NASHVILLE – The Titans took the field for their fourth open practice of training camp on Tuesday at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park.
Here's a look at what stood out:
-In the team's first practice in pads, things got feisty.
Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons was involved in a pair of skirmishes, including one with rookie lineman JC Latham. In a game, Simmons would've been kicked out.
There were so many guys in the second tussle, which ended up in a dogpile, I'm not going to single anyone else out. Officials on hand pointed to Simmons, because of his back-to-back 15-yard penalties.
But Simmons was hardly the lone ranger.
The whole scene caused head coach Brian Callahan's blood to boil, and he eventually yelled: "Knock the #$&T! off and $#*<! practice."
Cooler heads eventually prevailed, and Callahan said he was OK with the feistiness.
"It's the first day in pads," Callahan said. "Guys are cranked up. We reined it back and had no problems after that. I don't anticipate it being an issue. … Fighting is not something we want to accept; it's not part of the rules of the game. I've explained that before and I'll explain that again.
"I don't mind guys setting the tone with the intensity ramped up. We've just got to understand that that we can play to the edge and we can still play within the rules. And fighting's a penalty. It's usually an ejection. It hurts our team. We can't have that. I think they're all aware of that. And that's essentially what the message was in that in that huddle."
-The Titans worked in three 16-play team periods on Tuesday, and also in a 16-play 7-on-7 period.
-Check out the catch by Titans receiver Calvin Ridley in the video below. Watching it live, I thought Ridley was out. Slowing it down, I think he got both feet in.
See for yourself:
-Even without defensive backs Chidobe Awuzie and L'Jarius Sneed, I thought the defense set the tone right out of the gate on 1-on-1s with WRs and DBs, although the offense did settle down and make some plays later.
-I saw big defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat really moving some folks in OL-DL drills, and he busted into the backfield to meet running back Tony Pollard on a run in team.
-Cornerback Caleb Farley hasn't been getting a whole lot of work in the defense, but he made a nice play defending DeAndre Hopkins in 1-on-1s and he broke up another pass in team drills. Farley and receiver Mason Kinsey got into a mini-scuffle in the second half of practice.
-Defensive back Matthew Jackson had a good day for the defense, intercepting a pair of passes, including one thrown by quarterback Will Levis in 7-on-7 work.
-Levis wasn't perfect on Tuesday. In addition to his INT, he also had trouble fielding at least one snap and he was forced to run when he couldn't find an open receiver (credit the defense on this). But he really ended the day strong, completing 7 of his last 8 passes in a team period. On the day, Levis was 10-of-11 in team drills, and 5-of-8 with the INT in 7-on 7 work, making him 15-of-19 on the day. I now have Levis 48-of-66 with two interceptions in 7-on-7 and team periods combined in camp.
-The biggest highlight-reel catch involving Levis was a deep ball to receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Some folks around me thought Harold Landry and Amani Hooker would've combined to sack Levis before the throw, but I counted it.
-Quarterback Mason Rudolph had another good day, and I owe him an apology – my cumulative camp numbers were off by a few completions in my prior roundup, because my math was off (Hey, it's why I was an English major). I've added his numbers correctly this time, and I'll have his tally at the end of his graph. Nonetheless, Rudolph has been good, even though he threw his first interception of training camp on Tuesday (Jackson got Rudolph, too). I had Rudolph 7-of-9 with the interception in team work on Tuesday, and 3-of-4 in the 7-on-7, making him 10-of-13 on the day. I now have Rudolph 33-of-38 with one INT in the 7-on-7 and team drills in camp. Not bad, huh?
-Rudolph connected with receiver Kearis Jackson for a big gain on one completion.
-Tight end Josh Whyle keeps showing up, and his head coach bragged on him after practice.
-Sticking with the quarterbacks, Malik Willis was 5-of-7 in team drills and 2-of-4 in 7-on-7 on Tuesday, making him 7-of-11 for the day. Willis is now 25-of-35 in 7-on-7 and team work so far in camp. Without question, Willis has been much improved in his third training camp with the squad.
-In what might have been the play of the day, Willis picked a snap off the ground and then chucked it downfield to receiver Bryce Oliver on a perfect strike, with defensive back Eric Garror chasing.
-Linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. got himself noticed on the first play of team drills, showing up with a big hit on Pollard.
-Edge rusher Arden Key showed up in a hurry on a run by running back Tyjae Spears.
-Defensive back Jarvis Brownlee Jr. is feisty, and I like it. Brownlee was good in coverage, and against the run, on Tuesday.
-I keep noticing edge rusher Shane Ray.
-Oh man did tight end Thomas Odukoya lower his shoulder and run through cornerback Robert Javier on the outside.
-Linebacker Chance Campbell forced a fumble by running back Julius Chestnut.
-Linebacker Jack Gibbens was around the ball often.
-Cornerback Roger McCreary had a nice breakup on a Levis ball intended for Hopkins on the sideline.
-Defensive back Elijah Molden broke up a Levis pass intended for tight end Chig Okonkwo.
-Receiver Jha'Quan Jackson showed some nice speed on a reverse.
-Kicker Brayden Narveson handled kicking duties, and he was a perfect 6-of-6 on field goals, with makes from 32, 36, 39, 40, 45 and 49 yards. Kicker Nick Folk is 6-of-7 on field goals so far in camp.
-Outside linebacker Harold Landry (illness) practiced for the first time in training camp, and he made some plays.
-In addition to Awuzie (calf) and Sneed (rest), safety Jamal Adams also did not practice on Tuesday. Callahan called it a maintenance day.
-Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk watched today's practice from her balcony at the facility.
-Tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere and receiver Colton Dowell began camp on the team's Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and did not practice.
-Titans Kids Club members attended today's practice, and probably learned a few new words 😳.
Next open practice: Wednesday, 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
