The New Pantheon.

[Soapy]

Tennessee drops interim from Steve Jackson as he's announced as Titans head coach
In a press conference that can be best described as clunky, the Tennessee Titans announced that Titans head coach Steve Jackson would be the team's permanent head coach going forward, dropping the interim tag. The clunky part about it? Jackson wasn't present as the announcement came during general manager Malcolm Francois Jr's press conference to discuss the Titans recent draft and shortly into fielding questions, Francois corrected a press member that called Jackson the team's interim head coach.

"Jackson is our coach going forward," Francois said, "We finalized our search and we felt that he was the best guy to move forward with and we have a lot of confidence with him as our guy."

Francois Jr. said that the decision was a collaborative one that was made prior to the draft and that Jackson was involved in all roster related decisions in a capacity. He affirmed that he would continue to have control over the 53-man roster but reiterated that it was a collective process.

"I think ultimately you need someone to make the decision," Francois added, "We listen, I listen and it's definitely something that I think you need to have in terms of open communication and an open flow of ideas but yeah, ultimately, we have to make a choice and that falls on me, good or bad."

Titans finalize roster with seven UDFA signings
The Titans are ready for the offseason as they reached their 75-man roster limit with seven undrafted free agent signings that have been added to the off-season roster. Under the new NFL rules, these players will be able to participate in OTAs, mini camp and training camp prior to the regular season.

The list includes James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III, UCLA running back Jaivian Thomas, Oklahoma receiver Jayden Gibson, Mississippi State tight end Seydou Traore, Texas Tech linebacker Ben Roberts, Kansas State linebacker Gabe Powers and Michigan State punter Ryan Eckley.

Defensive tackle Bashaud Ware was signed as an undrafted free agent last season and made the final roster and center Trey Hill, tight end Chris Manhertz and linebacker Shaq Quarterman also made the roster as training camp signings.

Cam Ward's fifth-year option will be $57.9 million
If, and more than likely, when the Titans decide to pick up Cam Ward's fifth-year option, the value of the deal would be $57.9 million.

NFL fifth-year options for first-round picks are calculated using four tiers based on Pro Bowl selections and playing time, determining a fully guaranteed salary for the fifth season, with higher tiers reflecting greater success (multiple Pro Bowls, significant snaps) and using averages of current player salaries for valuation. Teams must decide by May after the player's third year, with options ranging from a basic average of lower-paid players (3rd-25th highest) to the franchise tag amount for elite multiple Pro Bowlers.

By comparison, Josh Conerly, who the Titans traded for this past offseason, would come in at $18.6 million, a bit of a bargain if he's able to play at a franchise left tackle this season. The Titans have $190 million in cap space heading into next season but have several players up for extension in Jeffery Simmons, Zaire Franklin J.C. Latham, T'Vondre Sweat, Marcus Jones and Peter Skoronski.

[Soapy]

Rueben Bain dropped the pounds and added clarity as he looks to make a jump in his second year
Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. is no stranger to the word tweener. He's been labelled one his entire career, dating back to his days at Miami Central where despite putting up gaudy numbers, including a multi-sack performance against powerhouse IMG Academy, scouts and analysts have always had questions about what he is.

An undersized defensive tackle or a short-armed, not twitched-up enough EDGE player? Bain doesn't expect those questions to stop anytime soon nor does he view his versatility as a bad thing but this offseason, he's certainly going all into being an EDGE player.

The former first round picked up yoga and Pilates this past off-season, out of suggestion from former college teammate Akheem Mesidor. Bain, who said he was playing around 285 pounds in the playoffs, says he's back closer to his preferred playing weight of 270 pounds.

"I think I can play [inside and outside] at [270]," Bain said. "I feel more powerful but also lighter, more explosive. As you get older, you don't want to always have to carry around that weight so anything you can do to keep your legs fresh, feeling good, I'm looking forward to it."

As the season progressed, the Titans featured Bain more and more on the inside, partly out of necessity as they dealt with injuries to top defensive tackles Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat. Even when they returned, Bain continued to be featured on the inside on passing downs. Titans head coach Steve Jackson says that's always a possibility, and an option for the defense, but that Bain is viewed internally as an edge player first.

"He can do it and we're very comfortable with him doing it," Jackson said of Bain, "But ultimately, we think of him first and foremost as a defensive end and anything after that is extra so that's where his focus was this offseason and he came into camp looking like that."

Rasheem Biles, Joshua Williams with the safety group
Speaking of positional versatility, two new faces are in new places as free agent cornerback signing Joshua Williams and rookie linebacker Rasheem Biles have both been rotating with the safeties during the early portion of training camp.

Jackson said that at this point of camp, no permanent decisions are being made and its more about cross training although a move for both players would make sense.

Williams is the third outside corner behind Jermaine Matthew Jr. and Roger McCreary, both entrenched as starters, while Biles joins a linebacker room that features Zaire Franklin, reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and second-year standout Whit Weeks. Behind them is veteran linebacker Brandon Smith, who was brought in as a free agent to back up Franklin, and James Williams Sr. and Taurean York are battling for that backup weakside linebacker role.

A first glimpse at Justin Jefferson in a uniform
Titans fans who were in attendance for the first week of camp got a chance to see Justin Jefferson in his No. 18 Titans jersey, one of the best selling jerseys in the NFL since Jefferson was traded to Tennessee this off-season.

Jefferson said he's been working out with quarterback Cam Ward and others leading up to camp as Ward invited several teammates to his home in Texas during the spring and earlier this summer. The chemistry is apparent as the two connected early and often in practice, both against air and during the competitive 7on7 portion of practice.

[redsox907]

Bain needs to get those sack numbers up, fuck pilates

[djp73]

intrigued by the roster and coaching choice moving forward