 We welcome you to the official Titans podcast presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. I'm Mike Keith with Amy Wells, Amy, great to have you again. Hey Mike, how are you? I'm super and I'm so thrilled to have this guy on the OTP. I love Tank Williams, former Titan Safety, draft pick in 2002, number 25 himself, Tank Williams, welcome to the official Titans podcast. Yeah, thanks for having me. I mean, I expected to be on this podcast maybe two or three years ago. So finally, I made it. Farm Bureau Health Plans is now our sponsor and now we've got Tank Williams. So we've got it completed now. It's taken us two years to get two important things done, but I'm glad it's happening. Now you're in California. Yeah, yeah, California. I've been sheltering in place for about a month and a half now. So spending most of my time doing home workouts, peloton, going on long walks is trying to keep my distance. But everything's well, family's good, so no complaints. You look great. When you played for the Titans, you weighed 225-ish. What about now? I was listed in the books at 225-ish, but I was more like 235-ish. That's what I thought. Right now I'm in like the 215 range since I'm living out here in California. I try to eat clean, work out regularly. So if I can keep that weight off, that's half the battle. So I do what I can. I do what I can. Now you're doing lots of things, but one of the things that you're doing is you're working for Yahoo Sports. Tell the OT people exactly what you're doing for Yahoo. So when I first started off with Yahoo Sports, it was just as a fantasy football analyst in 2015. And then my job description has just progressed over the years to where now I cover fantasy, NFL, and college football. And so I'm prepping just like everyone else for the draft. It's coming Thursday, so excited to see these picks roll off. I mean, this is a strange time. I mean, it's going to be a draft that none of us has ever seen before with everything happening remotely, but looking forward to it nonetheless. Now, how did you make that transition from being the fantasy football analyst to now being a draft analyst? With fantasy football, you have to be in tune with the entire roster, regardless of just focusing on maybe like the top one or two on the depth chart. And so just having that knowledge and also covering college football for Yahoo Sports. So I'm covering all the premium games on Saturdays and stuff. So you just get to learn all those players. And so then it kind of lends itself to draft comes because you are already knowledgeable about the rosters and what teams are trying to do. And then at the same time, you have this good understand that the players that are coming in and you just trying to put all the pieces together. So that's the fun part about it. So who taught you how to analyze these players almost like you're a scout? I think it's just from playing the game. I mean, you know, you get drafted and you get to see some of the players that you play with, whether it's like Keith Bullock or Samara Roll or Steve McNair, Eddie George, and then it's just having these data points of good players that you play with and then seeing some of those traits and other guys and saying, like, OK, yeah, he could probably do some of the same things that this player did. And this scheme is pretty much the same. So therefore, I think he'll be a good fit for this particular defense, whether it's three, four, four, three, you just kind of go along the lines that way with regards to different teams. Tank, you were the 45th pick in the 2002 NFL draft, 6-2, 225, or at least that's how you were listed, 6-2, 225. Knowing your size and your skill set, move Tank Williams from 2002 to 2020. Where would you go in this draft with how the game is played today? And I look at Isaiah Simmons and I feel like he's the player that's built and molded, kind of similar to myself. Like when I describe Isaiah Simmons, I say he's probably a blend between Keith Bullock and myself because Bull was a little bit larger, but Isaiah runs like a cornerback. I mean, he's faster than what I timed. I timed in the low four fours, but he timed in at like a four, three something. I mean, so having that speed, that ability to play up close on the line, linebacker and also play safety to cover people in the slot. I mean, he's one of those versatile players that's perfect for the lead today because you have these running backs like Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamar that are so explosive about the backfield. And at the same time, you need somebody that can cover like a George Kill or John New Smith or something like that. So having that position, flexibility at a guy like that. I mean, it's premium in the league. And that's why you probably see a guy like Isaiah Simmons go really high on Thursday. Would you have been a linebacker? Would a team have made you a linebacker today rather than play you at safety? I think so. And one of the interesting nuggets, I can't remember what coach it was, but I remember when I came out in my drive class, whoever was a coach, I believe the Detroit Lions, he said that he wanted to draft me and move me to cornerback my first year because I was fast enough to play corner. And so just kind of refine my skill sets as a corner and then be able to move me all over the field because then I'd be comfortable playing in the slot at lineback and everything else. And I thought that was pretty unique. And as you see the way that the game is changing now, all these guys are they're not just position specific. They were to play all over the field like a Swiss Army. Like I feel like, you know, that's something I would have really appreciated doing back in those days. Now, you're good friends with Keith Bullock and we have had this conversation a lot, so I would like to hear your thoughts on it. Keith Bullock is convinced that if he were drafted in 2020, he would go higher than 30th overall. He is sure of it, that his type of game is better suited for the way football is played in 2020. Yeah. Do you agree with that? I think so because I feel like it's a more of a past centric league these days. And so I feel like skill set is similar to what Isaiah Simmons has. Like obviously Bullock can't run the way that Isaiah Simmons can. But the one thing that he always proud of himself on was being a playmaker and he was really smart, so he was always around the ball. And that's how the game is really transitions. Like I was more of like a bumper at safety. So I was going in trying to lay the big hits. But now the game is about creating turnovers, whether it's strip sacks, tip balls that lead to interceptions, pick sixes, getting the ball in the end zone on defense. That's what the game is predicated on. And that's why they call my man Mr. Money Knight, because he used to do that on the regular. You have said Isaiah Simmons' name now like 10 times. Is he the best football player in this draft, regardless of position? No, that goes to Chase Young. Chase Young is the best. Like Isaiah Simmons is like an athlete. He's a physical freak. I call him Rick James and Cleats. He's a super freak. But like Chase Young, man, and when you look at his stats, I mean, he was a productive guy like his three years in Ohio State. But what impressed me the most is that he had the most sacks the year after Nick Bosa leaves. And you would think that he would be more productive with Nick Bosa there. But then he was able to, you know, kind of build on top of what he did that season before and then just become even more of a monster this year. So the only reason he's not going first is because the Cincinnati bingles need a quarterback and Joe Burroughs that do otherwise Chase Young would be the first pick off the board. And talent wise, he probably should be. Wow. What is your favorite position on the defensive side of the ball to analyze? I mean, obviously, I'm a defensive back, so I like seeing the safeties. I like seeing what they're reading and how they're effective in the run and pass game. I love watching cornerbacks because I really wasn't that good at man to man coverage when I was coming into the league. I really learned how to play man coverage from watching some of our role in the film room. And so just watching these cornerback techniques, like seeing what they're seeing at the line of scrimmage and how seamlessly they can transition from zone and man coverage and coming up in the run and playing back deep. And so I've always found that intriguing. And then obviously I just love watching the edge rushes too. I was fortunate enough to play with Dwight Franey at the senior ball going into my rookie year and seeing that dude put spin move on people. And I was like, this dude is going to be special. And then to see how the game has transitioned now to whenever you can find a guy like Franey, he's going to be one of the first guys off the board, which is why Chase Young is going to go as high as he will this year. What is maybe the top one or two skills that a corner has to have to be successful in today's NFL? I think you have to be smart and I think you have to be fast. When you're in college, you always have this mindset that you're about to go to the NFL, you're about to go play against these big strong men. But I remember, you know, being a junior senior in college and John Lynch came back to Stanford because they always have the NFL guys come back and he was like, I could tell you one thing. Like it's important to be strong, but speed is the key to the game. And that's one thing that hasn't changed from 2002 to now 2020. If you can run and if you're a smart player that doesn't bust assignments where the coaches will depend on you being what you're supposed to be on every single play and then at the same time you're making plays. And there's going to be a place for you in the NFL for a long time. Is it more important for corners to tackle today than it was in 2002 or less important? I don't even know if they tackle today. I mean, I don't want to get as mad at me, but I mean, the way that tackling is going in the current NFL is just ridiculous. Like I almost call it the flag football league these days because you can't touch anyone and trust me, I understand I'm not hating because I believe the changes that they've made in the rules have made it to where people can have longer careers and that's better for the players, that's better for the teams, that's better for their families. But at the same time, I mean, the tackling is just atrocious. These guys act like they don't want to touch the guy on the other side of the ball. And yeah, it's just a sad estate right now. It's a sad state in the game where tackling is. But as you've seen, I mean, the teams that play defense nowadays are the teams that end up making it far in the playoffs. It's a game that's predicated on moving the ball on offense, creating matchups where it's in the middle of the field, on the outside of the field, but still defense wins championships. And we continue to see that on a regular basis once you get in the thick of the playoffs. Tank Williams, who are the corners that you really like in the 2020 NFL draft? Who jumps out to you? I mean, obviously, the first corner that's going to come off the board is Jeff Fakuda. I mean, he has the right size. He has the right speed, has the right university. I mean, whenever you hear a cornerback coming out of the Ohio State University, you just know he's going to be a hot pick. And he lives up to the bill. And I mean, he's a really smart player. He's confident. He has really good feet. He's smooth. He makes plays on the ball. And I think he's just going to be a perfect fit. I mean, I see him going to Detroit. I mean, it seems like that's the place where he's going to land. And they have to have a need for him. And he prides himself on trying to be similar to like these stuff on Gilmore type players where they're real cerebral with understanding not only the defense, but with the offense trying to do to them and making sure they're going to be in the best position to make plays. And I just feel like he's a really special player. And he has the right attitude, the right moxies to be successful at the next level. I know that the Titans are probably going to look for some corners late in the draft. Jeff Fakuda won't be there, trust me, but there may be some guys that can fit the Titans' needs as you get later on in the first round if they decide to stay there. All right. Before Amy asks her next question, I need to remind everybody you're watching the official Titans podcast and listening to the official Titans podcast brought to you by Farm Bureau Health Plans. Look to the folks at Farm Bureau Health Plans when you need someone who understands the X's and O's of health care coverage. They've been protecting Tennesseans since 1947. Good job, Mike. That sounded great. Thank you. Mike always sounds great. Mike always sounds great. All right, Tank, I want to ask you what are safeties of today asked to do that you were not asked to do? I would say that teams were a little bit more run heavy during my day where they played a little bit more 21 personnel, where you have two backs. So you have a running back, full back, a tight end, two wide receivers. So in those formations, you know, teams were a little bit more downhill, run centric. Whereas today, I mean, you know, the predominant formation that they use is 11 personnel where you have one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers or they just split out with four wide receivers. So the safeties have to be able to come down and play a little bit more coverage in the slot or have the speed and the range to play over the top. Like I was able to do that. I was a little bit unique where I was a big guy who could run like a corner. So I was able to do that. But at the same time, I feel like these safeties these days need to be able to play more like a nickel versus like being a big safety that's primarily on like tight ends and bigger people. Do you think that a safety will go in the first round on Thursday night? I actually have a mock draft where I do not have a safety going in the first round. I feel like they have some really good players at the safety position. At the same time, I feel like this is a really unique draft where the top of the draft or like the caliber players that you're accustomed to seeing coming off the board early. And then once you get to that middle range, I feel like teams that they can't trade back, they're going to pick some players who are really good. But I mean, it's just guys where they just kind of feel in need and no one that just kind of really jumps off the board like we've seen in prior drafts. And even though they have some teams that need safeties like the Cowboys and some of these other ones, I feel like they'll probably go for a player that's rated a little bit higher versus just picking need right there. At least that's what I would do. So that's why I don't have any safeties going in the first round, even though I do have one position that normally doesn't go in the first round these days at running back. I have at least one going in the first round. Who? Man, my favorite running back is the guy from Wisconsin, man. Jonathan Taylor. Jonathan Taylor. He's a beast. I said that he is Saquon Barkley on the rocks. So he's just slightly lower down. He's not as fast as Saquon. He didn't really show like the past catching ability at Wisconsin because they don't do that at Wisconsin, but he showed that he can do that at the combine to do it as fast, powerful, smart, has the right attitude. Moxie, I think that dude is really good. To me, he's the best all around back in the drive. Wow. So you like him better than DeAndre Swift from Georgia and J.K. Dobbins from Ohio State. I mean, that's just my personal preference. I mean, both of those guys are really good backs, really good athletes. And when I talk to J.K. Dobbins, I mean, he really hit the nail on the head. I mean, he doesn't have that prototypical size of what we see as a running back these days. But he miles himself out there, Christian McCaffrey, where it's a guy that may be built a little bit smaller, but at the same time can be effective in the run and pass game. And so McCaffrey showed that he can hold up to having a lot of touches. And so I feel like Dobbins and some of those other guys want to prove that they can as well. But the way the draft was falling to me into where I felt like a running back may come off the board and the team that I haven't gone to. I felt like, you know, John I have to tell it would probably be the best fit there. Interesting. OK, so you've said Chase Young is your number one defensive player. Is Joe Burrow your number one offensive player, regardless of position, or do you have somebody else? I mean, just because of the emphasis that we put on quarterbacks these days, because quarterbacks make your team, make your offense go. I feel like Joe Burrow is the best and safest play at the quarterback position in this draft. I mean, I understand that some people may call him a one year wonder. I mean, he really didn't get the opportunity to show what he could do at Ohio State, but what impressed me the most is that I'd opportunity to talk to him at the combine if he was able to kind of talk through the scenario of being a guy in high school who was a really good player, got to go to Ohio State. You don't just get no scholarships from Ohio State just being OK. Like I have to be pretty good yet not getting his time to shine there. Going to LSU having some doubts about the player that he was. So he had to like basically kind of relearn the fact that, hey, I'm a dude that can play ball at the college football level while at the same time earning the respect of the guys in the locker room. And then after doing that, making plays of them like, yo, I can take my game up to another level. And he was able to do that when the heisman, I mean, he reminds me so much and you hear it a lot already. But like of Tom Brady, just that chip that he has on the shoulder. But then also the way that he makes his reads, the way he maneuvered in the pocket, he reminds me of Brady. But at the same time, he's a way better athlete. And so given the fact that he's mobile, he's really accurate and just the drive and the determination that he plays with to be better each and every day. That's why I feel like he's the best offensive player in this class. Who's the player in this draft that's going to be the biggest surprise or who's your big sleeper? I don't know if my guys are big sleeper, but I know there's a lot of questions around who's the best wide receiver in this drive class. You hear a lot of talk about CD Lam, Jerry Judy, Rugs, T Higgins, some of these other guys. But I don't know if it's just bias based on the guys I played against during my playing day, but CD Lam reminds me of Marvin Harrison. Like he's not the biggest guy out there, but he's super fast, makes every route look the same, makes the difficult catches. He was able to put up big stats, even though teams were focusing in on him. Like everyone knew he was the guy who was going to get the ball he produced with Baker Mayfield, Callum Murray and Jalen Hurst with all those three quarterbacks provide different attributes for those various years. And so I feel like CD Lam to me is the best wide receiver in the draft. And I understand why some guys may have them right a little bit differently, but I expect them to be a productive player from the start. All right, Tank, we're taking it straight to the pros here. Who do you think the Tennessee Titans will take at number 29? Just yell it out. All right, so my mock draft, I have the Titans going with Ross Blacklock, a DT from TCU. And the reason I have them going with them is because we're not sure how the Jedeviar and Clowney thing is going to shake out right now. And when I'm kind of stack ranking those guys who can be like a past productive DN versus the cornerbacks, I feel like Blacklock is a high caliber player than some of the cornerbacks that are rated right there. And that they may be able to just pick one of those cornerbacks up a little bit later in the draft. And so I have Blacklock going at 29 to my Titans. So that's important, but let me hit the thing that's really important. I want you to give me a player in this draft who can make a play like Tank Williams did as a rookie on November 3rd, 2002, in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the old RCA Dumb, where if I remember correctly, I think he blindside blitzed a future Hall of Fame quarterback, sacked him, caused a fumble and his best friend scooped up the ball and ran at 61 yards for a touchdown. Can anybody do what you did to Peyton Manning your rookie year? Man, that's I have like several pitches from that play on my computer, too. So they're always fun to look back on. But I think one player that can do that and he has the position to do it. And his name is eerily similar to mine. Like I was calling him Claiborne Chase on for a while, even though it's Caleb on Chase on. But I mean, that man is a beast from LSU. I mean, he's an edge rusher who's built a little bit smaller, but he reminds me of another LSU Russia, the Neil Hunter that came out who was a little bit slight of Bill was a little bit underrated coming out. But then he just grew to become a monster up there in Minnesota. And so I feel like Caleb on Chase on could have like a similar impact for a team coming up in this year's draft. Tell me about that sack on Peyton Manning. Was that your signature play? Did you ever have a moment that topped that? Well, I picked off Peyton. Actually, my signature play for me personally was even though we lost the game, it was the AFC championship game my rookie year. And the Raiders were driving down into our end zone and I was able to lay a hit on Jerry Rice, like pretty much knocked him out. He fumbled the ball. Unfortunately, he was able to like recover it, too. I believe they went in and scored. But being able to hit my favorite player of all time and put a good lick on a lick that you can't do in the NFL these days. Pretty special memory to me. But when you're a rookie, that early part of your career, you're just trying to figure out like if you can make plays and if you belong, if you can have the same impact you could at the college level. And I believe that play in Indianapolis was like my first big splash play. While I was like, OK, I could play with these dudes. I made a play on one of the best players in the league right now. And I believe I started to gain a lot of confidence when that point moving forward. That's good stuff. And you think about this to me. I mean, it's been 18 years since you were drafted. And now you tell me that. It's OK. It's OK. I mean, it's been 18 years for me, two tanks. So but I mean, you think about this weekend and what it means, even though we're in the unusual circumstances that we are, the memories that this weekend will create the memories that you have from 2002 being taken in the second round, looking at it from where you are now with a 30,000 foot view of your own life and your own career and being a Titan. Tell us what it meant and what it means. I would say that draft day was probably one of the most special moments for me in my Titans career, because it's one of those things where I guess a lot of people, players like Dreamer playing in NFL from like being a young kid, like always had a great love for the game. My dad was a football coach. I was just never like always the one that was the best one on the team or anything like that. So I never just dreamed from a young A's out playing in the NFL. And so it was just grinding through junior high school, getting the cars, becoming a really good player and then understanding that, hey, I got a chance to get drafted and then just sitting like I had like my whole family at my primary residence where my parents live waiting for me to get drafted. And I was at my sister's house and it was just myself and my parents were in the other room. I remember just sitting in front of the TV and I got the call and then I'm just so happy. And then my mom buss in the room like, oh, you got draft. I'm like, so then getting off the phone with the Titans and being able to like celebrate with my intimate family first and then going and then celebrating with all my friends and family. I mean, it's one of those special memories. Like it's one of those things where a lot of plays and games kind of blend together. I don't remember like specific details, but that day, that moment getting drafted is one thing that will always stand out to me. And like, I can remember it clear as clear as yesterday. So good. Tell people how they can follow you on social media on Twitter at Tank Williams 13 on Instagram at Tank Williams 13 on pretty much everything you could find at Tank Williams 13. I'm trying to, you know, keep it seamless. You find me one place you could find me everywhere. 13 was your number at Stanford, right? Yeah. Ah, because every Titans fan knows you as Tank Williams 25. Yeah. Amy Wells, tell people how they can follow you on social media at Titans. Amy, I am I. And of course, remember the OTP is on and brought to you by our good friends at Farm Bureau Health Plans. And this has been a really special one for us to have one of our favorites, Tank Williams with us as we leave. Do you have a message for Keith Bullock, who is a regular guest on the OTP? I always like to give Bullock a hard time. I was just messing with him yesterday, actually. So I don't have a really special message for him. But one thing I will say, since he's a regular on the show, you need to have me back one time when Bullock is on the show. So we can. Yes. 100 percent. We had a radio show back in the day. I think it was on like maybe 94 hours or something like that. And we used to have some really good times on the radio. So we can relive one of those moments on the show. That'd be great. So let's make that happen. That's just my way of saying y'all need to have me back. We'll have you back. Will you tell stories from your trips through Europe with Bullock? Oh, yeah, we got a lot of stories, a lot of. Good stuff. Enjoy draft weekend, old friend. Thank you for being with us. Oh, yeah, thanks for having me. Always a pleasure for Tank Williams and Amy Wells. Mike Keats is thanks for joining us for the official Titans podcast presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. This has been the OTP.