The profile of the Tennessee Titans has changed dramatically in the last two years. It fast-tracked with the arrival of one man to Nashville. Jon Robinson.
Losing seasons piling-up, empty seats at home games, fans questioning the commitment of ownership that was rarely heard from, dwindling TV ratings for games in Nashville, coaching struggles and bad drafts made-up the image and the reality of the franchise.
Over the next year, Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk took the first steps to change things for the Titans. She made personnel moves in the team’s front office. She was noticeably more involved with the team. She was more visible and vocal than ever before in communicating with the fans. She named Mike Mularkey as interim head coach. Then last off-season, she made the greatest move of all. She hired Jon Robinson as the team’s general manager.
Robinson has since made Mularkey as head coach, overseen two terrific drafts including landing a franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota, drastically improved the roster and elevated the results to a 9-win season and the brink of the playoffs in 2016.
With talent Nashville hasn’t seen in the two-tone blue in a long time and national praise for what Tennessee has built under Robinson, some now predict the Titans to win the AFC South.
Titans general manager Jon Robinson was our guest on SportsTalk Tuesday afternoon. Listen to the full interview here.
Here are a few of the quotes from the conversation John Wilkerson and I had with Jon Robinson.
On the team this off-season:
“The early returns look really promising on this draft class. One of the things that we’re most proud of is the way this team is coming together and really leaning on each other. It’s true definition of ‘team’ to watch these guys in the locker room, watch them interact around the building, watch the way they work and going out in practice. We’re excited about finishing up the off-season and looking ahead to training camp.”
On Marcus Mariota:
“One of the things that I was most impressed with Marcus last year was early on in the season I thought that he tried to carry the team when there were some tough plays. He felt like he had to try and squeeze the ball into a tight window. He’s a tireless worker. He’s one of the first guys in the building every day. Football is extremely important to him, and we’re glad he’s on this team that’s for sure.”
On Dick LeBeau:
“He is very youthful for his age. He has fun at practice. He has great report with the guys. He’s got obviously a ton of respect in this league and certainly in this building. Guys love playing for him. The guys just rally around them. To have a guy like that on your staff that’s been around the game, the pro game specifically, for this long is huge for our football team.”
On Mike Mularkey:
“Mike and I’s vision for the football team, the style of football that we wanted to play, the types of players we wanted to add to the team, it was just a shared vision. He’s very creative with developing competition even when the players don’t think they’re competing. He’s excited about the promise for next season.”
On Preparing With Increased Expectations:
“We take it a day at a time. Our goal here is to come in each day and try to be a little better than the day before. From a personnel standpoint, it’s constantly monitoring the waiver wire seeing what players are out there.”
On Rookie 1st Round Picks Corey Davis & Adoree Jackson:
“I’ve spent a lot of time with both of those guys. It’s evident they have leadership. We’re really excited about both of those guys as well as the rest of the rookies in this class.”
On WR Corey Davis:
“After practice today, the receivers stayed out a little bit and caught some deep balls from the quarterbacks. When they were finished Corey was leading the group of young receivers down the sideline headed towards the jugs machine to do extra work, to catch extra balls off the jugs.”
On CB/RS Adoree Jackson:
“Adoree, he’s a vocal guy. He’s mixed in with this veteran group really well. They’ve excepted him really quickly. He’s got a confident air about him. He’s not cocky. He’s got a great personality. We’re glad he’s on the team.”
On the Nashville Predators:
“Really couldn’t be prouder of that group of guys. Our team has rallied behind those guys as they did last fall. PK Subban was one of the 12th men. Him and (James) Neal came out to practice one day. Coach Lav (Predators head coach Peter Laviolette) has been on the sideline. We both have one common goal. We want to make Nashville a proud sports town. We want to put a product on the field that our fans can be proud of. Certainly the Preds did that this year. We hope we can follow in their footsteps.”
On Taylor Lewan:
“Back-up plan once he retires, hopefully he plays here a long time, that he could become one of those noodlers that goes in and drags the catfish out of those holes in those rivers. He’s kind of got a knack for being around the fish.”
On the Possibility of the Titans Tweaking the Uniforms/Logo:
“Yeah. I don’t know. I haven’t caught-up with her much about the uniform thing. I know that she has been outstanding as far as for improving the facilities around here. We had a new bubble and a new turf field installed last year. We re-did the locker room. We’re currently under construction here to re-do the training room and the weight room. We’re really trying to make this a first class place that when the guys come to work they really enjoy coming here. She’s been awesome in that regard with helping, and seeing that stuff needed to be renovated around here.”
