Start of Week Three of Titans’ Camp

The Titans started week 3 of camp with a lighter practice than what’s been seen in the last few previous, hard-hitting, full contact practices. On Monday the team was out in just helmets, jerseys and shorts at Baptist Sports Park.



Coming off the 20 to 18 loss to the Seahawks in Seattle this past weekend, Coach Fisher described the first practice day after the first game.

There are battles at a number of positions that where highlighted in Saturday nights game. In light of one of the front runners for the cornerback spot opposite Cortland Finnegan, Ryan Mouton getting beat by Michael Williams for a 51 yard catch and run, Coach Fisher commented on his resilience saying “he’s bounced back off things last year, and he does on the practice field, and you have to do that at the corner spot. You have to have a very very short-term memory out there, cause you’ve gotta bounce back the next play, and make a play. That’s what Ryan did, I mean, he came back, and hung in there, and played hard; and played well up until he gave up the play. He came back and made a big play…” referring to Mouton recovering to make an interception of a Charlie Whitehurst throwlater in the second quarter.

Fisher said the “corners graded out pretty well for the most part,” having gone without Finnegan due to a hip flexor. If it was a regular season game, Finnegan could have gone, but was not considered worth it for the preseason. Other injuries that kept players out where defensive end William Hayes and safety Vincent with knee injuries; linebacker Stanford Keglar’s hamstring, defensive end Jacob Ford’s hip flexor and defensive end Derrick Morgan with a calf strain.



Another heated completion is for the defensive end spot. With the two aforementioned defensive ends out for Saturday’s games, other guys like Jason Badin got even more reps. Babin talked Monday about tough defensive line coach Jim Washburn saying “Washburn makes a point, to uh, if you don’t get it, we’re going to do it again…we’re going to do it until we get it right.” Coming over from playing for the Eagles last year, He might have not been ready for the fiery coach, stating with widened eyes “my initial reaction when I first got here was, wow; but uh, you know, he wants everybody to do well. He might yell at you, he might talk bad to you, he might say things, and you might say things back to him; but at the end of the day he wants you to succeed. That’s the bottom line.”

Babin previously played for Seattle in 2007 and 2008, and commented on getting a sack in the first preseason game, saying “ah, yeah, it definitely felt good; especially against Seattle. I was there for two years, and that felt good.
There’s a lot of rotation taking place this year with the Titans defensive scheme. In Babin’s estimation “there’s talent all across the board here. There’s no question about that.”

After leading the Titans to a first drive score, Vince Young threw an interception on a flat footed throw that was late and behind; but overall looked more confident in the pocket and more in command. He commented Monday on his and the offense’s development. Young doesn’t feel he has anything to prove, “it’s not so much prove, I know what I can do,” he responded to a question about proving consistency over 16 games. He continued “It’s basically, you know, every series trying to get better and better, continue to lead the team down and get first downs, or get field goals or touch downs. That’s the biggest thing I’m trying to be consistent at.

Following full-team short yard, and two minute drills, the titans ended the day with a series of shuttle runs. They play the Cardinals next Monday in Nashville, who will be without all pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who suffered a medial-collateral sprain of the right knee against the Texans this past weekend.

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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