This is the OTP presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans. Farm Bureau Health Plans is celebrating seventy five years of providing Tennesseeans with high quality healthcare coverage at an affordable cost. Visit FBHP dot com to learn about our history in Tennessee. With Titans Radio's Draft duo RTT, Brian and coach Dave McGinnis. I am Mike Keith, and we are here. It is Draft week. We will have OTPs each day through Saturday.
We are very excited about this. We will remind you about Titans Radios coverage of the twenty twenty three NFL Draft live from Sixth and Peabody third Tuesday Night, beginning at six o'clock. Our whole team in place, along with Brad Hopkins and Ramon Foster. Glad to have them with us, and it's presented by Pinnacle RTT. We want everybody to come down and join the party. We would love to see your smiling faces there. Six and Peabody's a great
space to be in. They have a stage for us, a giant screen behind us that will have the draft following along with the video part of it. But we want you listening to us and we would love to see you there. You could probably catch a beverage while you're there. I believe you could coach back. How fired up are you about this week?
Well, you know how fired up We are doing games during the season, but when the season is over, draft season starts, and that's when we started. I can't wait for this. There's been a lot of work for all three of us. This is your thirty eighth draft. Thirty eighth draft.
What do you remember about the first one in nineteen eighty six? Twelve rounds in one day and you had just joined the Bears staff.
I just joined joined the Bear staff, and so I had no reports. They didn't trust me yet, you know, they didn't know who I was from, come from Sickam, but just the atmosphere of it. But I remember it just being a really a real grind, Mike. It was twelve rounds in one day. Who's the most memorable pick from that draft for you? Ah? The most from that draft? I know. The first report I wrote was on Junior sayou I remember that? Was that a hard win to write?
It was?
Why's that? Well? Because Bill Tobin said, look, if you want to learn, I want to see how your reports are because he mainly he played down and he rushed. But Bill Tobin said, where do you think he will be in the National Football League? And so going through it, you know, he ended up being one of the great will linebackers in the National Football League, you know, as you well know. But it was a stand up behind
the ball guy. But it was a transformation from a guy on the edge that was just wreaking havoc, you know, from the edge. And so for me and especially look with Bill Tobin, who is probably one of the better ones who have ever done it. His son, Duke Tobin's doing a great job now in Cincinnati. He was very exacting on the way that you read a report. And I've done this with Rhett before. You know. Bill Tobin told me, don't give don't give me the David Copperfield version,
the David Copperfield version. I don't need a lot of I don't need a lot of litany in this. I want to know. He told me.
His version was, he said, I don't want Charles Dickens, give me them, give me the meat and potatoes of this thing.
I want. I want something that references them as football players.
So how many reports have you and Rhett written in evaluating the twenty twenty three draft class.
Actually, and again this goes back to this goes back to my start. I don't ever put down anything about a player unless I've watched three game tapes. Okay, So I would say for myself the game tapes that I've watched is probably close to three hundred. Wow. And so you guys together have evaluated even more than that. Yes, because Rent Rent's part in all this, which he's become fabulous at it, he wanted to learn how to do it when I first came here. He's the background guy,
and digging background is huge. You know, most people have well, all these other thirty two teams that are doing this, Mike, as you well know. I mean, they have large staffs that divided up. Redd is a tremendous background guy. Plus he can he gathers information from a lot of different errors. Then we put together. Then we kind of collaborate on what we've what I've seen on tape, what he's dug up, what we've read, what we've heard. You know, it's it's
a pretty extensive process. So there's more than that. When we started putting together our vertical horizontal board. There are more players in that, but I can't legitimately say that some of those at the bottom may I may have only seen him on one tape, or I may have. It's been a consensus of what Rent has pulled together and from what I have pulled together. I think both of our phone bills probably go up quite a bit in the last three months. Well, and that's part of the process.
Mike is just like in war rooms, they're cross checking each other's thumbnail descriptions and write ups. I'm gathering from different places, and that's why I'm reading to him on long conference calls what a thumbnail description sounds like and if it matches up with what he's seen on film. That's why he says, don't give me Charles Dickens. I
don't need a Christmas Carol. Give me the keywords and phrases that we're talking about with a player who is high hipped and you know doesn't have the short area quickness, or you know this guy is very fluid in space, all those things that you're looking for without the descriptive adjectives.
All right, Well, let's get to it. What I've done is I've put together six questions that I want to ask you today about defense. Today's Monday Tomorrow, I want to ask the questions about offense. We're going to go defense first. Here's question number one. As you looked at and graded roughly three hundred players in the twenty twenty three draft, coach Mack, what stood out about this crop of defensive player in our top.
One hundred which we win o down on that there are fifteen edge players and fourteen cornerbacks is what we came up with. That's a pretty high number. That's a high number for two positions that have become very very critical in the National Football League. And to have double digit players in the top one hundred, there will be one hundred and two players chosen in the first two days, and so that's what stood out to me.
The same for me, my answer was that the cornerback class is as deep as it is. And as Mac just said, we have fourteen guys in the top one hundred, and I mean all different shapes and sizes, all different skill sets, all different Power five and even non Power five schools that they're coming from in this thing. Very deep class for that, and these edge pass rushers. He's right, there's a long list of those as well.
Who is the best defensive player in the twenty twenty three NFL draft ratt For me, it's Jalen Carter from Georgia, and the reason being is just he is much like Jeffrey Simmons Big jeff Is to the Titans. He's that kind of player in terms of his natural skill set
and a blend of athleticism and power. There are moments in times where he seems unblockable, and I think the only thing that anyone would say on a negative term with him is that you know, they need to see more of it and more consistently, because there are flashes of dominance and then there's some places where it's you know, more pedestrian for lack of a better term. But the guy is a mega monster space eater who just bullies blockers, bullies them.
I want to say Will Landers because of the consistency. I mean, Rhett is right on, right on track. But to me, if you're talking about over a consistent basis, if you draft a guy and you know what you're getting, Will Anderson is is the is the is the guy to me? And the other thing that stood out to me when I went to the combine to to watch him work. Will Anderson and his representation have known that he's going to be the one of the top guys way long. He did every drill at the combine. Does
that mean something? Maybe? Maybe not? But he went over and above to do everything. They even after all of their all of their exercises were over, they asked some different ones to stay to run a hoop drill, the Jim Washburn drill, the Jim Washburn drill where they run two hoops and pick up towels and play them down. He stayed and did that. So to me, it's it's Will Anderson. Okay, if that's question too. This one would be to a a bonus question, if you will, who's
the second best defensive player in Jalen Carter? Carter? Yeah, those guys to me and for all the reasons, Rhett just said it. Uh. When I used to go out recruiting this time of year or go at the school visits.
When I was the head coach at Arizona UH for eight years, Joe Green was my defensive line coach, and so we'd always go look at defensive linemen and Joe and I would travel together all over the country to these schools, and one of his best sayings was, coach mac, when we find a bear walking on two hind legs, we've got to get them. This is a bear on two hind legs.
Feels like Seattle at five. That he's a Pete Carroll type player.
Yeah, I mean that he would fit anybody, sure, And so I mean, I'm sure we'll get into some other issues here, but let me say this about my coaching career. Came into the league and we had Eric Swan the Cardinals. Now he had a little issue. Never went to college, never went to college, came from the Bay City Titans. Okay, find them on a map, all right, But he was one of those bears that walked around on two hind legs. All right.
Uh.
When I came here, we had Albert Haynesworth, you're of vol for life. He had, he had, he had a couple of things. Yeah, go on that butt, bear walking on two hind legs. One hundred million dollar player, okay to the Rams. Aaron Donald too short, too short. So there was something there that was, you know, was a problem, you know, but you have to work beyond those types
of things. So Jalen Carter as far as being able to be a destroyer of the triangle the way we talk about it when you're evaluating players down inside, he's a destroyer of the triangle in a major way. Like those other guys that I just mentioned that I had the privilege to be on a staff coaching.
Davis certainly would have taken him if he were still running the Raiders. That's for she wouldn't be worried about the off the field issues. No, But Carol is that kind of guy too. He was that way at USC and he's been that way at Seattle. I mean, he got a lot of people's attention when he traded for Marshawn Lynch. Marshawn Lynch is in Buffalo and he's all kinds of problems quote unquote, and you know, he's proven to be a guy who can get it out of guys who have issues.
Off the field, absolutely, and issues off the field don't fall into just one general category. They do not fall into one general category. And you got to go deeper into the person. And all of those guys that I just mentioned were really good teammates, great teammates, and great players.
But for all of the pundits saying it he ain't falling out of the top ten.
No, bring me that pundit. Yeah, well I can bring you a few.
All right, Grett, your answer to the bonus question, who's the second best defensive player in this draft? I have a feeling you're gonna say, Will anders Landers Yeah, and you know mine.
It's left to interpretation for me about who's the best and who's the second best. And I thought, just in terms of massive talent, Jaylen Carter was off the chart for me. Despite whatever off field issues, Will Anderson could very well be the answer to the first question in this because Max right, I mean six three and a half, two fifty three, long arms, big hands, eighty one inch, wing four to six. One of the forty his first
ten yards was one six one. He's in the top five in NCAA in quarterbacks acts with thirty four and a half and forty one games in a massive program that is a perennial powerhouse in this And the thing about him is the versatility.
I mean, Mike, he can do it all. He can.
He can drop back into coverage, he can stop the run, he can rush off the edge. He's been lined up all over the place, and he'll instantly be a leader and a starter for whoever takes him.
Shows up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on that team which is basically a pro farm team defensively, especially with what they've put out, I mean, it's been remarkable. He walks in and he doesn't just go into the rotation. He becomes a starter from the jump at Alabama for Nick Saban on defense.
Wow, bear walking on two hind legs.
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ticketing partner of the Tennessee Titans. So Titans fan fan question three, Who is the most highly rated defensive player that might drop for whatever reason. Ret Brian first.
The only one I can really point to, and I'm sure Max got a better answer. But you know, maybe Jalen Carter because of the off field stuff, but there's so much there on the field. I just have doubts that that's a thing. I'm going to defer to Coach Mac on this.
Jalen Carter. Okay, it's Jalen Carter because the issue with the incident that came up, it came up so close to the draft process. I mean it affected his combine, you know, it affected his combine what he was going. So Jalen Carter is the answer to me. And you could also say it affected his pro day.
Yes, he shows up at his pro day heavier, he can't complete the workout. People go back and look at the tape to see if there are things that match up. Does he love football? Does he care enough? Is he gonna get what this is all about? But you're saying in terms of fall maybe from top two or three to maybe potentially seven, eight or nine.
That would be the floor for me.
Yes, So you don't think neither one of you think there's gonna be a great value, an overrated value that would fall to the Titans at eleven from a defensive perspective. No, all right, so let's go to this question four. What's the best case for a defensive player scenario for the Titans at pick eleven?
Coach mac don't say Nolan Smith, oh wow, from Georgia or I'm gonna do it, and you know, in honor of Amy Wells, who's not here, who's on the way to get multiple choices, a multiple choice, the other one would be Devon Witherspoon corner from Illinois.
Now, let's talk about that for just a second before red answers. A lot of people who are listening to the OTP right now, whether they be the people who subscribe, rate and review the OTP, which we appreciate those known as the ot people, or people who are just in for draft week, sampling the OTP and ready to become an ot person.
Why would you take a corner at eleven with all of the other needs you wouldn't, Okay, But I'm just saying, for the type of player that we're talking about, dropping all the way to Devon Witherspoon is really a good player, sure, even though he's an undersized corner. When you look at his tape. He is really really sticky and in phase reminds me a little bit. And there's another corner in this draft that reminds me even more of a Titan great Samari role. And so that's why I put his
name up there. It's interesting.
I wonder if they might go corner at eleven.
You don't think so, well, I didn't say that. I'm just saying my hand and saying they can do anything they want now. And this is why it open to speculation. That's why I love doing this. And here's the other thing that you know for the three of us is connected as we are to the Tennessee Titans franchise. We don't ask no, and we don't know because we're just talking. We're just talking. That's right.
As I say, well, I think corners good value at eleven. I know a lot of people shudder at that, but it's such a vital position anything on the outside in this game today, whether it be receivers, corners, edge rushers, tackles, even tight ends. Man, it's it's hard to find those guys. Okay, rhet, what is the best case scenario for a defensive player for the Titans at pick eleven.
Well, I don't see either of these happening, but and we're playing scenarios here. My first answer was, Jalen Carter. If he's there at eleven, you better take him, You better take him. And then I don't think he gets by Philly. I don't think so either. Yeah, but my lord, if you had him with Jeffrey Simmons, Tierre Tartan, I mean, just think of the possibilities there.
Well, especially with the cost containment you would have on that player for four years, yes to a fifth, knowing that you're paying jeff that would be potentially like adding a big time free agent at a quarter of the cost.
Right, And then, in honor of Amy Wells, my other answer would have been, and I don't think this is going to be a thing, but the cornerback from Oregon, Christian Gonzales, Because I mean, that's a top flight dude right there.
Do the two top corners Witherspoon and Gonzales go in the top ten rat both of them? Yes, Yes, Gonzales is our top corner.
He's a nice player, transfer from Colorado to play at Oregon and did a great job, great athlete. All right, here's question five, Roger McCrary was an incredible draft bargain for the Titans early in the second round last year. Each of you give me two two prospects that could be there for the Titans at number forty one that would be the same type of outstanding value as McCrary. All right, in honor of Amy Wells, I'll give you three.
DJ Turner, cornerback from Michigan and the four to two seven didn't he? Yes he did. Jervon Dexter, defensive tackle from Florida, or Keon White edge player from Georgia Tech. He is interesting, Yes he is.
He is really interesting because he's d line size, but he's can he can drop.
He can drop, he can drop, and he can move though. I mean, just looking at our overall vertical and horizontal board, those are three names that kind of stood out to me.
For me, it is the Bukus Award winner from twenty twenty two who started eleven games as a true freshman at Iowa's Jack Campbell, the linebacker six five two forty one, had a six seven four three hone drill. His short subtle four to two four almost eleven foot broad thirty seven and a half inch vertical, you know, over three hundred tackles, twelve and a half for loss. You know, just a big time player there that could be there.
And then my second one would be a very long cornerback that we saw starting at the Senior Bowl in mobilist Julius Prince from Kansas State six three one ninety eight. You know, had a wing of eighty two inches, one hundred and eleven tackles in thirty four games, played six and a half for lost, a force fumble, ten breakups, and six picks in his career. Either of those would be a fantastic value in the second round.
And I want to remind everybody listening to the OTP, we are just talking defense today. Tomorrow we will talk offense. Will do six questions with coach Mack and Rett Bryan on offense. Reminding you to Titans fans, it's hard to decide what's the best part of a dunk and run. Is it coffee? Is it the one dollar classic donut or the two stuffed bagel minis or the three dollars sausage, egg and cheese that you can add to that coffee, or the fact that you get to leave the office.
The answer of course, is yes, time for a dunk and run right now. You can continue to listen to the OTP on your phone as you make the run. Great deals on food for one, two or three dollars with a medium or larger coffee, reminding you America runs on Duncan. Staying with defense, question six, we talked day three, give me a defensive position group where you think the Titans can find great value on Saturday, Ret Bryan, I will.
Go a couple of different directions here. First of all, defensive tackle D line. There's a couple of guys who I think could really be someone who could help in that area. One of those is KeAndre Coburn from Texas, who's a big run stopper. Another one is Zach Pickens, the former running back who's a hoss for South Carolina. I like both of those guys, and that is what
I think day three picks would be there. And then I'm even going further towards the end of Day three and may be even into undrafted free agent territory at linebacker Servasier Dennis from pitt That is a guy that I've been interested in for a while. Four five six in a forty had a forty one and a half inch vertical leap, but it's pro days, six foot and a half, two hundred and twenty six pounds, giant hands
to wrap up and tackle. And then another young man who was a former Gator from Auburn, Alabama, transferred to Utah, mahbud Diabate, who is six four two twenty five thirteen and a half tackles for loss last year for the Utes. Five quarterback sacks, ran a four to five to one of the forty of thirty four inch vertical leap and an eleven foot broad jump.
I like both of those guys.
In fact, I like all four of those guys that could be value in day three and beyond.
Okay, I'll take those four and give you six of them. Oh and here's what we've got. I've got edge linebacker, cornerback edge Byron Young from Tennessee. I think that's you know, you think he falls that far? Well, I don't know, but well, but you have.
So many WIGE players right top one.
Yeah, absolutely, And Dylan Horton from TCU, same type of the same type of guy to edge safety coming out of high school, safety coming out of high school. But can can move. We interviewed him at the Senior Bowl. I mean you anyway, linebackers. I'm gonna go two linebackers here. Dorian Williams from Tulane. Like Dorian Williams, cover guy can play downhill. Two hundred and twenty five pounds. He plays downhill though at two twenty five. He's not a jazz player.
He's not. He's and he's a cover guy. And then a linebacker from Sack State that was a safety, Marte Mapu. This guy's interesting too, with all the physical skills that he has. So now I'm gonna go to the cornerbacks, which have Again we said there were four corners in the top one hundred. Kyu Blue Kelly from Stanford. We watched him with the Senior Bowl too, very interesting. Maybe not the greatest hips that you would want, but got length.
And then Jacry and Bennett from Maryland. Maryland's got a track team there in their defensive secondary. This guy's a member of it. Wow.
Those are some good things. Well, and some other corners too, that's later in the day. Micah Baskerville from LSU. I think that's a solid player there. Cam Mitchell from Northwestern Miles Brooks from Louisiana Tech. These are all some names that you should start to pay attention to, especially if you're getting towards the tail end of Day three and they assemble undrafted free agents.
Okay, so let's wrap this up. From this standpoint. We've talked defense. Six questions on defense, Tomorrow, six questions on offense. It would appear as though, on paper, the Titans have more needs on offense than defense heading into this draft.
They have six picks total.
In your eyes, it sounds as though you feel why the third day, the second and the third day will be times that the Titans can fill defensive needs and get excellent quality.
And the examples that you brought up about what they were able to find last year in the second in the third round, that's going to be there for him again and again. We all know, all of us have been doing this a long time. We've got sophisticated listeners the draft. The draft is a very inexact science, and we're sitting here today and once we're on the clock down there at sixth and in Peabody, you've got to react to what everybody else does up ahead of you.
But I really believe that there's enough players at these positions, and we've given some players that have characteristics that I think. I don't know what the Titans are going to do, but I think they would like some of these characteristics thoughts.
I think Max right in terms of it not being an exact science. We know we've been talking a lot about the human element of this, and it's why every draft board in thirty two cities is different because of an evaluation process, and there's guys that other teams like better than others, regardless of need or position. It's you know, beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder in this and so that's why, you know, Max right, we
just kind of have to go with the flow. We don't know what the Titans are going to do, just like we don't know what the other thirty one are going to do, but we'll be ready.
We will be at sixth and Peabody Thursday night for Round one. Brad Hopkins and I will host the pre hour, which is six to seven, and then coach mac Rhett Brian and myself will be joined by Ramon Foster to cover all thirty one picks of the first round for coach Dave McGinnis for rhet Brian, I'm Mike Keith, thanking you so much for listening to the OTP Day one of Draft Peck.
Welcome to the big show where the Mortons called. Everybody knows it's as thoughts