Titans OTAs: Biggest takeaways from second open practice (2024)

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None of the players who were listed last week were on the field on Wednesday. DeAndre Hopkins and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine were new additions to the list.

For the veterans on this list, it’s likely they were just off doing their own thing, but we can’t say for certain. It’s important to remember that these practices are voluntary.

We know Sweat, Petit-Frere and Dowell are rehabbing injuries. It isn’t clear what Sweat or Duncan are dealing with, but NPF is likely rehabbing from last season’s shoulder injury and Dowell is working his way back from a torn ACL. Murray was working on a side field last week with an unknown issue.

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Chig went into detail about the difference he’s seen under head coach Brian Callahan when it comes to the atmosphere, both within the locker room and on the field.

“I feel guys are just more relaxed now with our building,” Chig said. “I feel like guys come in and they’re not as tense, not as stressed out and it allows people to be a lot more free in the locker room. I mean, we were always free in the locker room but there’s a lot more freedom on the field. I think we’re going to see a lot of that this year.”

When asked for an example, Chig obliged:

“I feel like just coming in and being yourself. Not feeling like you need to minimize yourself and what you’re doing. Just coming in and fully being you.”

When asked what he attributed all this to, this was his answer:

“It’s just different cultures. Right now, we’re seeing a new culture, the way we do things is a lot more on us players to get going. I feel like us having ownership of that has been a big thing to help us be more free.”

This is obviously going to be taken as a shot at head coach Mike Vrabel, whether Chig meant it to be or not. Vrabel was no doubt a player’s coach, but maybe not as much as we thought.

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Remember back at rookie minicamp when it was reported that Latham struggled at first with the sleds that offensive line coach Bill Callahan invented, something head coach Brian Callahan revealed all players go through?

Yeah, well, he’s already mastered them, and so much so that he’s actually teaching his teammates how to do the same.

Stories of Latham’s incredible work ethic have been prominent throughout the offseason and we’re seeing the results of that.

Of course, a lot can change, but Titans fans should feel really good about their franchise left tackle right now. He’s showing all the qualities needed to be a good player at the next level.

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According to Callahan, the Titans worked on third-down situations for the first time at OTAs.

“First time we’ve done that against each other, so that was really, really good work,” Callahan said, per Jim Wyatt. “Fun to watch.”

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For the second straight week, Calvin Ridley was a standout at practice, which should be no surprise because, well, he’s good.

From Wyatt:

I led off last week’s observations with Calvin Ridley and I’m doing it again today, because the receiver once again turned heads – while turning defenders around.

After catching a short pass from quarterback Will Levis, and with his back to linebacker James Williams, Ridley faked going to his right and then went left, and the juke allowed him to race into open space en route to the sideline. Spectators on the sideline could hear the reaction of offensive players watching behind the ball.

It’s going to be a lot of fun to watch Ridley in the two-tone blue this season.

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After practice, Ridley compared Burks to the receivers he was being compared to upon coming out of college, and the veteran called Burks “a freak.”

“This dude is a freak. Like, seriously, bro,”Ridley said. “He’s gonna be a stud… He’s like Julio, AJ Brown, he’s like (Terrell Owens). Dude that big, that fast, man? He’s a stud, man. You don’t have to worry about him. He’s just got to learn, slow the game down. He’s going to be alright.”

Burks no doubt has the tools to be those guys, but he just hasn’t shown it yet. Hopefully things will be different in 2024.

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Here’s some information on the quarterbacks, per Wyatt:

-Levis completed 5-of-8 passes in 7-on-7 periods, and he also tucked the ball and ran it on another play. His first pass of the day was a bullet that went off the hands of receiver Tyler Boyd, and the football hit cornerback Eric Garror on the helmet. His last pass was a nice sideline grab by receiver Mason Kinsey.

-Quarterback Mason Rudolph was a perfect 3-of-3 in his 7-on-7 work, with completions to running back Julius Chestnut and tight ends Nick Vannett and Thomas Odukoya.

-Quarterback Malik Willis was 2-of-3 on the day in 7-on-7, with completions to receiver Jha’Quan Jackson and running back Tyjae Spears.

(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

I know, I know, it’s just one play, but it has been awhile since we’ve seen him make one at practice.

Per Wyatt, Farley had a “nice breakup” on a pass from Willis that was going to Burks. Baby steps, right?

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The Titans’ next open session of OTAs is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4, which will be the first practice of mandatory minicamp.

That practice will also give us a better idea of whose absence at OTAs was a result of injury or simply sitting out.