NASHVILLE – The Titans took the field for their sixth open practice of training camp on Saturday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Here's a look at what stood out:
-The Titans practiced in pads for the third session in a row.
-The Titans receivers and defensive backs worked in 1-on-1 drills early, while the o-linemen and d-linemen worked in pass rush drills. The Titans then worked in a 16-play team period, and in a 7-on-7 period, before moving to a punt return period on special teams. The team then practiced for 10 plays in a short yardage period, working on 3rd and 1 plays with the running backs live. The Titans then practiced in a 10-play first down period that was unscripted. Practice ended with a 12-play team "Red Zone Lockout" period for the defense, and then a field goal period for special teams.
-I kept noticing receiver Calvin Ridley on Saturday. The veteran receiver keeps blowing past defensive backs at the line of scrimmage, getting into space in a hurry. I asked Ridley about his speed, as you'll see in the video below. Something else I noticed from Ridley: He was encouraging, and even coaching up, some of the team's young receivers. "Good route Sam!," Ridley was overheard saying when undrafted receiver Sam Schnee made a catch in 1-on-1s. Ridley seems motivated, and happy, in Tennessee.
-Titans head coach Brian Callahan gave an update on receiver DeAndre Hopkins before today's practice. Hopkins is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, per Callahan, because of a knee injury. I wrote a separate article on Hopkins: CLICK HERE.
-Quarterback Will Levis started out strong once again, hitting on his first four passes, and eight of his first nine. Levis hit some deep balls, and he threw some strikes across the middle. Levis, however, was picked off for the third time in training camp. I had Levis 6-of-9 in team periods, and 6-of-8 in 7-on-7, making him 12-of-17 for the day. I now have Levis 75-of-105 with three interceptions in 7-on-7 and team periods combined in camp.
-Levis connected with receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on a bomb during an early team period. NWI got past cornerback Tre Avery. Levis found Ridley open twice in the 7-on-7, and he just misfired on a deep ball to receiver Treylon Burks. Burks did make a nice diving catch earlier.
-Receiver Tyler Boyd caught a short pass from Levis and turned upfield, and it looked like he might've scored by outracing defensive backs Roger McCreary and Elijah Molden.
-It was Molden who picked off Levis, on a ball that was intended for Burks. Linebacker Jack Gibbens got his hand on the ball first, and Molden caught it on the deflection.
-I feel like I shouldn't go any further without mentioning rookie T'Vondre Sweat. The big defensive lineman was giving the o-linemen hell during the 1-on-1 pass rush period, and when the Titans moved to the team period, Sweat was in the face of Levis in a hurry, forcing him to throw the ball away. Sweat seems to be getting better every day.
-McCreary had a nice interception in the 1-on-1 period.
Check it out below for yourself:
-Tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, removed from the team's Physically Unable to Perform list on Friday, practiced on Saturday. Petit-Frere will need some time to work off rust. He was beaten off the snap by linebacker Harold Landry on one rush, but settled down and was ready for him a few snaps later. Petit-Frere got plenty of work, in a rotation with John Ojukwu and Jaelyn Duncan, as he starts his journey to win the starting job at right tackle.
-Edge Arden Key showed up in the backfield on a number of occasions on Saturday.
-Quarterback Mason Rudolph got some good work in a late period near the goal line, and his work included three touchdown passes. I had Rudolph at 6-of-9 in team periods, and 4-of-4 in the 7-on-7 work, making him 10-of-13 on the day. I now have Rudolph at 51-of-61 with one INT in the 7-on-7 and team drills in camp. I wasn't a math major, but I'm pretty sure that's a completion percentage of 83.6 percent.
-Hardly a day goes by when I don't notice Mason Kinsey for one reason or another. Kinsey is a scrappy receiver who gives relentless effort. If he irritates defensive backs in the process (one gave him a pretty good shove on Saturday), so be it. Kinsey got open with a beauty of a route in the 1-on-1s, and he also caught a pair of touchdowns from Rudolph in the period near the goal line. After one of the catches, he punted the ball high in the air in celebration. One thing is certain with Kinsey: He's going to show up competing every single day. It's why he's stuck around for so long.
-Tight end Chig Okonkwo also had a touchdown catch from Rudolph.
-Defensive back Shyheim Carter had a nice PBU on Saturday.
-Safety Keaton Ellis nearly intercepted quarterback Malik Willis in a team period.
-Willis was 5-of-7 in team work on the day, and 1-of-3 in 7-on-7, making him 6-of-10 for the day. I now have Willis at 39-of-58 in 7-on-7 and team work so far in camp.
-Receiver Jha'Quan Jackson was on the receiving end of a Willis touchdown pass.
-I noticed edge Rashad Weaver on a number of 1-on-1 snaps.
-Rookie linebacker James Williams is a physical player who showed up several times in Saturday's session.
-I've mentioned in here before how much tight end Thomas Odukoya has improved over the past few years. Odukoya drew praised from his head coach for a nice block on a Julius Chestnut run on Saturday.
-Tight end David Martin-Robinson has made some plays himself in camp. He had three catches on Saturday.
-In addition to Martin-Robinson, I also counted three catches each for Okonkwo and Kinsey in 7-on-7 and team drill combined.
-Running back Tony Pollard ran through would-be tacklers on several plays, including once near the goal line.
-Linebacker Chance Campbell had a nice breakup, and was also in the backfield for a would-be sack.
-Edge Arden Key did his best Mike Keith impersonation after the Campbell play, yelling "saaaaaaaaaaack!"
-Linebacker Garret Wallow has made a number of plays in camp, including another one on Saturday.
-Kicker Brayden Narveson made kicks from 23, 39 and 48, but he was off target on several others. I had him at 3-of-7 for the day, with misses from 42, 50, 55 and 55. He's now 9-of-13 in camp. Kicker Nick Folk is 10-of-11 on field goals so far in camp.
-In punt return, Kyle Philips, Eric Garror, Kearis Jackson and Kinsey worked at returner.
-In addition to Hopkins, Chidobe Awuzie (calf), safety Jamal Adams (rest), cornerback Anthony Kendall, guard Saahdiq Charles (personal), and receiver Tre'Shaun Harrison did not practice. I didn't see cornerback L'Jarius Sneed in the team period.
-A number of former Titans were at practice, including defensive lineman Karl Klug, offensive lineman Chris Spencer, receiver Chris Sanders and linebacker Patrick Bailey.
-Scouts from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Montreal Alouettes and BC Lions of the CFL attended today's practice.
-Receiver Colton Dowell began camp on the team's Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and did not practice.
-Current Titans season ticket members, prospective new Nissan Stadium season ticket members and Titans Alumni were among those who attended today's practice.
Next open practice: Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
