences out there, but he’s a great kid with high character who comes in and wants to know the why and wants to understand what occurred with the mistakes. I’m excited about where he’s at.”

After practice, Willis spoke about how his mental processing is ahead of his footwork, making the latter even more of a point of emphasis for him.

“I’m processing faster than what I’m used to going within my footwork processing. I’m processing the information and knowing what I need to do, but in order to be on time and be able to throw with anticipation I need to help my feet get up with my processing abilities,” Willis explained, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport. “Knowing what to do but just getting the reps where you’re able to do it without thinking.”

And how does he accomplish that?

“Reps,” Willis answered.

Despite his need to improve in the aforementioned area, he feels he’s “light years” ahead of where he was upon being drafted.

“I’m light years ahead of where I was, but that’s just from my coaches and dedicating my time to study the situation,” Willis said. “That’s everything regarding my job description – operating the huddle, operating the line of scrimmage, all the plays and being comfortable with them.”

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Watch: Titans’ Malik Willis hilariously bails on tackling drill vs. Jeffery Simmons

Malik Willis wanted no part of Jeffery Simmons in an open-field tackling drill on Tuesday.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Malik Willis made a business decision during the sixth practice of training camp on Tuesday when faced with going up against defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons an in open-field tackling drill.

The funny moment occurred when the two were set to square off in the drill and Willis decided to bail on the rep, instead opting to fall to the ground and give up before meeting Simmons.

While Willis no doubt has the speed to get around Simmons, there wasn’t much room to operate in this particular case against the massive 6-foot-4, 305-pound man we so lovingly refer to as “Big Jeff,” a nickname the defensive lineman has come to embrace.

“I really didn’t have too many nicknames. I think ‘Big Jeff’ has been the newest one” Simmons said, via Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “But I think this one is going to stick with me. I even got some thigh pads with [Big Jeff]; when I wear white pants you probably can see them.”

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Titans’ Harold Landry aims to improve in coverage in 2022

“If I pride myself in being versatile, that’s something I’ve got to be able to do,” Landry said of improving in pass coverage.

Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Harold Landry is coming off a career year in 2021, but that hasn’t quelled his desire to improve.

Landry was a beast in the pass-rush, tallying a career-high and team-high 12 sacks last season, which helped net him a big five-year, $87.5 million contract extension earlier this offseason.

One of the few gripes with Landry’s 2021 campaign was his performance in pass coverage, which has been less than ideal throughout his career. The Boston College product posted career-worsts in completion rate (85.2 percent) and QB rating allowed (123.9).

Looking ahead to 2022, improving in coverage is one point of emphasis for the 26-year-old in his fifth season.

“I would say [I’m working on] all facets,” Landry said, per John Glennon of Sports Illustrated. “I’m trying to make more of an impact when I’m out in coverage, but I’m also trying to be more consistent winning one-on-ones when the opportunity presents itself.”

Dropping into coverage was somewhat of a new concept for Landry upon entering the NFL, as he wasn’t asked to do it much in college. That said, he believes he has made strides in that area over the years.

“I would say it’s something I had to learn over the course of my career,” Landry said. “I didn’t really do it much in college. But working with our coaches throughout my career here, I feel like I’ve taken a step every single year — try to take another step this year.”

At the end of the day, Landry’s sack totals will be the deciding factor in how he is ultimately judged over the course of a season, but if he truly wants to be a more versatile player like he says he does, improving in pass coverage is part of the process.

“If I pride myself in being versatile, that’s something I’ve got to be able to do,” Landry said.

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