Quotes From Day 1 at Titans Training Camp: Vince, Cj and Fisher

Vince Young

Asked how he feels about the upcoming season, Young stated “I feel excited. I’m very excited, you know 5th year for myself, as well as some other guys that came in with me; as well as some other veteran guys. Commenting on a lot of nice catches that were made by receivers on the first day of camp Young agreed that “oh yeah, oh yeah. It’s like we’re getting back into rhythm, caring OTAs out here to training camp. Like I say, you know, we still got a long way to go. It’s a warm day, a lot of guys had to run the test today [the running shuttle test that former Titan Albert Haynesworth has been in the news for failing in Washington] so a lot of legs was a little bit heavy. But get in the cold tub, you know, but rejuvenate your body back to where you need to.”

Speaking on his comfort with the offense, Young stated that “I feel like I’m very comfortable. Feeling more at home. Definitely know everybody’s job assignment and things like that. So that’s pretty much what I’m doing. I’m kind of like an extra coach, an extra voice for Coach Heimerdinger when someone runs the wrong route or if we have a blitz or something like that, our guys need to adjust a little bit quicker. I couldn’t even do that two and half years ago, or nothing like that, so that’s how much progress there’s been for myself.

Young says he sees “a lot of speed” when asked about Coach Fishers comments that he has the best group of skilled guys around him that he’s had. “A lot of determination” Young continued, “just seeing how Lavelle’s stepping up right now. Dominique [Edison] is doing a great job, Nate Washington is coming around more comfortable with the offense, and you know what [Justin] Gage can do already…so we’re looking pretty good on offense.

On Chris Johnson Young said, “we were doing great without him, in OTAs, in getting more chemistry, and getting better; and different things that we needed to pick up to help him out…he’ll be there, he’ll get it in a little while. He’s doing alright right now, but I know he’s going to do a great job once he get’s back into his rhythm, as well.

Commenting now on the leadership absences of Kyle Vanden Bosch, Keith Bulluck and Kevin Mawae Young stated “Yeah it’s different, you don’t hear Keith Bulluck yelling and make no noise, and things like that. That’s the different thing like myself, Stephen Tulloch, Courtland Fenigan; I’m mean guys like ourself that came in, it’s our 5th year. We picked up a lot of leadership role from them guys when they were here; from Vanden Bosch to Kevin Mawae.



Coach Fisher

Coach Fishers thoughts on Chris Johnson after seeing him in action for the first time since the last game of 2009 was that “He was good, he looked real good. He’s in shape. As for the first day of practice, “it went well” said Fisher. “It was hot. Regardless of what you do leading up to this time over the last 2 or 4 weeks and how hard you work, you still can’t simulate the work load on the practice field; and of course you add the heat to it. “

Coach Fisher emphasized letting the players get acclimated, saying “Were going to go once a day, have a walk through, um, put shoulder pads on for a couple of days with the ideal being we need to get them used to the heat.”

Coach Fisher said that Johnson and linebacker Stephen Tulloch didn’t need to get eased in because “we’ve got training camp numbers, so we’re going to get reps. We’re mindful of the reps, and mindful of the consistent plays…some of the defensive linemen are working, and they’re going to get 4 or 5 plays and then get out. With the rotations and things, we’re being considerate of everything. Fisher went on to say that Tulloch “looked fine, he from my understanding did fine on the shuttle test; he’s moving around. We’re not in pads, you know, and just still the first day.

Speaking of new veteran Tight End acquisition Shaw Ryan, who’s more of a run blocking specialist, especially in the redzone, than a receiver; Fisher stated that “he’s an experienced player, he’s played in a number of offenses, he’s a very very adequate blocker, and he’s physical on the line of scrimmage, and he’s smart and knows how to get open. So, he’ll be a good addition to our roster.

Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson was the guy all the press stood around waiting for. Having finished his shower and gotten dressed, he addressed how he felt about being back with the team after staying away from off-seasons workouts while joking for a new deal. “I’m glad to be outh here with my teammates, and to go out here and get a practice under my belt, and get back comfortable being in the huddle just running the ball and catching the ball, and things like that,” Johnson said. Johnson admitted that there was thought that he might not be here, having to hold out saying “of course there was a time, it was just a thing about sitting back, seeing what happened, seeing what me and the team were going through, and just sitting back and working out just being ready for whenever it was time to be in camp.

This time last year Johnson set a goal of 2,000 yards which he reached in his league Offensive MVP season, this year he’s setting his goal as “trying to break the record, Eric Dickersons record. I was close to doing that last year, so that gives me some motivation for what to do this year.”

He says he heard from and saw a couple of teammates during the off-season, saying “I kept in communication with them.” “We didn’t even talk about football when we saw each other, we were just all relaxing, enjoying our time off.

Responding to whether he is satisfied with his what he’ll be paid for this year CJ reticently pronounced “I wouldn’t say satisfied, but what can I do. I’m just here to play football.” Following up, about if the contract situation gives him more to prove his thoughts were that “of course it gives me more to prove. Every time I step out on the field I want to prove something, so, right now I’m just looking at it as a back having rushed for 2,000 yards twice, so that puts something on my shoulder I can look forward to.

Johnson said “Hopefull” that having another big year this year that it would lead to the big pay day from the Titans. Surprisingly he said that was not a promise or much apart of the negotiations over this off-season, that the Titans “just focused on this year and getting me on the field this year, and getting back and getting ready for the season this year; so, we didn’t talk about ahead of time and years down the road. We just really focused on this year. CJ that there are no hard feelings “I’m just happy to be back with my teammates.
He said there were no issues with his teammates over his time away and that “they just supported me, basically, and I just appreciate them for it.
Coach Fisher said in his interview after practice that Johnson got confused and ran his shuttle test close to practice; when CJ was asked about that he Read more! Read more: http://www.blogdoctor.me/2007/02/expandable-post-summaries.html#ixzz0fvTXmFSF

Jeff Fisher on Bulluck, CJ and Kiffin before Camp

On Friday Titan’s Coach Jeff Fisher held a pre-training camp press conference on the state of the team at the Titans Baptist Sports Park facility in Metro Center. A lot of the discussion revolved around who would be showing up for camp, who’s no longer a Titan and media controversies that the Titans have become involved in with other figures in the football world.



Camp was set to start on Saturday July 31, with players able to report on Friday; but not required to until Saturday. Many veterans reported early and also voluntarily got their conditioning test out of the way on Friday. Coach Fisher said that the conditioning test that the Titans run players through at the beginning of camp is “similar to the test that you’ve been hearing about the last few days,” referring to reporting of former Titan’s defensive linemen Albert Haynesworth having failed the Redskins condition test 2 days in a row, and being kept out of practice. “We do precisely that test. We do a 300 yard shuttle.”

As for rookies, the Titans got 4 of their 5 remaining rookies signed by Friday night, including coming to terms with receiver Damian Williams from Southern California, their second pick taken in the third round of the draft. Yet, as of Saturday morning defensive end Derrick Morgan of Georgia Tech, their first pick at No. 16 overall still had not signed.

Fisher reasoned that as other first-rounders signed and Williams sees where he is slotted, he’d be likely to sign soon. Coach Fisher expressed “concern” with the state of Williams hamstring, saying “he had a hamstring issue when he left.”
The biggest offseason worry though was to work things out with defending league offensive MVP Chris Johnson. “We got very creative, we had to move some things around,” Coach Fisher stated about coming to an agreement with Johnson. ''CJ's happy. We're happy. I'm expecting him to be in great shape, come in and really pick up where he left off. I have no reservations whatsoever about his conditioning level,'' Fisher said. Johnson had stayed away from Titans workouts all offseason, and was not saying if he would be in camp, until last week when terms were reached in principle.

The other veteran offseason holdout over shadowed by Chris Johnson’s long cast was starting linebacker Stephen Tulloch. When asked if Tulloch would be reporting for camp on time, Fisher matter-of-factly stated that he expect Tulloch would be there since he singed his free agent tender of $2.52 million dollars in June; and that he has no reason to think Tulloch will not participate in preseason games. Tulloch has stayed away from Nashville in protest, wanting a longer term, bigger dollar deal.

There were others who didn’t practice with the team during the offseason, but that was do to injuries. Tackles Tony Brown and Jason Jones didn't practice with the team during the offseason as they recovered from surgeries, nor did linebacker David Thornton with a shoulder injury requiring surgery.



Asked about Keith Bulluck, who recently signed a 1 year free agent deal with the New York Gaints, having stated in a local radio interview that he hadn’t heard from the Titans since February, and that phone calls to the Titans were not returned; Fisher said that account was “not accurate”. Fisher stated that “to my understanding there were some communications,” saying that he believes Bulluck made this decision “in his heart,” and arguing that “would he have been happy here” with the kind of deal that he got in New York. Bulluck suffered a torn ACL last December, dropping the aging former Pro Bowlers value, and making teams, including the Titans iffy on presenting Bulluck a big offer.

Keith Bulluck did not respond to questions about Coach Fishers words when I questioned him about the statements via his twitter Friday night.
To the other recent controversy in the media surrounding the Titans, that of USC’s Lane Kiffin poaching Fisher’s coaching staff, hiring away running backs coach Kennedy Pola without permission from the Titans: the Titans see that as unlawful interference with their contract with Pola, and filed a lawsuit against USC and Kiffin on Monday.

Fisher said that the notion that this lawsuit is regional revenge for Kiffin ditching the University of Tennessee, is “absurd”. When asked about Kiffin’s state that after he and Fisher had spoken on the phone that Fisher may have softened his stance or felt better about the situation, Fisher looked at the questioning reporter with a contorted face, and then dismissed that notion as well.

Fisher moved Craig Johnson from coaching quarterbacks to running backs Wednesday to replace Pola. Read more! Read more: http://www.blogdoctor.me/2007/02/expandable-post-summaries.html#ixzz0fvTXmFSF