Brian Callahan desires to create a place where people are excited to come to work.
The Titans did a great job giving off that vibe to their first four additions in free agency, who all talked about the energy in their new office as they were introduced to the team’s press corps.
I watched from a spring break vacation with my family, as Tony Pollard, Lloyd Cushenberry, Chidobe Owuzie and Kenneth Murray all hit on it.
“Just being around them this morning, you can just feel it from everybody,” Murray said. “It’s definitely a great, great vibe where everybody is excited to be here. You get that vibe from everybody. Not just the coaches but the staff – the equipment staff, the medical staff.
“It’s amazing. Obviously, we’re building something here, we’re just getting started. And so I’m looking forward to putting it all together and going out there and winning some games.”
Most teams can give off that feeling as a first impression. Callahan and the entire organization obviously need to build on it and sustain it. It’s a happy time of year with additions and hope and no challenges to overcome.
But a good start is important and that all four guys echoed the theme was not insignificant, as they all came across as players who could be part of growing the tone.
“The energy is amazing, you walk throughout the building and there are a lot of people smiling,” Cushenberry said. “I came ready to get this thing rolling and set this culture for the future.”
Other thoughts from what the newcomers had to say…
Coaching: Cushenberry didn’t hesitate for a second when asked about why he chose to join the Titans. Bill Callahan was the main draw, and he sees the offensive line coach as a key for him to continue to grow his game,
Browns center Ethan Pocic gave Cushenberry a big endorsement of Bill Callahan, raving about him.
“I feel like he can take me to the next level,” Cushenberry said. “He’s very detailed. When you get a chance to talk to him it’s like, different level of offensive line play that he kind of unlocks.”
Cushenberry spoke of a rough rookie year but consistent improvement since and the expectation of staying on that track.
He worked under Mike Munchak for a time in Denver and said that was big for building a great foundation off which he works.
Attitude: Chidobie Awuzie said he’s always been part of a culture of winning and he sure seems as if he can be a key piece of that for the new regime.
“I’m really excited to implement what I have and also to earn the respect of everybody in the building, that’s my No. 1 goal at first,” he said. “…I’m a competitive guy, a really physical technician. I’ve always been part of a brotherhood, able to excel.”
He said he sees in coaches’ eyes that everyone is ready to get rolling and “that gives me a lot of juice.”
His return to action last season after recovering from ACL repair taught him how resilient he is, he said, which seems to me to add another ingredient to a guy who’s got a lot of the things you want in a player and a corner.
Recovered: Like Awuzie, Pollard will be two years removed from serious injury. His 2022 season ended with a broken fibula in the playoffs.
“Any big injury that guys have, it normally takes a year,” he said. “That second year is when you see the comeback around and see guys get to their true form. I’m ready to show what I can do, show what I can bring to this team.
Questions: Murray arrives with a lot of questions about his coverage abilities and his capacity to be a three-down inside linebacker.
He said he understands the start to his career wasn’t storybook the way people may have wanted it to be 
when he was a first-round pick by the Chargers out of Oklahoma in 2020.
“My attributes definitely benefit from being on an attacking, fast defense, just fly around,” he said. “…I take an extreme amount of pride in (coverage). I can play every down. I take pride in being on the field at all times and being the general.
“Aside from the athletic ability, aside from running around, flying around, hitting, I truly do believe I am a general. I am able to get everybody lined up, able to know the ins and outs of the defense, I take tremendous pride in that.”
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