At this time last year, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks was the talk of minicamp as he dealt with conditioning and asthma issues ahead of his first season.
Thankfully, Burks was able to put those issues behind him as the offseason went on and he ended up having a promising rookie campaign, injuries aside.
Going into Year 2, Burks’ goal was to avoid that same conditioning issue and to not let asthma get in the way, two things he believes he’s “mastered” while also noting he’s feels faster now because “I can breathe.”
“My biggest thing was not repeating what I did last year coming into the offseason,” Burks said, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
“I feel like I’ve mastered that and can keep going. I’m getting better with a lot of the formations and concepts of our new stuff, and just having fun, really. Just having fun, and not having that stress coming in as a rookie trying to prove this guy this, the coach this, just having fun now.”
Speaking of that stress, Burks rightly points out how he was “thrown into the fire” in his first season, something that has helped him have more confidence in Year 2.
“[A year’s experience] just gives you confidence because you’ve already been in it,” he explained, per John Glennon of Nashville Post. “I got thrown into the fire, and I like being thrown into the fire, honestly. Because it makes you decide who you are, what kind of player you’re going to be.”
Burks did decide to change his approach this offseason, with the Arkansas product staying in Nashville to train at the facility. He did so partly because he wanted to get himself used to running in the heat, but also because it helped him get ahead in his preparation and form a bond with coaches.
“I have been here the whole offseason,” Burks revealed. “I didn’t go train at the beach or anything, I stayed here. I wanted to stay around the facility and bond, make a connection with the coaches but also get ahead on the things that I know I am going to be doing in the offseason.”
“I would just say that’s why I’ve been here — just making sure I’m running in the heat,” he added, per John Glennon of Nashville Post. “When I do get that [shortness of breath] feeling, I know how to control it now, just being here with [director of sports medicine Todd Toriscelli] and running with him out here, or running with the strength coaches.”
While there will be someone different calling the plays for the Titans’ offense in 2023, Burks is already quite familiar with offensive coordinator Tim Kelly, who he says had a big impact on him in Year 1 when Kelly served as the pass-game coordinator.
“He was a great guy,” Burks said of his new offensive coordinator. “I would say last year he was one of the ones that mentored me, helping me learn the offense last year. Him being offensive coordinator now makes it even better.
“So when it’s something new, he’s always on top of me, making sure I get every detail I need to know about the full concept of the play. He does a great job explaining and making sure gets points across.”
With a new offensive coordinator comes a new offense, but Burks says the system is similar to the one he ran in Kentucky during his sophomore year, which gives him at least some familiarity.
“It really reminds me of my sophomore year in college,” Burks said. “Just having that tempo offense and just knowing that there are so much things in this offense that we have now that you can just go be free, have fun and just win games.”
Burks is expected to be the No. 1 receiver in Tennessee’s offense in 2023, especially after the team failed to adequately address the position this offseason.
When asked about his spot atop the depth chart, Burks kept it simple:
“I would just say my goal is to make plays for the team, be where I am supposed to be, and be a great teammate,” Burks said. “(I want to) play fast, be physical and be versatile.”
