By BLAKE BEDDINGFIELD, special correspondent
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The focus in preseason Game One for the Titans’ front office and coaching staff is less about the veteran players and more about the rookies and how quickly they can help this team this season. Understanding how many snaps and what situations a player can handle is paramount to roster construction.
The 2024 draft choices will be highly scrutinized in August because so many are expected to play vital roles in year one.
What the class did in Saturday night’s 17-13 win over the 49ers.
First-round pick, left tackle JC Latham: Powerful player in the run game, gets off the snap quickly and can move a defender on down blocks and kickouts. He’s more effectively blocking down and inside now, but has the width and length to wall off and position block well in their zone-blocking scheme, he will be plus run blocker this season.
Latham's first appearance at LT was up & down vs. a good rusher in Gross-Matos. Sticks the attempted stab-chop-rip for a commanding win rep 1, gets beat clean by the cross-chop rep 2 then gets walked back in his anchor rep 3 after an unnecessary hard reset in his vertical set. pic.twitter.com/OKjslyGuh1
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) August 11, 2024
In pass pro, it will take time for him to play at a high level, physically he can hold up but technique-wise he will have to adjust to the variety of pass rush moves he will see. He was beat to his outside on a quick inside step and outside speed rush with a rake, the next rush was a power move that pushed him into the body of the quarterback. Two bad snaps on limited pass protections.
His quickness and his feet for his size are impressive. Latham is a talented player who plays with a good motor and that should help him make the adjustments needed.
Second-round pick, defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat: Has the size and strength to be a force in the run game. Sweat was effective getting a push into the backfield on run plays and also in the pass. His strength and length allow him to control smaller interior offensive linemen. Sweat is still working on controlling a block, shedding and making plays, that will come with better block recognition and an understanding of how offenses are trying to attack him and Jeffrey Simmons.
Without the presence of Simmons next to him in the game, things were different than he will see in the regular season.
Sweat struggled to get lined up at times and was late to his spot pre-snap. He seemed to play hard with good intensity, worked back towards the ball with his eyes and has the shed ability to get back into a play even when he is initially blocked.
Sweat struggles with his pass-rush game at this point. He has some push with power, but combo blocks and reach blocks neutralize him while he is reading the play. When he is a one-gap defender, he is more sure of his role and can win that rep. Right now, he is not playing fast mentally, but that should improve with more reps in games.
Brian Callahan on T’Vondre Sweat’s debut. #Titans pic.twitter.com/5y60X6D1uZ
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 11, 2024
Fourth-round pick, inside linebacker Cedric Gray: Did not play (shoulder)
Fifth-round pick, cornerback Jarvis Brownlee: Good feet, good plant-and-drive quickness, he can burst to the ball in front of him. He looks comfortable with his speed and ability to mirror receivers, plays aware in zone and man. His man coverage skills are ahead at the point. He did miss a coverage in quarter one with his man running a shallow cross and he didn’t follow, but the pass was intended for a underneath receiver but overthrown for an incompletion.
Brownlee does a good job of getting his hands on the receiver without grabbing and still being able to run with and mirror the movements of the receiver. Had a competitive pass break up on a straight vertical route, no pressure with his speed easily being able to match the route and made a play on the ball in air. He gave up one underneath catch in zone, quickly reacted to it and made the tackle.
Good overall game and showed promise.
Sixth-round pick, wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson: He was re-routed on an out route, got hung up on the defender and his timing was thrown off which forced a incompletion. Jackson shows good quickness in and out of his breaks. He’s a good, solid vertical speed out of the slot. Right now, he is playing cautiously and trying to do the right thing. The game will open up for him soon. He must be able to work through contact and play faster. He caught one ball for minimal gain and went down on contact.
Seventh-round pick, inside linebacker James Williams: Will be a work in progress at ILB. Preseason Game Three will be important to see how he continues to develop and his standing on the depth chart. Right now, the game is quick for him and the action 5 yards from the line of scrimmage is something he will need to improve. Interior blockers get on him quickly. His read-and-reaction will improve as he sees more action. But when he sees it and is unblocked, he is quick and fast to the ball. Had two nice chase tackles and one pressure on a blitz. Upside is there to improve as a three-down linebacker.
Seventh-round pick, outside linebacker Jaylen Harrell: Not immediate with his steps when coming forward after reading the play, takes some false steps which limit his immediate impact on the ball. Plays with good effort and hustles to the ball on the ground. On one deep-speed rush, he was easily pushed by the quarterback and only has adequate bend to get back into the play. Very average to below zone pass coverage player will give effort but is not comfortable in that role. More of a power rusher than a speed player. Still a work in progress.
Best things I saw:
*Starting offensive team depth is better than in previous years.
*Showed without DeAndre Hopkins the wide receiver depth can survive a loss of a major player.
*The running back tandem will be effective with both Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard having similar skill sets.
*The one caveat to having two solid backs is they are without one special one in Derrick Henry, who is a true game-changer and focus of the defense every week.
*Defensive lineman Marlon Davidson, when used in a situational role, can be an effective rotational pass rush option. Not dynamic as a rusher, but can win one-on-one at times and also be disruptive as a one-gap penetrator.
*Inside linebacker Kenneth Murray will make plays because of his speed, athletic ability and aggressiveness but he will also give up plays by playing around and slipping blocks. At times he is slow to react off the snap and gets caught by a block on the second level.
Worst things I saw:
*The corners must hold up every week because the pass rush will be lacking impact from the defensive front and edges.
*Lack of pass rush depth will put pressure on Harold Landry and Simmons to perform at their peak level each week.
*The defense will need to scheme up pressure with extra blitzers.
Keep an eye on:
*Inside linebacker Chance Campbell is now on my list for the third year in a row as someone to keep an eye on. He has the size, speed and instincts for the position.
*Wide receiver Kearis Jackson is carving out a role for himself on returns, with his straight-ahead, aggressive run style, it allowed him to avoid and break weak arm tackles and get himself through the initial scrum of defenders.
*I like Brownlee’s competitive snaps; he will be a player to watch over the season and into next season as someone who can develop into more than just a two-deep backup. Has the skills to play inside and outside corner.
*The Titans’ offensive line will be better than in previous years, but it may take some time. I like Latham, but he needs to get comfortable on the left side and the more premium pass rushers he faces will slow that progression.
*Left Guard Peter Skoronski will be better with Latham and center Lloyd Cushenberry on each side of him, but the cohesiveness is going to be a work in progress. Skoronski can be a breakout player this season.
*Right guard Dillon Radunz and right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere have each shown flashes of starting traits during their careers. Both players have experience and will be competing for their NFL futures this season. The talent is there for both of them but the consistency of being a NFL starter is where they must improve.
Looking ahead:
*Selfishly I would like to see Jamal Adams, Quadre Diggs, Simmons and Landry on the field during preseason games to get a true overview of how the defense looks with a full unit.
*I want to see more from the backup defensive lineman and outside linebackers and who will emerge to take a wide-open roster spots.
*I liked Will Levis on the six pass attempts, but I would like to see him avoid running in the preseason. Or just get down earlier.
Stock:
Positives: Skoronski, Brownlee, Murray, Campbell, Kearis Jackson
Negatives: No true negatives.