NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Welcome to the weekend. 

The Titans have a closed walk-through Saturday and they are off Sunday before returning to regular practice action Sunday. 

So if you haven't listened of watched the pod, it's catch-up time: Here it is on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeart and YouTube.

I also sorted through the best of your questions to provide you with this mailbag.

Marty Clark Is Tannehill going to have protection from the O Line, or is he set up for failure?

Read More...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The heady, undrafted second-year underdog looks to be leading the athletic third-year third-rounder.

Ultimately the Titans want the most productive inside linebacker they can get next to Azeez Al-Shaair, whether it’s Jack Gibbens or Monty Rice.

But that Rice has played a good share of second teams snaps behind Gibbens is a bad sign for another high draft pick. The Titans took Rice 92^nd overall in 2021 when they had other needs, seemingly lining up the next guy in a line of succession extending from Avery Williamson through Jayon Brown to David Long.

It’s Gibbens, however, who’s in a more favorable spot.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The things Mike Vrabel and Shane Bowen recently said about Kristian Fulton seem to suggest some things about cornerback as he heads into his fourth year.

Might they believe he's not handled the multiplicity of the coverage well in the past in part because of focus issues? Do they think that aside from being injury-prone he's not been in good enough condition?  

That's where we start this week's podcast.

The new episode awaits you on Apple, Spotify, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeart and YouTube, which is below.

Other subjects I dive into:

💥 Are we over-projecting Chig Okonkwo's potential numbers?
💥 A potentially emergent receiver
💥 The Titans need to find a way to hold an off-site training camp practice that's open to all fans in the future.
💥 Would you take a medicine whose potential side effects included temporary inability to move or talk?

It's all Brought to you by Jasper's

The podcast is the front door to PaulKuharsky.com.

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By MIKE HERNDON, columnist

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It has been impossible not to notice Arden Key early in Titans' training camp.

When the free agent addition isn’t popping up in the backfield again… and again… and again, he’s – loudly – rooting on his defensive teammates and chirping at the offense. His energy level is intense and unrivaled among players on both the current Titans squad and any other version of the team that I’ve covered over the past six years.

Arden Key on the volume of people from #Atlanta. #Titans pic.twitter.com/zp0T6KJDdb

— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 1, 2023

Key brings an easy smile, a big personality, and a loud voice to a team that has sometimes lacked that type of presence. Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen talked on Tuesday about him being able to bring some teammates along, which can be an asset for a team over the grind of a 17-game season.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Five practices into training camp with two in pads felts like a good time to check in and have a chat about what's unfolding on the Titans' three practice fields at MetroCenter.

So we had a chat Tuesday evening and covered a wide range of topics, from Will Levis' progress, to what's going on at inside linebacker next to Azeez Al-Shaair, to who's standing out among the receivers after the obvious guys and what lesser names might be worth paying more attention to..

The team only has a closed walk-through Wednesday before resuming padded practices Thursday.

I always look forward to our conversations and this one was as good as ever.

If you missed it, I encourage you to head to the private Facebook page or below to the secret YouTube channel.

And if you want a text notification each time I hold a member chat, the link for that is also below.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The tight quarters of the red zone on Monday favored his quick release. 

Will Levis did well making quick reads and found success on a day where the Titans focused on plays inside the 20-yard line. 

The second-round quarterback followed that up with another strong performance Tuesday, as the Titans were unscripted, playing from a mini-playbook they were given the evening before and reacting to situations and play calls in the moment – a different sort of practice experience for a rookie.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The premise began with a recent mailbag question and sent me on an early training camp quest.

How many 5 year olds do you think it would take to tackle Derrick Henry?

— Matt (@WizardOfLoz) July 19, 2023

There are many variables at play here, of course. 

Is Henry at full speed? Is he angry or is he worried about hurting 5-year-olds? How eager are the 5-year-olds?

But as I asked around, I left these constraints to the people answering the question.

How many Mike Vrabel?

“A shit ton,” he said.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Welcome to the first mailbag of training camp on the first off day of training camp.

We've seen three practices but no pads yet -- some very solid work by Ryan Tannehill, the debut of DeAndre Hopkins, Derrick Henry in a Guardian cap, Arden Key making blockers look bad, the kickers hitting all but two field goals between them and much more.

Things will ramp up Monday, but first, let's hit some of your questions.

DeWayne Gee I keep telling myself that there is no way the offensive line could be as bad as last year. I’m starting to not believe myself. What are your thoughts?