Jeffery Simmons
The Train Daddy is back with sports news, life lessons and politically incorrect talk. All aboard!
A happy June to you all! And a happy Dairy Month. The month of June was Dairy Month long before it was Pride Month. It seems many have forgotten that. If you see a farmer or a cow, thank them! I told someone recently in a group setting that June was National Dairy Month; they got riled up and told me it was alphabet month and that was all that mattered.
I thought it was funny, because I have never attacked anyone for celebrating Pride Month, occasional jokes aside. But I have had those who celebrate Pride Month attack me for showing love to the great cow! I told the person screaming at me to calm down, maybe eat some vanilla ice cream in honor of the cow . . . and if it makes them feel better, add some rainbow sprinkles.
Doing public relations in June for these pro teams has to be a nightmare in 2024. Fans start seeing the logos go rainbow one by one. Pandering at its finest!
I should probably change the topic now before I say something too crazy. Let’s get into sports with a little Titans talk.
Did you know, as matters stand now, Vegas considers the Tennessee Titans underdogs in 16 of their 17 games, all except a home game versus the Patriots? I fully expect this team to go through some growing pains with all the new pieces, but there is no doubt this team is massively upgraded in comparison to the product put on the field in 2023.
The national disrespect on this team is nothing new. The Titans could sign Jesus at quarterback and the national media would continue to doubt. This team should just fully embrace the underdog role. What better role is there to play? Let everyone out there doubt you—it makes success that much sweeter.
The odds-makers in Vegas have the Titans’ 2024 season win total at 6.5; take the over all day on that. The Texans clearly are the better team in the AFC South as of right now, but this Titans team is one of the sneakiest picks this season. I understand that it all comes down to Will Levis being an above-average year-2 QB. Levis showed enough promise as a rookie that the GM went and tailored it all for the young QB. I may not be 100% sold on Will Levis, but he certainly won’t have any excuses after this season. Sink or swim, homie!
The funny part about what I just said is the national media hate! After the Draft the narrative was “the Titans reached with their first couple picks . . . blah, blah, blah.” Then after some splash signings at receiver, the major sports media outlets make Ridley and Boyd appear like dinosaur signings. The media mostly ignored the defensive additions.
I say it’s funny because the draft grades on a national stage were poor for the Titans and the big free agent additions were overlooked by many outside of Tennessee. It seems the national media certainly would disagree with me on the state of this new-look team. What’s funny about it is if Levis has a bad season, the media will flip the script and start talking about how Levis was handed the keys to a Ferrari, and he couldn’t deliver. Hopefully that’s not the case and Levis has a good enough season that there is excitement heading into year 3, but if that’s not the case, I told you so!
Will Levis; photos courtesy tennesseetitans.com
Be excited Titan nation, and as I said, embrace the underdog role. This new-look team has upgraded in most spots. Will Levis is the focal point, but he now has the best trio of receivers this team has had in decades. DeAndre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd should be a fun watch. The offensive line has been horrendous in back-to-back seasons and finally there’s some needed change. They drafted a beastly physical dude in J.C. Latham and in free agency brought in the best available center on the market in Lloyd Cushenberry. If Peter can take a step forward in his second year, this offensive line—coached up by the best in the game, Daddy Callahan—is in great shape.
We all are going to miss King Henry, that’s a fact, but this team is going to be faster and less predictable. Fans have to love the running back duo that is Spears and Pollard, two very similar all-around backs that can run it and catch it. This duo has the potential to be a top duo in the game. Going into the season, I would expect an even split between the two. I wish we had a veteran’s presence at tight end to compete with Chig, but it’s all good. Chigoziem Okonkwo should take a year-3 step, and he is electric when he gets the ball in his hands! Hopefully that big dude Josh freaking 6-foot-7 Whyle steps up and becomes a more versatile tight-end. He has already caught the attention of new coach Brian Callahan.
I am excited about the potential of this offense heading into 2024. The defense has its own question marks, but there is plenty of reason for equal excitement. That excitement normally would start up front with Big Jeff, but for me it starts in the new-look secondary. Don’t get it twisted, Big Jeff is still the best player and anchor of this defense, but the additions in this secondary should transform this defense as well. The additions of Sneed and Chidobe at cornerback make a big difference.
L’Jarius Sneed
It’s also exciting imagining that big monster drafted out of Texas, T’Vondre Sweat, pairing up with Big Jeff Simmons up front and making opposing quarterbacks’ lives hell out there on the field. From other talented dudes like Harold Landry and Arden Key to Amani Hooker there are plenty of solid players on this defense. It’s the handful of players I didn’t mention who excite me most heading into training camp. The Titans have many exciting prospects ready to step up in key spots. It’s a must. This team has been dealt the injury bug at league-leading numbers in past seasons, so depth is more important than ever if we want to compete in the division.
Jeff Simmons; photo by Donald Page / tennesseetitans.com
I didn’t even bring up the special teams players! The Titans still have the best punter in the NFL in Ryan Stonehouse, the best long snapper in the NFL in Cox, and the team wisely brought back a very accurate kicker in Nick Folk. I was so happy they brought him back. Tennessee fans have had enough pain at kicker to last a lifetime.
Before we end this article let’s reflect on the state of the AFC South and its quarterbacks. C.J. Stroud comes off a phenomenal rookie campaign and gets the nod as top dawg, for now at least. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars are in a strange situation. Trevor isn’t bad, but I don’t think he is great, so I am fully on board with the rumors that the Jags plan to make him a top paid QB. They have little choice if they want to keep him and hopefully they pay him and it doesn’t work out. You already know my thoughts on Levis; he has shown signs of being a good starting QB, but he still is unproven for now. That leaves us with the Colts combine QB, Anthony Richardson. What has he done except jump high at the combine? I would go watch his tape at Florida or his four games with the Colts in 2023, but there isn’t much there to watch. Sure, AR had a great combine and appears to have all the athletic ability in the world, but he hasn’t yet done very much onfield in the League.
There is a lot of excitement in the AFC South up and down the board for the first time in years. The Texans appear to be the one team that has a foot forward, but anything is possible and a rookie QB having a good season quickly can turn into a year-2 slump. Given we now have three second-year QBs in the division, it’s going to be fun watching it play out.
That’s all I have for you this issue. The Train is rolling into the station! Stay tuned for my next article, the traditional July patriotic sports edition, my second favorite article of the year (with number one clearly being my traditional Merry Christmas article).
Remember the 5 F’s—Faith, Family, Football, Food and Friends!
