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Offseason phase one begins this week for the Titans and the working press was invited to Saint Thomas Sports Park for an availability to hear from Head Coach Mike Mularkey and selected Titans players. Mike Mularkey started by talking about how excited he was to get back to work. Mularkey mentioned again about the last time the whole team was together. It was the last team meeting to wrap up what had been a more successful 2016 season after going 9-7. Coach Mularkey reiterated that the team that early January day did not want to leave, they didn’t want things to end.
With that in mind, there was a tone to Mularkey and the players that appeared to be really ready to go back to work. There was a sense of (we haven’t accomplished anything yet) but are ready to see what more hard work takes us type of attitude. The questions that ct were fired off early were about Marcus Mariota and his rehab progress, if there was perfect attendance in day one of the first phase of offseason work for this team.
After all, this is the first day of school for the Titans and the “Professor” Mularkey, began a new school year with his students and his “star pupil” Mariota, is on the mend and looking forward to this upcoming season.
Per the collective bargaining agreement, teams like the Titans were allowed to begin offseason workouts and those workouts are strictly “voluntary”. There can be no more than 4 workouts per week (no weekends), with one week being the mandatory mini camp.
Contact in those workouts is prohibited. So, in phase one the days for the players are only 4 hours per day (2 hours) that the Titans can specify that the players be at the facility and the other (2 hours) the players choose to use for workouts in the weight room (which by the way is under construction). The Titans have weight equipment set up in the practice bubble for workouts till the weight room at Saint Thomas Sports Park is completed.
Mike Mularkey said only 2 players were not present on day one of phase one. Cornerback Bennett Okotcha and 2016 2nd round draft pick Derrick Henry. Wait, Derrick Henry wasn’t in the for the first day of the new school year for the Titans? Again, these workouts are “voluntary” and Mularkey saw him in Tuscaloosa on Alabama’s pro day last month, so they know he’s working out. Mularkey says it used to disappoint him when players weren’t around for offseason workouts but no longer does.
“It definitely puts that little check mark in the back of my mind that lets me know who I can count on and who I can’t count on” said Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jurrell Casey when asked about absences from workouts. “Seeing your teammates show up, that’s definitely great.” Casey has an interesting take and some might have taken what he said out of context. No one told Casey that Derrick Henry was not there and he probably didn’t even know that at the time. Casey was generally speaking and did not have a tone that garnered resentment or negativity. Casey was asked a question and he answered honestly.
The bigger item on the radar during the media availability was the first appearance of Quarterback Marcus Mariota post surgery to repair a broken fibula at the hands of the Jaguars on Christmas Eve of 2016 in Jacksonville. Marcus looked healthier and seems anxious to get started again. When asked about the threshold for pain, Mariota even went back to the day of the injury. He thought he’d just rolled his ankle, till his teammates tried to help him up and realized something greater was wrong. He’s already been running a bit and rehabbing the muscle tissue that atrophied after being stagnant in a boot for 2 months after surgery in Charlotte North Carolina.
Marcus Mariota remains very positive about his recovery and I assure you he is and will work his butt off to get back. In fact, Mariota says his physicians say he shouldn’t have any lasting side effects and he should be the same Quarterback he was before the injury.
The million dollar question remains…when will Mariota get back?
When will he push the trainers and doctors to get back out there?
Make no mistake about it, Mariota is a fierce competitor and he will be back and this team will continue its journey towards something greater.
Running Back Demarco Murray and Linebacker Brian Orakpo were also present to speak to the media and all who came to the podium were asked about what the goal is for 2017 and all gave very diplomatic answers.
Instead of talking about winning the division or going to the playoffs there was talk of work, continuity, improvement as a team, improvement within the division and so on.
This Titans team already sounds focused and ready to put in the blood, sweat and tears to pick up where 2016 left off.
Rhett Bryan
Gameday Host
Titans Radio
