WEBVTT - The OTP | Week 16 with Brian Callahan

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<v Speaker 1>This is the OTP presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans.

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<v Speaker 1>When it's game day for your health coverage, trust Farm

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<v Speaker 1>Bureau Health Plans to draw up a winning play for you.

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<v Speaker 1>They've been backing Tennesseeans for nearly eighty years. So please

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<v Speaker 1>to welcome Titans head coach Brian Callahan here to the

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<v Speaker 1>audio podcast studio at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.

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<v Speaker 2>Tough Monday, Yeah, just tough Monday, and you're calling what

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<v Speaker 2>it is?

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<v Speaker 1>Your press conference? What it is? Your press conference was

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<v Speaker 1>pretty tough. So just to touch on a couple of

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<v Speaker 1>things from that. At your press conference, you were not

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<v Speaker 1>willing to say who the starting quarterback will be at

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<v Speaker 1>Indianapolis this weekend. You said you take a couple of

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<v Speaker 1>days to decide. So between today and tomorrow, what are

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<v Speaker 1>some of the factors that will go into the decision

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<v Speaker 1>about picking the starting quarterback for Sunday's game?

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<v Speaker 2>You know, I think the first and foremost is what

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<v Speaker 2>gives us the best chance to win a game, because

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<v Speaker 2>that's all I really care about at this point is

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<v Speaker 2>try to put ourselves in the best position to go win.

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<v Speaker 2>And what that looks like, you know, what is it?

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<v Speaker 2>What does it mean for the team. You know what

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<v Speaker 2>what what that decision doesn't doesn't isn't just solely for

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<v Speaker 2>you know, one or two players. I mean that kind

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<v Speaker 2>of decision affects everybody. It's staff, that's coaching, that's players,

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<v Speaker 2>the whole the whole pot's affected by who is under center.

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<v Speaker 2>And so I'm gonna take We're gonna take a take

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<v Speaker 2>a deep breath and take a look at the game

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<v Speaker 2>one more time. Remove remove any emotion from it, because

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<v Speaker 2>obviously those things can be emotional in the moment, and

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<v Speaker 2>make sure that you know, whatever decision we make is

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<v Speaker 2>is the best one for a football team. It gives

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<v Speaker 2>us the best chance to win.

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<v Speaker 1>When you make the decision, Is that something you plan

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<v Speaker 1>to announce it your media availability at the start of

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<v Speaker 1>the practice week on Wednesday?

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<v Speaker 2>Not likely, not like that to announce that. Yeah, there's

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<v Speaker 2>not a real reason to for and for this particularly

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<v Speaker 2>and it doesn't really it gives it gives a little

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<v Speaker 2>bit at least competitive advantage away to announce that straight

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<v Speaker 2>away on a Wednesday morning. So I'll probably keep that

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<v Speaker 2>one close to the best for the remainder.

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<v Speaker 1>Of the week.

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<v Speaker 3>Fair enough, Yeah, all right, let's move on to some

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<v Speaker 3>easier topics here. Taja Spears. He got back on the

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<v Speaker 3>scene in a big way against the Cincinnati Bengals. He

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<v Speaker 3>had ninety two yards from scrimmage. He had two touchdowns.

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<v Speaker 3>Could you see that coming in practice last week?

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<v Speaker 2>Absolutely good? I thought Taja is really you know, he's

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<v Speaker 2>had it up and down year with some injuries and

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<v Speaker 2>been out of the lineup and nothing that was.

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<v Speaker 1>Any he was too serious, but just sort of took.

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<v Speaker 2>A momentum from him to some degree, and to see

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<v Speaker 2>the way he's practiced the last three weeks, and really

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<v Speaker 2>the way he's played in the last two games has

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<v Speaker 2>been a product of his practice consistency. He's been really

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<v Speaker 2>good in the practices over the weeks, and Tony Pollard

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<v Speaker 2>has missed significant practice time due to his injury, and

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<v Speaker 2>so he's gotten a lot of reps in opery. I

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<v Speaker 2>think you're seeing the effects of that. On Sunday. He's

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<v Speaker 2>kind of back to the Taj that I was hoping

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<v Speaker 2>to see a lot of. And he's had two really

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<v Speaker 2>good games. I thought, just doing things the way they're

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<v Speaker 2>supposed to be done and playing with a bunch of

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<v Speaker 2>effort and energy and making plays with the ball in

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<v Speaker 2>his hand and so that was good to see and

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<v Speaker 2>hopefully that continues in again just due to Tony's fighting

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<v Speaker 2>through some things too. We need him to play, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>a pretty significant role like he did yesterday and he

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<v Speaker 2>answered the bell.

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<v Speaker 3>So do you see him continuing to take the lion's

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<v Speaker 3>share of the snaps or do you think that is

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<v Speaker 3>the hope? I guess that he and Tony Pollard share

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<v Speaker 3>those a little bit more evenly over the last three

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<v Speaker 3>games of the Sea would like.

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<v Speaker 2>Them to share, you know, close to even. It's probably

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<v Speaker 2>not going to be totally even. Again, a lot of

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<v Speaker 2>that depends on how Tony feels and you know, and

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<v Speaker 2>then the game got a bit, you know that we

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<v Speaker 2>had to start to throw a little more and so

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<v Speaker 2>we let Taj take more of that just because you know,

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<v Speaker 2>Tony's been been pretty banged up. So I'd like to

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<v Speaker 2>see that be a little more even for both of them.

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<v Speaker 2>I think they both can help our offense, and they

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<v Speaker 2>both have really unique skin sets, and that's kind of

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<v Speaker 2>what I've envisioned all along. And then Tony comes in

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<v Speaker 2>and plays fantastic and he shows he can handle the

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<v Speaker 2>sort of lead back role, and then Taje' sort of

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<v Speaker 2>in and out with some injuries, and so there was

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<v Speaker 2>never any consistency to how I would hope initially it

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<v Speaker 2>was going to go. And you know, I said, and

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<v Speaker 2>it's been really hard to not give the ball to

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<v Speaker 2>Tony because he's all arguably been maybe our best offensive

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<v Speaker 2>player over the course of the season, at least consistency wise.

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<v Speaker 2>He shows up every week. So but yeah, I think

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<v Speaker 2>it's that we're best when those guys are both fresh

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<v Speaker 2>and rolling at a at a at a good rate.

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<v Speaker 2>So hopeful to kind of get that back to close

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<v Speaker 2>to even ish.

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<v Speaker 3>Let's switch gears a little bit and talk a little defense.

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<v Speaker 3>The Bengals converted ten of thirteen third downs on Sunday.

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<v Speaker 3>What has led to some of the defense's third down

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<v Speaker 3>difficulties lately?

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<v Speaker 2>You know, I think a lot of against Jacksonville, we

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<v Speaker 2>had quite a few you know, third and shorts, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>high percentage conversion down in distances, and that was just

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<v Speaker 2>they they sort of nickel and down and got themselves

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<v Speaker 2>in manageable spots and then converted.

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<v Speaker 4>Uh.

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<v Speaker 2>And then this week I think it was more just

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<v Speaker 2>you know, the Joe Burrow factor, him just extending He

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<v Speaker 2>extended a couple of those plays found some found some

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<v Speaker 2>lanes and bought some time for guys to get open.

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<v Speaker 2>So I think a couple of times there we were

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<v Speaker 2>we were covered well and then you know, he did

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<v Speaker 2>his thing and that's hard to count for sometimes, and

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<v Speaker 2>we had to do better job plastering on on receivers

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<v Speaker 2>as the play gets extended. But that was probably the

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<v Speaker 2>biggest issue this past week.

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<v Speaker 1>Luke Gifford went out and is now in concussion protocol.

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<v Speaker 1>James Williams went in for him at the linebackers spot

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<v Speaker 1>seven tackles. How did you evaluate his performance against the Bengals.

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<v Speaker 2>It was good, I think twofold. I think it's one

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<v Speaker 2>fair to I need I do need to probably acknowledge

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<v Speaker 2>how well Luga Gifford was playing in that game. I mean,

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<v Speaker 2>he was really playing. He's played last week and and

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<v Speaker 2>his his snaps this week. He was playing a brand

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<v Speaker 2>of football that that was a guy that was trying

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<v Speaker 2>to show he can play linebacker at this league. He's

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<v Speaker 2>not just a special teamer and he's been fantastic. So

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<v Speaker 2>it's a bummer that he got He got putting in

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<v Speaker 2>the protocol and then James came in. I thought early

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<v Speaker 2>you know, you see him settling, trying to settle in

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<v Speaker 2>some he was a little bit out of place on

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<v Speaker 2>a couple of things, and then you could see the

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<v Speaker 2>game kind of moving a little fast to start, and

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<v Speaker 2>then he settled in and I thought he'd finished the

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<v Speaker 2>game much much better than he started. So that was

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<v Speaker 2>good to see. I mean, that's his first significant snaps

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<v Speaker 2>at linebacker, and as a young player's rookie, to get

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<v Speaker 2>a chance to do that is great. And then you

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<v Speaker 2>hope as he gets you know, you get your sea

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<v Speaker 2>legs under you a bit, and you get used to

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<v Speaker 2>what it feels to actually play in the game, and

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<v Speaker 2>you start to improve. And I think that's what's happened

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<v Speaker 2>with a lot of our young players right now, is

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<v Speaker 2>the improvement due to being thrust into roles that maybe

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<v Speaker 2>weren't necessary anticipated to start.

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<v Speaker 1>James Williams safety at Miamia, Florida seventh round pick, converting

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<v Speaker 1>to linebacker. Is he about where you thought he would

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<v Speaker 1>be in that conversion right now?

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<v Speaker 2>I think he's maybe a literally bit ahead of that, even,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, just to see him be able to take

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<v Speaker 2>meaningful snaps at linebacker in a spot that is difficult

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<v Speaker 2>to transition. I mean, he look at him, it was

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<v Speaker 2>a massive safety. When you look at he's big. He's

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<v Speaker 2>a big dude. But I do think he's I think

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<v Speaker 2>he's come a long way, you know, I think he's

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<v Speaker 2>I think Frank Bush does a great job with those

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<v Speaker 2>linebackers in general, and to see him make that transition

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<v Speaker 2>and then continue to be more and more comfortable. He's

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<v Speaker 2>really grown on special teams and that's where it starts,

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<v Speaker 2>and he's started to make plays on special teams. He's

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<v Speaker 2>not just out there doing his job. He's actually making

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<v Speaker 2>plays on special teams. And to see him get some

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<v Speaker 2>meaningful defensive snaps, I mean, he just you can tell

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<v Speaker 2>he's got all the traits in the world to be

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<v Speaker 2>a good player and got a chance to see a

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<v Speaker 2>little bit of it last week.

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<v Speaker 3>All Right, we've let too much time pass without talking

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<v Speaker 3>about Devandre Sweat because the play of the game was

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<v Speaker 3>him taking that ball from Joe Burrow and running down

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<v Speaker 3>the field thirty yards. It was incredible. There were so

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<v Speaker 3>many things about that play that just make it so

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<v Speaker 3>much fun to watch. What stood out to you, Brian Callahan,

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<v Speaker 3>I mean.

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<v Speaker 2>The stiff farm was was pretty remarkable. That was and

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<v Speaker 2>then just you know, the athleticism for a man his

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<v Speaker 2>size is pretty impressive. I mean, he's he's a definition

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<v Speaker 2>of rumbling and bumbling and stumbling down the field. But

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<v Speaker 2>I thought that was just it was just great effort

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<v Speaker 2>on his part, the awareness to go get the ball,

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<v Speaker 2>as you know, Joe's kind of on top of a body,

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<v Speaker 2>so he wasn't down, and to go get the ball

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<v Speaker 2>out of his hands and then you know, get a

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<v Speaker 2>return and positive ard drive. It was awesome. I've not

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<v Speaker 2>seen guys do that very often, so that was cool.

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<v Speaker 2>But I think the coolest part for me is when

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<v Speaker 2>you watch what happens when he's on the sideline and

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<v Speaker 2>just how excited the team is and how much energy

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<v Speaker 2>they have. And that was a really awesome moment in

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<v Speaker 2>the early part of the game that I was like, Oh,

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<v Speaker 2>might this might be our day to day? Early in

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<v Speaker 2>that game with the way we had started it out, was.

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<v Speaker 3>There a player or coach who got the most excited

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<v Speaker 3>for him.

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<v Speaker 1>In that moment? Oh?

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<v Speaker 2>Man, I mean then people were going going wild on

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<v Speaker 2>the sideline, So I'd have to go back and look

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<v Speaker 2>at it again. But yeah, I can't. I can't have

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<v Speaker 2>top my head think of somebody. It was pretty much

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<v Speaker 2>pandemonium on the sideline. I had to get get out

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<v Speaker 2>of the way because I'm trying to get ready for

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<v Speaker 2>the next offensive play, and everything sort of converges like

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<v Speaker 2>right on top of me, and I sort of run

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<v Speaker 2>out the back and try to get away from all

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<v Speaker 2>the the melee inside of jumping around and slapping heads

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<v Speaker 2>and all that stuff.

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<v Speaker 3>So it was cool to see.

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<v Speaker 1>It was pretty fantastic. It was when we realized he

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<v Speaker 1>had the ball and he was running towards our broadcast position.

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<v Speaker 1>It was like, that's to Andre Sweat and he weighs

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<v Speaker 1>three hundred and sixties. Sure yeah, sure, yeah, he wastes

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<v Speaker 1>a lot and look at him go and look at

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<v Speaker 1>him go.

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<v Speaker 2>He was he was moving, he was moving. He looked

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<v Speaker 2>pretty natural with that ball in his hand.

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<v Speaker 1>He did he is he going to end up on

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<v Speaker 1>the goal line package at some point just.

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<v Speaker 2>Led Jeff Lee block for Big Sweat.

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<v Speaker 3>Oh, I'd take that.

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<v Speaker 1>So how good was Simmons block on the on the

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<v Speaker 1>Pollard touchdown?

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<v Speaker 4>Uh?

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<v Speaker 1>Is great?

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<v Speaker 2>I mean he did his job on I mean he

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<v Speaker 2>was in there for what three three goal on plays

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<v Speaker 2>and did his job on all of them. So credit

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<v Speaker 2>to him for going both ways there and playing a

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<v Speaker 2>little offense and and getting unloaded as a fullback. But

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<v Speaker 2>it's good to have him. I mean, he's a big

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<v Speaker 2>he's a big, strong dude, and and have him lee

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<v Speaker 2>block and probably open some holes is a good thing

0:10:02.400 --> 0:10:04.439
<v Speaker 2>for us on the in the low red zone.

0:10:05.360 --> 0:10:08.760
<v Speaker 3>Hey Titans fans, with a Kroger Boost membership, you'll score

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0:10:20.360 --> 0:10:23.800
<v Speaker 1>Tighten up Holme is at the forefront of all that

0:10:23.840 --> 0:10:27.040
<v Speaker 1>we do. It's why we're so committed to caring for

0:10:27.120 --> 0:10:29.880
<v Speaker 1>the places and spaces in which we work and live.

0:10:30.480 --> 0:10:35.520
<v Speaker 1>Ashley the official furniture provider of the Tennessee Titans. We

0:10:35.520 --> 0:10:38.240
<v Speaker 1>welcome you back for more of our conversation with Titans

0:10:38.280 --> 0:10:39.560
<v Speaker 1>head coach Brian Callahan.

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<v Speaker 3>Coach, what are the challenges of ending the season with

0:10:42.720 --> 0:10:44.760
<v Speaker 3>three straight AFC South opponents?

0:10:45.840 --> 0:10:48.559
<v Speaker 2>You know, it's an anytime you play divisional game, they

0:10:48.640 --> 0:10:52.160
<v Speaker 2>mean more accounts for more, regardless of what our record is,

0:10:52.200 --> 0:10:55.640
<v Speaker 2>regardless of what their records are. Their divisional football games

0:10:55.640 --> 0:10:58.040
<v Speaker 2>and you every year you want to be able to

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<v Speaker 2>win the games in your division. We've got one, we've

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<v Speaker 2>lost two, and we got three to play and we

0:11:04.840 --> 0:11:08.240
<v Speaker 2>have a chance to hopefully finish with a winning record

0:11:08.280 --> 0:11:10.000
<v Speaker 2>in our division. That would be great. That's the goal.

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<v Speaker 2>See if we can't win three divisional games and you

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<v Speaker 2>look back and you go, well, we played pretty well

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<v Speaker 2>in our division. And all you have to do in

0:11:16.280 --> 0:11:18.600
<v Speaker 2>this league is take care of your divisional games first

0:11:18.640 --> 0:11:21.439
<v Speaker 2>and to give yourself a chance, because you just to

0:11:21.480 --> 0:11:23.040
<v Speaker 2>get into the playoffs, you got to win your division.

0:11:23.080 --> 0:11:25.760
<v Speaker 2>And so you want to play well against these teams.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, obviously Jacksonville's out of it and he's still

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<v Speaker 2>fighting and Houston has already clinched the division. So that

0:11:31.040 --> 0:11:32.679
<v Speaker 2>is what it is. But they're important games and we

0:11:32.720 --> 0:11:33.520
<v Speaker 2>want to win them.

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<v Speaker 1>All right. So you did not see Anthony Richardson at

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<v Speaker 1>quarterback for the Colts on October thirteenth. You'll see him

0:11:40.000 --> 0:11:43.640
<v Speaker 1>this weekend. What's it like preparing for the second year

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<v Speaker 1>quarterback out of Florida.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, you see, you see his talent. You see why

0:11:46.960 --> 0:11:49.440
<v Speaker 2>he got selected where he was selected. He's got a

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<v Speaker 2>huge arm. He can really throw the ball, down the field,

0:11:51.800 --> 0:11:55.280
<v Speaker 2>and he's really a unique athlete. I mean he's with

0:11:55.360 --> 0:11:58.560
<v Speaker 2>the ball in his hand and him running the football,

0:11:58.600 --> 0:12:03.319
<v Speaker 2>and the challenges that pose is it's a whole different

0:12:03.320 --> 0:12:04.720
<v Speaker 2>style you have to get ready for, and you have

0:12:04.760 --> 0:12:07.200
<v Speaker 2>to play dispand branded football with the quarterback run game.

0:12:07.440 --> 0:12:09.720
<v Speaker 2>That's something that we've not been great at this year.

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<v Speaker 2>So we're gonna have to be on top of those

0:12:12.000 --> 0:12:14.400
<v Speaker 2>things in this game. And then you know, when you

0:12:14.440 --> 0:12:15.920
<v Speaker 2>get a chance to get him down, and you've got

0:12:15.920 --> 0:12:17.280
<v Speaker 2>to get him down, and you got to get him

0:12:17.280 --> 0:12:19.120
<v Speaker 2>on the ground because he can he can break runs

0:12:19.120 --> 0:12:20.840
<v Speaker 2>at any point, whether it's in the drop back pass

0:12:20.840 --> 0:12:23.640
<v Speaker 2>game or the quarterback league game. He's got the ability

0:12:23.720 --> 0:12:26.640
<v Speaker 2>to create explosive plays and you've got to respect that

0:12:26.679 --> 0:12:28.320
<v Speaker 2>part of it. And I know he's he's had his

0:12:28.400 --> 0:12:31.080
<v Speaker 2>ups and downs as a passer this year, but he's

0:12:31.160 --> 0:12:34.000
<v Speaker 2>very capable of winning football games. And he's got really

0:12:34.120 --> 0:12:35.680
<v Speaker 2>high end talent and so we got to be on

0:12:35.720 --> 0:12:37.840
<v Speaker 2>top of making sure that talent doesn't get a chance

0:12:37.880 --> 0:12:38.800
<v Speaker 2>to show itself.

0:12:38.800 --> 0:12:42.280
<v Speaker 3>On Sunday, running back Jonathan Taylor is back. Do the

0:12:42.320 --> 0:12:45.520
<v Speaker 3>Colts try to pair Taylor with Richardson a little bit

0:12:45.559 --> 0:12:47.440
<v Speaker 3>and make that their running back duo.

0:12:47.960 --> 0:12:49.680
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, they do a good job. I mean I think

0:12:49.760 --> 0:12:51.760
<v Speaker 2>I think Taylor had another one hundred yard game again

0:12:51.800 --> 0:12:54.240
<v Speaker 2>against a pretty pretty dang good defense in Denver. And

0:12:55.080 --> 0:12:57.199
<v Speaker 2>he's been a fantastic back in this league really ever

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<v Speaker 2>since he's stepped into it. So he's he's dangerous, he

0:13:00.240 --> 0:13:03.120
<v Speaker 2>can he can hit home runs, and he's big and physical.

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<v Speaker 2>So it's a challenge. And then you pair that, you

0:13:05.000 --> 0:13:09.040
<v Speaker 2>got to be ready and able and disciplined enough to

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<v Speaker 2>defend the quarterback run game with the with the red

0:13:11.120 --> 0:13:13.920
<v Speaker 2>zone and all those things. It's a it's a challenge.

0:13:13.920 --> 0:13:16.120
<v Speaker 2>They do a really good job packaging those things together

0:13:16.240 --> 0:13:19.800
<v Speaker 2>with those two players, and it makes defending the run

0:13:20.160 --> 0:13:20.760
<v Speaker 2>very challenging.

0:13:21.080 --> 0:13:25.040
<v Speaker 1>You will see another piece dropped in to the defense

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<v Speaker 1>into Forrest Buckner. What does he kind of add to

0:13:28.320 --> 0:13:28.719
<v Speaker 1>all that?

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<v Speaker 2>You know, I think he's the kind of the core

0:13:30.320 --> 0:13:32.040
<v Speaker 2>of their the core of their defense. You know, I

0:13:32.080 --> 0:13:35.000
<v Speaker 2>think he's got uh, he's a he's a he's he's

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<v Speaker 2>really hard to block in the past and pass protection,

0:13:38.120 --> 0:13:40.440
<v Speaker 2>he can disrupt in the run game. He's he's a

0:13:40.480 --> 0:13:43.320
<v Speaker 2>fantastic player. And you can see how much they miss

0:13:43.800 --> 0:13:45.520
<v Speaker 2>they have missed him, and I know how much of

0:13:45.559 --> 0:13:47.360
<v Speaker 2>an impact he has when he's in the lineup because

0:13:47.360 --> 0:13:50.800
<v Speaker 2>they're just a much better defense with him there. He's

0:13:50.800 --> 0:13:53.240
<v Speaker 2>just he's an impactful player. And anytime you have impact

0:13:53.320 --> 0:13:57.439
<v Speaker 2>volunteeriorty lineman, you know, that makes life hard for offenses.

0:13:57.440 --> 0:14:00.640
<v Speaker 2>And and he's one of those guys that really challenging

0:14:00.679 --> 0:14:02.400
<v Speaker 2>to go up against every time you play him because

0:14:02.400 --> 0:14:04.040
<v Speaker 2>he can make plays in the run game and the

0:14:04.040 --> 0:14:06.240
<v Speaker 2>pass game, and he's disruptive when he rushes the passer.

0:14:06.559 --> 0:14:09.920
<v Speaker 1>What's the challenge of going against a Gus Bradley defense.

0:14:10.679 --> 0:14:12.760
<v Speaker 2>You know, they're always very well coached. That's the one

0:14:12.800 --> 0:14:16.080
<v Speaker 2>thing about these defenses and going against Gus over the

0:14:16.120 --> 0:14:18.920
<v Speaker 2>years is they're they're very sound, they're well coached, and

0:14:19.240 --> 0:14:22.840
<v Speaker 2>Gus has a great feel for, you know, how to

0:14:22.920 --> 0:14:26.720
<v Speaker 2>deploy the scheme. You know, it's not an overly complicated scheme.

0:14:26.720 --> 0:14:29.600
<v Speaker 2>He's not exotic, but he's got just enough to keep

0:14:29.640 --> 0:14:32.360
<v Speaker 2>you off balanced. He he can he pops pressures in

0:14:32.360 --> 0:14:35.600
<v Speaker 2>in spots where maybe you don't expect it. He'll change up.

0:14:35.600 --> 0:14:37.200
<v Speaker 2>When you think you're going to get a particular look,

0:14:37.240 --> 0:14:39.760
<v Speaker 2>he changes it. He's very aware of what they do

0:14:39.800 --> 0:14:41.360
<v Speaker 2>and how they do it and what it presents to

0:14:41.400 --> 0:14:43.960
<v Speaker 2>the offense, and does a great job of mixing those

0:14:44.000 --> 0:14:46.080
<v Speaker 2>things together. So I've always had a ton of respect

0:14:46.080 --> 0:14:48.400
<v Speaker 2>for Gus. They've always been hard defenses to play against,

0:14:49.400 --> 0:14:53.240
<v Speaker 2>and they're always really well coached and disciplined in their approach.

0:14:53.280 --> 0:14:55.040
<v Speaker 2>There's not a whole lot of easy yards when you

0:14:55.040 --> 0:14:55.960
<v Speaker 2>play against Gus.

0:14:56.360 --> 0:14:59.200
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<v Speaker 4>touchdown celebrations this season.

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<v Speaker 5>Whether you're buying or selling football tickets, seat geek is

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<v Speaker 1>Bran Callian, thank you so much, we got it. Thank you,

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you for joining us for the o t p