Something new is coming to Titans training camp this week, and Robert Saleh has teased us all well in advance
The Tennessee Titans put the pads on Monday, but Robert Saleh teased a new dynamic to training camp that will happen even after the pads start popping.
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh met with the media before Saturday’s practice at Vanderbilt Health Football Center as fans were in attendance for the first time this training camp.
The pads come on Monday, and Saleh offered a glimpse of what that transition will look like for a Titans roster loaded with new faces and fresh competition. He also teased a new wrinkle to one-on-one drills that has the local media buzzing heading into next week.
Saleh on what pads will change for the Titans
Saleh spoke about the anticipation surrounding the first padded practice in his pre-practice press conference. The tempo and physicality of camp will ramp up significantly, and Tennessee’s first-year head coach wanted to set expectations accordingly.
“The reality is, it gets a lot faster, a lot, lot faster because the (defensive) line and (offensive) line aren’t really protecting—they’re still protecting one another, but they’re not operating at the speed they are now. It becomes much more violent, it becomes much faster. The reads for the back end is a lot cleaner. The receivers get involved in the run game and the violence in that regard. So everything picks up. And then on top of it, you’re adding, I think it’ll be the fifth install at that point, so the mental load along with the pads and the new stimulus and the speed. Usually the first couple of days are always a big dud of pads because you’re expecting fireworks, but there’s a lot on these guys’ plate starting Monday.”
Saleh teases a new approach to one-on-ones
A to Z’s Easton Freeze followed up by asking about one-on-one drills, arguably the most anticipated part of any training camp practice. Saleh’s answer suggested the Titans are doing something different from the traditional format.
“We’ll operate differently with 1-on-1s and how it goes. We’ve developed a way of doing it. We’ll still do 1-on-1s here and there, but we only do 1-on-1s with pads, to answer your question, and that’ll be our version of 1-on-1s. We’ll show up on Tuesday, and I’ll give you guys a little bit more elaborate detail on that later.”
So Saleh does one-on-ones differently. That’s fascinating because one-on-one drills are the heartbeat of training camp for fans and media alike. Wide receiver versus defensive back. Offensive lineman versus defensive lineman. Running back versus linebacker. Tight end versus safety. These are the reps that get the competitive juices flowing, and they produce the highlights everyone wants to see.
The Titans matchups I’m ready to watch
This team has so many compelling one-on-one matchups because of the sheer volume of new players on the roster.
“Best on best” is always the most exciting, and Peter Skoronski versus Jeffery Simmons is can’t miss. But beyond the obvious marquee battle, there are players trying to prove something.
Austin Schlottmann at center and Cordell Volson at right guard need to show they can hold up against a force like Simmons or John Franklin-Myers rushing from the interior. What does JC Latham do against Keldric Faulk? What does Dan Moore Jr. do against Jermaine Johnson off the edge? Those battles will tell us a lot about where the offensive line stands.
Then you bring in the skill positions and the secondary, and the matchups multiply. Does Carnell Tate go up against the more physical Alontae Taylor? Does he draw the longer, rangier Cor’Dale Flott? Both? How do those two new Titans corners handle those reps?
Marcus Harris in the slot versus a shifty player like Wan’Dale Robinson is another one to circle. Gunnar Helm versus Kevin Winston Jr., two second-year studs at tight end and safety, should be a highlight.
Tyjae Spears as a weapon out of the backfield going one-on-one against linebackers like Cedric Gray, Cody Barton, or even rookie Anthony Hill Jr. is appointment viewing.
The options feel endless, and that’s what makes this week so exciting.
I don’t know exactly what Saleh’s version will look like. He’s keeping that close to the vest until Tuesday. But the pads come on Monday, and one-on-ones debut for the first time on Tuesday. I’ll be waiting with anticipation to see what Saleh has cooked up, because one-on-ones are my favorite part of training camp.