NASHVILLE – New Titans head coach Brian Callahan held his first team meeting this week, and his message was clear – he wants his team to be relentless, and resilient.
Also, he wants guys to feel comfortable, and to be themselves.
The Titans began their offseason program on Monday, which Callahan referred to as "an orientation."
"We're trying to lay out expectations, guidelines, what we want our team to look like," Callahan said. "(The opening message) was two things: Two critical factors that we want our team to be when you turn our tape on is relentless and resilient, and they got that message the first day. It's a huge part of what I believe in. And, then the other part of it is, just some very simple things that we have expectation-wise. I don't do rules, I don't have a lot of things they need to abide by, but I want guys to be themselves. I want guys to be on time, and I want to protect our team. That is what I live by. So that's sort of the first opening message that they got. The opening message was certainly we want to be a relentless and resilient football team."
Callahan, formerly offensive coordinator with the Bengals, was named head coach back in January.
In the first few weeks on the job, Callahan hired his first coaching staff. Callahan has been busy in all facets since, making trips to the NFL Combine, the NFL owners meetings, and pro days, in addition to working with his new staff, gearing up for the start of the offseason program.
For the Titans, that started on Monday with Phase One.
Callahan said he's been pleased with the attendance right out of the gate.
"There's been great energy with all the players in the building," Callahan said. "I just felt the excitement. Any time there is change, you can handle it one of two ways: You can be disappointed by it, or you can be excited and ready to embrace whatever comes your way. I think these guys have done a great job embracing the newness of it all, and the excitement of what's to come, and I've appreciated that from them. I've felt really good about the start we've had this week."
The Titans are scheduled to hold a veteran minicamp from April 22-24.
The team's rookie minicamp, which will follow the NFL Draft, is scheduled for May 10-13.
The Titans will hold voluntary OTAs in May and June, along with a mandatory minicamp from June 4-6.
The offseason program will end in mid-June, and training camp will begin in late July.
"We are going to coach as hard as we can, as much as we can, for the time we are allotted," Callahan said. "And whoever is here is going to be here. But I have been very pleased with our attendance so far this week."
