NASHVILLE – Happy Thanksgiving Week everyone.
During a challenging season, I'm thankful for those who continue to write in, and read, this mailbag, along with everything else on this website.
All the correspondence is what keeps this thing going.
Let's dive into the latest batch …
Here's the link to submit questions: CLICK HERE.
Hugo Reyes from Franklin, Tennessee
Question: Dear Jim. My penance in life is to be a Titans fan and I faithfully therefore watch them and root for them each week. And while the first half of the season had me throwing all sorts of things at my television, the last couple of weeks, and this week in particular has given me, and should give the Titans faithful, real hope. The Titans are no longer embarrassing as they were under Callahan. But more to the point, this team will rise or fall based on Cam Ward, and he continues to not only prove the doubters wrong but show he is the real deal. This was his best game yet. Once again, no interceptions and with the exception of one screen pass, I did not see any pass that was not on the money. He is also making plays with his feet. The game is not too fast for him at all, which is amazing for a rookie. Let me put it this way, give him JSN and the Titans likely win the game. Or stated another way, put Darnold on the Titans and put Cam on the Seahawks, and the result is exactly the same. He is doing it with no running game to speak of and under constant pressure. He is an alleged back-up QB, as you said your colleague remarked last week, my a*. He is a pro bowler in the making. And the Titans even have a better shot to win the game if not for two terrible 4th down run up the middle calls, and an ill-timed holding penalty in their second to last drive after X made a catch just short of first down. And speaking of X, the boy showed all he does is get open, make plays, and is clutch. The fans calling for him to play, including me, were right. The kid can play and needs to play each week. Hope is a great thing as Andy Dufresne from Shawshank famously said, and I have it!
Jim: He Hugo. Thanks for chiming in. And, you're right, Cam is getting better. One way I know it: I've gotten a number of emails in recent weeks calling him a bust, from fans ready to move on. I haven't heard from any of those folks since Sunday. (But I'm sure they're ready to pounce after his next interception).
Ethan Black from Boston, Massachusetts
Question: Jim. Lifelong Titans fan here and a 10-year Tennessee resident. I'm sitting in Section 311 watching my last game in (old) Nissan Stadium before I move to Boston, and I noticed something I wanted to ask about.
During stoppages, various highlights from around the league have been shown, but noticeably absent is any highlights from the Colts-Chiefs game (when the Colts were up). Is that an intentional decision from ownership/management or just coincidence? Just found it interesting.
Jim: Hey Ethan. Hate to see you go, but safe travels. I'm not aware of any boycott, tbh. I think they're looking for big plays from those highlights. Fans sure seemed to love that Jameis TD catch!
James Richardson from Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Question: I don't know how you do it, not laying into those people who seem like they are happier if Cam struggles than if the titans win. I can't imagine many of these people calling bust and giving up have actually bothered to watch the games. The box score doesn't tell the story and they'd know that had they watched. Seriously what do they expect him to do? He's a QB, he cant rush the ball times a game he can't go out and catch his own passes either. A bad team with a rookie QB a solid run game is a must and the Titans run game is non existent. We've seen players like Brady make a passing game work with little to know run game but asking that of a rookie with nothing around him is crazy don't you think? People like to bring up Levis and the O-line last year trying to say Levis was better is crazy and yet what he had was 2 elite wide receivers in Hopkins and Ridley, something Cam hasn't had. Combine that with a worse rush attack than Levis had and yet Levis played bad enough to warrant picking a QB #1 so impressive could he have actually been?
Side note about the Vrabel thing have you noticed they bring him up as a huge mistake without looking back and realizing the last season or so in Nashville didn't go all that well either and he still had the King on his team.
Jim: Hey James. I love visiting Tuscaloosa, where my daughter went to school. If I'm not mistaken, we met there once, right? I still try and make it down on occasion, and I'll eat at 5, Urban Bar & Kitchen, Heat, or Taco Mamas – all great spots. I'm with you on Cam. Surprised so many folks wanting to give up on him after 10-11 games. As for Vrabel, he did great things in Tennessee, there's no denying it. I can promise everyone he wouldn't have been fired if his success here had continued.
Rich Davidson from Paducah, Kentucky
Question: It's looking very likely that we'll have the #1 pick again, or at the very least, a top 5 pick. With this team having so many needs, do you think we will trade back to get as many picks as we can get?
Jim: Way too early to assume anything here, Rich. Heck, if the team had won that game on Sunday, it would be sitting at No.5 in the draft order because of the strength of schedule tiebreaker. Let's see how things play out.
Carlos Perez from Columbus, Indiana
Question: Hi Jim. I hope all is going better! I've watched every game and every snap this season, and I want to give some love and recognition to Coach McCoy. The team has been improving every week since he took over, and we can all see Cam's development. The players are better prepared and fighting hard.
I'm sure I'm not the only one to say this: please sign Restrepo to the active roster now! He should be ahead of Jefferson, Proche, and Kinsey on the depth chart.
As always, Titan Up!
Jim: Hey Carlos. I agree. He's caught some flak from some fans and media, but I think he's done a nice job holding things together, and helping Cam improve. He inherited a mess, but the team has continued to fight, and improve. Now, we'll see if this team can find a way to win a few more games before the season ends.
David Garton from England
Question: Hi Jim, Dave here from the Tennessee Titans UK Fans. Bit of a different question for you this week i think but can you let us know your pre-game routine? I saw your pre-game image a good few hours before the game & it got me wondering what time you got to the ground on a game day & how much work goes into your work on a game day & the lead up to kick off. I do some media work for some soccer teams & always like to get into the ground a good few hours before the games not much goes on but i like to be around the ground. Thanks
Jim: Hey David. Well, I usually get to the stadium around three hours before kickoff. I have a regular spot on WSMV-4 before every game, and in the past had a regular spot on Titans Radio as well. The radio spot has been tabled for now, but I anticipate it coming back next year. I like getting there early myself. I always try to give fans a feel for what's going on on the field, and in the stadium, leading up to kickoff, with tweets and videos. I like to watch the pregame workouts, to see how some of the guys on the injury report are trending. And, of course, inactives come out 90 minutes before kickoff. I love running into folks and chatting with them on the field, in the concourses, in the bowels of the stadium. Love seeing the stands fill up when the gates are opened two hours before kickoff. After the game, I'm busy for hours with interviews, and writing stories. It makes for a long day, but I love game days.
Jack Walker from Calabasas, California
Question: Hey Jim, Happy Thanksgiving week!! Hope you and your family have a great one!! Starting to sound like a broken record... Chimere Dike!! The steal of the draft!! Other than that... I gotta tell you. I have a hard time evaluating Cam Ward. At times I see nice ball but then I realize it's slop time and the defense is playing loose or starters are out. You know, the only reason I'm critical of Cam is the draft position and I blame management not Cam. I don't know how he'll end up after a couple seasons but right now he's not as good as Dart, Shough and Gabriel have better stats and as I type, Shedeur is up 14-0 in his first start. Ok... It was also wonderful to see Restrepo out there, its about time!
Jim: Happy Thanksgiving, Jack. If we're talking records, Chimere Dike has definitely been a hit. And he's just going to keep getting better. We disagree on everything else regarding Cam.
Dan Baird from Nashville, Tennessee
Question: Hey Jim, I know we lost the Seahawks game, but I am excited about Cam. He didn't feel as lost as he has been by a long shot.
Forward steps against 2 really good defenses the past 2 weeks.
I'm hoping the coaching staff has seen what Restrepo means to him, especially now that Ridley is out.
My question is: Is JC still feeling his hip injury? Looking for him to take over, and he has had some tough lapses in critical situations.
IMHO finding the correct O line combo and a solid secondary and we will be on the road to opening the new stadium like we did the current one.
Thanks for keeping us updated in a hard season.
Jim: I thought Restrepo added something myself. Will be curious to see what happens when Elic Ayomanor is healthy. JC said after the game he's feeling better after the hip injury, but it clearly set him back.
Raymond Farrar from St. Louis, Missouri
Question: Hey Jim. I don't know if this question has been asked already (if so, my apologies), but will the Titans be wearing the throwback jerseys anytime this season?
Jim: No throwbacks this year, Raymond. And not sure when/if we'll see them again.
Have a great week everyone!
