Titans OTA observations: Calvin Ridley & WR depth, Mason Rudolph's Role and Arden Key's Impact
Up Next: Minicamp
NASHVILLE — Wednesday's open practice marked Week 2 of OTAs for the Tennessee Titans. The team's practices on Tuesday and Friday are closed to the media.
Today's OTA session was open to media after Tuesday's session was closed.
Calvin Ridley's Highlight Reel
Tennessee's free-agent acquisition continues to impress.
"Everything that we thought he could be," said Titans coach Brian Callahan. "It's always exciting when you sign a guy in free agency and you hope, but you don't always know. You go by what you hear and what you see. It's always good when a guy gets in the building and he's everything that you expect him to be.
"He's a great pro. He's a phenomenal person to be around. He's incredibly talented. You see his speed and his burst when you watch him on the field, and I think he's really going to help us."
It speaks to the level of talent and depth that Callahan and general manager Ran Carthon have brought in to re-vamp their receiver room.
The slot options, in particular, will be a fun to monitor with Tyler Boyd, Kyle Philips and Kearis Jackson. Mason Kinsey also found ways to make plays in Wednesday's practice. How Callahan finds ways to incorporate the options at his disposal into offensive packages this Fall should work to Tennessee's advantage.
Which brings us to…
Treylon Burks Speaks
The former first-round pick has taken up a ton of oxygen this offseason through no fault of his own.
Burks was asked about his feelings on the Titans acquisitions to the wide out depth chart that put him in a reserve role. DeAndre Hopkins, Ridley and Boyd will be the primary passing game options, but all have glowed about Burks' athleticism and work ethic. Burks was grounded and transparent about his situation with media.
"This dude is a freak," said Ridley of Burks. "Like seriously, bro. He's going to be a stud. There's no worries with him. I mean, what I see – he's like Julio (Jones), A.J. Brown, he's like T.O. (Terrell Owens). Dude that big and that fast, man? He's a stud."
Mason Rudolph's Role
Quarterback Mason Rudolph is in the driver's seat to supplant incumbent Malik Willis as the back-up to Will Levis.
He is the most experienced and highest-paid signal caller in the Titans quarterback room with Levis and Willis both still on rookie contracts. Rudolph is 8-4-1 in 13 games as a starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers as their 2018 third-round pick. Last season, the 28-year old went 3-0 in the final three weeks of Pittsburgh's season after then-starter Kenny Pickett suffered a high ankle sprain.
Rudolph understands the opportunity he has in Tennessee as well as the value he provides.
Arden Key's Optimism
While he enters Year 2 on the Titans roster, Key likes what he's seeing from first-time defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson through the first few weeks.
Key's deployment in the former Baltimore Ravens' defensive backs coach's defense will be a situation to monitor. Tennessee is perilously thin with their edge rush group heading into 2024, and Key has been best as a situational rusher to-date. Both player and coaching staff are affording him the opportunity to prove that he's more.
"He's working as a three-down player," said Callahan of Key. "Part of being a three-down player is being stout and physical against the run, which you're not going to find much out about that right now with no pads on. But, learning the techniques and playing in that manner that Dennard (Wilson) wants those guys at the outside backer position to play.
"But everything from Arden (Key) has been fantastic this preseason part. And again, (it will be) very revealing when the pads come on, if that's something that he's up to the task for. I think he is and he's going to get a chance to prove it."
For his part, Key is optimistic about what Wilson brings to the table.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
