The OTP | Titans at Colts Preview + Mitchell Tenpenny Joins the Show

The OTP | Titans at Colts Preview + Mitchell Tenpenny Joins the Show

[Music] This is the OTP. I’m Amy Wells joined by Taylor Zarszer. Tezy. The Titans are getting ready to take on the Indianapolis Colts for the second time this season. Titans 1 and six. Colts six and one. Quite the matchup. There’s a lot to discuss about that, but I feel like we need to switch up the juju a little bit on this show. And so we’ve gotten into a bit of a routine where we talk for a while and then we take a cookie break and then we talk for the rest of the show. And that’s been really good. But I think that we need a cookie right off the top. Oh wow. Okay. And so Christy Cookie sent us this new tin. Um if you’re just listening, I just need you to imagine a rectangle tin with holiday print on the side. But if you’re watching this with your eyes, you can see that it is festive. So Christy Cookie really leaning into the holiday season, but it’s in a new shape. And so I was like, hm, that’s interesting. And the weight is different. I’m getting used to these cookie boxes. So if we open it, dear Christy Cookie, I’m so excited. They’re brownies. TZ. Oh, yeah. And I’ve I’ve known about this for a minute. Almost tackled the man cuz he was going to Yeah. Oh, yeah. I told you it was a surprise for you, not for me. So, there’s your brownie. Good. Um, thank you to our friends at Christy Cookie. Oh my goodness. A triple chocolate brownie. Full disclosure, I had no idea they even had brownies, but they do. Perfect for the holiday season. Um, and also perfect for me right now. Can I eat it right now? Heck yes, you can. So, um, I was so excited about this, I couldn’t even start the show because I’ve been thinking about these brownies for an hour or two. Good reaction. You’re feeling good. You’re feeling strong. Yeah. I mean, for starters, boy, she’s thick, guys. It’s a very dense brownie. And I’m hang on. I hate to just have people just watching us eat or listening. I don’t feel bad at all. Sorry, guys. Go get your own. ChristyCookie.com. You can get a whole box of these bad boys. See, I got one right here. There’s six in here. This is my second brownie of the day. And my first one was a non Christy cookie brownie. And it it said, “What kind of brownie was it?” Gi, it was like cardboard is what it was cuz it was like they had taken all the goodness out of it. Like a healthy brownie. Yeah. And Yeah. You got scammed, man. I did. And now I really needed a Christie cookie. Triple chocolate brownie, actually. Yeah. This is not healthy. Um but that’s how you want it. I’m using my board that has all the Titans and Colts uh players on it as a board. Sunday you’re going to be like, “What is this mess all over my board?” Oh, Cedric Gray with the tackle. Yeah. Let me move crumb out of the way. Pull the chocolate off. Okay. Mhm. Thank you to Christy Cookookie for sending us these brownies. ChristyCookie.com if you want to get some. There’s chocolate chips in there. Yeah, that’s kind of like that. There are chocolate chips in there. Thank you for noticing. Mhm. You’re a real uh dessert connoisseur. You’re the perfect man for the job today. Um I do feel that we have taken up enough time talking about brownies. Do you think Chloe’s jealous right now? Yes, I do. I think everyone in the control room is pretty jealous. Um and I may or may not share. Haven’t decided. Boy, those are good. Yeah, they really are good. Big shout out to Christy Cookie who knew we needed a little extra bump this week. I think I think they knew that we’d be extra hungry. Um because the reality is that the Titans are still kind of going through it. Still trying to figure out how to get everything rolling in the right direction and we’re getting closer. We’ve seen some flashes of things that are really um reassuring that are really promising. Coach McCoy has really had the opportunity to now get his plan in place, which ultimately he didn’t really change too much, but he laid the foundation for what he wants to do. And TZ, I think we saw that last week against the Patriots. We did. It was a good start to the game uh where you score 13 points in the first half, you score 10 points in the first quarter, you get points out of your first couple of drives, move the football efficiently, and an offense that was struggling mightily showed some real signs of progress in in the second half. The game got away from them. The Patriots dominated the last couple of minutes of the second quarter and the first half of the third quarter. And by the by the time the Titans really got the ball back, the Patriots had scored three touchdowns. Um and and then at that point it became catchup instead of really going through your offense. So it didn’t last for four quarters, but it did last for a half. And to your point, I I saw some real progress offensively from the Titans. And and the hope is is that progress carries over against the Colts this week. The Colts are six- one. They have the best record in the National Football League. They don’t share it. They have it by themselves, which no one predicted. Nobody saw this coming at this point of the season. They’ve they’ve had an outstanding start to the year. Shane Stiken, their head coach, their play caller. Indiana Jones, Danny Dimes, whatever we’re calling Daniel Jones is having the year of his life. Um Charlotte Latin Schools, Daniel Jones, by the way, rival school to my children’s school in and high school. Um he’s having a heck of a start to the season. Jonathan Taylor’s one of the best running backs in the NFL, but Amy, their defense has had a lead, you know, basically all year. So, I don’t know that the Colts defense is necessarily one of the best in the in the league because we haven’t really seen them tested yet in one of these close games. I’m saying all that to tell you I think that Cam Ward and this offense can keep this going against the Colts. Just get off to a good start on Sunday. The Titans are a huge underdog. Maybe they’re overlooking us well on Sunday going into this one. And I’ve got a feeling that Cam Ward and the Titans are going to get off to a good start and things are going to get really interesting at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. They did score in the first quarter for the first time this season, which is something that they’ve been talking about for a couple weeks is coming out fast, really establishing the cadence of the game, being able to do what they want to do, kind of set that tone. And I think that this week the challenge is continuing that to keep going to keep extending those drives, keep yourself in manageable down in distance, keep yourself all of the things that we’ve been preaching all week. And I think that Cam continuing to take accountability, take responsibility, and continuing to get just the reps of NFL level football under his belt is surely going to help him not only be better as a game manager, but just know what he’s looking at and understanding what needs to happen next. That can only come with experience. It that’s exactly right. And I think this experience is really going to pay off for him in the long run. The New England Patriots, Amy, last year went four and 13. And if you watch them play and you watch the games that Drake May started quarterback, you would say, “Oh boy, this is a long uphill battle for the Patriots.” And now you look at the New England Patriots who are five and two. Drake May just had an unbelievable game against us this past Sunday and you’re saying, “Man, I can’t imagine this guy just ever struggling. He struggled last year as a rookie.” Yeah. Uh the point is is that by having all of these experiences, it’s really going to pay off as the season continues. It’s certainly going to pay off next year and you combine that with Gunnar Helm who’s getting better at tight end every week. You combine that with Chimry DK who’s not just the best return man in the game. Now he’s a first string wide receiver for the Titans. Alec I Manor who’s had multiple catches in all seven games he’s played in the National Football League. So it’s not just the quarterback that’s getting invaluable reps as a rookie. You’ve got all these young guys around him. And the other guy that I’m really interested in watching flip the board board over. brushed the Christy Cookies uh crumbs off. I really wish Christy Cookies made milk, by the way. Um Kevin Winston has um just started playing some defense. He was in the back field last week in the second half against the Patriots and he was a special teamer for a couple weeks. He’s coming off that knee injury last year at Penn State. I was talking to some powerful people with the Titans and they tell me, “Man, this guy might have been a first or second round draft pick if he didn’t have that injury.” and he looked like one in the limited time we saw him last week. I think we’re going to see a lot more of him as the season progresses on defense. So, there’s a lot of young, fresh faces for the Titans that are getting invaluable reps. Having said all of that, the Titans want to win. The Titans want wins. Everybody wants wins. Um there’s no laying down here. There’s no tanking for a pick here. There’s none of that. That’s that’s not how you develop a team. you you go out and you take advantage of the draft and then you w you try to win with those guys. Trying to win with those guys and getting them as many wins as possible is just as helpful as anything else. And um this team is completely committed to doing that. It’s why Mike McCoy is the interim head coach now is you want as many wins as you can get with this young team. You know, the the rookie that I’m enjoy watching the most right now is Chimray DK. Yes. I mean, the guy’s explosive. He leads the NFL in allpurpose yards, which is just crazy, but also he’s just so passionate about what he’s doing. You had Bones Fossil on uh Titans Football, and he was breaking down film, and we were able to watch that, and the man A showed up with a whistle, which is great to just break down film on television. Yeah, that’s what you need obviously. Bring your whistle, bring your sweatbands, like get ready to go. Um, but he was so fired up about watching Chim and his instincts and his vision and how much he trusts the guys around him. Those are all the things that you don’t hear people talk about when they talk about a rookie player very often. No, that’s true. And I, as he was breaking that down, I loved it. One of the runs we long kick returns we looked at that was almost 30 yards. We could see Bones Fossil running down the sideline to tryception to try to embrace Chim DK as quickly as he could. And so you’re you’re seeing that from his position coach or his special teams coach, which is great. I was at practice on Wednesday and Cam threw an just a seed on a rope, a 30 plus yard post touchdown to Chim DK in practice. and Mike Borganzi, the general manager, and I were chatting and he just looked at me and he just smiled and then he fist pumped me and he was like, “Man, this guy is just awesome.” And then on Thursday, we were watching uh in return reps. Uh they were it was punt return practice and Johnny Hecker punted a good ball to Jim DK and DK had a chance to make a catch as he was running back down towards the field and he just sprinted off the line and made a great burst around the corner and offensive coordinator Nick Holtz did the same exact look to me that Mike Boronzi did the day before just like gosh what a stud and and Holt said this guy’s going to be in the league forever. He’s like, “This guy’s going to be a star.” Like, he was getting all excited watching him and he’s just one of those guys. He’s very talented and he’s gotten off to a great start this season, but behind the scenes, we were talking, you and I recently were in a meeting with the president of the team, Burke Nihill. And Burke was like, I just, he was so excited talking about Jim. He’s like, he’s the guy that is doing every single thing that is asked of him every single day. He is a Tennessee Titan. Um, he makes you feel really good about spending a fourth round pick on someone and them turning into this. Uh, so for those out there that are wondering about the future of the Titans, let Mike Boronzi and his personnel department go out and pick the players because if they can keep picking people like this in the third and the fourth round, the Tennessee Titans are as as Cedric Gray said after the game on Sunday, he said, “It’s not our time right now, but going through this is going to make it sweeter when it is our time. Our time is coming with all of these guys on the field playing as much as they are right now.” Yeah, absolutely. Picking those players is interesting, too, because not only do you need good starters, you need good depth. And the Titans are living that right now. There are a fair amount of injuries on this team, and there are some injuries in some real places. Legius Sneed was moved to injur, which means that he’s going to be out for a period of time now. Um Jeffrey Simmons battling a hamstring. He’s going to be weak to Ardan Key has been battling some injuries. So, there’s a lot of injuries on that side of the ball. Um, the defensive side, I mean. Um, but that’s okay. There are other there are other guys on the team and now it’s time for them to step up. Yes, it is. And I just want to make this clear. This is not an excuse what you just said. This statement of fact. It’s a statement of fact. That’s right. And when you have significant injuries to every level of your defense, you’re going to be impacted by that. when your top receiver Calvin Ridley misses a considerable amount of time. When your gunner, your special your special teams guru Bryce Oliver, when your right tackle JC Laam misses a bunch of games, I don’t care what if you’re the Indianapolis Colts that are six and one or you’re the Tennessee Titans that are one and six. When you have that, it’s hard. That’s going to have a big impact on your team. If you look at the Colts, the Colts are basically starting the same football team all season long. and it’s why they’re in the position that they’re in. You have to have good health in the National Football League if you want to be a contender. And unfortunately, the Titans have not had that. I will say getting Tandre Sweat back last week was huge. And he looked good. He really played well out there in the nose guard position in the interior of the defensive line for the Titans. So having him back out there is huge. But Amy, they really I mean other than maybe a quarter or two against Denver in a series against the Patriots, they haven’t had Tandre Sweat and Jeffrey Simmons out there together all year. And I’d argue that might be the biggest strength of the team, you know, is Simmons and Sweat lining up right next to each other. At least going into the year. I thought that and we haven’t really seen it, you know. So that is that’s a big blow to to have those guys banged up. But like you said, we’re going to get Jeff back. He’ll be back soon, whether it’s this week or or next week. Um like you said, it’s week to week, but um to have those guys lined up next to each other and key right behind them, that would be critical. That would be huge. Um so, a lot to look for as we’re monitoring these injuries throughout the week. There’s a lot to watch there. When you bring Helman’s creamy buffalo chicken dip to the watch party, you can cheer too loud or block the TV or be a couch coach and no one will eject you from the game. That’s a hail Mayo. Helman’s the official mayo of the Tennessee Titan. This summer, SeatGeek has your ticket to the best live concerts in Nashville at Nissan Stadium. SeatGeek makes it easy to catch world conquering tours and highwiders performances from your favorite artists all summer long. SeatGeek has the best seat, your seat for an unforgettable summer. From rock royalty to rap superstars, R&B to country, find it all on SeatGeek, the official ticketing partner of Nissan Stadium. It’s your summer. Make it count. SeatGeek. Hey Titans fans, with a Kroger Boost membership, you’ll score big with double fuel points, free delivery, and lots more. Go to kroger.com/boost for details. Kroger, the official ger of the Tennessee Titans. Tighten up. Now, back to the OTP. Tezy, you mentioned Tvandre Sweat being back. Yes. And um this this is going to feel like a left turn, so I need you to just walk with me here for a minute. Okay. Tandre Sweat is a large man, but he hadn’t been I mean, he had been around, but not in the same place as I had done for a while, you know? I mean, he’s he’s recovering. He’s getting treatment. He’s doing all these things. We we don’t really interact that much when guys are injured, you know, they’re just not around as much. So, he comes back to the game, very exciting. Meatloaf is back. Woo! Woo! Woo! Go team go! Has that great sack. A few days after the game, we have Mitchell Tenpenney in to do an interview with us right here on the OTP. And one of the things that we did was we took Mitchell on this tour of the facility and we took him into the equipment room, which is adjacent to the locker room. And we’re in there and I love that room by the way. Oh, it’s awesome. We’re getting him fitted for all kinds of different things and you know getting a helmet on him and everything. And in walks T Sweat and my first thought when he’s standing next to Mitchell Tempeny who is like an averagesized human being was good god you are a large man. Like I forgot or I think I forget when I’m in this building h how large these humans are because it’s big dudes around other big dudes and so like my perspective is off and everybody’s bigger than me so it’s just like yeah large person okay whatever but like seeing T Sweat next to a regularsized human it was shocking to me how big he is and that is just one of the reasons that I think He’s so valuable besides obviously his skill set, but like he’s just a big dude who takes up a lot of space on a football field. You know, I’m glad you mention it because it it it really is true. It’s um the fact that he has some lateral quickness to go with the 366 lb frame is why he was so coveted coming out of the University of Texas. He’s 25 lbs bigger than anyone else on the team. Like JC Laam is a he’s a big man. Big dude as he told you in the preseason he had to give up the Cheesecake Factory this year. Really sad and and he weighs 340 pounds and he’s a huge right tackle. Kevin Zitler’s played in the league forever. He’s 332 lbs. These guys aren’t anywhere close to as big as Devandre Sweat is. T Sweat. So Sweat’s out of the game for a few weeks. And the guy that’s taking his place who has one of the greatest nicknames ever. Um Shy Tuttle King Tut. I love it. Great nickname. Of course, King Tutt has played really well this year out of the University of Tennessee. Seventh year player. He um he’s 65 lbs smaller than Tavandre Sweat. He’s just so big. Yeah. No, he’s a he’s a big boy and we need him out there on the field. He makes a huge difference. So, here’s um here’s hoping he stuffs Jonathan Taylor on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium. Absolutely. And that was actually a contrived story to get to the Mitchell Tenpenney interview that I want to pitch to, but it is worth noting that like, hey guys, remember how big T Sweat is? He’s really, really just that big. Mitchell Tenpenney is the man, by the way. Mitchell Tenpenney is the man. And he sings some of my favorite country songs. If you’re not familiar with him, he’s an artist, local kid from Nashville, born and raised here. And he is, you’ve heard his songs is one of those things, you know, if you think I don’t know who that is. Yes, you do. As soon as you play the music, it’s like, oh, I know this song. I love this song. Um, anyway, he was he’s been a Titans fan forever since the very beginning. And when he said that he was willing to come out here and hang out with us on the OTP a little bit, I was just beside myself. So, here’s my conversation with country music artist Mitchell Ten Penney. Mitchell Tenpenney is finally here on the OTP. This feels like a long time coming. The If you don’t know, Mitchell Tenpenney is a country music artist. He is from here in Nashville and he has been just all over the place. I feel like you’re everywhere all the time and your music’s always on the radio. Oh, thank you. Which is so great. And um now you’re finally here. Yeah. I I don’t know how. born and raised, biggest Titans fan, but never actually been into this facility or on on on the show. So, I am so honored. Thanks for having me. Cannot wait. Okay. There are so many things I want to talk to you about. But I guess where we need to start is just a little bit about you. You’re from Nashville, like you said. Yeah. Was music always the dream? Was music always the goal living in this city? Honestly, no. I thought I mean, I thought I wanted to play football. Yeah. I mean, uh the doctor lied to me. He said I was going to be like 6’3, 6’4, which is ridiculous, but uh didn’t end up being anywhere close to that. No. So, my football dreams after high school going into college kind of um you know, didn’t work out. Yeah. And so, music kind of started there. I’ve always loved music and always been in bands, but never really thought of it as my future um until really after, you know, high school getting into college pretty early. Now, we do need to talk about your football career though because you did win state. Thank you. Yeah, the glory days. Yeah. No, but it counts. I mean, if you’re part of a team that wins a state championship, A, you get to talk about that for the rest of your life. B, if that is like the peak of your life, then so be it. You know, we don’t judge here on the OTP. It’s fine. All my high school friends that I’m in my fantasy um my fantasy league with, most of them didn’t play and so they hate hearing about the state championship, but it’s it’s okay. I can’t wait for them to watch and they can hear. It’s a really big deal. It’s a we we recognize that that’s a big deal. Thank you. And what position did you play? Uh linebacker, outside linebacker, stud and uh tight end on that team and punter. I had to punting was I love to punt. Really? It’s just it’s a Yeah. A little hidden secret. I love punting. All right. Here on the OTP, we’ve probably heard anybody say, “I love punting.” Approximately three times. It’s It’s a challenge to get that perfect spiral when it comes off right. And it’s just like I don’t know. There’s Sorry. It’s I’m I’m a nerd about it. It’s magical. I love it. I watch that’s phenomenal. There are some people I need you to meet in this building because Please. Whoa. Um but you don’t see too many linebacker tight end combos or linebacker tight end punter combos. Yeah, it’s you know we were uh we went to Lipkcom before it was Academy David Lipkcom High School. We didn’t have a you know a lot to choose from. We just had and one of the greatest coaches of all times in high school football, Glenn McAdams um who just made made us believe that we could do it. And so we kind of I mean we had we had guards that were you know 125 lbs that were pulling guards hitting boys over 300 lb. So we just for some reason he tricked us on to believing we could do it and that’s a you know a testament of a great head coach. I mean I’m kind of laughing about this and we’re making fun of you and going to state and all that but really truly high school football is a really big deal not only in the state of Tennessee but to the Tennessee Titans specifically. And to me, I hear a lot of that in your music. That Thank you. the the high school football pride, the small town playing for something bigger. Is am I getting that? Am I understanding your music correctly? Yeah. Thank you. No, I mean truly and the team aspect of it. Uh having a brotherhood, trusting in people, I think it’s so important, especially for me in my music career. Like I mean, I have my management here. He’s been day one. Having that faith and trusting your teammates is everything. And I think that that translated into my music career. I think that without the guidance I had in football that I wouldn’t stand a chance in the real world as far as building something from the ground up. I think that there’s a lot of lessons to be learned and uh high school football is such an awesome place for that because generally I don’t know how some teams work but you can’t be turned down from being on the team. It’s not a guaranteed start, but you get to be around the players, be around the system, understand the thing, and uh I think that’s very important, especially at a high school age where you’re really developing, getting ready for the real world. I think, you know, that’s something that’s I know very beneficial for me. Can I tell you my favorite song of yours? And please, I’m going to be honest, it’s one of my top five favorite songs like on my Spotify thing at the end of the year. It’s in my top five for like three years. Um, to us it did. Oh, wow. Thank you. And I think that it’s because of this. It’s because of that feeling of being in high school and being just your whole world is within one city, one place. And for me, it’s the song I listen to when football season starts and it starts to get cold out. And it’s also the song I listen to when I get homesick, like when I miss when I miss my people, you know? And so I I I am guessing that that’s kind of what you were going for in that in that song. Yeah, 100%. I I wrote that song with um Hardy and my my buddy Jordan Schmidt. And for me that’s we were kind of just talking about like where we came from playing football. And I mean that’s where that line shots jack and shoulder pads don’t give you superpowers. But to us it did. It’s like coming off the field on a Friday night after a game like you did feel like you had superpowers. I mean, like everyone’s waiting out for you. You get to hang out. You’re probably going to some party somewhere. And I mean, that’s the that’s the small town football thing, Friday Night Lights. It’s it’s a real it’s a real energy. It’s a real American tradition. It’s awesome. And I hate to call it the glory days, but it’s so much fun when I make it, man. It really it really is. I love it. We don’t we don’t make fun of the glory days here. It can be another song of yours that’s great as Tennessee in me. Oh, thank you. And uh there’s a line in there about bleeding bl bleeding baby blue and white. Yeah. Is that Titan blue? That’s that’s Titan baby. Okay, good. I say that. Yeah, too cuz I I mix in the Oilers uh throwback jerseys as well. I I just love I love um anything Titans. And I love when it was 19 97 it was getting talked about and I remember going to the games even at Vanderbilt um having my first baby blue jersey Eddie George oversized I was a kid and I mean ever since then I’ve I’ve been in just massive massive Titans fan and through the good and the bad I’m here. We always see you in Titans stuff. Titans hat, Titans shirt, Titans jacket, Titans something. Um why is it important to rep that all the time? Well, I think it’s also being proud of my city. I I love the team, but I also love what they bring. Uh same with the Nashville Predators. I I love what sports has brought to Nashville. It changed it. Um 1998, 1999, um was incredible years as a kid. U when you’re have no teams and you’re rooting for the Dallas Cowboys and you’re rooting for Detroit Red Wings and uh Yeah. And uh you know, it’s just like it’s really cool when we got told, “Hey, we’re going to have our own football team.” came in to say, “Okay, good. I can forget about them. Let’s focus on um these teams coming to Nashville.” And I’ve just never seen a city get so behind something like especially when the Titans were going to the Super Bowl, when the stadium was built that those years. I mean, the Steve McNair, Eddie George years, Bruce Matthews, all the defense into Javon Curse, Blaine Bishop, I can do I can list them all. Rest in peace, Frank White. I mean, there was just there was an energy in the city, and I think it really led to where the city is now between them and the Predators. It it was a massive um a massive wave I saw start then to where Nashville is now, where it’s grown. It’s crazy. You know, when you walk around Nashville, you don’t meet too many people who are from here from here. And talking to you reminds me a lot of talking to Jelly Roll. Yeah. because he also has so much pride in this city. There’s just something different about being from here, right? We we connected when we were a long time ago when he was rapping when he had the shaved head like I mean long time ago we connected over the Titans. Um and ever I mean that’s we were both born and raised here but very proud to have that team and back home no matter what. And uh you know we still talk about every time we see each other but yeah I mean we really connect. The first time I met Jelly Roll was talking about the Titans. Tell me about your music career. What What’s been going on recently? What have you been up to? Yeah, everything. We uh been on the road all year long. Started in Australia. Did a whole Australia, New Zealand tour with Luke Holmes and my buddy Jordan Davis. And then me and Jordan Davis um just are about or just finished a tour about to finish a tour. We’re finishing um did a whole tour with Kane Brown this year. Uh it’s crazy now that I’m saying it out loud. like we’ve done a lot this year and uh kind of winding down. Going to enjoy the Christmas break. Uh got a new song called Therapy out. Um and a song Edward Country Radio called Same Moon. I I mean we’re just I’m blessed. Uh as somebody said, one’s busy and blessed, which is great. And I’m I’m just enjoying the ride. Enjoying the ride and and also grateful that football’s back so I can watch that through everything and have some good Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a perfect time to be doing that. You know, unwind, watch some football. Absolutely. What’s on what’s still on your your music career bucket list? What are there venues you want to play? Are there things you still want to achieve or accomplish? I mean, of course, there there’s always there’s always goals, but I’m it’d be really hard for me to say that. A lot of them have been checked off. I mean, we got to do Red Rocks this year. Um, Radio City, I’ve done the Opry. I got to do that the other night again. And, you know, the Ryman, like some of my favorite places on earth we’ve been able to do, even down to the Titan Stadium. So, it’s hard to say tonight, look back and just be grateful and say I’m very honored and humbled by that. I don’t have I mean, I’m just want to keep doing this for the rest of my life, whatever that looks like. I’m I’m going to try to take those moments as something to look forward to. But I, you know, I’ve been very lucky, very blessed. We’ve gotten to do a lot of really cool places. Thank you so much for taking the time to hang out with us. I know you have you’re a very busy man and you have lots of things to do. So, we won’t take any more of your time, but Thank you. Thank you for taking the time. Absolutely. Thanks for having me. Home is at the forefront of all we do. It’s why we’re so committed to caring for the places and spaces in which we work and live. Ashley, the official furniture provider of the Tennessee Titans. Genesis is the first and only official jeweler of the Titans, having earned that title since 2006. Titans players, coaches, and fans trust Genesis for the absolute best in selection, quality, customer service, and of course, value. For diamonds, engagement rings, designer fashion jewelry, and the largest selection of luxury pre-owned Rolexes in Tennessee, Genesis is the handsdown winner. Genesis Diamonds in Green Hills and Cool Springs, the official jeweler of the Tennessee Titans. It is time for the Little Caesar’s real deal matchup of the game with our very own Taylor Zarzer. TZ pizza indeed. Tezy, what matchup are you most looking forward to as the Titans face the Colts? I guess Cam Ward going up against Kenny Moore in the Indian Indianapolis Colts defense. Um Deorest Buckner and u a number of their big-time players like Grover Stewart, they have a pretty good defensive front. Zire Franklin, I I guess would would also qualify as somebody to watch out for in this game. But Kenny Moore, he’s um he’s a guy that has 21 career interceptions. He’s a guy that roams all over the field. And I’m looking forward to seeing Cam Ward go up against a guy like that that’s the ultimate veteran and seeing if he can attack this Colts defense. Cam to me is getting better and better each and every week and he showed some real signs in the first half last week against New England Patriots. But going up against a a veteran defense with a bunch of guys that have been around the block, including Kenny Moore, I’m excited to see how Cam attacks them this weekend. And boy, it’d be a lot of fun for the Titans to go up there and stun the team that has that currently has the best record in the National Football League. Titans fans, get 15% off your Little Caesar’s order of $15 or more at participating stores using code Titans5 at checkout. That excludes taxes and other fees. Of course, pizza. That’s always so fun to say, especially if you grew up in like the 90s with those commercials. Yes, as I did. Yeah, you know, exactly. I love the crazy bread. Oh, so good. So good. TZ heading to Indianapolis playing at Lucas Oil Stadium. It’s a division matchup, so it just means a little bit more. There’s a little extra there. Um, and seeing them for the second time this season is is really something that I think puts a little extra juice in the whole equation. Yeah. And this early in the season to to have a a rematch game is a bit unusual to have that in October or the middle of October. You haven’t even gotten to the midway mark of your season yet. But obviously both teams are extremely familiar with each other. Lou Anorumo is a first year defensive coordinator for the Colts, but as we were saying, they’ve gotten off to a good start this year. The Colts defense has been playing ahead quite a bit this season because of how well their def their offense has done. Slowing down Daniel Jones, getting this man to um to to throw the ball to the Titans, getting some interceptions, that would be huge. Maybe forcing a fumble against Jonathan Taylor. The truth is Jones is playing at an elite level right now. Jonathan Taylor, I mean, he could be the NFL offensive player of the year at this point. AR is 697 yards rushing. So, slowing those guys down will be a tall order for Dinard Wilson and the Titans defense, but I think they’re up to it. I’m I’m excited to see what happens on Sunday and excited to call it with my friends on Sunday afternoon. Um, a few of us are road tripping. Yeah. Uh Kevin Maloney, Rhett Brian, and Jim Wyatt. You guys are all headed headed up north on Old I65. We’re going to do a road trip together. So, I won’t get a word in, by the way, in that car. No, you sure. Which is good cuz I need to save the pipes for for Sunday afternoon. But, um I’m sure Jim Wyatt will have a full postgame recap of the Vandy Missou game. Yeah. Hopefully, he’s coming off a loss. I was about to say Wyatt versus Wells. Yeah. On on Saturday at First Bank Stadium. So, I’m sure he’ll have a lot to say about that. He did tell me that there were seats kind of close to his seats that are um for sale. And I was like, “Oh, so if I buy those seats, will you watch my kids?” Yeah. Like we can like we can tag team it and then I can watch the game. And he was like, “Oh, no. I’m not doing that.” So, I think I’m I think I’m just going to have to take it in from the privacy of my own home, which I think is better, actually. Um, I’m not a great person to watch football with because I I I have two speeds. Insanity or like stoic. And both are really disconcerting to the people around me. So, I’m either screaming and like just have no sense of anything that is normal in social situations because I’m so locked in and I’m furious or I’m really excited or whatever. Like can’t shut it off or I’m dead pan. Um, and it looks like I’m not having fun, but it’s just my work face because I’m used to being in press boxes, being on sidelines, right? Being in places in radio booths where you cannot cheer, you can’t really lose your mind. Totally get that. Because you have to keep it together, right? And so if I’m just watching a game and thinking my default is like just tragic and everybody’s like, “Oh my gosh, are you okay? Is there a problem? Do you need a like a food item? Can we bring you a beer? Like what what can we do?” And I mean the answer is always yeah, both. But like it’s not because I’m upset. I’m just a little hungry and I’m watching this game. Like people don’t understand. And I mean, God bless people who will send me pictures of myself on the sidelines. It’s like Amy Wells looks miserable. Wrong work face, guys. Stoicism. I can’t I don’t know what to tell you. I’m thinking, can Josh or somebody please send me a picture of you crisscross applesauce in your kitchen? When the Titans beat the Colts on Sunday afternoon. Can I get that picture, please? Yeah. I will either be on the floor in my kitchen or I will be on the top of my furniture like a cat. So whichever it is Saturday standing like this. Hey Nashville way up high too. Lucas Oil is in the clouds man. It’s I mean you’re looking straight down. So give me that monitor. Joseph Banano. I just need someone to tie a loop like a rope around your belt loop so you don’t go through the front. Oh man. I’m a little Okay. I’ll I’ll scoot back a little bit and make sure The window opens. Now that I think about it, I think you might be good. Yeah. But right there on the edge, man. Let’s do it. You are going to have a fun weekend. I’m excited for you to go to Indianapolis. You know, I love a trip to Indie. I’m going to miss you guys. Um especially the road trip up and back, but or just up, I guess. But that’s right. I’m going to oneway rental oneway rental car. That’s the way to do it. Yes. But I will be there with you in spirit and you will probably hear me yelling from back here in Nashville. Thanks for having me. I’m excited to be there and can’t wait to break it all down with you next week. Yes. Yes. Yes. For Taylor Zarser, I’m Amy Wells and this has been the OTP. [Music]

Amie Wells and Taylor Zarzour break down the Titans’ upcoming matchup against the Colts, discuss Cam Ward’s development, key injuries, and the next wave of young playmakers stepping up. Plus, country music star and lifelong Titans fan Mitchell Tenpenny joins the show to talk Nashville, football, and his love for the team.

00:00 – 00:28 – Opening Kickoff: Titans at Colts
00:29 – 03:33 – Cookie Break
03:33 – 06:10 – Titans Progress Under Mike McCoy
06:10 – 09:29 – Young Titans Rising
09:29 – 13:04 – No Tanking, Just Building
13:04 – 15:34 – Injury Roundup & Defensive Depth
15:35 – 20:04 – TSweat Returns
20:04 – 31:00 – Interview – Mitchell Tenpenny
31:00 – 33:18 – Matchup of the Game vs Colts Defense
33:18 – 39:01 – Road Trip to Indy & Closing Thoughts

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