Takeaways from Titans Rookie Minicamp | MCA Titans Podcast

Takeaways from Titans Rookie Minicamp | MCA Titans Podcast

Titans rookie mini camp is in the books. Cam Ward displaying his leadership already. Femi Oljo bringing the energy. Xavier Restrepo leading all the wide receiver drills. We’re going to talk about all of this and more with our guest Terron Davenport. This is the Music City Audible. Let’s get to it. You know, I think we take a lot of pride in in the fact that this is a class of of leadership. And uh I think that’s part of the reason that they, you know, handpicked each and every one of us to come in here is because of our leadership, what we were able to do in college. Uh you know, obviously leading our our teams to 10 plus wins. Um you know, however that may be. Um but I think that he saw that leadership and uh that accountability and and the captain aspect of our game um and of our history as a football player. And I think all that kind of clicked as well as our talent and scheme. Um you know, obviously to just have a super strong rookie class. Oh, welcome everyone to another episode of the Music City Audible podcast presented by Sinkers Beverages, the premier wine, spirits, and beer store in East Nashville along with Broadway Sports Media and 440 Sports. I’m Justin Graver with me as always, Justin Melo. Justin, how’s it going? Monday morning, Titans rookie mini camp done and over. They will be joining the veterans today, maybe right now as we record this. How’s it going? Doing well. Doing well. excited to recap it properly here with Terron Davenport, ESPN reporter for the Titans. He was actually he was in attendance, of course, at rookie mini camp. So, he’s going to give us a really good, you know, firsthand report of what he saw from from Cam Ward and friends, if you will. Yeah, can’t wait to hear what Terron Davenport has to say having been there to see everything unfold in person. He tweeted out some notes from practice that we’re going to ask him about to get, you know, more specific on what he saw out there. But before we do that, Justin, I want to talk about I’m gonna do I gave you a 30 second clock to talk about Gabe Davis on our last episode. I’m gonna give myself a 30 second clock because I want to rant about something and it’s the way the Titans are covered by their own media team. Here we go. Starting the clock now. 3 2 1 segment, folks. Sounds like 30 second shot clock. All right, Justin, my clock’s ticking. I do not understand why they want to treat Cam Ward like any other player. Like this is a chance to just put him on everything. I’m talking like many videos of him throwing as many as the coaches are cool with putting out there. It’s not like they’re doing anything that’s going to reveal strategy at these mini camp practices. I have 5 seconds. I want to see more Cam Ward and all Titans fans want to see more Cam Ward. Hype up your golden boy. Okay, I’m done. Wow, that was that was pretty quick. I think you ran out of time there. You got to get better at managing the shot clock. You have that’s a Dallas Maverick’s like fumble. I think I’ll say at the shot clock. Uh uh no what um in response I get both sides because you know when you take a quarterback number one overall. You’ve also got a rare opportunity, you know, market market, right? And you want to you want to make money and you want to sell merch and it it’s important to market, right? That goes a long way in generating that sort of revenue. Um, and let’s be like you talked about, you know, strategy. Like Brian Callahan’s not Mike Vrabel, right? Like I don’t think this is Brian Callahan being like, “We can’t release any footage.” Like he’s Mike Vrabel might have been that way. Brian Callahan, he’ll go up there and give you an honest answer about a play call, right? Like I don’t think Brian Callahan buys into the whole strategy thing. It’s more about execution, I think, with him. If we execute, we’ll be fine even if you know what’s coming, right? So this isn’t on the coaching staff in my opinion. On the other side, where I’ll defend him is I can kind of do they want to temper expectations a little bit. We know Cam Ward’s a low-key kind of guy. You know, he doesn’t I don’t say he doesn’t love the spotlight, but you know, he just likes to kind of go about his work without all the bells and whistles attached. So, I get why fans want I mean, fans should always want to see more. That’s why they’re fans. I I get it from the Titans perspective. You know, I I can understand arguments on both sides of the fence. I didn’t have a 30 secondond shot clock, so I could expand on it. Yeah. I just think like look, you mike up Femi Oljo and that was great. It was awesome to see the clip that Titans posted on social media of Fei just like literally I tweeted this, he sounded like a coach on the field. The way he was talking to his teammates, encouraging them, but also holding them accountable. Don’t walk on my field. Why are you walking like getting people moving? Like I loved all of that. But we can’t do that for Cam Ward. I mean, he’s the quarterback number one overall pick. We can’t get a miked up two minutes of what Cam Ward sounded like at practice. Like that’s where I’m just like, do you guys realize the opportunity you have to showcase the number one pick who didn’t get a lot of attention when he was drafted and now he’s not even getting like we were salivating on the Twitter time. If you’re not on Twitter, you don’t understand what this was like, but if you are, you do. We were all sitting there refreshing our phones on Friday night on Saturday afternoon like give us the Cam Ward throwing the ball clip and it was like the last one they posted on Friday and they gave us a few on Saturday but it I mean I don’t know. I just expected them to like want to show them off more. We don’t have to talk any more about that unless you have a final wrap-up thought. No, I’m sure your fiance really appreciated you spending your weekend refreshing your phone for the Cam Ward clips. You know, we we cover a team. We got to we got to be on the ball. We’re always doing a job here. All right, Justin. Um, I do want to talk a lot more about Titans working mini camp and what we learned, what we can take away from it, but I want to do it with someone who was there. So, I think we should now welcome in our guest. Terron Davenport covers the Titans for ESPN. TD, thanks for joining us this morning. How’s it going? Oh, yeah. Everything is well, man. Thanks for for having me on, man. Hope you guys are doing well, also. Yeah. So, I want to talk about this Titans working mini camp with you. you were obviously out there and one thing I think our audience should understand is that Brian Callahan said this was more of an orientation for these rookies. This is not a comp competitive. There’s no seven on seven, no 11 on 111. So it’s just about working these guys into the Titans building so that when Monday today and they uh get with the veterans when that gets here they can have hit the ground running and not be still trying to find their way. But I still think there’s a lot we can learn if we look at the little details here. So, starting with Cam Ward now, to me, it’s all about how Cam Ward is able to capture his teammates respect and be that leader that we know he’s been everywhere he’s been in his career. And you noted that there was a a rep between him and ELMorer where the ball hit the ground and Cam Ward had Ayam Maner come back and redo the rep. Were there any other little things that you saw whether at practice or what you heard from anybody in the press conferences that sort of indicate Ward is already earning the respect of his teammates and showing that leadership that made him the number one pick? Yeah, actually after practice I spoke to a few of the rookies right during the press conference asking them questions specifically about Cam Ward. there was something unique to his leadership or just the way that they’ve learned the playbook together. And I believe it was it was Gunner Gunner Hill uh he has said that you know he has them get into the building early in the morning to to watch film. So that’s something and I remember talking to Xavier Restreo and that’s what he said that that Cam Ward did when he first got to Miami. So you have that, but then also just I manner. He said that Ward is a perfectionist or or not a perfectionist, but he’s going to get it right. And if it’s not done right at that first rep, they’re going to come back and do it. And he mentioned hitting it while it’s hot. So you have that. Trimmer DK, you know, he also spoke on just, you know, the leadership that that Ward has and just how, you know, it’s good to to have him on the team now as opposed to going against him. remember that from his intro pressor. So yeah, I think he’s definitely made his presence felt. There’s already a relationship. It’s interesting. U he and and Fei uh Oljo, I don’t know, they have a relationship and you know they got a handshake that they do before they go out there. So I I thought that was interesting. Awesome. And speaking of Restreo TD, you know, you you noted that he was first in line for like every receiver drill and was probably the most polished guy at rookie mini camp. It’s it’s funny. It’s almost like a two-edged sword for me cuz I almost expect it coming from a guy like him, you know, 1100 plus receiving yards at Miami, rewrote the record books there, but it’s also a little unusual for an undrafted free agent, right, to find himself in that spot. So, talk to me a little about that. Were you were you surprised by how pro ready he looked being being the most polished guy there considering they got a couple draft picks in that room as well? Yeah, I I wasn’t surprised at all. I don’t think Xavier Restreo is your typical undrafted free agent. Honestly, this is a case of traits verse just playing ball. And I mean, look, no slack to IO Minor or DK. These guys are interesting prospects and I think they’re going to have a bright future, but they’re more guys that you look at, hey, you know, big, fast, physical, right? But then Restreo, you know, is little pocket pocket slot receiver, but he plays the game the right way. He understands spacing. He understands leverage. He’s always friendly to his quarterback. And there’s a reason why Cam Ward lobbyed to any team that was going to take him about Xavier Restreo. So, it doesn’t surprise me. It’s just I mean, he’s played more football than both of those guys. So, naturally, he’s going to be more experienced, more polished. I think that’s fine. But, it’s just again it’s it’s the measurables versus playing the game. And I I think naturally when you’re playing the game, this is something that I remember talking to him about and he stressed. He said, “I’m a football player. I’m not an underwear Olympic guy. I’m not someone who’s going to do all that and and shine that way, but I’m a football player.” And again, you got to remember this is a guy Michael Irvin, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Leonard Hankerson, you know, you can go on and on and on. Santana Moss, he has more catches and touchdowns. No, more catches and receiving yards than all of them. He’s fourth all time in in touchdowns at Miami. So, it’s not your typical undrafted free agent. No, he’s certainly not. And uh this fan base falls in love with an undrafted free agent receiver every year, but I think this one is going to take the cake for number one all time probably. I think this one this one is going to reach Mason Kinsey level level there, man. Yeah, might even surpass it. Um, uh, you know, that that first, you know, I mean, practice orientation, if you will. Did you get the vibe regarding Restreo that he was immediately with came in with the mindset like, you know, UDFA, I need to show I belong. And I also know I I got a bit of a leg up on your average UDFA because I got the support, confidence, and chemistry with the quarterback. Definitely no indication of having a leg up. He busted it through every drill, did everything he had to do. There was a sense of urgency with him. Didn’t drop any balls, you know, out there having fun. It It was just It was fun to watch, you know what I mean? And I I don’t think that he has any type of outlook that would say, “Hey, I got a better chance because of Cam. He’s going to control what he could control and and focus on that honestly.” Yeah, makes sense. And that’s the kind of work ethic we expect from him. Uh, TD, was there anyone else that impressed you with the little things, whether you know, Fejo’s energy or just anything else you saw or heard that stood out to you? Yeah, Fe OJ. I mean, going over there and watching the outside backers when they were working together with the Dline and then they split up and I I remember I was over there for like two minutes and I turned to J. I said, “Yo, that family got some energy, man.” You know what I mean? We we laughed and yeah, it definitely showed. But I I like how his communication throughout the drill, you know, he’s all right, come on, 56. Good job, 51. You know what I mean? Those types of things. And to be a a rookie doing that already, he’s definitely someone who I think is going to be a a leader, you know, at some point uh this season. So, you have that. Uh the energy that he had just going through the drills was definitely impressive. I I I like that. Um, Gunnar Helm, I mean, look, that dude is he he’s got that Anthony Ferguser level sticky finger ability, man. Like, he catches everything, you know? And if you guys remember, that’s why you should call FXer, sticky fingers, and he’s the answer to it. So, maybe we’ll have to move that that nickname to to Gunner Helm. We’ll see. But, he was someone else that impressed me. Um, and Virgil Lemons is interesting. You know, this guy averaged 25 yards per return at at Western Florida. He had 602 total punt return yards, you know, and when I say 25 yards per return, I’m talking about punts, not kicks. Punts, right? So, um, it was good seeing him, right? I wanted to see what his build was like. He got those skinny sprinter legs, you know, the skinny ankles. I I was joking like anytime a guy got skinny ankles, you know, he’s fast. So, he was someone else that just getting to see him, I wanted to see what he could do. Uh, just see what he looked like. Yeah, that’s interesting. We’ll see which one drafted free agents have a path to the roster. And obviously, if you can contribute on special teams, that makes it that path a little bit easier to to manage. Um, TD, to start this episode, we played a clip about Gunner Helm talking about how the leadership um that the entire draft class had this common trait of like we were leaders, we were captains, we led our schools to 10 win seasons. Did you see any of those kind of characteristics on the field versus listening to them talk? And how important do you think that trait is for this draft class as the Titans try to pull off this culture rebuild? Yeah, I mean, you know, like we said with with Cam Ward and Fei all the Dejio, we saw that uh Gunner Helm was more or less like it was him and another guy uh it was from TCU. Um Ay was his last name. They were the only tight ends there. So, you know, it’s not really too much of a leadership opportunity. Um and then when they came together, they were just kind of running the offense. Um, yeah, I those are the two, but I mean, you know, Kevin Winston is another guy that I know they’re going to look to and I know he was pretty well ranked at at Penn State, so you do have him. Um, it definitely was a theme, right? You know, multiple team captains, you know, multiple uh gold star helmet guys and, you know, not too much off the- field stuff from any of them, if anything at all. So, I think that’s good, but you you got to mix in a few of those bad asses, too. You know what I mean? Like, you got to have a few of them. So, uh we’ll see. But I mean, it’s like you got to have every team has to have a Darren B or or or two. You know, every team has to have a Chanty Gardner Johnson, you know, those types of players that just that are spicy and just, you know, add that that heat to to the locker room. Do you think that’s something that they want to lay the foundation for before they bring in those types of guys with this like guys who just love football and they’re going to pick up their teammates and hold them accountable? It seems like that’s a big theme that they maybe could have taken a couple guys in this draft that more closer to what you’re describing and they decided, you know what, maybe that’s a next year component. Yeah, it could be. It could be. You know, I’m honestly confused um how they are are building a locker room like character-wise and everything. Um confused is not the the best word. I’m curious probably is um a better way to describe it, you know, cuz I want to see how it is comprised like see how these rookies mix in with the with the newer guys. like you know like I said with Fei all the dejo being a very vocal um leader type of player I want to see how he mix in when the vets come you know what I mean so it’s it’s going to be um you know an experience just seeing everything happen but I mean we see it every year right the rookie class they mix in with with who’s there I think the locker room was in place already to absorb a guy who you know might be a little bit uh push the envelope type of character interesting well they didn’t go after George Pickkins who was just traded to the Cowboys, but that might have been the type of guy. I don’t know about that pushing the envelope that far. All right, there’s the line. Got it. Uh TD, we really appreciate your time this morning. Thanks so much for joining us and have fun covering this team this off seasonason. Yeah, for sure. Appreciate it, man. You see, go Mets. Go Mets. All right. Thanks again to TD for his time there. Man, it’s great to have the perspective of someone who was there versus just reading about what was going on at practice from people who were there. Let’s have him come on and talk to us about it, Justin. That was that was awesome. Yeah, and really interesting stuff on on Gunner Helm, you know, Xavier Strepo, obviously Cam Ward. So, really great conversation. I I imagine you guys really enjoyed that one. Absolutely. All right, Justin, the schedule is being released on Wednesday night, and we’re going to get tidbits about the schedule all throughout this, you know, these next three days, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. So, I think you and I should probably hop back on on Thursday morning and record a reaction to the Titans schedule. What say you? Yeah, sounds good. I mean, look, it’s one of those I mean, we make a big spectacle out of it. I totally get it. It’s not a whole lot else to talk about that time of year. So, we’ll come on and we’ll cover the schedule, kind of look at the peaks and valleys where the division might be decided, right? There’s usually a a uh a cluster of them at some point, right? Division games in a row. So, we’ll come on here, you know, do a quick little recap of the schedule and talk about uh how the Titans season will be won or lost, right? It’s not about the opponents. We know the opponents. It’s like where’s the by-week? How many road games in a row? How many home games in a row? What’s the travel schedule look like? Do they have how many prime time games do they get? Do they have an international game? All that kind of stuff is what we’re going to be looking at when we break down the schedule on Thursday morning. All right, that does it for this one. Titans rookie mini camp rookies now with the veterans. Hopefully we get some media attention of what’s happening when Cam Ward meets, you know, all all the veterans. I’m looking forward to the clips of Tim Bole throwing. That’s what I want to see. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Hope the social media cuts that up instead. Can’t wait for that. All right. Thanks everyone for tuning in. Again, make sure you’re subscribed to the channel. Give this video a thumbs up, like, drop a comment below what you think of the conversation with TD, what you think about what we saw from Titans working mini camp. And we’ll be back later on. Thanks also to Sinker Beverages. Until next time, y’all stay safe out there and tighten up. A Broadway Sports Media production.

⁠Justin Melo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Justin Graver⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ are joined by Turron Davenport to recap everything we learned coming out of Titans rookie minicamp over the weekend, from Cam Ward’s leadership to Femi Oladejo’s energy to Xavier Restrepo’s polish.

0:00 Intro
1:43 Titans coverage of Cam Ward
5:23 Turron Davenport joins
6:06 Cam Ward’s presence
8:02 Xavier Restrepo leading the way
11:25 Other guys who stood out
13:33 Common traits of the draft class
16:54 Wrap Up

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