Have to Be More In Sync with Each Other | Press Conference

Have to Be More In Sync with Each Other | Press Conference

Um, looking forward to this weekend’s matchup against the Rams. Really good football team. You know, they played really well last year deep into the playoffs. Good defense, good offense, solid special teams unit. Um, I think the the edge players on defense are really, really good players. Those guys, those guys have anchored that defense. They play with great effort on defense. They’re pretty relentless in terms of the their pursuit and their rush and how they play. They play really well together. They do a great job with their coverage structure and the looks and the uh holding disguises and all those things. So, it’s it’s a good test for us. Um, offensively, obviously, I think Matthew Stafford is one of the best quarterbacks in football. He’s he’s played at a high level for a really long time. We got a really nice challenge there with them. They’re really good at running the football. They’re committed to it. They do a great job marrying their play action game off of it. They put people in in some pretty good conflict when it comes to those things. So, we got to be on top of it. Um, we got to play really good defense. We got to tackle the well, tackle well, stop the run. Those are those are critical components to this game. And then we we have chances to match up. They got two really good receivers. Um, and and a group of guys that that complement them in the passing game. So, good football team all the way around. You can you can tell they’re they’re they’re a playoff caliber football team and it’s another one here in the first two weeks we got to go handle. And looking forward to being back at home, uh, being in front of our fans playing here at Nissan Stadium. I think it’ll be a great environment and I think it’s supposed to be pretty hot too so that’ll be fun. Other than that, I’ll let you guys go ahead. What do you feel like you guys need to see? It seemed like outside the Jeffrey not a whole lot of pressure on the quarterback. What do you need to see this week maybe in terms of some of the other guys? Yeah, last week was was designed um to help try to keep Bo in the pocket. You know, there was a there was a cage rush mentality. So, you could see the the rush was balanced well. I think the things that we talked about over the offseason, I think we saw he only got out of the pocket really once for for any significant yards, which was part of the plan there. Um, we got good pressure. We kept them in in the well as best we could. So, that game plan, I think, was executed well. And this one’s a little bit different style. You know, Matthew’s Matthew’s a pocket player. He can move in the pocket as good as anybody, but his his game comes from from playing right there. Um, so we’re going to have to do a good job of of pushing the middle of it and condensing the pocket on the outside and get some more pressure on the quarterback that How do you think Fimmy was right out of the gate? Solid. It was a good solid start for him. He set some violent edges for us. He was physical in a run game. Um and and his he did what we asked him to do as far as the rush goes in terms of of trying to crush and collapse the pocket. Um and he’s still working on his rush moves and counter moves and all those things. He’s kind of getting better every week. So, it was a good start for him. How does this run compare stylistically to what you guys saw last week in Denver? And just are there adjustments that need to be made? Yeah. No, there’s there’s adjustments for sure. Um they they play there there’s a little more variation in the front styles in the front alignments. They do a lot a lot of different alignments up front for them um in both their their base personnels and and their sub pack packages. Um the edges are are powerful um and they play really hard. Um they’re a high high effort group, but it’s a different style than the the edges in in Denver. Those guys were a little more speed rush up the field. These guys got a little more uh power and ability to condense and um they set pretty violent edges, too. They’re they’re really good at it. So, different style rushers, but still really talented um and and really physical is is the thing that I think stands out is just how physical they are and in the on the edges and in the C gap. They’re they’re they’re good at it. So, um different style, but but and still very good players though. You studied penalties to the degree that you did in the offseason. Would you find maybe commonalities in in the root cause of what takes guys there uh for us or just in general? Well, maybe both. Um, I think when you look at that, the ones the things you can control, you’re going to get called um for penalties in games, especially when you’re looking at on the on the perimeter, you know, corners, offensive linemen, you’re going to get those types of penalties because it’s just the the nature of the positions. Um, but you try to find the ones that you can control the best. you know, we didn’t do a great job in the game um with the post snap pre- snap and post snap penalties are the ones that I think you we’ve spent the most effort on just trying to get rid of the we did a good job offensively. We didn’t really have any false starts. We didn’t have any delay at games. Um those things are are things we can control. Um and on defense, you know, it’s the post snap stuff. You know, we had a post snap penalty on special teams and we had the one on on Jeff on defense and those are the things that we we can control and control our emotions um play within the echo the whistle and and protect our football team. So the holdings and and some of the things that happen in the course of a game, those sometimes those happen. Um but you try to do a better job just the technique. You know what’s going to get called and when. So are we doing the right thing at corner with our hands? Are we grabbing and are we grabbing too late in the down? Um are we not exact with our hand strike and placement up front? Those are all things that that we you work on, but you’re never going to be over time 100% clean on those things. What degree is there an element of I maybe on a personnel basis or on a game matchup basis? I’m overmatched by this person. My technique is not working. I need to do something beyond that in order to prevent a quarterback hit or a long depletion move. Yeah, those are those are part of it. I mean, matchups are certainly a part of it. Um, and when guys do need help in those spots, that’s a part of the equation, too, is making sure that, uh, we’re putting them in a position to be able to execute the technique we’re asking against the players they’re asked to do it against. So, uh, we look at those things and we try to make sure that they have the right, um, help where needed, whether it’s a coverage help or a a chip help or an edge help or or whatever that may be, so those guys can can try to execute the technique the way we need them to. optimism about the O line going into this year and then the changes that you guys made. A lot of pressure obviously on Cam. To what degree is is that I guess a disappoint a disappointment if it if it is? And maybe specifically uh your thoughts on on Dan and his first game there. I thought the disappointment is probably strong. Um I think we could have played better up front in the game. I you know I do think it’s fair to mention that that’s that’s the that that team last year was the number one pass rush team in football. um they were going to be a challenge. We couldn’t help everybody all the time and there’s going to be some one-on- ones and uh we did a good job in some and not as good a job in other points. So, have to be better there certainly. Um it wasn’t it wasn’t a oneperson problem and we had we had some leakage at all parts at certain times. Um but yeah, I think we I was you know, I thought we could have played better than we did over the entirety of the game as a as a unit. Um but but that’s also a front that presents a ton of challenges really up and down the line. They’re good all the way across. So, um, got to improve for sure. Dan particular. Dan in particular. Yeah. I mean, he’s he’s, you know, he’s facing up against the, I think, the second or third leading sacker in the league last year. Um, really talented speed rusher. Nick Bonito. He had he won some matchups for sure. When you play one-on-one against guys like that, they they win some, too. That’s part of the way that works. But I, you know, I think Dan had some really good reps, and I think there’s one or one or two or three there in some of those passing situations that that I think he could have executed. um maybe better, but you know, those guys are going to win reps, too. They get paid. He got paid a whole lot of money to do what he did. So, I think that’s the give and take. Your best catchers, they didn’t really do Cam Ward any favor. How do you approach this week to avoid having that high number of drops like that? I think we I think we’re all we all know what it what it takes. You know, it we have to do a better job of of some of the pass game details, just doing the things that we’ve done for for months now. Um, and then there’s just the the act of just making sure we’re focusing and concentrating and making the plays when they come to us and not, you know, trying to make the make you can’t score a touchdown on every single play and you just got to go execute on on a per snap basis and um I I know we’re going to play better than we did in that game. So, I’m looking forward to it. A couple of times like on seams or like the the quick hitting type of stuff, do you feel Cam was too early on that and it got up on them too fast? Like you look at Ridley on the second and 10 and then that that whole series like with Chig also and I think DK had one where he kind of slid. Yeah. No, I think that the one that Chig was was a was was a quick throw. Um, you know, it was a seam throw versus man and he had beat him and Cam was trying to squeeze it in for that post safety, you know, leaned enough over there. It was a it was a pretty good ball. Would have been a tough catch the the way that the speed of it. Um, but I think it was one that that, you know, if you ask Jake himself, he’d probably think he could make, but uh that was that was a a hot ball in a tight window. Um, and those are just those are plays that that you make sometimes and sometimes you don’t. Would have liked to seen that one made. The timing is there on those on Oh, yeah. Yeah. I don’t have any there’s no I have no issue with Cam’s timing in the game whatsoever. I thought he played on time and played pretty well. What is it about John Fosil’s teaching style and his approach to players that seem to have turned this unit around and and is paying dividends? That’s a great question. Um I think as you guys watch Bones in practice, I mean he’s one of the most high energy positive He’s the most positive person I’ve ever I’m pretty positive, but like he’s the most positive human being I’ve ever been around. Uh he there’s not a bad day that he’s ever had. He’s got a great way of relating with the players uh and and putting him in position to help them understand what they need to do to win the rep u as far as the handtohand combat, the technique. Um he does a really really nice job uh with the energy of the special teams in general. Um those guys believe in their importance and and they understand they can impact games and I thought we had two huge impact plays on special teams with the 71 yard return and a u you know forcing a muff punt with part of that’s hecker’s hang time and direction was beautiful and then great gunner rep by van to put the pressure on him to catch the ball. Um, so there’s just something there. There’s the the experience of him doing all that. Um, but really it’s just he just loves special teams probably more than anybody loves anything in their life and and it it comes across in how he coaches and teaches those players and they buy into that. So it’s it’s pretty fun to watch. Change Have you noticed a change in like some of the players attitude towards special teams? Uh, I wouldn’t say a change in attitude. I just think there’s an they they very much are excited about it and and believe in it. Um, and they do a really good job executing it. Now, again, again, same same thing as the bad things. It’s one game and we got to keep doing it. But, um, I I was pleased with with their their buying, their approach, and and how they play on special teams was was really good to see. Sunday, there was pretty tangible frustration from you as well. Yeah. How concerned are you about the here we go again aspect to this, or is this team different enough to where you don’t see that happen? Yeah, this team is very this team is very different from that. Um I I I I understand where you’re coming from. I know that I know that feeling. Um but that’s I I never I didn’t feel that at all from our football team in that game. Um I was frustrated at just the the things that we could have done to win the game in a game that that I felt like we had a very good chance to win. Um to not come out of that playing better than we did in all three phases, I think was what was disappointing. Um disappointed in myself obviously on top of it. So, I love the the makeup of our football team. I really do. I think they have uh they have the right mentality. They they understand that we always are going to have a chance. They play really hard. They play with great effort. Um those things are going to help us along the way and we’re going to win more football games. But that feeling that that can creep in sometimes, I just I don’t feel it from from our guys. I think we’ve we’ve got really good leadership. The leadership has grown quite a bit, I think, in in a year’s time. and the new faces we’ve added and the young players and their demeanor and makeup uh gives me a ton of confidence that that’s not something that uh we have to worry about. And I’m I really do I mean I know it’s it’s only one week and all that, but but I really do like the makeup of our football team and where they stand. It’s a it’s it’s a night and day difference in totality from a year ago. With Cam, would you say that he has more control than a typical rookie quarterback in the offense? And if so, what specifically does he have control over, whether it’s the pre- snap looks or the play calling or things like that? Yeah. Um, he’s he’s earned he’s earned the right to have control. Um, and that’s based on our meeting time, our practice time, his reps. That’s something you have to earn. Um, and through our conversations, he has he has lots of freedom to do things. A lot of the things we’re always, you know, it’s we try not to be surprised by it. That’s the end of the day. like things that we talk about over the course of the week that we like um he does have the freedom to do it and he did it once or twice in that game. And then a lot of our stuff we have for the quarterback and especially like on third down against a team like Denver where you have to manage, you know, two play calls in the huddle or a play call with a protection check and and knowing when to get to that protection versus what particular look. Um are all things that I think he’s ahead of his time on when it comes to understanding and then the application of really excited about the things that he did in that game. His demeanor um not getting rattled, staying poised in a really challenging spot was very encouraging and and I was really pleased uh with that part of his game coming out of the that game last week and and really looking forward to what you know as he continues to grow what that looks like. but he’s got the mental capacity to to really have complete command of an offense and and while he’s not there on a every every down he hasn’t played for 10 years, you know, um different than the guy across the field I think this week who’s who’s got incredible command of everything they’re doing there, but he’s going to he’s got the capability to be that style of quarterback because of his mental capacity and ability to apply things that I’ve talked about. So, been really impressed with that so far and and it showed up in the game. Tackle depth was obviously a big issue last year. you had to go to it already in in the first game. If Udo’s out there, I mean, what’ you think of that first game performance and what can you expect? Yeah, tough spot for him to go in. Um, but yeah, we we I think everybody in the league is is always looking for more tackles. Um, it’s tackles and corners, I think, everywhere in football. As many those players as you can collect, you try to collect. Um, that’s why we kept as many linemen as we did at the cut down. Um, but yeah, there’s there’s a there’s if you’re playing tackle in the NFL and you’re and you’re in a rotation on a roster, uh, the chances of you playing are pretty high and and those guys got to be ready to play and ready to step in. And, um, we’ve got some guys always played a bunch of football. Um, Juice has played a bunch of football. Those guys have played and we’re going to need them at some point this year. Whether it’s uh, two weeks from now or 10 weeks from now, those guys are going to have to be able to step in and play and they got to be ready to go when their numbers called. Last one. Is there a lesson or take away that stands out from your time working with Stafford in Detroit? What kind of did that relationship teach you about football? Oh man. Yeah, he um he was really really fun to coach. You know, he was a veteran player by the time I got there. Um and had a bunch of success. Uh he is he is like the the quintessential quarterback. You know, he’s everything that you when you could if you could build one, they look like Matthew. Um awesome human being to be around. uh great with his teammates, unbelievable teammate, probably one of the toughest players I’ve ever been around and that’s at every position. Um and he’s supremely talented on top of it. So, I had a lot of joy uh coaching him for those two years. I wish it was I wish it was longer. Um I really did have a I had a good relationship with him. I really very much enjoyed how he went about his job. Um and we got a stiff test. He’s he’s still playing, I think, at a top five quarterback level in football at this at this moment. And um that relationship was really good for me because it was the first time I’ve been with a um you know I’ve been in Denver for a couple of years and it was my first time with a different style quarterback than I had been with. And um I learned a lot of really interesting things from him and how he approached the game and how he went through his routine and how he got his body ready. Those things were all um things that I’ve taken with me over the years. They were really impactful. I’m excited for it. I get to go out there in front of a past stadium for the first time for real. not a preseason game, but I’m excited for, you know, myself, the team, uh, trying to get our first win of the season. So, you know, we ready to get it going. What did you feel like came after after you maybe got a chance to look at tape and kind of, uh, you know, evaluate the game and any thoughts in particular, what what you like and what you want to work on heading into week two here? Um, I would say it’s a lot of stuff I want back. Um, just from my position. Um, but that’s going to be with with every game. I’m always want plays back. Um, but I I say the biggest thing that I learned from in that game is you always in it no matter if it’s first quarter or four quarter, like you always got a chance to win a game. Uh, we didn’t offensively we didn’t, you know, come through with that. And then also just recognizing the coverages, but also just trusting to throw blinds sometimes. Um, just feel people uh lift out of space and, you know, just got to replace it with uh your receivers. How do you think you are about moving on like on a Monday? Is that easier to do after a win or after a loss? Say that again. How you how are you about moving on, putting the game previous game behind you and is that easier to do after a win or a loss? Um, I think it’s easier to do the same amount both ways. Um, I mean, you either going to win, you going to lose every week. So, you know, it’s you got 50% chance at the end of the day. Um, and I mean, I go by the same way. I approach the game the same way. I watch tape the same way whether I win win or lose. Um, then you just got to be able to correct yourself, you know, in the hot times and uh, bad times. Ken, when you have a situation where like you got some throws I’m sure you want to have back, your pass catchers got some opportunities that they would like to do again, like how do you go about working through the week to make sure that those things are minimized unlike what happened uh this past week. Uh just getting extra reps um like we always been doing. Um it’s going to be times where I’m not on my aame. I wasn’t on my agame Sunday. It’s a lot of stuff that I wish I could have had back from just my position. and just getting in and out of the huddle faster, getting the play call faster, not messing up some of the some of the inmates that we had. And so, um, it’s just really us just staying on top of the pace, staying in the playbook. Um, things can change every week, um, depending on who we play. And really just comes down to us locking in on Sundays every play, not just one play at a time. And with the timing on some of those scene routes where like real quick throws and what can you guys do to just get on a better a better page to where those are completions? Uh, I just think we got to be more just in sync with each other. Um, and then that’s so that was their first game with me. That was my first game with those guys. So, um, just us, you know, continuously getting reps. Um, cuz a lot of these plays out here, we don’t get a chance to rep them the same amount as we did during training camp and OTAA just because like they’re game specific plays. So, just continue to uh, you know, build with each other. Um, this week we going to hit on those plays. When you look back at the sacks, did you see realistic chances for you to get rid of the ball either to to maybe get a play or or to get it out of bounds or were you in some situations where you just had to eat it and and move on? Um, I think I think it was more of me just not getting the ball out um in a stance of especially the backto-back sacks at that point. We in field goal range like just throw the ball over the receiver head out of bounds if you feel it. Um, so that’s just stuff that, you know, I got to get better at week by week. Um, and then at the end of the day, nobody going to be perfect. Um, I want y’all to get up there and try to block one of them big boys on the D line. It ain’t that easy. So, u me, me and the old line, I mean, we good. You know, I had I had some bad pocket movement as well. So, u I I take I take full, you know, just responsibility on my part. Um, they’ll do the same as well. And then, you know, this their first game, you know, with me in a live set and not me getting taken out, uh, you know, for a preseason game. So, you know, we we still getting, you know, used to each other. Um, but, you know, we going we going to turn around fast and try to get a win this week. Calling praised your overall command of the offense on Sunday, specifically your demeanor and not getting rattled in tough situations. Now that you’ve had time to look at the tape, you’ve had the first game under your belt. Where would you say your overall confidence is when it comes to taking command of this offense? Uh, I think it’s it’s at a high. Um, especially from this week to to last week, just communication wise, we’re getting better every day. Um, that’s what the coaching tells, that’s what the players. Um, and I think it just all comes down to, you know, us just wanting it. Um, and we got to want it more for ourselves. Um, not for anybody else. I think, you know, the more that we continue to gain that trust on and off the field, you know, it’s going it’s going to come up with some wins. Cam, some of the veteran guys were talking about the self-inflicted wounds and and penalties that were issues last year, you know, repeating themselves in week one. How do you view your role in making sure those things don’t continue? Um, getting in and out of huddle faster, snapping the ball on time. Um, and then there’s also a tempo that you have to play with offensively. Um, we didn’t we didn’t establish that on Sunday and so that’s something that we’re looking to establish this week. What do you think of the uh Rams pass rush cam? certainly did some damage late last year and got off to a pretty good start. What do you what do you see when you’re when you see them on tape? Uh that’s a that’s a real group of rushers right there. Um they’re powerful, they’re athletic. Um they can move the pocket whether it’s me having to step up or me having to get out front or backside. Um so, you know, they’re they’re a talented group up there. Um our O line, they’re ready for the challenge. I got everything, you know, in faith in our old line. I’m pretty sure they’re going to have themselves a big day. Sunday after the game, you talked about this offense can be explosive and that there were opportunities. when you went back and looked at the film, what were some of the things that you feel like needed to be cleaned up in order to make those explosives happen? Um, I would say getting the ball out. Um, winning top of the routes and then also just us just finding a rhythm. I just think the whole game we never found a rhythm really. We only needed one play on offense to get that. Um, and we didn’t do it enough. And so, you know, it all comes down to, you know, myself and the receivers. We got to make plays in the passing game. Uh, I think we had a great job. We did a great job running the ball on Sunday. TP did his thing. Um, but we just got to continue to play complimentary football to the defense. In your experience, what does it take to find that rhythm earlier and more consistently? Um, it really just takes effort and playing fast. Those really two biggest things. Everywhere I’ve been, we’ve always played fast. We’ve always played with effort and that took care of a lot of stuff. Cam, what are the emotions of having your first NFL touchdown potentially in front of Titans fans at Nissan Stadium? Um, I really have no emotion for it. I just want the football. Um, other than that, I really don’t want the other ones, but I mean, I’m I’m excited. I threw a lot of touchdowns uh before I know I’m going to throw a little a lot of touchdown NFL, but you know, the first one coming Nissan, you know, that’d be one I’m ready for. You talked about the command and the communication and how that is still going on from an operational standpoint. and Brian Callahan earlier was very confident in your ability to command the offense and say how you earned that right to do so. In the game on Sunday, was there any specific moments where you you feel like you could have done something over and done something better? And is that just a learning opportunity for Rudy? Uh I think it’s both. Every every game learn opportunity. I think um it’s just we we didn’t find a rhythm within the game. Um, and that that led to us just being inconsistent. Uh, penalties didn’t help us, you know, on both sides of the ball. Uh, so I think the the biggest thing if we limited penalties, we’ll be able to have some of those plays back. Callahan had mentioned you having the freedom to check, but he said that, you know, there’s a balance between checking to get out of a a bad situation and checking to to create a big play for you. Like, how do you create that balance and make sure that you’re you’re doing the right thing, what your coach wants you to do? Uh, just continue to see it the way Coach Callahan sees it. Um, why he’s calling a certain play. Um, then also why I’m checking the play. Um, whether if it’s a look that I like that I’ve seen on tape all week, I want to get to a specific run concept or pass concept. U, so that’s just me and him really just getting to it with each other. Like this his first time with me, a quarterback who likes to check plays. Um, and really it just comes down to I need to learn more just why he’s called specific play on this down. Um, then turn and then whether to just freelance and trying to get to my own play. How do guys who drop the ball react to you? Um, and is it important that that there’s some communication about drops? Um, I mean, we communicate about drops, about incomplete balls, everything. Um, I’m not going to never get on them guys for dropping the ball. I’m going to throw a pick at some point in the season. So, um, bad plays going to happen. Biggest thing is that we got to get back to the huddle. We got to always have a next play mentality. Um, and so, you know, I’m not I’m not really too worried about that. Um, no boys going to catch the ball. Like, so I don’t I don’t believe none of that crazy stuff. I know what type of receivers I got. They know who they are in this locker room. So, you know, we going we going to turn things around. No, we but we just got to continue to keep working. Guy does drop one though, do you try to make it a point to come back to him as soon as possible, give him another chance, get that out of his head? Um, I wouldn’t say as soon as possible. It really just depends on the play call. If that guy’s the first read and he’s open the next play, I’m going throw the ball again. So, them boys know I got faith in them like they supposed to have faith in me. So, uh, we going to get on the same page. Um, and I’m not really too worried about we talking about week one. Um, I see them boys catch a thousand balls out here. They always on the job. So, you know, they put the work in. You know, they time coming for sure. Your dad got a lot of lot of air time on Sunday. Did you see that or hear about it the next day and give me grief about it and and uh and what’s he like kind of living and dying through you and your achievements? Uh he ain’t living through and dying through me. U he he’s accomplished a lot in his life. U he just want to see his son play football. So um the biggest thing that he just want to see us win football games. He’s not really too worried about nothing else. He’s just coming to watch Titans play football.

Titans HC Brian Callahan and QB Cam Ward address reporters on Wednesday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park

00:00 – 15:43 HC Brian Callahan
15:43 – 25:34 QB Cam Ward

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