As the Tennessee Titans head into a new era with a different head coach and even unfamiliar faces with the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, there has been one constant. That would be Titans star wideout DeAndre Hopkins who enters in his 12th season in the NFL and second with the franchise as he's taking the famous “Mamba Mentality” made known by the late, great basketball player Kobe Bryant according to the team's website.
“I am always competing,” Hopkins said. “Any time we get anyone who is a No.1 receiver, my mindset is to go out and outcompete them, outdo them. I've always had that mindset, Kobe Bryant being my favorite athlete of all time. Any time I get a chance to compete against anyone I am trying to outcompete them, trying to outdo them. And that's only going to make the team better.”
Hopkins with a new Titans receiver room
Not only is he now working with new coaches like head coach Brian Callahan, but he also has different receivers around him like the Titans' new acquisitions in Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. While Hopkins says that the current wide receiver room is “one of the best…on paper,” he does not want to jump the gun too much.
“I think this is one of the best wide receiver groups I've had the chance to play with on paper,” Hopkins said. “Obviously, I could come up here and say a bunch, but we haven't played a game yet. So, we'll see how it goes once we hit the field. (We're) just taking it day by day. Tyler Boyd has been in this program for a while. A lot of us are still learning how things go. Just coming out practicing.”
Hopkins recorded another productive season racking up 75 catches for 1,057 yards to go along with seven touchdown passes even at the age of 31-years old. While he is a veteran and has seen a lot in the NFL, he admits that he has “made some mistakes already,” but since he labels himself as a “perfectionist,” he's coming into OTAs with a great mindset.
“This is an offense I have never played in,” Hopkins said. “There's a lot of things I can do to help this offense, so trying to execute and be perfect. I am a perfectionist, and I've definitely made some mistakes already. Just come in the next day and not make those mistakes.”
Working to get the connection with Will Levis strong
Another crucial part of the offseason for Hopkins is continuing to build the rapport between himself and Titans quarterback Will Levis who is entering his sophomore season in the NFL. The preparation this summer is simple for the former Houston Texan and Arizona Cardinal and it's “to be on the same page with” Levis.
“We have to be on the same page with Will,” Hopkins said via the Titans' website. “We have to know what he is thinking, what he is doing, and be able to take his criticism, and him being able to take our criticism. It doesn't happen just on the field, you have to build that bond. It's up to us to go out and help him be the best quarterback he can be.”
Tennessee is looking to improve after last season's record of 6-11 where they finished dead last in the AFC South. The Titans start their upcoming season on the road against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 8.
Follow Us
Subscribe
