Tennessee Titans confident in progress of Caleb Farley and Bud Dupree
NASHVILLE — Week 2 of training camp for the Tennessee Titans saw this 2021 team take one massive step forward. First-round pick Caleb Farley and free agent prize Bud Dupree both took part in their first practices since coming to Nashville. Nothing is more important than the health of a football team. Fans in Tennessee did […]
NASHVILLE — Week 2 of training camp for the Tennessee Titans saw this 2021 team take one massive step forward. First-round pick Caleb Farley and free agent prize Bud Dupree both took part in their first practices since coming to Nashville.
Nothing is more important than the health of a football team.
Fans in Tennessee did not have to wait long to see their top two new defensive toys. Farley, whose back concerned many league personnel people coming into the Draft process, began limited participation in camp on Monday. The rookie corner has gotten work in varying amounts in each of the four practices since. Dupree worked his way back from a torn ACL in December in just a hair over eight months from the injury.
On Day No. 8 since the Titans returned to their building, Dupree was the star of the show.
No timelines in Tennessee
This is something Titans coach Mike Vrabel has always emphasized.
"(Farley and Dupree) have worked extremely hard in the offseason," Tennessee general manager Jon Robinson told me on my 104.5 The Zone radio show. "They were part of the early group that came back a couple days early before the vets. Got some work in on the field as part of their return-to-play protocol, if you will."
A steadfast, individualized rehabilitation plan and a non-pressurized environment make the transition for two of the newest Titans fairly smooth.
Their presence will be critical for a defense that finished 29th in overall DVOA and 30th against the pass. Farley and Dupree project as two of the likely five new starters on that side of the ball for coordinator Shane Bowen. After calling the plays in 2020 and becoming the face outside of Tennessee's building most associated with its failures, Bowen cannot get his newcomers up to speed fast enough.
The roster rebuild by Robinson came with designs on more press-man coverage and a beefed up pass rush. Farley and Dupree both have their roles to play.
A central focus for both Farley and Dupree
The rehab process can be a taxing one, both physically and mentally. For the recently activated Titans defenders, the latter's importance cannot be understated.
"Daily wins for me are not having any mental errors, just playing the right techniques that I'm supposed to play and that's what I try to focus on," said Farley. "Having my eyes in the right place. Everything else just takes time in a comeback, together getting my feet and my brain back on the same page. I'm just trying to process the mental side of things right now."
While the rookie drinks through the first-year firehose, the veteran Dupree also acknowledged the importance of a cognitive re-set.
"The skillset will come back," said Dupree of his injury layoff. "I've been working this whole offseason, even when I was hurt, doing my skill development things. Keeping my game above. The mental is the thing that you have to make sure that you've got so you can go fly around."
New playbooks and learning a different football language are routine for all NFL players. Both rookie and veteran must hone their cognitive skills before their talent can take over and shine in Tennessee.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
