NASHVILLE – The Titans continue to work in a virtual setting as we've now crossed over into the middle of May.
Titans coach Mike Vrabel said recently he doesn't expect to have players back until training camp, so the wait for normalcy in the NFL remains on hold.
Questions continue to roll into the Titans mailbag, however, so nothing has changed here.
Let's kick off another round of Q&As now….
Here's the link to ask questions: CLICK HERE.
Dawn Brewer from Ashland City, Tennessee
Question: What us going to happen to us, season ticket holders, that are not going to be allowed to the games???
Jim: Hi Dawn. Well, nothing has been decided on this topic. I think everyone would love to have fans at the games. If that doesn't happen, then I'd expect season ticket holders to have the option of either receiving a full refund, or applying the amount paid toward future ticket purchases. Here's hoping you'll be able to watch from Nissan Stadium and not your living room.
Tim Chowns from Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Question: Greetings Jim from all the Oxford Tomcats American Football team. What a great job you do for fans all over the world. Despite being a fan for over 30 years some things still baffle me. When the team announces they have agreed terms with Undrafted Free Agents what does that actually mean because many of them won't make the final cut? Here's to another great season. Good times to be a Titan Fan. Cheers mate.
Jim: Hey Tim. Good to hear from you, and thank you. As for announcing those guys have agreed to terms, it means they've been signed to compete during training camp for roster spots. True, many of them won't make it. But there's a chance some of them will. D-lineman Isaiah Mack made the team last year as an UDFA. Drew Bennett, Billy Volek and Ahmard Hall are just some of the former Titans who made the team as undrafted free agents, and Brett Kern, Adam Humphries and Wesley Woodyard also entered the league as undrafted free agents. The team has some talented undrafted free agents in this year's crop as well, underdogs ready to make good on their NFL dream.
Joe Garcia from Queretaro, Mexico
Question: Hi there Jim, saludos from Mexico! Hope you and your family are all doing well, just as everyone reading this mailbag. Keep up the hope folks! We'll get through this.
I have a question here. Why our mascot is a raccoon? I mean I love T-Rac and I think it's one of the NFL mascots with more spirit out there, but our team being "Titans" I'm kind of puzzled where do a racoon fits in the whole Greek mythology theme. In fact, and this is just a personal opinion, sometimes I think Titan wise there's not a so defined identity. We do have a great two-tone blue culture and I know we have the Titan sword even depicted in the uniforms, but I bet there's a great story behind the Fireball and specially about T-Rac. Can you solve this question that has been haunting me for years?
Jim: Hola Joe. Saludos from Nashville! This is easy one. The raccoon is the state animal of Tennessee. 🦝😊
Jeremy Bryan from Nashville, Tennessee
Question: I was wondering if the Titans had any interest in Cam Newton as a back up? What if Tannehill reverts to his Miami days and we don't have a back-up plan? Look forward to hearing your thoughts on this. Thank you and go Titans go.
Jim: Hey Jeremy. Well, you're at least the second person to inquire about Cam in the last week or so. I haven't asked anyone in-house about Cam specifically, so I'm just going with my gut here. And my answer remains: I wouldn't bet on this happening. Not only do I question if Cam is a good fit, I also think Cam's probably thinking he could find a better opportunity elsewhere. My thinking on the Titans QB situation as it stands right now: Behind Tannehill, Logan Woodside and Cole McDonald will get a chance to win the No.2 job. If the season is creeping closer and neither has established himself, then the team could go looking for a veteran at the position to back up Tannehill. Kind of doubting it would be Cam, though.
Dorinda Wilson from Dickson, Tennessee
Question: Is Daren Bates not a TITAN anymore???????????????
Jim: Hi Dorinda. As of right now, he's not under contract with the Titans, after his contract expired in March. He remains a free agent.
Blen Hinton from Columbia, Tennessee
Question: Hey Jim, I am looking at the Titans Schedule and trying to predict what our record will be. Here are my thoughts. We have seven games that I feel like the Titans should win. Those are Denver, Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Jacksonville. I see three really tough opponents: Minnesota, Baltimore, and Green Bay. Then I see 6 games that could go either way. Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Houston, Indianapolis x2, and Houston again. Now, the Titans are capable of beating every one of their opponents, but I am trying to be conservative. Every year they seem to win one that they shouldn't and they lose one that they shouldn't. I see them going 10-6 this year. I would not be surprised to see them do better than that, but I think 10-6 is very doable for this team. I would be interested to hear your thoughts. Thanks, and have a great day!
Jim: Hey Blen. Appreciate the email, and your opinion. I'll be honest: Since I joined the team, I don't do predictions any more. If I forecasted 13-3, I'd be called a homer. If I predicted 8-8, I'd have folks questioning how an in-house guy could be so doubtful. I'll just say this: I think the Titans have a chance to post a better record than last season, but they're going to need to stay healthy, and they're going to need to win close games.
Ken Walters from Quitman, Mississippi
Question: Hey Jim, I think the Titans are in good shape roster-wise. However I think we could use another big defensive lineman. What are your thoughts? Also, I expect Isaiah Mack to really establish a role on the defense. But still a nose tackle like lineman is still needed.
Jim: Hey Ken. Isaiah needs to step it up. He showed promise early in the year, but he was inactive the last six games. His mission heading into camp should first be to make the team. The Titans have some beef up front, from DaQuan Jones to Jeffery Simmons to free agent addition Jack Crawford to draft acquisition Larrell Murchison. Matt Dickerson and Joey Ivie also return, and I'm anxious to see some of the undrafted free agent d-linemen, especially DL Teair Tart from Florida International and NT Kobe Smith from South Carolina. Could someone else be added? Possibly. But I think the group has some talent.
David Stalder from Albuquerque, New Mexico
Question: Hey, Jim. Prediction: The Titans start the season 5-0, at least. With the virus and sub-sequentially truncated off-season, teams will struggle offensively, more than they normally do at the beginning of a season, where defenses normally have the edge until offenses get all their poop in a group. The Titans lost one offensive starter, albeit a great one, but JRob and the team knew how to mitigate the loss, thanks to retaining Dennis Kelly and the draft. Our outside run scheme doesn't have to retool, just improve...and Wilson is a beast. 5-0, at least, regardless how hard the schedule… They won't be able to keep Henry under 5 yrds per carry, their doom.
Jim: Well David, I know a lot of people who would be happy with this…
Jamie Brown from Smithville, Tennessee
Question: Hey, Jim what a weird off-season. I do have a question sort of but first. I don't question J-Rob he has done an outstanding job. I just don't understand exactly why we traded Casey. I did at first I thought we were clearing room to add someone to the roster (Clowney). That still hasn't happened yet for whatever reason and I keep seeing more and more teams supposedly in on him. Idk but if we do not eventually add Clowney then why did we trade Casey again???
Jim: Hi Jamie. It sounds like the mistake you made was reading too much into the Casey trade. I've said this in here several times: Jurrell wasn't traded to free up cap space to sign Clowney, or anyone else. It was a decision made by the GM and HC that took into account his big salary and cap hit, and projecting what the team thinks he'll do in the years to come. Sure, the team could still add Clowney. If it doesn't happen, however, it won't be because the team whiffed on Part 2 of a master plan.
Have a great week everyone and stay safe!
