Titans QB Ryan Tannehill Opens Up On Receivers Group, Improving Offensive Line, 2-Minute Drill
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans practiced in the rain for the first 20 minutes or so on Thursday morning, but then had to head inside for the remainder of practice once the thunder and lightning showed up.
They still got a lot done, and veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill met with the media for more than 10 minutes afterward. There was a lot to discuss, with 21 questions tossed toward Tannehill
Here's the full transcript of what Tannehill said:
— on practicing in the rain:
"It was a good work. You never know, there's going to be a few games that have potential rain — or it does rain — so it was good work. We were able to get some individual work done, get some throws in the rain, which was good, and we worked the wet ball drill and worked throwing some movement into the rain, which was good. I'm thankful we got that work.''
— on excelling at play-action passes:
"It's a big part of what we've done here. You want to complement what we do in the run game and take advantage of holes that are created. We try to do that, and it's been successful.''
— on the run setting up the pass, or vice versa:
"It's the chicken or the egg, right? It works together. The more multiple you can be and play off each other, it's going to complement both sides.''
— on wide receiver Chris Moore:
"He's a veteran guy and he's done a great job for us so far. Coming in in the spring, and he's been in a system like ours so far, so he's been able to get accustomed to that pretty quickly. He understands what we are trying to accomplish, and how we're trying to accomplish that. He's got great speed and athleticism to use that to the outside. Some guys you notice after long routes, they may not have the same juice, but Chris is like the energizer bunny.''
— on the defense breaking up catches:
"We've just got to go out and compete. As a team, you'd like to see the defense play well and have tight coverage. But as an offense, you want to be able to put the ball in good spots and then have strong hands to be able to come down with them.
Step back and look at it as a team, it's a good thing, but as an offense and a competitor, games are like that and plays each game are like that. We're trying to get the ball in there and the defender might have a hand in there, but we've got to come down with it.''
— on the offensive line working well
"Just like everyone else, you see guys stepping in kind of battling it out up front. I've seen some really good things. We've done some good things in the run game, our pass protection has been improved I think, so those are all good things. We just have to keep growing those guys together as a unit and keep gelling, because it plays off each other so much. It's not five guys on individual islands. Those guys have to be able to play together. just like receivers and quarterbacks. You have to work with the guys to the left and the right of you, in the run game and the pass game.''
— on some early struggles
"We're five days in, five practices in, and there's still work to be done. I don't think any aspect of our team is where it should be or where we want it to be. We're got to keep the foot on the gas and keep going. There's a lot of training camp left, and a lot of practices we hav4 left, time in the meeting room we have left, so we have to take advantage of every day and we'll keep our foot on the gas and keep moving.''
— on Jamarco Jones' questionable block:
"I actually didn't see it, I was talking to one of our receivers and turned around and kind of saw the end of it. I saw that talking that was going on, but I can't really comment on it.'' Editor's Note. Jones was cut later in the day. Here is the link to the story. CLICK HERE
— on DeAndre Hopkins' growth the first week:
"We're talking a lot. We had learning reps today out there, where we had to talk after the play, one of them being the fourth-down play down in the two-minute. That's going to be a process as he gets accustomed to what we're doing. I'll get used to him. There's going to be some growing reps with him were we'll learn from them. Now I feel confident that if we're presented with the same situation, that we'll be on the same page. I'm excited about how we are growing together. We're going to continue to have reps like that where we're a little off. We'll be able to grow from it, learn from it, and it will be different.''
New Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (left) chats with quarterback Ryan Tannehill during training camp practice last week. (Mike Zaleski/USA TODAY Sports)
— on Treylon Burks' growth in second year:
"Treylon's done a great job, going all the way back to the spring and coming in and working and now kind of switching positions, learning the other side and being able to move around a little bit. I think the more we can move guys around, the better that will make our offense. I'm excited about how he's worked and how he's progressed and how he's going to help us move the ball and score touchdowns on Sundays.''
— on getting the offensive let set with five starters:
"The earlier the better, but at the end of the day we just have to be ready to go on Week 1. Obviously, we're here to improve each and every day, and it's all about prepping for the regular season. When that time comes Week 1, we'll be ready to roll.''
— on Tim Kelly as offensive coordinator:
"I'm enjoying getting to know Tim on another level over the course of this year. Obviously, a smart individual, has some great ideas and some great thoughts. I think he's done a great job of communicating his thoughts over to the offense and teaching those, getting everybody on the same page and bringing some energy every day. I'm excited to have him as our OC and looking forward to working with him this year.''
— on hanging out off the field with DeAndre Hopkins:
"I don't know where I should take him. There's a bunch of good spots, a bunch of good restaurants we like going to, I can take him in Nashville. It's a little bit tough now in the thick of training camp. We're definitely going to spend some time together. I'm spending as much time with him in the building as I can making sure we get on the same page.''
— on helping late arrivals to camp:
"I definitely play a big part in it. Being able to communicate clearly about what we're looking for. Within the practice, with how we're seeing it, and even post-practice because maybe they weren't in the rep, but being able to communicate to the room so everyone sees it.''
— on importance of two-minute drill work:
"I don't know the exact stats, but a ton of games come down to the last drive each and every year. We've been able to win a lot of games on two-minute drives and put ourselves in position to win a lot of games. It's going to be a big factor for us this year and we want to start getting that work now. I thought we did some good things in two-minute, we just weren't able to finish down inside the red zone. Kudos to the defense, but I'm confident we can grow from that and be better for it.''
— on ''call it'' day importance:
"It was good. We were able to get a little bit of play-clock work. It's not exactly like a game. We got some work with getting to the line of scrimmage and having that be a factor was really good. Getting the play calls in was great. I'm excited to get that call-in work, because that's what the games are and that work is more live. It was good.''
— on turning 35 and ''feeling older":
"I feel really good, thankful feeling good coming off the surgery last year. You never really know how that's going to turn out, you want it to be great, and there's a lot of work that goes into that. I'm thankful that I'm 100 percent and never happened. Now that I had my birthday, I'm older. But I'm excited where I'm at. Yeah, no question. I feel young, and I don't have a cane yet.''
— on rookie running back Tyjae Spears:
"He's come in and done a great job for us. Moving around, getting him different looks. Obviously he has a different skill set from Derrick (Henry) and it's a great thing for our team. He's been a weapon for us so far, and I'm excited about what we can do with him.''
— on wearing No. 17:
"I first wore 17 my sophomore year in high school. I don't exactly know why, but I chose 17 and I've loved it ever since. I wish I had a better story for you. My dad wore 10 and it wasn't available. I wore 10 my junior and senior year in high school, but I went back to 17 at (Texas) A&M.''
— on what's tougher, throwing in the rain or flying in the rain:
"As long as it's a light rain, flying is alright. There's a lot of things that aren't alright with flying when there's thunderstorms and such. I don't mind throwing in the rain. That was good work out there today, and as a long as it's light, it's not too bad.''
— on having teammates afraid of flying:
"No question, there's been some guys over the years, especially if you get some turbulence, everyone else is joking around and they're not. They're in a full sweat and gripping the armrest and seat belt is tightened down as far as it can go with a blank look on their face. We'll see how these rookies are. I haven't flown with them yet.''
