 Welcome to Nissan Stadium and the Titans only open practice of 2021 training camp presented by Pinnacle with Amy Wells. I'm Mike Keith and we are so excited to be here and so excited to see Titans fans getting a chance to watch this football team. Mike Nissan Stadium finally feels like Nissan Stadium. The Titans fans are here in full force. There's so many cool activities here. But the main event is the football on the field and the great news is the rain has held off. Thank you to Fred for going east and giving us a chance and hopefully we can stay dry until seven o'clock tonight. One of the reasons to outline from the outset about why this is the only open practice of training camp is due to the fact that there is construction at St. Thomas Sports Park and unfortunately it's hard to maneuver and the Titans were very disappointed that they couldn't open practices as they have done for the last 20 years. But having them here tonight and having a great celebration pretty good thing. Gosh it actually feels like training camp doesn't it. Having the fans around the team as they do some work is so helpful not only to the team but also to us it's so fun to get to interact with everybody. So we're having a great time. But of course this team has a lot of work to do before they head on to Tampa. Alright so individual periods going to begin and we'll be able to show you some of that during this live look in for a lot of Titans. It is their first time ever in Nissan Stadium as a Titan and that's very exciting. Absolutely it is. So many new people whether it is some of the Titans new additions through free agency or some of the rookies guys like Caleb Farley Elijah Molden Dylan Radins Rashad Reaver they're all out there and some of those free agent guys Julio Jones Josh Reynolds Bud Dupree and Danico Autry. There's a good look at number 18 Josh Reynolds wide receiver out of Texas A&M in his fifth year in the National Football League spent his first four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams had a very nice 2020 for the Rams and factors into this receiving core you know about Julio Jones you know about AJ Brown Josh Reynolds may be a guy to get on your fantasy team. Oh my gosh absolutely he is such a unique receiver what he's able to do is so complimentary to what the other guys on the offense are doing so definitely one to watch as we get closer to the regular season and yeah definitely a sleeper for all of those drafts coming up. Six three two hundred pounds Josh Reynolds and there's the king he's he's not new here he's in year number six and he is very excited about all of the work that he's been able to get back to back rushing championships trying to become the first man in the National Football League since Emmett Smith to win three rushing titles in a row the king Derek Henry had a chance to visit with him yesterday says he's feeling great so excited about the season I said what about that 17th game and he said just one more game to eat I like that I like that bring it on mentality out of the king the Titans with Ryan Tannehill headed back to Florida of course he was the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins after being drafted eighth overall in 2012 his third year with the Titans he's going to take that team to Tampa tomorrow team will get in early in the evening and then practices Wednesday and Thursday against the Buccaneers going to be fun to watch oh my gosh it's going to be so much fun you always want to go up against the best when you're doing some practice and the reigning Super Bowl champs are the guys to do it again Arthur won a J Brown getting loosened up and he's gotten back in practice after taking a little time off last week absolutely we've been doing a lot of load management with some of the veteran players some of the guys that you know are going to be on this roster giving them a chance to get some work and then also pull back do a lot of conditioning some weight training those kinds of things making sure that their bodies are in tip top shape because let's be honest AJ Brown knows the plays he knows what he needs to be doing so we're trying to preserve people make sure they stay healthy and make it to week one against the Arizona Cardinals AJ Brown and the Titans getting loose there's a look at Cam Batson who caught a touchdown pass the other night from Logan Woodside a 15 yarder several of the other Titans newcomers again getting their first look here Chester Rogers number 80 Fred Brown number 82 there's some guys who are not new Kari Blassen game 41 Brett Kern obviously number six Anthony Firks are with the long hair I like quite a long hair I'm really into it I hope it lasts to the regular season this isn't like some training camp do I need this to be a permanent thing I think it's awesome start to see the guys in blue those are defenders as the Titans defense coming off a great night and a guy who has had a nice start to camp as he's been worked back in Taylor Luan coming off the knee surgery excited to be getting a chance to practice yeah and Taylor Luan has been working so hard to make sure that his body is in tip top shape as we get closer to the regular season it's been great to see him getting some work out on the field and really kind of getting back to the 77 that we've known from his Pro Bowl seasons last week he took team reps after working in individual periods the first couple weeks of camp they have been working him back in slowly going to be interested to see what he does in Tampa absolutely it's going to be really interesting as you just said to see how they manage some of those guys who are returning from injury some of those older guys making sure that they get the experience and the reps that they need with the team but also preserving their bodies three-time pro bowler that man right there a pro bowler a year ago the NFL's offensive player of the year looking for even more this year maybe an MVP award more than anything else he'd like to be a Super Bowl champion yeah I think if we get to pick one I pick Super Bowl but I'd take an MVP too he works so hard we see him in practice even when he's not doing the team drills and some of the things that the other guys are doing he's working on the sidelines he's on the bike he's in the sandpit Derek Henry never stops training one of the best parts of practice here that you're having a chance to see on this live look in and that is Mike Vrabel sort of setting the tone for what this practice is going to be he wants to make sure that they really have a sharp workout tonight before heading to Tampa tomorrow I believe they're starting with some ball disruption drills he's big on that he wants the offensive players to take care of the football the defensive players to knock it loose disrupt if you will my disrupt well play that Missouri education showing up right there really in full force tonight but really some of these individual drills and drills like the ball disrupts in drill are a great opportunity for players to really refine some of those skills that translate so well into game situations no matter what's happening defenders need to be able to disrupt the ball offense players need to be able to handle the ball all right so we're stretched out at Nissan Stadium on some turf that is new it just went in last week and so uh the the re-sod if you will with Nashville SC playing here it's been getting a lot of work you'll see these drills with the quarterbacks they're trying to hit him as he goes through to make sure he's doing the proper step up and then that he makes an accurate throw something they're concentrating on a player in Ryan Tannehill a year ago just had eight turnovers in 16 starts seven interceptions he only lost one fumble taking care of the football huge for the quarterback Mike I'm trying to get one of those little pads to put on my arm just to have around the office so that every now and then I can make sure you're working what do you make sure that I'm awake yeah Logan Woodside who had a nice performance in the start the other night in Atlanta Luke Stocker at tight end getting some work you see this is what they're working on he's these tight ends are going to be in traffic you got to hang on to the football and having Luke Stocker back on this roster man what a great addition he is being that veteran presence who you know can be a consistent contributor so great for this tight ends group Tommy Hudson and also Jared Picney working at the tight end position there's Miller Forstall who caught a touchdown pass the other night the former Alabama tight end Titans getting some nice plays out of the tight ends in that falcons game absolutely they were it was great to see just some little glimpses obviously it wasn't the full offense that we were able to see in Atlanta but getting a little taste of how tight ends are going to be used and how all the positions are going to be used really fun to see out of a Todd Donning offense wide receivers getting messed with if you will Rob Moore and his staff working with them getting ready to see a rep for Nick Westbrook Akina find young player got the start in Atlanta the other night and there again the aforementioned Josh Reynolds with the quick feet you know he was an outstanding hurtler in high school was offered a partial scholarship to go to Texas A&M where he later played football to be a hurtler really sure well that would explain the quick feet that drill specifically is one of the ones that I find so interesting to watch because you can see the precision that players have and the way that they're able to move their feet it's just fascinating speaking of precision 33-year-old Roger Saffold back working at left guard several several of the veteran offensive linemen getting worked to the backups that's Ross Reynolds who got a lot of playing time the other night he's wearing number 53 trying to make the team as a backup guard and can also play the center position some work for the big man the pass rushers see those quick first steps this is another drill where they're just working on those little fundamentals that those tiny little moments that make all of the difference when a ball is snapped but Jeffrey Simmons who's getting ready to take a rep right here is a guy that says refinement in this area with his feet and with his hands is going to end up making the biggest difference in his game to go to the next level he has really been concentrating on not just being the brute force player but being a better technique player and he's very pleased with ways camp's going that way yeah he's done a great job and another thing that Jeffrey Simmons has really brought to this defense is a changed mentality he has been the guy that said listen we don't want to be good we want to be great we want to be excellent and that excellence is permeating through the entire defense it's not just staying with the line it's going everywhere racy mcmath rookie wide receiver sixth round pick from louisiana state 6 3 2 20 showing those quick feet racy figures to be a part of this football team this fall on special teams if he can continue to progress as a receiver racy mcmath is one of the guys who got a lot of attention early in camp because we didn't know what to expect out of a guy like him and he caught the attention not only of some of the members of the media but of guys like aj brown and the coaching staff they were surprised by what he was able to do so if he can just continue to progress and maintain that consistency sky's the limit for a player like every once in a while we're just going to revert back to darry canary because he's darry canary well and he's going to show it yeah i feel like we should hit a quota and that quota should probably be like 30 times that's exactly right if you're if you're doing a television program you need stars he's our star and that guy is a big time star right there you see a star right beside him as well and tony dues his running back coach who has the ability to be completely blunt with darryk which darryk says has made him a much better football player tony dues loves darry canary he loves all the backs but he does not handle him with kid gloves no tony dues just is a fun person to watch out of practice he's moving all around he's running he's jumping he's an enthusiastic guy but you're absolutely right darryk canary wants to know exactly how he can improve his game he takes it very seriously so you don't mess around with 22 you tell him what he needs to know you coach him you train him he's receptive to that coaching and most of the time he makes the adjustment there's tony dues at work fourth year with the titan staff it's amazing how many of these staff members have been together on mike vrables coaching staff since the minute he got here and godly that consistency how helpful has that been to this team they're able to consistently be productive on the field because of that marcus johnson with a catch that's racy mcmath getting ready to see fred brown take a rep at the start of that drill we saw des Fitzpatrick take a rep rookie wide receiver fourth round pick out of louisville got some criticism from the head coach he was the first guy on the field tonight message received that's called being coachable mike keith you get a critique you adjust and then you hopefully have some success so proud of him for rising to that challenge mayor of murphries burrow kevin bierd discussing things with some other defensive backs as they go through the process of trying to make sure they're all on the same page before they go to tampa bierd has taken quite a leadership role actually the only returning starter in the secondary it's hard to believe it's also hard to believe he's in year six i know and but what a veteran presence i mean if there's a guy who's going to be a consistent person in any sort of position group you want to be a guy like kevin bierd who is so willing to bring guys under his wing we see him coaching on the field during practices you see him doing it right now he wants to help everybody be as successful as they can possibly be mike vrabel gets involved in every drill there you see him try to knock it away from mason kenzie he's working with those receivers knowing that they are rarely going to just run over the middle and catch a pass without somebody harassing them he's always trying to stress players in that way to make them uncomfortable to challenge them because that's the way he feels like they are better in game situations you want to talk about a fun guy to watch at practice mike vrabel is the most hands-on coach i've ever seen he's always involved in drills he is always making sure that guys are getting the most out of every rep they take and it's so fun to watch the way he moves around the field during a practice as they get ready to blow the whistle on the next period i think we're going to see some of their open field tackling drills which as you can tell from these players right now they're not wearing pads they're wearing what's called shells just to protect their shoulders so as they go to the open field tackling drill nobody's hitting anybody it's about angles it's about pursuit and this is something that they work every day whether they have pads on or not amy right the goal is not to destroy the person that's in front of you the goal is to be in the right place and make sure that you are taking the most efficient way to where you need to be making sure you get those angles making sure that you know exactly what you're supposed to be doing and going to the right spot veteran coach jim haslett working with his linebackers david long with an interception the other night in atlanta there you see money rice the rookie out of georgia third round pick he made some good plays you also see rachawn evans veteran linebacker from alabama who had a nice start to training camp and looks to do more in tampa over the next couple days he and jayon brown together have gone right into sink immediately just as they always are they are such a fun duo they have skill sets that are so complimentary by the way there's 49 and you see that's nick de zubnar who has just rejoined the team this afternoon de zubnar a special team standout last year i've been rumored a couple of other places as he was making some visits talking to some teams de zubnar is back with the titans now which is an exciting thing for those young linebackers because he is a great teacher and a great special teams player in his own right absolutely and having that veteran presence in a group that has some veterans but is also able to help on special teams and provide that presence there where you get a lot of young guys the versatility is just beyond helpful for this entire titans team got to look a moment ago at a guy who didn't play the other night but he's back and we're talking about herald landry derrick roberson got a lot of work at outside linebacker the other night titans have added a couple of defensive backs bradley mcdougal and clayton gathers today they waved punter james smith safety reggie floyd and tight end deon elder they waved injured safety marie smith and placed kevin peterson on the injured reserve titans must be down to 85 players by 3 p.m. tomorrow so i don't know exactly where they are at this time with that flurry of moves that just happened before we walked out here don't think they're going to have to do a whole lot to get to 85 no i don't think so but what's nice is that they will probably be made earlier in the day we can assume because the team is going to be traveling yes that's right so 85 by 3 o'clock tomorrow 80 by 3 o'clock on the 24th and then on august the 31st somebody's birthday you got to be down to 53 by 3 o'clock a lot of people have birthdays on august 31st it's a great day all right so that's going to do it for us we have been so pleased to be here with the titans fans at nissan stadium to show you as much as we possibly can they're going to team drills so now we have to cut the feed for amy wells i might be thanks to pinnacle for making this open practice happen thanks to you for watching this live look in and tighten up everybody