NASHVILLE — Tuesday was the final day of the 2024 offseason program for the Tennessee Titans. There will be a team-building activity before guys depart for the summer on Wednesday and rookies will be around and working next week.
The question: did Tennessee do enough this Spring and Summer to set the team up for success.
Mike Vrabel: Out, Brian Callahan: In
Making the Titans a viable NFL product again starts and ends with quarterback Will Levis.
A part of that process was hiring former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to replace outgoing head coach Mike Vrabel after a 6-11 finish last season. How Callahan manages all of the responsibilities that come with his new role is still an unknown. Checking the boxes for an offensive-minded play-caller with a resumé steeped in high-level quarterback play is precisely what this team needed as it moves on from Vrabel, quarterback Ryan Tannehill and franchise legend Derrick Henry.
That is just the initial layer, however.
Offensive Line Investment
Ideally, there would be no overarching questions about the left tackle position, but first-round pick JC Latham's transition from the right side to the blind side seems to be very much on-track.
"(Latham)'s built a little bit differently from a mental aspect from most first-rounders that I've been around," offensive line coach Bill Callahan said on Tuesday. "He'll always do the extra. He's always out here everyday. Of course, the story about Ran (Carthon) chasing him out of the rain a couple of weeks ago, but he's always doing things to improve his craft."
Right tackle is still the biggest question mark on the offensive side of the ball right now.
Signing center Lloyd Cushenberry and guard Saahdiq Charles in free agency plus trading for swing tackle Leroy Watson should produce at least two new starters for the Titans up front. Veteran Nicholar Petit-Frere missed the entire on-field portion of the offseason program while rehabbing from injury. Training camp will determine whether that set-back is enough to knock him out as the incumbent at right tackle.
The senior Callahan's presence is enough to get the group functional in front of Levis, if nothing else.
Help on Defense
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was not present for any of the on-field work in OTAs or minicamp.
Callahan did note that Tennessee had perfect attendance among players in last week's mandatory work. There are zero concerns Simmons' readiness for September 8 when the Titans open in Chicago against the Bears. Second-round pick T'Vondre Sweat's on-field absence, though, has been the talking.
He last practiced in an open session a month ago in the team's rookie minicamp.
"I'm not concerned, no," said Callahan. "It's just one of those things that's sort of lingered on him a bit. Again, don't anticipate it being a long-term issue for us, but didn't have any sense to rush him out here not feeling perfect. And so, he'll get his work over the summer. He's got a plan in place, and I'm confident that he'll execute it.
"So biggest thing for him is working still and getting in shape and ready to roll. He's obviously working, not in front of everybody, but he's here working. He's not getting the full field work, but he's here and he's getting his work in. So, anticipate him being ready to roll and we'll see what he's got in training camp."
Sweat, reportedly weighing 366 lbs on the Friday night he was drafted, said if he made it down to 355 lbs, he'd be a Pro Football Hall-of-Famer. He has until the team reports for training camp on July 23rd to get right, and get out there.
The team added Sebastian Joseph-Day and Keondre Coburn to bolster their defensive line depth. Marlon Davidson was re-signed, but none are a viable replacement for Denico Autry. Autry signed with the Houston Texans this offseason after a three-year stint in Tennessee.
Adding corners L'Jarius Sneed via trade and Chidobe Awuzie in free agency to play in new coordinator Dennard Wilson's defense are a massive upgrade. Rookie Jarvis Brownlee, Jr. gives the Titans a four-deep at corner as talented as any in the league.
Moving On From Derrick Henry
Seeing Henry taking hand-offs from Lamar Jackson in videos and images coming out of Baltimore Ravens offseason workouts is truly surreal.
Henry hit free agency for the first time after eight seasons with Tennessee as the second All-Time leading rusher in the franchise's history. It was time to move on for both sides. The Titans will supplement the loss with second-year ascending talent Tyjae Spears and veteran signing Tony Pollard.
Callahan's offenses in Cincinnati improved every season in rushing success rate percentage from 2019-2022. Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase were all drafted as foundational pieces during that span, allowing the Bengals to develop a passing game effective enough to spread defenses out and create lighter boxes to run against.
Same, but different in Tennessee.
Levis and Burrow are not similar players, but the thought process is the same. DeAndre Hopkins played in all 17 games, and eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving last year as the only saving grace of the Titans passing game. General manager Ran Carthon added Calvin Ridley and former Cincinnati slot option Tyler Boyd to give Levis skill players that can be consistently relied upon with a wealth of veteran experience.
Everything an ascending, young quarterback needs to make a legitimate leap.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
