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By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cam Ward and the offensive line looked good during the preseason. So good that it shows some hope and offers some life to this team.
Many more improvements need to be made, but the development of Ward, the young receivers and tight end will be key for this offensive unit.
On defense, Jeffrey Simmons is the one impact player they have and he needs to play like it in 2025. The other pieces are more complementary like Amani Hooker, L’Jarius Sneed, Cody Barton, Roger McCreary, Jarvis Brownlee and T’Vondre Sweat.
Sweat must be more than just a run-down defender. And the development of Femi Oladejo and Kevin Winston is very important for this unit. Also,
Best things I saw:
--Jeffrey Simmons looked quick and explosive, winning one-on-ones during his 14 snaps in the game. A good sign.
--Kalel Mullings runs with power and strength and will break tackles when he gets his shoulders square and attacks the second and third level defenders. He’s a positive-yard runner when he can get momentum off the snap.
--Ward can wrist spin the ball with ease at times, and gets away with throwing off his back foot because of the spin and
velocity he can generate. That positive can also create bad habits because he can’t rely on that consistently. Defensive backs will start to read him throwing off his back foot and use that as an indicator to break on balls.
--I liked the protection that the OL gave Ward, despite the sack, which was more of a perceived pressure by Ward -- when he stepped up, the pocket was blocked for him getting downfield by an offensive lineman trying to help out.
--Defensive tackle James Lynch had a pressure and hit on the quarterback that resulted in an interception. He also had another pressure that resulted in a hands-to-the-face by the offensive lineman. He is a disruptor when he plays.
--Wide receiver Van Jefferson made the decision to keep or cut him tougher for the Titans front office with a big touchdown catch and another first-down grab. PK thinks he’s not in any trouble.
--Edge rusher Femi Oladejo flashed as a pass rusher with power rush moves, and got a push because of his explosion off the snap and getting into his blocker quickly, using his arms to extend and create that momentum and pushing the blocker into the pocket. The improved “get off” on the snap is something he must do consistently.
Worst things I saw:
--Cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally jumped a route but was too slow to close on the ball and undercut the receiver and the result was a big-yardage gain. I like aggressiveness. But if a DB is going to jump a route he must get his hand on the ball.
--Center Brenden Jaimes got beat easily for a sack in a one-on-one pass pro.
Keep an eye on:
---With the depth at safety, the Titans will be cutting a good safety or two. Mike Brown and Julius Wood are special teams players who can play in the NFL.
I feel good about:
--Ward’s connection with Calvin Ridley. It is always a positive sign to have your signal caller trust your best offensive playmaker. That didn’t happen with Will Levis in 2024.
--Running back position has depth. Some development is still needed from Mullings, but it is solid overall when Tyjae Spears (ankle) is back healthy.
--Cedric Gray is continuing to grow as a three-down player
--I like the two young running backs at the end of the depth chart. Jordan Mims and Jermar Jefferson are both practice-squad type players.
I don’t feel good about:
--Ward continues to be inaccurate on short passes and screens at the line of scrimmage or in the flats, usually turning the receiver and slowing the route down. Those quick hitters must be accurate to give the receiver the ability to run after the catch.
--The overall talent on this roster.
--On offense: There were improvements that will help this team in 2025 with the offensive additions of left tackle Dan Moore, veteran slot Tyler Lockett and rookies Gunnar Helm, Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike. But the team didn’t bring in explosive or immediate playmakers. The players they brought in will be solid contributors, but not impactful.
--On defense, the maturation and development of inside linebackers James Williams and Cedric Gray look to be a plus and solidify that position, along with free agent signee Cody Barton. The team still lacks pass rush on the edge and at defensive line; this will force the corners to be much better in coverage.
Scouting Report:
Blake Hance, Backup OL, guard/tackle
Hance is 29 years old with five years in the league with eight different teams. He has good size and frame for both guard and tackle. Shows good initial quickness off the snap, getting into position quickly. At his best at guard, but shows the feet to slide laterally in a short area. Flashed redirection of his feet to pick up late blitzers. Has some tightness in his hips on reach blocks and tends to get tall once he is connected to his defender. Not a nasty finisher or top athlete but more of a fundamental and technique blocker. He has the skills to be a four-position backup and be active on game days, but you don’t want him starting 17 weeks. Not a starter type player. I have Hance as a make-it player.
Waiver Wire:
Much talk has been made about the Titans' first overall waiver claim. Being the worst team in the NFL in 2024 gives you that opportunity.
If the Titans select a player or players and subsequently must cut players from their 53-man roster, it says another team’s cast-offs are better than your 53 best players. At times, the grass-is-greener philosophy with a player sounds good, but as a front office you largely don’t know much about the newly acquired player.
Cutting someone off your roster requires passing on someone that you spent months teaching and developing during minicamp and training camp, with the hopes that a new player is better. Remember that the new player wasn’t good enough for the team that just cut him. What that says is your scouting staff/front office didn’t do a good enough job of creating competition among the 90 players brought to camp to give you 53 make-it NFL players.
When I studied each player before training camp I didn’t see 53 NFL players on this roster. On good NFL teams, there is usually a fight among 60 players to get to that 53.
Roster Position Battles
--The toughest roster battles will come down to wide receiver, safety, cornerback and running back.
--The positions that need outside help via the wavier wire will be defensive line, offensive line, edge rusher.
Looking ahead:
My 53-man roster breakdown:
Alert: I won’t have 53 because I don’t feel there are 53 NFL players on this roster, so the wavier claim is important.
QB (2/3): Cam Ward, Brandon Allen:
This season is about Ward and his development. If a good young player is released like Quinn Ewers, Riley Leonard, Will Howard or Sam Howell, I would claim him to eventually be the No. 2.
RB (4): Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Julius Chestnut, Kalel Mullings
Mullings hasn’t done much to make this team, but it is too early to cut a draft choice on a depleted roster. Four RBs will have to make the opening day roster because of Spears’ injury.
WR (7): Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett, Van Jefferson, Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Bryce Oliver, James Proche
I could cut Van Jefferson because I feel there is a younger version of him in Ayomanor and the young player needs to be on the field and play. Proche makes the team as a returner.
TE (3/4): Chig Okonkwo, Gunnar Helm, David Martin-Robinson
I cut Josh Whylie despite him being a fifth-round pick in 2023. He just isn’t good enough and doesn’t have a standout trait that warrants a roster spot.
OL (9/10): Dan Moore-LT, Peter Skoronski-LG, Lloyd Cushenberry-C, Kevin Zeitler-RG, JC Latham-RT, Corey Levin-C, Blake Hance-G/T, Jackson Slater-G, Oli Udoh-T
Jaelyn Duncan gets cut here, but he will find himself on another roster, he has too much talent but is behind Udoh and Hance. This is a fluid position and an upgrade on the waiver wire could be key.
DL (4/6): Jeffrey Simmons-DT/NT, T’Vondre Sweat-DT, Sebastian Joseph-Day-DE/DT, James Lynch-DT/DE. Right now the other two aren’t on the roster. I would keep Cam Horsley if a better player can’t be found.
ILB (3/4): Cody Barton, James Williams, Cedric Gray, fourth spot is open.
OLB (3/5): Arden Key, Dre’Mont Jones, Femi Oladejo
The team needs upgrades at a key position.
CB (6/6): L’Jarius Sneed, Jarvis Brownlee, Roger McCreary, Darrell Baker, Marcus Harris, Gabe Jeudy-Lally.
Sneed clogs up this group unless he can play in Week One. Jeudy-Lally is the odd man out if an upgrade can be found. Baker was too good in 2024 to give up on. But he only had 16 coverage snaps in the preseason this year.
S (5/5): Amani Hooker, Xavier Woods, Quandre Diggs, Kevin Winston, Mike Brown
Spec (3/3): Joey Slye-K, Johnny Hekker-P, Morgan Cox-LS
Stock
Positives: Jeffrey Simmons, James Lynch, Joey Slye, Cedric Gray, Roger McCreary,
Negatives: Brenden Jaimes (bad pass pro and gave up sack)
