1 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Titans Amy and Coach Mac Podcast, presented 2 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:16,479 Speaker 1: by Farm Bureau Health Plans. Need great healthcare coverage with 3 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,799 Speaker 1: an affordable price tag. Let Farm Bureau Health Plans coach 4 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:23,080 Speaker 1: you through it. They've been protecting Tennessee and for seventy 5 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,639 Speaker 1: five years. I'm Amy Wells. Thank you for listening to 6 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 1: the Titans Amy and Coach Mac Podcast. Coach Mac he's 7 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: here too, of course, Hi Mac. How are you Amy? 8 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: I'm doing great. I can't wait to do this Titans 9 00:00:34,360 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: Amy and Coach Mac before our next game. Last two 10 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: have been good. Let's keep it going. Absolutely. The Titans 11 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,199 Speaker 1: got the win over the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. 12 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: That makes them two and two this season. They are 13 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 1: one to know in the division, which is very important. 14 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: And now we're heading to Washington, DC, or you know 15 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: the surrounding areas of Washington DC, Metro DC. Is that 16 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: what you call it? Or actually is the stadium? It's 17 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,959 Speaker 1: in Maryland and over Merlin. Okay, we'll be there. I'm 18 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:03,960 Speaker 1: sure the bust will take us there. Yeah, as long 19 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: as somebody else's driving, I think we're okay. But we're 20 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: taking on the Washington Commanders. They're currently one and three 21 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: and we're gonna have to find the stadium. But once 22 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 1: we do, I think it's gonna be a fun game. 23 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: So let's look back at the Colts real quick, just 24 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 1: before we completely turned the page, NAC, what were a 25 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: couple of bright spots that really stuck out to you 26 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: about that game. First of all, I thought the defensive 27 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: front did a tremendous job against Jonathan Taylor, because to 28 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: be able to hold an elite back like that to 29 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:35,039 Speaker 1: as few yards on as many carries that was I mean, 30 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:36,960 Speaker 1: that was a big part of the game plan and 31 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:39,759 Speaker 1: they did a tremendous job of that. And within that, 32 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: I mean, Jeffrey Simmons is doing a lot of dirty 33 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,320 Speaker 1: work right now because he draws a lot of attention. 34 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: He's getting a lot of double teams, both run and pass, 35 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:49,920 Speaker 1: and he was really holding a spot. He and tier 36 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 1: Tart were doing a tremendous job of holding their gaps 37 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: getting a knockback. And then I think we'd both be 38 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 1: remiss if we didn't say how Dylan Cole and Jill 39 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: Schulbert did. And there's linebackers just I mean put in 40 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:05,000 Speaker 1: there out of really necessity and both of those guys 41 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: had an outstanding game and a continuous game, and what 42 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: they were really able to do they did a nice 43 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: job with their kid and diagnose on what was going on, 44 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: and they were able to get ahead of blocks. So 45 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 1: when inside linebackers can get ahead of blocks, then they 46 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: can start getting downhill and getting into the backfield. They 47 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: did that. What's an area too that the Titans maybe 48 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: need to improve upon before facing the Washington Commanders. Well, 49 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:29,080 Speaker 1: I think I think still in the secondary, you've got 50 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: to you've got to eliminate the explosive plays. We've had 51 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 1: some explosives, not not a lot, but some you know 52 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: in every ball game, and you never know, you know 53 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 1: when one's going to be the deciding factor. We need 54 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: to be able to take care of that. The other 55 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,080 Speaker 1: thing that I think that they need to continue to 56 00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: do is they need to continue to grind on the 57 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,679 Speaker 1: fact that they've got to get Derek Henry to his 58 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 1: fourth step. And we've all seen just visually how much 59 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: of a difference that makes, especially the last two weeks, 60 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 1: and it made a lot of difference up there in 61 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,880 Speaker 1: Lucas Owill, Who's a player that really stood out to 62 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:02,560 Speaker 1: you in that contest, Joel Schulbert and Dylan Cole. I'll 63 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 1: put those into a two headed jersey because what they were, 64 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: what they were asked to do was really significant for 65 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: this game because we went into the game and a 66 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: big part of the game plan was stopping that run, 67 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: and not only a few times, they did it every time. 68 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: And those guys, along with that defensive front, I thought, 69 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 1: did a tremendous job of getting that done. Of course, 70 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,600 Speaker 1: you know you and I. You and I've done spots 71 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,680 Speaker 1: on Denico Autry. We've done spots, but those two guys 72 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: I think are kind of the unsung heroes of what 73 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 1: went on in that game, just because of the short 74 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: amount of time they've had to get ready for it 75 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: and then the production they had. A player that really 76 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: stood out to me was Chiga Conquo. Obviously, he got 77 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: his first touchdown of his career, and luckily I had 78 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: a chance to talk to our friend Chega Conquo, Rookie 79 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: tight End. Here's that conversation. We're excited for you to 80 00:03:53,040 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: get to know him a little bit. So I've been 81 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: reading a lot about and something that comes up over 82 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: and over and over again is two words physical specimen 83 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: what do you think about that? That's a big thing 84 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: to call somebody physical specimen. God's blessed me with a 85 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,120 Speaker 1: lot of traits, so you know, get to put them 86 00:04:20,160 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: to use, and I guess, you know, people start making 87 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: them names like that. That's funny. I mean, that's funny. 88 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 1: I never heard that one, but yeah, I guess you know, 89 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: God's blessed me than being able to have that the 90 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: body type that you're supposed to have to be a 91 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:39,279 Speaker 1: tight end, Having the the athletic attributes that you have, 92 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: the athleticism, the strength, the speed, all of those things 93 00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: kind of makes you a no brainer for the tight 94 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 1: end position. Were there other positions you wanted to play? 95 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: Or is this pretty much it for you? Growing up? 96 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: Like growing up, I was actually like playing wide receiver, 97 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: and then like high school, I played kind of like 98 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 1: that tight end spot, but we had like an offense 99 00:04:57,920 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: where we always threw the ball, so I was kind 100 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 1: of really like still a wide receiver. So I actually 101 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:04,839 Speaker 1: came to college like two hundred ten pounds, you know, 102 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: and you know that's not a tight end. I got 103 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 1: a calle tune at ten pounds, you know, I put 104 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,799 Speaker 1: it on like, you know, forty pounds over four years, 105 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:13,920 Speaker 1: So I actually was never really you know that big dude. 106 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: It's always kind of, you know, the smaller tight end. 107 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:18,480 Speaker 1: I guess I am still today. But yeah, I put 108 00:05:18,520 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 1: in a lot of work, you know, to get to 109 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: that point. So I wasn't always like this. I always 110 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 1: had to you know, grind, you know the weight room, 111 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:25,760 Speaker 1: do extra stuff, you know, try to get big. Was 112 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:30,360 Speaker 1: that diet, was that exercise? Was that combination of the two? Okay, yeah, 113 00:05:30,400 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 1: a combination of both, you know. Just I would luckily me, 114 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 1: like luck at me, I could just eat whatever I 115 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 1: wanted because it's like they I always had to gain weight, 116 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: get a lot of weight, So I could always you know, 117 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: just want to go get a cheeseburger, go get some 118 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 1: piece of like I can. I could do that because 119 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: I didn't have to really ever watch my weight because 120 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: I was always going to be a gainer. So it 121 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 1: was pretty easy actually, you know, you just did the 122 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 1: workouts that your coaches gave you. Hey, whatever you want, 123 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: get big man, that's the dream, it is. Oh, that's 124 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: that's just great. You did have a little bit of 125 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 1: a setback though, Yeah, twenty twenty, you're not playing football 126 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:06,800 Speaker 1: at all my okardias. When you get news like that 127 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: that not only do you have a condition that doesn't 128 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:12,719 Speaker 1: come from an injury, doesn't come from anything that happened 129 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: football related. It's just one of those things, and you 130 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: may or may not be playing football within a year, 131 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 1: within two years. You don't really know. How do you 132 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:23,840 Speaker 1: respond to something like that. Yeah, it was really weird 133 00:06:23,880 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: at the time because you know, when I was going 134 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:28,359 Speaker 1: through the process, when I went to go to the 135 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: doctor before they even told me that I wasn't gonna 136 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:32,920 Speaker 1: be able to play, you know, that year, I kind 137 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 1: of felt it in my own body. I was like, 138 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: if I were to go out right now, because I 139 00:06:36,839 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: think at the time they were doing like spring football, 140 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: and I was like, at the time, if I were 141 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: to go out there right now, would I be able 142 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 1: to like do this? And in my mind, I was like, 143 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 1: there's no way I'd be able to do this, Like 144 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: there's no way I can play this season. So like 145 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: when they told me I couldn't play, it was kind 146 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 1: of like there's a confirmation of something that I already knew, 147 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:54,760 Speaker 1: like because I was just the way I felt when 148 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: my body wasn't I felt that my body wasn't ready 149 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 1: to compete in like a like a competitive setting. But yeah, 150 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 1: hearing that news man, it was humbling for me because 151 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:05,400 Speaker 1: I always thought like it was always gonna be there 152 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 1: for me. As I thought like my career was just starting, 153 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: like I was a junior, like I bet to step 154 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: into a big role. I'm like, man, I'm about to 155 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 1: be the man. You know, everything's going my way. You know, 156 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: I had a great offseason and then you know, boom, 157 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: COVID hits, get my alcarditis, and it's like, dang, will 158 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 1: ever play football again. It's like it's not even like 159 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: will I be able to come back, you know and 160 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: still be the same. It's like, will I even get 161 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 1: another opportunity to get out there, you know, my boys, 162 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: with my brothers and you know, get on that field. 163 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: So it was definitely a very humbling experience. It was 164 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: scary at first. So you know, I just kept my 165 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 1: faith in the Lord that he would always get me back. 166 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 1: You know, a lot of prayers, you know a lot 167 00:07:40,320 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: of times, you know, just sitting in my room just 168 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: you know, just keeping faith, you know, just talking to myself, 169 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 1: you know, keeping my spirits up, just knowing that I'd 170 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: always come back, you know, get back to the field 171 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: and you know, get back to being my whole self. 172 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,760 Speaker 1: What's harder to overcome the physical aspect of keeping yourself 173 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: in shape but not doing too much because you have 174 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: to be careful your heart is a very important part 175 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: of your body, or the mental aspect of knowing that 176 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: there could be something there all the time. Yeah, it's 177 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: only funny because with Marcardidis, they tell you that you 178 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: actually can't do anything, like I literally was not allowed 179 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: to do any type of physical exercise. Couldn't even do 180 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 1: yoga like anything that raised the heart rate. They told 181 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: me like, don't do it. But the mental aspect too. 182 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: When I got back, it was it was kind of 183 00:08:22,360 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: hard because you know when I got back, when I 184 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 1: was cleared, you know, when I got back to working 185 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: up with the team, whenever, like my heart would beat 186 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:29,440 Speaker 1: like really really fast, Like even though it just because 187 00:08:29,440 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: me being out of shape, I always be like, oh, 188 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: I like that was wrong with my heart. Was wrong 189 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:34,840 Speaker 1: with my heart, you know it always having that in 190 00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 1: the back of my head, like right after I came back, 191 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 1: always thinking like I would always sit there like this 192 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: like after workouts and just monitor my heart beat because 193 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 1: I'll just be scared, you know, obviously what happened before. 194 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: But even though like I was just out of shape, 195 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: you know, after I got back and I was good 196 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: and I'm fine out obviously, but I don't think that 197 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,880 Speaker 1: way anymore. But yeah, that's definitely mentally it was hard 198 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: to getting over that, probably more than physically. How do 199 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 1: you feel your time when you're used to doing physical 200 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: activity all the time and then you can't do anything. 201 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 1: A lot of anime, A lot of anime, a lot 202 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,439 Speaker 1: of a lot of games trying I try. I've already 203 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:07,640 Speaker 1: tried a lot of I tried a lot of new 204 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:10,160 Speaker 1: things when I was down bad, but a lot of anime, 205 00:09:10,160 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: a lot of games. There's a lot of the things 206 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:14,640 Speaker 1: that I enjoy, you know. And I actually took I 207 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 1: took like a bigger workload in the in the classroom 208 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 1: that year because I already knew I was gonna play, 209 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 1: so I was like, I'm gonna take an extra course 210 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,199 Speaker 1: so I can get it out early. You know, ended 211 00:09:22,240 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 1: up graduating earlier, too, So that was cool. You probably 212 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: had I mean incredible grades that year, right, yeah, that year? Yeah, 213 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: then if I were one of my best semesters, like 214 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: in terms of grades because you know, because I was 215 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,400 Speaker 1: actually wasn't even around the team at all, Like I 216 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: didn't I didn't want to go around the team because 217 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: I didn't want to like get COVID again because they're 218 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,760 Speaker 1: having that's when they they were having like COVID outbreaks 219 00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: like on the daily, and I was like, if I 220 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:43,600 Speaker 1: get COVID again and something happens and I have to 221 00:09:43,600 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: restart from square one, that would be bad. So I 222 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: was like, I'm gonna stay away from the team doing 223 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: my courses online. And then, yeah, how did you get 224 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 1: into anime? Man? It's not what I expected you to say. Now, 225 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: I'm curious. I'm a huge anime fan, really huge anime 226 00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: tattoos everywhere. I mean, yeah, I didn't even notice. All right, 227 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: tell me more, how did you get into this? How 228 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: I get into it? Man? I feel like it's like 229 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: how every kid started with it. Like we all started 230 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: watching like Dragon Ball Z on like Cartoon Network, and 231 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 1: then we're all like seeing like all the fighting like 232 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: Goku like going crazy, and we're like, man, this is awesome, 233 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 1: and you know, you know, you just whenever it's on. 234 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,760 Speaker 1: At the time, it was like Naruto back then, you know, 235 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: grew up watching that, and you know, grew watching that 236 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: like week by week, you know, till it finished like 237 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 1: fifteen years straight. You know, one piece, all all these 238 00:10:27,280 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 1: shows that have just been around since childhood. It's like 239 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: you're kind of just watching. Then you're like you get interested. 240 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: You're like, all, I want to know more about anim 241 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 1: There's you see that. There's like millions of shows out 242 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: there about like everything you can think of, and it's 243 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: just a fun world of entertainment. What is it about 244 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: it that attracts you? Is it the visual aspect of it? 245 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 1: Is it the storylines? Is it everything? It's a whole 246 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: world as everything. I mean when you really think about, 247 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:50,760 Speaker 1: like just thinking about TV shows, how TV shows can 248 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 1: be about anything. It's like animals could be about anything. 249 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 1: Like there's animals about fighting, there's animals about even cooking. 250 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: Those animals about gambling, animals about like everything you can 251 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: possibly think of, like any genre or like any topic, 252 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: Like they probably made an anime about it, and it's 253 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: just fun to watch. You know. So what are you 254 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: into right now? What's like the current flavor? There's just 255 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:14,400 Speaker 1: there's some may shows. But I mean one piece, you know, 256 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,440 Speaker 1: is is legendary right now. It just finished one of 257 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: its biggest arcs. So that's I'll say, one piece right now. Okay, 258 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 1: So I guess we have to come back to football 259 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: a little bit, although my brain is still very much 260 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:30,080 Speaker 1: with the anime thing. Here you are with the Tennessee Titans, 261 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: which seems ironic to me because you're the number two 262 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 1: guy in most receptions in a single season behind Frank 263 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: Waycheck Yeah, which is crazy. And then you're tight end 264 00:11:45,160 --> 00:11:48,600 Speaker 1: coming to a team that is notorious for tight ends 265 00:11:48,679 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: Johnny Smith Delaney Walker. Does it seem a little bit 266 00:11:51,679 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: like fate that you ended up here? Yeah? I mean 267 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 1: that is funny, like when they said the whole thing 268 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: was bin watch it because you know he obviously went 269 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:01,520 Speaker 1: to Maryland too, and you know, always sitting in the 270 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: Maryland room, like the Maryland tight end room they have 271 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: like are like tight end grates and it's like, um, 272 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 1: like Vernon Davis and it's like I always remember looking 273 00:12:08,480 --> 00:12:11,439 Speaker 1: at the name, like all my like four years Frank 274 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: which Frank Whicheck. I'm like, bro, who is Frank Whicheck. 275 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: And then because you know, obviously I'm young, and then 276 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:19,439 Speaker 1: now coming here and it's like you know, it's Frank Whicheck, 277 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:21,360 Speaker 1: and like it's just it was crazy because like you're 278 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 1: just thinking back like when I was eighteen, nineteen twenty 279 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 1: not even knowing I'm just looking at the name Frank 280 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: Whicheck and like not really knowing anything about him. And 281 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: then now it's like here is this is it really 282 00:12:30,679 --> 00:12:35,120 Speaker 1: when you're talking to John Robinson, Mike Rabel, especially before 283 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:37,320 Speaker 1: you were drafted, here was there ever a point where 284 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 1: you thought I could play for them, like this would 285 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,839 Speaker 1: be a good fit. Oh? Yeah, totally. I mean just 286 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: like the brand, the brand of football, like here, you know, 287 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: just how you know, tough, physical, our players are. I 288 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 1: feel like that's one of the main reasons why you know, 289 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: the King and got maybe seeing my film like or 290 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: my college film, you know, very tough, you know, physical guy. 291 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: So I think definitely fit the brand perfectly. And you know, 292 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: talking to them, you know, in the pre draft meetings, 293 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: I can tell like what kind of team, like the 294 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 1: Titans are, you know, and I'm like, now getting here, 295 00:13:05,640 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: you're feeling even how much more intensive than it really is. 296 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,040 Speaker 1: It's like, yeah, it's like everything they you know, they 297 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: told me everything was that was just to expect. So yeah, 298 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 1: ever since you arrived in Nashville, there's been a constant 299 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: buzz around your name and just what you've been able 300 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:24,360 Speaker 1: to do so far. Is it because of coaching where 301 00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,559 Speaker 1: you fit into the scheme well, or is it that 302 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: you like this atmosphere and so you're thriving. What is 303 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,360 Speaker 1: it about this place that is setting you up to succeed? 304 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: I say it's a culmination of everything. You know, tight 305 00:13:36,280 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: ends Obviously you know benefit a lot, you know from 306 00:13:39,280 --> 00:13:41,760 Speaker 1: having a good run game. Obviously you have the you know, 307 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: best back in the league, so you can know you 308 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,320 Speaker 1: can definitely benefit a lot of that. A lot of 309 00:13:45,360 --> 00:13:48,320 Speaker 1: times with play actions. You know, the linebackers come up, 310 00:13:48,960 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: you know we're run right behind them, free, you know, 311 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,400 Speaker 1: easy catches. So I never say it's the system, you know, Definitely, 312 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: Nashville is an amazing place, amazing city that's you know, 313 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 1: welcomed me. So, I mean my mental health is good. Know, 314 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: coaching is good. Coaching is great. It's very intense, but 315 00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:05,079 Speaker 1: you know they make sure you get better and that's 316 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:06,800 Speaker 1: that's what it's all about, you know, being a pro. 317 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: So it's a culmination of everything. Definitely helping me out 318 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: so far, has it really said in that you are 319 00:14:12,320 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: a professional football player in the National Football League. It's 320 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,480 Speaker 1: actually funny, you said, because I remember last night. I 321 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: remember just being my bed thinking I prime I was 322 00:14:19,920 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: thinking about but at the end of at the end 323 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:23,560 Speaker 1: of it, I was just like, this is pro football. 324 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: I don't know. I think it's like when I went 325 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: out to the first day that all the events got here, 326 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: you know, going out the parking lot and seeing all 327 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: the cars, I'm like, I'm like, dang, this is this 328 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 1: is crazy. Look at these dudes cars. But yeah, I 329 00:14:40,000 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 1: don't know if it still hasn't fully hit me yet. 330 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:43,640 Speaker 1: That's where's that sound, Because I've been doing it for 331 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: a while now. But I think, you know, when we 332 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 1: get to play the Giants first game, you know, in 333 00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: the get the real atmosphere, I think that's when it's 334 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: fully gonna really hit me. Maybe I'll never really hit you. 335 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:59,320 Speaker 1: Maybe it'll always feel like this weird dream. Yeah maybe, yeah, 336 00:14:59,400 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 1: nothing wrong with it. A guy like check Well, first 337 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 1: of all, since he's been here, I've seen him improved 338 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: because you know, coming into the National Football League for 339 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: any position is different, but especially that tight end position 340 00:15:17,640 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: because it's such a multifaceted position in the National Football League. 341 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:24,000 Speaker 1: Now you're not just a blocker, you're not just a 342 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: past receiver. You've got to do a lot of things. 343 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,680 Speaker 1: And plus learning the variations of being on the line, 344 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 1: off the line, movement, movement into the backfield. I think 345 00:15:32,800 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: he's done a tremendous job. You know, we both watched him. 346 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:37,600 Speaker 1: We watched him, you know, in the draft, and then 347 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: out here when he showed up here in May, you 348 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:42,040 Speaker 1: could tell that he's got some athletic ability. Ran the 349 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: fastest time at the forty for any tight ends in 350 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 1: this last draft that we had, and that's starting to 351 00:15:46,920 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: show out here. And that third down play that Todd 352 00:15:51,200 --> 00:15:54,520 Speaker 1: Downing put up was really really impressive where they put 353 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,240 Speaker 1: an offset back, put Derrek Henry at fullback, Chig was 354 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 1: the dot back, and then on a roll boot went 355 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: out in the flat completed take a knee game over 356 00:16:04,960 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: Titans win. He's from Maryland. We are going back to Maryland. 357 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: We now know we're going to be playing the game 358 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 1: in Maryland, so it should be a very exciting time 359 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: for him. Let's move on a little bit to Washington. 360 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: Let's stop a minute. How many tickets you think he's 361 00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: gonna have to get oh my gosh, a lot, a lot. Yeah, 362 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 1: a rookie that's going to play a lot in his 363 00:16:26,480 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 1: first year, and everybody's excited a lot. Well, when the 364 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 1: Titans played the Ravens in the preseason, the whole Maryland 365 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: football team came to see. Isn't that wild? That's a 366 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:40,560 Speaker 1: lot of tickets. That is wild. I don't think he 367 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 1: had to get them, but that's a lot of tickets. 368 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,440 Speaker 1: He'll be responsible for these, I'll bet. I mean, I 369 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,520 Speaker 1: always always find that interesting because people think that tickets 370 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: in the National Football League it's like in college, where 371 00:16:49,880 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: you just get them. Yeah, yeah, you get him if 372 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: you give them American money for him, Yeah yeah, you've 373 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: got to. You gotta pay for those, and I bet 374 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 1: people want they want them to be gifted to them. 375 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: I don't have to provide any tickets. Do you have 376 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:04,639 Speaker 1: to provide tickets? I've provided so many tickets in my career. 377 00:17:04,680 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 1: I mean I could I could have bought two Bugattis 378 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:09,640 Speaker 1: and have one in the garage and be driving one. 379 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: So many tickets I've bought in my thirty seven years. 380 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:16,040 Speaker 1: I don't know how much of Bugatti costs. It sounds expensive. 381 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,680 Speaker 1: It really does. Can we move on now, Yes? Okay, 382 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:23,520 Speaker 1: so I want to preview the matchup, of course, but 383 00:17:23,600 --> 00:17:27,359 Speaker 1: before we do that, there's another little matchup here that 384 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: we need to discuss because the head coach of the 385 00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:33,560 Speaker 1: Washington Commanders is Ron Rivera, and that is someone who 386 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: Mac you are extremely close to, You've known for a 387 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:39,959 Speaker 1: very long time. So give us a little origin story 388 00:17:40,160 --> 00:17:43,920 Speaker 1: of coach Ron Rivera. Well, Ron Rivera was a second 389 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: round pick of the Bears when I came there from 390 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: cal and the linebacking crew that I was in charge 391 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 1: of was they were three all pros. Mike Singletary clearly 392 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: a Hall of Famer in the middle, Wilbell Marshall Otis 393 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 1: Wilson on the outside. But Ron Rivera was the back 394 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 1: up for all three spots. He knew all three spots 395 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: extremely extremely smart. He was a personal protector on the 396 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,720 Speaker 1: punt team, and he was a guy immediately that you 397 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 1: knew that that eighty five eighty six Bears group was 398 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,399 Speaker 1: a pretty unique collection of characters, not only physical talent, 399 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: but some real characters. Ron Rivera was always kind of 400 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:20,760 Speaker 1: the voice of reason in that locker room, and he 401 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 1: really was, I mean He was a guy that was 402 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:24,600 Speaker 1: kind of you know, could could could keep a lid 403 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: on it a little bit, and the players really respected him. 404 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: But I really respected him for this. In any other situation, 405 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 1: the three backups that I had to those three guys 406 00:18:34,280 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 1: could have started anywhere in the league. That was before 407 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,879 Speaker 1: free agency, that was before salary cap. So they were there. 408 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:43,880 Speaker 1: But Ron Rivera embraced his role and he learned all 409 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: three of those spots, and so he proved to be 410 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 1: very invaluable. Mike Dickon loved him. He Mike dick absolutely 411 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: loved him. I mean, he was very instrumental and getting 412 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:54,520 Speaker 1: him drafted from cal when he came out in the 413 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: in the second round, and you just knew whatever Ron 414 00:18:57,840 --> 00:18:59,560 Speaker 1: Rivere wanted to do after he was through playing, he 415 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: was gonna be very successful. But he always had a 416 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:04,359 Speaker 1: kind of a leaning towards the coaching aspect of it, 417 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: you know, And when he got through plane he was 418 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: involved in really the community relations program and some broadcasting 419 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,159 Speaker 1: there with the Bears for a little while until he 420 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 1: flipped over to the coaching side. You know, on a 421 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: personal level, when I was head coach of the Bears 422 00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: for six hours, did nought for three in nineteen ninety 423 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: nine an interview. I was going to hire a Ron 424 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: as my linebacker coach because he had made the decision 425 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: that he wanted to go in and then, you know, 426 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: throughout his career, I mean we've we communicate, you know, 427 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,600 Speaker 1: quite a bit. But this guy is I mean, he's 428 00:19:34,080 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: everything that you would have wanted in a player. That's 429 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: why he's so successful as the head coach. He's got 430 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:42,000 Speaker 1: instant credibility when he comes into the room. He's not 431 00:19:42,040 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 1: the best athlete in his family, his wife, stephan he is. 432 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: She was a basketball player at cal So. She was 433 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:50,160 Speaker 1: the best athlete in the family. But just a wonderful 434 00:19:50,200 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 1: human being and a really good ball coach. Now, you 435 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: mentioned that he was able to kind of keep a 436 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 1: lid on everything and kind of handle the locker room. 437 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:00,679 Speaker 1: What is it about him that made him such a 438 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: strong leader. Well, he's smart to begin with. He's smart, 439 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: and guys knew that he knows what he's talking about. 440 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 1: And he is the complete opposite of a me guy. 441 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,959 Speaker 1: It's always about the team, and it's always about and 442 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: he could mediate a lot of things that were going 443 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:17,159 Speaker 1: on because when you have a team like that, that 444 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,680 Speaker 1: has that many huge, huge personalities. It can sometimes get 445 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 1: to be where it's a little edgy at times, he 446 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,159 Speaker 1: could kind of mediate all of it and everybody would say, oh, okay, 447 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,960 Speaker 1: you know, Rivera says this, and so we're good. I 448 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: always appreciated that in him, and he was always And 449 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:35,120 Speaker 1: the other thing about him was is some guys are 450 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 1: just intuitive enough to get a feel for what's going 451 00:20:37,720 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: on in the locker room before it ever goes on. 452 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 1: He was one of those dudes. When players decide that 453 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:46,959 Speaker 1: they might want to pursue coaching, sometimes there's a conversation 454 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: that's had with them because the player experience is so 455 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:53,399 Speaker 1: different than the coach experience. They're just very different worlds, 456 00:20:53,440 --> 00:20:56,520 Speaker 1: even though they work in concert together. Obviously, how did 457 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:58,560 Speaker 1: you know that he would be a good fit for 458 00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:01,439 Speaker 1: the coaching world because it's death definitely not for every 459 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 1: former player. Well, first of all, his wife was in 460 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 1: on it. She was she was for it, she was 461 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,320 Speaker 1: for it, And we had this conversation. I said, how 462 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:11,879 Speaker 1: how Staff feel, because that's important. You know, he's got 463 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:14,479 Speaker 1: two children. You know how staff feel about it? And 464 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: he said, you know, she's all in, she's all in 465 00:21:16,359 --> 00:21:18,200 Speaker 1: coach because she was an athlete and then she was 466 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:20,959 Speaker 1: a coach. She was a basketball coach, so she got it. 467 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 1: She got it. So that always makes that a little 468 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,959 Speaker 1: easier for a coach when your wife is fully vested 469 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:29,679 Speaker 1: and fully in. Plus, he was always asking questions, Amy 470 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 1: looking forward to what was going to happen after he retired. 471 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: He was always asking questions, and he was always I 472 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: mean he was. He was the guy that would sit 473 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,880 Speaker 1: and watch tape, you know, when everybody was gone. He's 474 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 1: the guy that would ask pretty intuitive questions about the 475 00:21:45,720 --> 00:21:48,240 Speaker 1: why of what was going on, not just particularly at 476 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: what we were playing or who we were playing, but 477 00:21:51,680 --> 00:21:55,000 Speaker 1: like in schemes in the league or trends in the league. 478 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,080 Speaker 1: Why you think this is going on? Mike? Why you 479 00:21:57,119 --> 00:21:59,439 Speaker 1: think this? So yeah, I mean he was, he was 480 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:02,840 Speaker 1: working towards that the whole time. He just needed a chance. 481 00:22:02,880 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: And since then, i mean, you know, he's been a 482 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:07,199 Speaker 1: coordinator in the league, he's been head coach at two places. 483 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:11,480 Speaker 1: I mean, the guy's legit. What is the maybe trademark 484 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:14,359 Speaker 1: of a Ron rivera team? I mean, what makes you 485 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:17,200 Speaker 1: look at a team and say, oh, yeah, that's Ron. 486 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:19,640 Speaker 1: Well he's a bear and so it's gonna be physical. 487 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: I mean, he's an old school Bear, so it's gonna 488 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,400 Speaker 1: be physical. He's gonna he's gonna run the football, and 489 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,479 Speaker 1: he's going to expect his defense to play regardless of 490 00:22:27,480 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 1: what the offense is doing. I mean, that's how he 491 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:32,239 Speaker 1: was raised with the Bears, That's how we were, and 492 00:22:32,320 --> 00:22:35,239 Speaker 1: that's exactly what all his teams have been. Now. You know, 493 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:38,479 Speaker 1: he's he's has been a four three coach, he's been 494 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:41,240 Speaker 1: a three four coach. He's very well schooled in the 495 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 1: forty six defense. I mean, but it's gonna be physical 496 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:47,040 Speaker 1: because if you're gonna play for Ron Rivera, if you're 497 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: gonna play for any of the of those of us 498 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:51,600 Speaker 1: that were with the Bears at that time, that's just 499 00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 1: in your blood. So do you have plans this week 500 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: as the Titans travel? Are you going to see him? 501 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,399 Speaker 1: Are you guys going to interact? Here's the plans. I 502 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: have beat the weeks off of them. That's my plan. 503 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,080 Speaker 1: That's it. Yeah, then we'll be friends afterwards. We'll be 504 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:08,720 Speaker 1: friends then. But I mean that's just the way this 505 00:23:08,800 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: league is. I've got a great affection for Ron Rivera, 506 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:13,600 Speaker 1: but for three hours and ten minutes. I want to 507 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:15,280 Speaker 1: beat the brakes off of him. I like that. I 508 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:17,439 Speaker 1: appreciate that. So let's talk about the football of it 509 00:23:17,520 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 1: a little bit. This Commander's team doesn't have the best record, 510 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: but I don't think the record reflects this team and 511 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:26,399 Speaker 1: what they're able to do. Tell me why, Well, first 512 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: of all, you've got to look at the way some 513 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: of their games have gone. They've fallen behind early. They 514 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: haven't been successful very much in the first half. Offensively, 515 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:36,200 Speaker 1: they've picked it up in the second half. They fought 516 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: the scores, gotten separated on them pretty early. They've They've 517 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,720 Speaker 1: had some injuries like everybody else has. Okay, he built 518 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,240 Speaker 1: his team. You asked me about Ron rivera team. He 519 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:48,879 Speaker 1: built his team on four first round draft picks. On 520 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:52,640 Speaker 1: the defensive front, he lost. He lost his water moccasin 521 00:23:52,760 --> 00:23:56,119 Speaker 1: outside and Chase Young early on. They're still able to 522 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:58,159 Speaker 1: do some of the things they want to do Defensively, 523 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,680 Speaker 1: their running game has not quite been what they wanted 524 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:02,280 Speaker 1: to be. They want to run the football. He's had 525 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:06,679 Speaker 1: some offensive line problems, an issue mainly protecting his quarterback. 526 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: He had three receivers that could really be a problem 527 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: in open space. Johan Dotson now is injured, the rookie 528 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,359 Speaker 1: from Penn State, but he's still got the two Ohio 529 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:18,000 Speaker 1: State guys you know out there. Scary Terry McLaurin is 530 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,919 Speaker 1: very scary speed, take the top off of it, you know, 531 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:26,040 Speaker 1: quite a bit. And then Samuel So's he's got what 532 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,400 Speaker 1: it takes to be able to put some points up, 533 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:31,359 Speaker 1: but I think he would like to get his offensive 534 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:33,960 Speaker 1: lyned a little more settled and still be able to 535 00:24:34,040 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 1: lean on the run game. Because Scott Turner, their offensive coordinator, 536 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: is the son of Ron Turner, who was a longtime 537 00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: coordinator in the league and the head coach, and more 538 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:46,679 Speaker 1: specifically was the coordinator for those Dallas Great teams and 539 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:49,439 Speaker 1: it was all you know, run play, action oriented with 540 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:51,399 Speaker 1: Aikman in that group, and so that's what they'd like 541 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 1: to do. Carson Wentz is the quarterback for the Commanders, 542 00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: and of course he's an experienced veteran player. We've seen 543 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 1: him in a couple different places. What's the keyest shopping 544 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:02,560 Speaker 1: him on Sunday, Well, you've got to put pressure on him, 545 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:04,480 Speaker 1: and you need to get pressure in his face quick 546 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: and really up the middle because pressure pressure has has 547 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:11,080 Speaker 1: bothered him. You know quite a bit when he first 548 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:12,679 Speaker 1: came into the league. I mean, you know, he was 549 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:15,280 Speaker 1: he was vetted along with Jared Golf. Either one's gonna 550 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:16,880 Speaker 1: be one or two. Pick I was at the Rams 551 00:25:16,920 --> 00:25:18,680 Speaker 1: at that time, so we vetted both of those guys. 552 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,840 Speaker 1: He's an exceptional athlete. He's very smart. But the issue, 553 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 1: the issue with him is he's such a good athlete 554 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:26,720 Speaker 1: that when he was at North Dakota State, he could 555 00:25:26,760 --> 00:25:30,720 Speaker 1: always he could always forfeit to his legs. Okay, Well, 556 00:25:30,760 --> 00:25:33,359 Speaker 1: he started trying to do that in the National Football League, 557 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:35,480 Speaker 1: and it catches up to you pretty quick because those 558 00:25:35,520 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: dudes chasing you are a lot faster and they're a 559 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:41,320 Speaker 1: lot more violent than what's what he faced. And so, 560 00:25:41,440 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: you know, he got injured. He got injured, and then 561 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:46,000 Speaker 1: then of course Nick Fole steps in and wins a 562 00:25:46,119 --> 00:25:49,000 Speaker 1: Super Bowl at Philly, and so I think that that's 563 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:52,159 Speaker 1: kind of started his leveling off and even his and 564 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:54,000 Speaker 1: when he went to Indy, it wasn't good for him 565 00:25:54,040 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: there at Indy, and so this is kind of a 566 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,159 Speaker 1: rebirth for him now. But you ask me what you 567 00:25:58,200 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 1: need to do. You gotta get pressure, you gotta get 568 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 1: prey on the inside. Of the cylinder on him as 569 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 1: soon as you can. And their offensive line, which you 570 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 1: said earlier, has experienced some struggles early in the season. 571 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: That's kind of a big part of that, right, right, 572 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:12,919 Speaker 1: But he's still he still can throw the ball down 573 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,200 Speaker 1: the field. I mean, they've got two receivers that's still 574 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,239 Speaker 1: you know, are the top ten in the league as 575 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:20,560 Speaker 1: explosive plays, which are plus twenty and so you just can't. 576 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:22,159 Speaker 1: You got to get him off his spot. It's what 577 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: you have to do. Get him off his spot early 578 00:26:24,840 --> 00:26:26,920 Speaker 1: on the defensive side of the ball. And we talked 579 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 1: about this a little bit. They're they're kind of stacked. 580 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 1: What is it that makes them so solid, maybe even 581 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:36,879 Speaker 1: beyond that front? Well, that's it. And Jack del Rio's 582 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:39,360 Speaker 1: their defensive coordinator. Been a head coach in the league 583 00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:41,359 Speaker 1: for a long time. I know Jack very well, and 584 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: he and Ron both they're very technique sound coaches. They 585 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:46,920 Speaker 1: don't like they don't like a lot of holly gully 586 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: stuff going on with their defenses. And when they set 587 00:26:49,600 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 1: a game plan, they expect everybody to be in lockstep 588 00:26:52,520 --> 00:26:55,200 Speaker 1: with what's going on. And when you watch them play 589 00:26:55,320 --> 00:26:57,760 Speaker 1: and you watch the tape, you can tell everybody kind 590 00:26:57,760 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 1: of fits where they're supposed to fit. Now, people are 591 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 1: want to get beat one on one in this league. 592 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:03,919 Speaker 1: That's just the way it is because you're playing against 593 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:07,280 Speaker 1: NFL teams, you're playing against NFL players. But as far 594 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:10,199 Speaker 1: as cohesiveness as to where they're supposed to be, you 595 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,760 Speaker 1: can see it throughout even the games they have not won, 596 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:16,159 Speaker 1: they're pretty cohesive on defense. What is the definition of 597 00:27:16,240 --> 00:27:20,360 Speaker 1: Holly Gulley rat ball? It's rat ball. You know, It's 598 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 1: like rats. Just you know, when when you open the door, 599 00:27:22,520 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: rats start scurrying around the room and take off run. 600 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: If you live in a house with rats in it, 601 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:28,639 Speaker 1: you know, well, this is what That's what. That's what 602 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:31,600 Speaker 1: rat ball Just rats going everywhere they want to. All right, well, 603 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:34,280 Speaker 1: I'm glad I asked that question. Yeah, you got it. Overall, 604 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:35,919 Speaker 1: what are some of the keys to getting this win 605 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 1: on Sunday? You got to get Derek Henry to his 606 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 1: fourth step like we have the last two weeks. That's 607 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 1: the genesis of all our success on offense, and we've 608 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: got to continue that. And it's going to be a task, 609 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:48,560 Speaker 1: you know, against this defensive front and against this discipline 610 00:27:48,600 --> 00:27:51,120 Speaker 1: defense that we've talked about. We've got to get that going. 611 00:27:51,320 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 1: The other thing that has to happen is Trailer and 612 00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 1: Burks is not playing. Somebody else has to step up, 613 00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:58,400 Speaker 1: you know, to to help out there. Because the play 614 00:27:58,440 --> 00:28:00,600 Speaker 1: action game the last two weeks has been really good, 615 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:03,320 Speaker 1: and it's been really good attacking quarters coverage. It's been 616 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:05,760 Speaker 1: really good attacking three deep coverage. But you've got to 617 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:08,680 Speaker 1: have the run game to get the draw that you need. 618 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,040 Speaker 1: We've got to be really good on special teams. This week. 619 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:13,080 Speaker 1: It's an outdoors game. I don't know how much wind 620 00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:15,080 Speaker 1: will have. You'll tell us down there on the sideline, 621 00:28:15,320 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 1: but you're going to have to be able to flip 622 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:20,439 Speaker 1: this field some because for a while this is going 623 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:23,720 Speaker 1: to be a slug fest because both teams believe in 624 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:27,919 Speaker 1: playing defense. So your special teams need to flip the field. 625 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:31,119 Speaker 1: And anytime you're kicking outdoors, those kickers they've got to 626 00:28:31,119 --> 00:28:32,960 Speaker 1: figure it out, and they got to figure that wind out, 627 00:28:32,960 --> 00:28:35,679 Speaker 1: you know, pretty quick. I don't know really how the 628 00:28:35,720 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 1: wind blows in FedEx Field. I've been there, played there before, 629 00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 1: but not recently, you know, and so that's going to 630 00:28:41,320 --> 00:28:43,400 Speaker 1: be something that's going to be very, very important to 631 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 1: look at. But we're going to have to have some 632 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:49,640 Speaker 1: people step up in some positions because you know, this 633 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 1: is still a hurt football team. This is this is 634 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:54,920 Speaker 1: going to be until we can get all of our 635 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:57,280 Speaker 1: dudes back amy. This is going to be a find 636 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 1: a way team. They've they've found a way the last 637 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:02,600 Speaker 1: two weeks. They've got to chisel out and find a way. 638 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 1: This week, on the other side of this game against 639 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: the Commanders is a bye week for this Titans team. 640 00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: How important is it going to be to go into 641 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 1: this bye week on a high note? When just you, 642 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:16,960 Speaker 1: I mean it just it helps everybody mentally, it helps 643 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:21,520 Speaker 1: everybody emotionally, it helps everybody physically. I mean, it's like oxygen. 644 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:24,200 Speaker 1: You've got to have it. And so that's and that's 645 00:29:24,200 --> 00:29:26,880 Speaker 1: not putting an extra pressure on the game. People know that. 646 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 1: But you know, just like just like a Thursday night game, 647 00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 1: you win, you got a mini buye. You know your 648 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:34,440 Speaker 1: bias coming up. You want to win because you know 649 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: what I know, we've both been doing a long time. 650 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: Our listeners know when you win, everything's better, Son's brighter, 651 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:45,680 Speaker 1: everything's nicer, food taste better, everything is better. So when 652 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 1: that's how important it is. I like that. I'm into it. Mac. 653 00:29:48,560 --> 00:29:50,640 Speaker 1: Do you have anything else or everything I missed, anything 654 00:29:50,640 --> 00:29:53,040 Speaker 1: I've forgotten? No, I mean you're always spot on. You 655 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:56,520 Speaker 1: you're spot on with your football questions. Well, thanks, Mac, 656 00:29:56,560 --> 00:29:58,480 Speaker 1: I appreciate it. The Titans are getting ready to take 657 00:29:58,480 --> 00:30:01,640 Speaker 1: on the Washington Commanders in Maryland, we learned earlier in 658 00:30:01,680 --> 00:30:04,200 Speaker 1: the show, and we're very excited about it. Kickoff for 659 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:08,239 Speaker 1: this game is noon Central time one Eastern time. If 660 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: you are heading out for the game, we hope to 661 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: see you there if you are coming. If not, please 662 00:30:12,200 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: tune in and we'll see you next time. Thanks for 663 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 1: joining us on the Titans Amy and Coach Mac podcast