NASHVILLE, Tenn. – You’ve regularly seen video of a standard quarterback footwork drill: Five long, narrow pads are on the ground spaced out like ebony piano keys. Signal-callers weave through them, up, and back, side to side, keeping their eyes downfield.

During Titans minicamps, those pads were occasionally turned a different direction, creating a lane for quarterbacks to straddle.

Quarterback coach Pat O’Hara pointed to make QBs change directions and then to instruct them where to throw.

It was the clearest example of Marcus Mariota’s work on widening his base.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – On Day 2 of the 2018 World Cup, I’ve been pondering Nashville’s chances to be one of the American host cities for the 2026 World Cup.

While the U.S. combo bid with Canada and Mexico (known as United 2026) for a 48-team tournament outlined the number of games in the states (60 with 10 each in the other two nations) and the number of host cities in America, FIFA can make any adjustments to that it likes.

Nashville is one of 17 US candidates, but Atlanta is one of two cities the U.S. Soccer bid put forth to host a semifinal. Would FIFA want two nearby Southeastern cities hosting games?

Butch Spyridon, CEO of the city’s convention and visitors bureau, doesn’t think Atlanta will foil a Nashville bid.

3 nations.
16 host cities.
80 games.

🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸 | https://t.co/jbld3pvI99 pic.twitter.com/75IDWh93FU

— United 2026 (@united2026) June 13, 2018

He said overcoming the perception that Nashville isn’t a soccer town is bigger than competing with Atlanta.

“Until they come, until they witness, then they flip,” he said. “I think we’ve got better than a 50-50 chance. I like our chances.”

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While the NFL will have the ultimate say in how Nashville lays out the draft and surrounding events, the city would like Roger Goodell and those announcing picks would do so from the stage at Ascend Amphitheater.

“Our pitch, my preference is Ascend Amphitheater,” Butch Spyridon, CEO of the city’s convention and visitors bureau. "It’s the money shot for the city – a music venue with the skyline behind you.”

Photo courtesy of Live Nation, The Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

But to make it work in that setting, it will likely have to expand. The size of the venue “seems to be the only real issue” the NFL has with the idea, he said.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Over the course of an 85-minute practice, both sides will make some plays.

But for the second consecutive day Wednesday, my overriding takeaway was that the offense has a long way to go and put forth a disjointed, choppy effort that centered around receivers failing to get open.

Perhaps that’s a tribute to the secondary, where the Titans have a quality trio in Malcolm Butler, Adoree’ Jackson and Logan Ryan.

But they are going against a receiver group missing Corey Davis, Rishard Matthews and Michael Campanaro. That puts Tajae Sharpe and Taywan Taylor at the head of the line. I’m not allowed to say who moves up – because we know that information being out would lead to a season-opening loss in Miami.

But look at who the receivers are after that: Nick Williams, Darius Jennings, Zach Pascal, Devin Ross, Jordan Veazy, Deontay Burnett. Maybe there is some promise there, but I’m not counting on any of those guys to separate in a big situation.

Sustaining good stuff was an issue at times for the offense, Vrabel said. [Unlocked]

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The offense will bump and stall some as players work to master what Matt LaFleur is asking them to do, and I saw a lot of that at minicamp’s opening practice.

The team is working without its two starting tackles and Taylor Lewan stayed away over his contract situation and Jack Conklin continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in the Titans playoff loss in New England.

Corey Davis only did a little early work, Rishard Matthews continues to be out and Michael Campanaro is also not practicing. The receiving depth was also a factor in a choppy day.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It would certainly be better if Taylor Lewan was with the Titans for the three days of mandatory minicamp.

Instead, he will be soaking up fines – that he may or may not ultimately pay – as he makes a statement about his contract status. Heading into his fifth year and scheduled to make $9.341 million per Spotrac.

But he’s in line for a monster deal that would lock him in long-term. I estimate it will go here or beyond: Six years, $85 million, a $17 million average salary and $41.65 guarantee.

Statement from #Titans GM Jon Robinson at the start of mandatory veteran mini-camp. pic.twitter.com/WHjg0zEaYl

— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) June 12, 2018

I’d suggest not panicking.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A conversation over a beer or cocktail tends to be looser and less formal.

As Jonathan Hutton pointed out on The Midday 180, this site has afforded me the chance to have such chats over the last 10 months with Amy Adams Strunk (off the record), Mike Vrabel (on a podcast over Yazoos) and Jon Robinson (on a Periscope/Facebook Live with a couple Pickers cocktails on Monday night).

It's not a claim to fame. But it does serve to illustrate a big element of what I strive to give you here: Stuff you can't get anywhere else, and significant conversations with important Titans people in an informal setting where we can get to know them better. [Unlocked]

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Jon Robinson joins me for a Periscope/Facebook Live session Monday evening at 6 p.m .CT.

It’s a members-only event, so if you want in you better move fast.  I solicited questions for Robinson and pledged a free year-long membership to the best, that goes to Jim Belaskie who gets the first question.

Details below for members on how to find the broadcast.

Here are some of your questions that won’t come up, with my explanation for why not.

Most of them, based on how I know Robinson, just are not going to evoke much info or detail.

When you took over as Titans GM, what was your biggest area of concern for the roster and what is it now?#JROB

— ANT (@acnorman1) June 8, 2018

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