As second week of Tennessee Titans OTAs wraps up, one player's leadership and physical presence stands alone
Throughout rookie minicamp and the first two weeks of Tennessee Titans OTAs one player's leadership and physical presence has stood out perhaps more than any other player on the team. That player is 2024 NFL Draft first round pick JC Latham. He's been absolutely special from day one.From how he attacked "Bertha" and "Olga", the […]
Throughout rookie minicamp and the first two weeks of Tennessee Titans OTAs one player's leadership and physical presence has stood out perhaps more than any other player on the team. That player is 2024 NFL Draft first round pick JC Latham. He's been absolutely special from day one.
From how he attacked "Bertha" and "Olga", the blocking machine inventions of new offensive line coach Bill Callahan as soon as rookie minicamp began. To how he cheers on his teammates, coaching them up on reps throughout practice. To the way he carries himself, physically dominating every rep against every blocking sled and teammate on the field. JC Latham is just built different.
JC Latham is what the Titans need
The Titans have needed a strong culture fit like JC Latham who can set the tone as the foundational piece the franchise and general manager Ran Carthon can build around along the offensive line for some time now.
Latham is "made of the right stuff" according to new head coach Brian Callahan. This week several staff, media members, and Brian Callahan himself couldn't stop talking about how impressed they were with Latham thus far (as you can see in the post from A to Z Sports below).
"[JC Latham] doesn't carry himself like a rookie…He's very intentional about his work. He works really hard…He understands–which not all rookies understand–that it is a job. And there's an expectation, especially when you're drafted where he was drafted, that you've got to come perform…And he's aware of that…He's got some maturity to him. But he also has a 'youthful wonder' that's kind of fun to be around…There's this kind of enthusiasm that he carries with him around the field that I think is fantastic…He's made of the right stuff."
At Titans OTAs this week there were no questions about who stood out most along the Titans new revamped offensive line. On multiple occasions you could see and hear Latham being the vocal and physical leader that could be the difference for the two-tone blue this season. That "kind of enthusiasm that he carries with him around the field" coach Callahan mentioned was evident frequently.
Our very own Austin Stanley and Jack Gentry highlighted how impressed they both were by Latham (and the other offensive lineman) this past week. It's clear the offensive line group is already in a good place and it isn't even June.
"JC Latham is the most impressive Titans rookie that I have seen with my two eyes since AJ Brown…JC Latham has a chance to be a real 'guy' for the Titans to build this foundation around."
Austin calling Latham the "most impressive Titans rookie" since AJ Brown is high praise, considering how Brown exploded in the second half of his rookie season just a few short years ago. There's a chance that Latham's presence and leadership will be an even more important piece to the Titans' offensive success in year one given how badly the team needs improvement in protecting Will Levis this year. But it seems he and the newly improved offensive line already looks up to the task.
"The leadership between [Lloyd] Cushenberry and [JC] Latham is already evident."
Titans new center Lloyd Cushenberry's leadership has also reportedly stood out at practice all week long. That should pair well with Latham's physical dominance up front. And if Latham continues to grow even more comfortable as a leader as the summer progresses then the Titans may just have one of the best young offensive lineman in the entire NFL on their hands.
Be looking for more Tennessee Titans coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
And if you want to watch some JC Latham highlights to see how he should dominate with the Titans in year one you can check out the video below!
