Tennessee Titans Cam Ward Battles Shedeur Sanders Cleveland Browns & Preventing Myles Garrett Record

Tennessee Titans Cam Ward Battles Shedeur Sanders Cleveland Browns & Preventing Myles Garrett Record

Just like we all drew it up, it’s Cam Ward versus Shore Sanders this weekend in Cleveland. Which rookie quarterback comes out on top? We’ll talk about it coming up on a crossover edition of Locked on Browns and Locked on Titans. [Music] You are locked on NFL Crossover, part of the Locked On Network. Your team every day. What’s going on Browns fans? How you living Titans fans? And welcome to a crossover edition of Locked on Browns and Locked on Titans. He’s Tyler Roland. I’m Spencer German and we are proudly part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Now the number one sports podcast network, which wouldn’t be possible without you guys making our shows your first listens every single day. We’ve got a great one for you. First and foremost, starting with the fact that Shador Sanders and Cam Ward, the two top prospects of the quarterback position, we did. We made it uh in this past year’s draft, go head-to-head for the first time. We’ll get into some key matchups. We’ll talk about an interesting coaching narrative that’s going on sort of between these two teams and of course some paths to victory. But first, I want to thank you for being every day with each of our podcasts and remind you that this Crossover Thursday is presented by Prize Pix. Download the Price Picks apps today and use code locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. Tyler, you’re you’re right about that. We made it. It’s funny cuz when this entire thing started and the Browns ended up with Shador Sanders, the C the Titans obviously ended up with Cam Ward. I kind of circled this matchup as like we could have Shador Sanders versus Cam Ward. Uh at that point in the season, I didn’t know how we’d get there. I didn’t know if we’d get there at one point this season, but here we are, week 14, and we got the match up that everybody was kind of hoping for. Quite frankly, I didn’t care how we got there, whatever it took, you know what I mean? However, we needed to see Shador Sanders against Cam Ward in week 14. You’re right. As soon as the schedule came out in May, that was one of the number one games that you highlight, like, hey, and not only for seeing Cam Ward against Shidor Sanders, but I’m sure that Browns fans may have felt this way. Hey, that’s a game we might be able to win. You know what I mean? like, hey, that’s a winnable one right there. I don’t know about Seahawks and Texans and all this different stuff, but that one right there, that’s got a shot. So, I think that not only the quarterbacks and obviously their connection and their ties with the draft and, you know, they worked out together, they made videos together, like they’re friends. It’s not just that they were the two top prospects in most people’s eyes coming into the draft, you know what I mean? So, there’s more than that, but more than that, it’s these teams are both bad, so they have a chance to win against each other, which makes it even more interesting at this point. Yeah. No, for sure. Uh, and it’s interesting, you know, you bring up that they they were friends. They they worked out together. I actually was the person who first asked Shador Sanders on Wednesday about, hey, what’s your relationship like with Cam Ward? And and I know you guys were pretty close. And he kind of dodged it. Like, Shador has been very very football ccentric. everything every answer he gives is basically like ah I don’t talk to anybody I don’t talk to my dad I don’t really talk to my family I just focus on football he’s posting videos at the Thanksgiving table studying his playbook and all this different stuff before his game that this past weekend like he has been hyperfocused on football and he kind of gave that same answer when he was asked about Cam W multiple times on Wednesday where he also mentioned you know that was something in the offseason I’m sure in the offseason I’ll connect with him again but we haven’t really kept in touch and I know Cam said something similar so as much as we’re making this a big deal. It sounds like those two have kind of gone their separate ways and they’re focused on their own separate things, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I think people will, and I get it, it’s two teams that with a combined four wins total, but I think people will want to tune in and see, hey, should Sanders, he fell in the draft, he was a fifth round pick. Should he have gone higher when when Cam Ward’s the number one overall pick? And we know he’s had some ups and downs this season, but he’s also, I think, is projecting out to be a pretty good player in this league at some point down the line once he gets his coaching situation figured out. And so it is kind of this fun duel between these two to see, hey, who puts on a better show in their rookie seasons the first time they get a chance to cross paths. It’s something that I talked about last night. It’s certainly a good talking point because there are some people who said, hey, Shador is my number one quarterback. You know, like I think he would be better. There are here’s the facts. I said it yesterday. Shador Sanders is popular. He is a popular person. He moves the needle. People care whether they hate him, they love him, he moves the needle. He is a lightning rod for social attention. You know, it’s just the truth of the matter. So, with that, there are people who just really like Shador Sanders and I’m just going to support him and root for him and I want him to be better than Cam Ward. I I always believed in him cuz I liked him. You know what I mean? And that’s not wrong either. That’s that’s part of the theater of sports. I would say that, you know, those two guys are very similar to us, Spencer. You know, like we can’t I I can’t hobnob with you every day during the season when we’re working. We got teams to cover and things to do, but get us out there in Indianapolis. We’ll throw a steak down and have some fun. You know, I’m sure Shidor and Cam are like that cuz you’re right. Cam said the same thing. Like I haven’t really talked to them since before the season. You know what I mean? And it makes sense with they got so much going on right now with everything that they’re learning and experience. And I don’t really take those comments from either of them as like, you know, dislike or anything. It’s just it is what it is. A lot of you guys listening to this, you’re best buddies and stuff. Hey, you got families and jobs and things. You can’t be together every day. I holler at you, you know, at the fantasy football event and stuff like that. But my question to you is as we get through sort of the optics of this matchup is how is Shadore actually playing? He’s played two games. It from my experience watching him because I keep an eye on the Titans future opponents and he’s just again he’s an interesting story talking about him on locked on NFL. It seems like a very rookie quarterback offense. A lot of screens trying to scheme up open guys. not asking him to do too much full field reading and things like that, but your boots on the ground. How would you grade or rate his performance so far? What have you seen in the limited snaps he’s taken? Yeah, I think it’s a very fair question. Um, and and listen, part of the the biggest reason he he is starting for this football team still, you know, three weeks into this thing is because the offense for the Browns and and I I I apologize to anybody who’s had to suffer through watching this offense throughout most of the season. like it has been a it has been stuck in the mud for most of the year and and the one thing that Shador has brought to the table is like a different energy. You talked about him being a polarizing guy. I think that sort of uh rubs off on other guys in the offense and it seems like they play a little bit better around him. And frankly, the most noticeable thing is like he is able to take those shots downfield. Within these first two starts, you’ve seen him hit a few of those. You’ve seen him actually try to push the ball down field. With Dylan Gabriel, that was not happening. So, as much as you’re right, the offense is very catered to his strengths, what he does well, they’re trying to make sure he’s comfortable, and they’re get him kind of in rhythm before they start opening things up a little bit, he also has not been afraid to take some of those chances. And he’s hit on a few of those chances, and that’s been the thing that’s missing the most from this Browns offense. Now, it hasn’t equated to a ton of points. They did score 24 against the Raiders. They just only scored eight this past week, obviously, against the 49ers. So, I’m not expecting him to come out like light up the scoreboard necessarily. every single week is is such a roller coaster with this offense. But that is the one thing that’s noticeable. And I think against this Titans team that, like you said, I think that the Browns probably circle and feel like, hey, we got a chance to win this game. I I think you’ll see him start to open things up even more and maybe take some more of those shots that that have made him uh may may have given the Browns a reason to continue trottting him out there. I’m I’m as fascinated as you to see what that looks like. For sure. I think there’s certainly an area of opportunity figuratively and literally. There’s an area of opportunity in the middle of the Titans defense down the field. I think the Titans have a young safety and Kevin Winston who isn’t as good going backwards as he is going forwards. Titans safety Ammani Hooker and Xavier Woods are slower safeties in my opinion without great speed. And we saw Seattle really take advantage of the Titans safeties. And then Jacksonville really take advantage of the Titans safeties uh over the middle of the field down the field. So I think if Kevin Stfansky is able to scheme up those opportunities that makes sense. I I I would say that looking at the Titans offense, it’s also struggled. You’re talking about, you know, sorry to people have had to watch the Browns offense. Well, the Titans offense is not much better, folks, if I’m honest with you. And quite frankly, the talent level, in my opinion, is even lower. I would say the Titans have more talent at offensive line, even though the offensive line has not been good this year. But the Browns have more skill position talent than the Titans have, but neither offense is very good right now. But Cam Ward’s up and down quite honestly like most rookies are. Really good performances against the Texans in Seattle who are two of the best defenses in the NFL, but really struggled against the zone match coverage um that the Seahawks ran this or the Jaguars ran this week. I will tell you that Cam Ward has had some success in recent weeks against man coverage and the Browns very heavy cover one man coverage team. So, I’ll be interested to see what the answers are for that and if Cam Ward is ready to take advantage like he was when he saw man coverage the last couple of weeks. So, that’ll be interesting to see. But these quarterbacks, their performance will be the number one talking point no matter what. And I can already tell you if the Browns win this game, Shador Sanders could have three interceptions and Cam could have zero. But if the Browns win the game, Shador is better than Cam Ward. We’ll be all over all the national conversations by Monday morning. Well, you mentioned a name in that in your blurb there that I want to get to because you said the name Kevin Sfansky and I am fascinated to hear your thoughts, Tyler, as the Titans are obviously going to be starting here in about five weeks there and maybe they’re already sort of underway starting this their own coach search and finding a new head coach. I’m curious your thoughts. How do you feel about Kevin Stfansky as a potential coach? Because listen, this Browns team right now at what the owner, Jimmy Hasslam, the owner of the Browns on multiple occasions has said that he trusts this regime. He really likes these guys. He doesn’t want to give up on them. But you win, I don’t know, let’s just say they win on Sunday and that’s their last win of the season. You win seven games over two years, nobody is guaranteed safe at that point. And so if he’s fired, is Kevin Stfansky somebody that you think the Titans should be interested as a potential head coach candidate? I 100% think they should. And I I’ve heard from a lot of Browns fans that are angry about the offense and that think he’s a bad coach and all of that. And I guess I I understand the concerns, but I think the talent in Cleveland has really dropped off from the good roster that they had when Baker was a young guy there. And I think the Deshun Watson move just absolutely crushed what hopes they had of of building that thing up. You know what I mean? And by the time they they I mean really it crushed you to to make a real move at quarterback and now the roster has kind of backed down even though the defense still has some talent. So I think that Kevin Stfansky is a smart offensive mind. I think he knows how to lead a team and I think he’s had real success and the Titans really need an experienced head coach who’s been a head coach before. That that’s what the Titans really desperately need. So I understand that things haven’t gone perfect in Cleveland and how much blame you put on Kevin Stfansky for the Deshun Watson situation. There are some people who say he wanted it, he was on board. Is that the truth? Is he just following orders? Is he not, you know, he still works there. He’s not going to say, “Yeah, my bosses are idiots. I didn’t want to do that trade. That was Andrew Barry, Jim Hasslam. I didn’t want to do that.” You know, but he’s not going to say that either. So, I I do think that Kevin Stfansky would be a good option for the Tennessee Titans to to interview uh if he is let go by the Browns. I think it would be a mistake. Sometimes though, like Andy Reid got fired in Philadelphia. Philly went on to win two championships and Andy Reid went on to win three or four himself. Like sometimes you do just need a changing of ways, you know what I mean? But I would just be careful because Mike Vrabel had bad win totals when his roster got terrible and now look what he’s doing in New England. So just be careful Cleveland. It could it could be worse. It’s a good point. And I will say like I think Kevin Sfensky is a good coach overall. I think he generally although I think his offense earlier this season kind of lost the plot of like what he normally is good at and I don’t know if that’s like I don’t think that’s him necessarily. I think talent’s part of it, but he certainly got away from what he did so well early on in his tenure here. So, that was concerning. Um, but I still think he’s one of the better offensive minds in this in this game. And yeah, like I I I don’t know what the future holds for him. I think it’s very like we’ll see how the season ends before they make a decision. Um, but I I also think it’s it might be one of those things that we’re also sort of seeing in Pittsburgh where it’s like it might just be time. Like six years and it’s gotten worse as it’s gone on. It might just end up being time when it’s all said and done. And if he’s out there, could be an option for the Titans. Maybe there’s a trade that can be made. I don’t know. The Browns need some receivers. The Browns need some quarterbacks. I don’t know if they want to trade Cam Ward at this point. He’s kind of their future. Although, if they’re drafted number one overall again, who knows? Maybe there’s a pick involved there. Maybe you can get the number one pick. I don’t know if I would be interested in that. Yeah, probably a little bit too much. We’ll talk about that number one pick and some trades that could have happened between these teams on that one to end the show. But it is time to to talk about the thing I’m really most worried about and that’s Miles Garrett breaking the sack record against the Titans. Let’s do it. Coming up next on a crossover edition of Locked Down Prize and Locked on Titans. 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Download the price picks app today. Use code locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. That’s code locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. prize picks. It’s good to be right. All right, Tyler, you teased it uh going to the break, and I can tell you every single one of these crossover episodes that I’ve done, when we get into the key matchups, the number one thing I start with is Miles Garrett versus fill-in-theblank offensive lineman, fill-in-theblank team offensive line. And I I’m curious cuz I think the Titans, based on what I saw, are leading the league in terms of sacks allowed this year. Who and how are the Titans going to stop Miles Garrett because it’s been a tall task for pretty much everybody else this season. Well, the Titans offensive tackle spots do feel like blanks that haven’t been filled in yet. That’s exactly what it’s like. It’s so weird because there are certain matchups where they do well. You know what I mean? Like there are certain games this year where like the Titans only gave up two sacks against the Houston Texans. Like that is a pretty impressive feat. But for the most part, they’ve been rough. And JC Laam has allowed seven sacks in eight games. It’s been a rough second year for him. Uh Dan Moore has allowed six sacks on the season. Those two offensive tackles are in the top five, top eight of sacks allowed in the NFL this year by themselves. Like it’s just it’s just going to be such a difficult task for the Titans to deal with this. They have struggled mightily against most of the dominant pass rushers that they’ve seen this year. So I am very fearful. Uh really it’s about can the Browns set up one-on-one matchups for Miles Garrett because the Titans are clearly going to do everything they can to chip him, to help on him, to double him, to slide towards him, whatever they can. So, how can the Browns, you know, use their pressure looks to confuse the Titans up front and get Miles Garrett in one-on-one situations where the Titans have no choice but to leave him one-on-one. That’s really what I’ll be looking for. But I I mean we have seen some tremendous single game performances. Go back to 2021 Titans first game of the year. Chandler Jones had five sacks against Taylor Lewan in that game. Like I think we could we could see something like that in this game where they move him around and he’s just able to feast. And I I am significantly worried about about Camard’s health in this one because the Titans just don’t have don’t have the dogs to deal with Miles Garrett. Yeah. Yeah. And what’s you know what’s interesting about what you say is is you bring up how the the Titans are going to throw everything at Miles Garrett. And I think what’s interesting about that is like you’re right, they they know he knows the type of attention he’s going to get and rightfully so. I I like he’s seen it all and and it has not mattered this year especially. He finds ways to still get to the quarterback. He he has this disgusting euro step that he does like he’s playing basketball where he just he he pulled it out against Trent Williams last week. Like if he’s pulling that out and making Trent Williams look like like he’s he’s not very good, that’s saying something. Um like it’s sometimes it’s going to be one of those things where like the Titans do everything right in trying to stop Miles and they still lose just because Miles is that type of player. So it’ll be interesting to see how they what they throw at him, how the Browns utilize him. I will say this, the Browns are obviously dealing with an injury up front with Malik Collins who’s now out for the season. And one of the beauties of this defense and this defensive line this season and and what’s allowed Miles to be so successful in pursuing the the single season sack record like he’s he’s trying to is that that defensive line around him has been incredible and they’ve opened up other opportunities for him because you can’t just worry about Miles all the time. Malik Collins is coming at you from the middle. You got Yeah. Mason Graham, you got a you got a rotation of guys at the other defensive end spot. So that’s allowed him to play so well. So, can Mike Hall, somebody like that who’s going to be filling in quite a bit from Malik Collins, help that effort as well? That’ll be interesting to monitor. But I still think Miles is probably due for at least one, if not multiple sacks in this game. And if he has another four sack performance, like he’s done a couple times this year, he might walk out of here breaking the record already in in week 14. Oh, he has an absolute great chance to make that happen this year. The Titans just do not have answers. And quite frankly, Cam Ward struggles at times to deal with the pressure and get the ball out and make the right decisions. He’s a rookie quarterback. Uh last week he dropped his eyes a little bit, worried about the pressure. So you get that going, it makes it easier to get those sacks. You talk about the interior defensive line of the Browns really being a boost for Miles Garrett. That’s really where I’m looking at the Titans because the Browns offensive line hasn’t been that great either. And the Titans pass rush was not built to be a very good pass rush this year already. And then Feedio, their second round rookie, goes on IR and they trade Draymond Jones away to the Ravens in the middle of the season. like they have lost players on that defensive line, but Jeffrey Simmons truly is the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL. Absolutely fantastic. Uh they still have Tvandre Sweat. Sebastian Joseph Day is a underrated veteran but a very solid role player. Jiad Ward who’s been kind of an, you know, a journeyman type guy at Edge. Ardan Key, who he’s a knucklehead who I’m excited to finally get off this football team, but he does have the ability to slide around offensive tackles. He’s a long slippery pass rusher and the Titans do a great job of showing crazy pressure looks. They’ll blitz defensive backs and linebackers and they really get crazy to try to get pressure because they can’t just win with their front four. And bit of a surprise to me, but looking at some of the numbers, the Titans are 17th in sacks and the Titans are top 10 in a couple categories in defense over the last month or so. So, the Titans defense has gotten a lot better. And I think that interior defensive line for the Titans and the the overall pass rush can get after Shadore Sanders. And like Cam Ward, he’s a guy who likes to fade back in the pocket and take chances and may create turnover opportunities cuz he wants to hold the ball too long. So, I think the Titans defensive line, while they don’t have the, you know, the northstar the size of Miles Garrett, Jeffrey Simmons is probably the best interior pass rusher in the NFL, even if he isn’t on Miles Garrett’s level. And the Titans have been surprisingly good at pass rushing here as of late. So, the defensive lines will control this game. Yeah, listen, I I I am I am worried about uh Jeffrey Simmons on this defensive line as well. And and it’s especially I I honestly think that the Titans are kind of getting this Browns team at at a good time as well because their offensive line hasn’t been great all year, but now you’re dealing with a couple injuries. Wyatt Teller is dealing with an injury and he was already playing at I think a decreased level enough where the Browns started rotating. Kevin Jenkins in with him last week. Um, and now you’re also they might be missing Jack Conklin who wasn’t at practice on Wednesday either dealing with a concussion. So, right. And then that’s that’s where like you mentioned, you know, somebody on the edge more so like Ardan Key. Like that’s where he can maybe find some success cuz the the backup tackles that this team has are just an absolute utter disaster right now and there’s been a lot of to exploit there for the Browns. So yeah, and listen, like the first Shador’s debut against the Ravens, the one thing that like really made him look like a rookie was the Ravens showing a lot of simulated pressures, dropping a lot of guys and and and and uh or and sort of like showing simulated pressure and then sending a certain amount of guys, playing cover zero. If the Titans are willing to do some of those things and take some chances, which at this point in the season, you’re one and 11, what do you have to lose? Like that could throw Shidor off and cause some problems. And that’s why as much as I I go into this game feeling like the Browns have a pretty good chance of winning, I’m like, you just never know with this offense and you just never know with this offensive line. If the Titans are able to get after the passer starting with Jeffrey Simmons, then it could be a long day for them and and they could leave that door open for the Titans to find a way to win. That’s got to be the path for the Titans to win any game is is Jeffrey Simmons and the defensive line has to be able to dominate and and the defense has played better as of late. But I think as we, you know, shift to paths to victory, I think ultimately running the ball to counteract the pass rush regardless of the team is probably the the best path to victory in this one. I tend to agree. The Browns need to get their run game going as well. We’ll talk through some of those paths to victory coming up next on a crossover edition of Lockown Browns and Locked on Titans. Final segment here on our crossover episode of locked on Browns and Locked on Titans. They square off on Sunday and we’ve talked through so much already. The Cam Ward versus Shidor Sanders matchup, how the Titans can try to stop Miles Garrett. But now we look ahead to different ways, different paths I should say, for each of these teams to win. And Tyler, you alluded to something before our last break there that you think is going to play a pivotal pivotal role in the Titans having a chance to win this game. I’ll let you roll with that here first. Yeah, it’s running the ball because I think, you know, the formula has to be similar for these teams. You got rookie quarterbacks with pass rushes that might be able to get after you and make them uncomfortable. The best way to counteract that is to not put your quarterback in third and long situations to have third and manageable where you can get the ball out of your hands quick. You don’t got to hold it and set yourself up to get hit by one of these defensive linemen. The problem is in that scenario, I think the Browns have a have a significant advantage here. I mean, the Browns haven’t been a great run defense this year. They’re bottom six in the NFL with only 1,182 yards. But the Titans have been even more anemic than that. The second worst run team in the NFL at 920 yards. The Titans don’t even have 1,000 yards rushing as a team at this time in the season. They got the run game going a little bit early in the game against Jacksonville last week. Heavy formations, multiple tight ends, and extra offensive linemen out there. really flattening the line of scrimmage to create double team opportunities to work up to the second level, but then they went away from it. Now, Jacksonville won 25 to three. They were up 18 to3 at halftime. There’s an argument that, hey, they had to go away from the run game. They were down by multiple scores. I don’t know that I totally agree with that based on the type of team that the Titans are, but I don’t think that the Titans are going to get down that quick and that much to this Browns offense. You know what I mean? like the defense could cause problems and they could even score some points, but I don’t see the Titans being down by 20 points in the fourth quarter. They still could be, but I just don’t see that as the game flow. So, that could allow the Titans to run the ball more. But then again, the Browns have a top 10 run defense in the NFL, averaging only 101 rushing yards allowed, whereas the Titans have one of the worst run defenses in the entire NFL. The Browns are a better run team. The Titans are a worse run team. The Browns are a better run defense. The Titans are a worse run defense. If that plays out during the game and just happens to be true to what it is, the Titans are going to be in a bad spot. And that’s kind of part of the reason why I do lean Browns in this one. Yeah, it’s interesting you bring that up. I I feel like every week I I am sitting here talking about the importance of the run game for the Browns as well. And there’s been some sort of dud weeks in there. Like this past week they were able to get the get get it going a little bit better. 138 yards rushing against the the 49ers. They actually outgainained the 49ers in total for that game. And Quinn Shawn had I think I think he was averaging like four and a half yards per carry. So he found some space to sort of create some things. And I think that’s the key thing with Quinn Shawn is he his he is like leading the league or one of the top backs in the league in terms of yards after contact. So it’s not even that the Browns off we talked about the Browns offensive line struggles. They’re not doing a great job in pass protect or in run protection and trying to sort of create lanes for him, but he’s just so good that he’s able to sort of build off of that and even when the first guy gets there, he makes a miss and then makes some plays. So, if the Titans are giving up some of those chunk plays to him, I think absolutely it’s good news for the Browns. I think that allows Shador Sanders also to settle in a little bit and play more comfortably at the quarterback position when he has a nice run game he can rely on. So, I feel you there. I I’ll say this too, and this came up a couple weeks ago against the Raiders cuz there’s been three games on the schedule this year that I went into and said, “Okay, as bad as the Browns are, their defense should almost single-handedly win them these games.” And it was the Jets game back in week 10. It was the Raiders game two weeks ago. And it’s this Titans game here coming up this weekend. And I I again my my thought process on it was they have the elite unit of both teams. They have an elite defense that is truly championship caliber. They should be able to limit the Titans or the Jets or whoever’s offense enough that they win the football game. But I will say this because I was dead wrong about this with the Browns when they played the Jets. I thought there’s no way they lose this game. There’s no possible way. The Jets offense can’t do anything. And then what was the difference in that game? Two critical special teams plays. Jets brought a returned a punt for a touchdown. Jets returned a kickoff for a touchdown. And that is where I think the Browns could win or lose this game. If they have a bad day on special teams, if they give up some of those big returns or the Titans are set up with some short fields because of special teams or they block a kick or something crazy like that, it could be a a crazy unexpected loss to this Titans team. And so they’re going to have to be on their P’s and Q’s when it comes to special teams, which is a big question each and every single week with the Cleveland Browns. Well, that should be a concern for Browns fans because the Tennessee Titans have the leader and all-purpose yards in the NFL right now. Probably going to be the allp pro returner or at least a Pro Bowl returner in the AFC and it’s rookie wide receiver Chim DK out of Florida. 4.3 speed. He’s returned two punts for touchdowns already this year. Should have three if he didn’t have a terrible penalty 10 yards behind the play by one of the Titans young linebackers. uh almost had another punt return last week. He was illegally tripped by the Jaguars. Crazy punter is out there telling guys he’s going to kill him and stuff like that. Uh that that dude Logan Cook is a wild man. Okay, but he tripped the Titans punt returner or he would have had another one. Didn’t get called for a trip because, you know, as Browns fans know, when you’re you’re a fan of a crappy team, they don’t get any of the normal calls that every other team would get. Guys can just trip your punt returners and for some reason the NFL just apologizes afterwards. Browns fans can empathize with those sorts of things because it seems like it’s always us, man. Somehow it’s always us. But, uh, special teams could be a big advantage for the Titans in that realm because they have a very good returner. I think we’re hitting on all of the classic like I’m a bad team trying to win a game. Run the ball. Special teams magic. And then for me, the final thing is the turnovers. And yeah, the Browns have been better with turnovers because their defense forces more turnovers. The Browns are middle of the pack in the NFL right now with an even turnover. They’ve they’ve turned over the ball as much as they’ve taken it away. So, they’re even at zero. The Titans are fifth worst at -6. So, the Titans turn over the ball more than the Browns do. And the Browns defense is going to have more chances at takeovers than the Titans defense will likely have. So that’s three things, the run game, special teams, and turnovers where I would say the Titans only have the advantage in one of those things, which is why ultimately as we get into how we kind of feel about this game, I do lean Browns in this game because they have the, like you said, they have the one elite unit, the one unit of football that’s actually very good in this game is their defense and the Titans don’t really have any. So, the Titans would need some miracle things to happen like special teams magic, win the turnover battle, stuff like that for them to win this game on the road. Yeah, and it’s I’m glad you brought up the turnover thing because that was going to be the next thing I pointed to in terms of pass to victory. Like, if this Browns defense can cause a few of those, if there’s a strip sack from Miles Garrett that gives the offense a short field, I think that really puts the Titans in a bind, a team that doesn’t score a lot, same way the Browns don’t score a lot, if they build a lead that’s just insurmountable, I think the the the Browns defense will sort of strangle them out from there. But again, the there’s always in the back of my mind, ever since that Jets game, the possibility that the Titans break something on special teams and that flips the game on it on its head. And so I I’m with you like I am going into this game and and I will give my official prediction on my Friday episode of Lockdown Browns. I I’m going to pick the Browns to win, but if I get to four o’clock on Sunday and the Browns somehow fumbled this one and they lose and special teams were involved or turnovers were involved, I would not be surprised in the slightest and and I will I will very much be saying that on the postgame show. No, but this game is winnable for both teams. I don’t think it’s, you know, no one should be too heavy of a fan. One and a half at Fan out with our friends at FanDuel. Like they they even think it’s going to be close. Yes, that seems light to me. I think it should be like minus three for Browns. But I do want to ask you this, Spencer, before we get out of here. Yes, the Titans could have the number one overall pick, especially if they lose this game. They are on a fast track there because then they play the Chiefs and the 49ers the next two weeks. Give me a break. Uh but anyway, yeah, crazy. But but the Titans have the toughest schedule in the entire NFL, even though they had the number one pick last year. It’s just crazy how that worked out for them. All time bad luck. But Browns fans know all about all time bad luck. So I know that Browns fans will be like, “That would happen to us.” Yes, it would. You get the number one pick and then go. I think the Browns had one of the toughest schedules like before the season started. They were like two or three or something like that. So, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, regardless though, the Browns could be interested in a quarterback. Just your quick thoughts right now on how you think the fan base feels, how you’re feeling. Are you interested in a Fernando Mendoza, Dante Moore? Would you be willing to trade up for those guys? And do you think the Browns would give up their two first round picks this year and a first next year to move up for a quarterback? Man, this is a question that would take us to make this like a two an hour an hour long podcast, but we’re almost at the end of the show here. I’ll tell you this, like I I think my my feelings and comps on Fernando Mendoza that he reminds me a lot of Kirk Cousins. And I think about that like if Stfansky is still here, who’s the quarterback that he had the most success with? It was when he was an offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings. It’s Kirk Cousins. I feel like the fit would be there. I really do like Dante Moore as well and what he’s been able to do. I I I think, you know, and Tai Simpson, I’m curious to see if those guys even stay another year in college, though, because they only have the one year starting and that’s oftentimes a red flag for NFL teams, even though in a in a down year or a class that might not be like loaded with talent, you might just, you know, beggars can’t be choosers, if you will. Um, so like listen, I I I think if if the Browns do their own evaluation and they come to say we really like Fernando Mendoza and like I don’t think trading up is is off the table, especially when you have the two first round picks this year. That’s the reason you made that trade with Jacksonville was let’s trade back, let’s get another pick and then you have some flexibility either to to lean on if Shador Sanders really plays well down the stretch of the season. You can either say let’s use these picks to build up the ros around him. If he if he just plays okay and you’re like, “We still think we need a quarterback.” Well, now you can maybe package those together, move up and try to get that quarterback that you’re that you’re hoping for. I don’t know. Maybe there’s a trade in there that involves sending Kevin Stfansky to the Titans as well and some picks and then it maybe works out that way and you we we both get what we want. We get a quarterback, you guys get your coach. Yeah, I I think that’s an interesting way to look at it. I’m going to I’m going to work that into some shows this offseason for sure after we see how things play out. But either way, this is an important game for these two teams for draft purposes, no matter what. Can’t wait to check it out. No doubt. I’m excited. I’m as excited as you, as excited as you can be about a match up between two teams with four combined wins. But it’s going to be a fun one. We appreciate you coming to hang out with us. If you like what you heard, hit that subscribe button. Make sure Locked On Browns and Locked On Titans are your first and second, depending on which fan base you’re a part of, listens uh of the day, part of the Locked On Network, which is now the number one sports podcast network, which we cannot do without you. Thanks for listening. As always, enjoy the game on Sunday, and we will talk to you guys afterwards. Whatever happens, we’ll be there to cover it for you.

The Tennessee Titans face the Cleveland Browns and the quarterback battle between Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders will be the primary talking point. The reality is both young passers have had their struggles in less than ideal environments, but whoever wins this game will win the war of public opinion no matter what happens. As you dig deeper into this matchup, the real issue will be how these team’s deal with the pass rush of two superstars, Myles Garrett and Jeffery Simmons. While Simmons is a fine player, Garrett is in the midst of a record-breaking season and could very well break the NFL record in this matchup with the Titans struggling offensive tackles. Finally, this matchup will be all about designed plays to take pressure off these quarterbacks and whoever is able to run the ball and work the screen game best, will ultimately win.

Tennessee Titans Cam Ward Battles Shedeur Sanders Cleveland Browns & Preventing Myles Garrett Record
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP3332GMOh4y5PX3q9NFybw

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