Will Levis, Titans coaches assess his performance at OTAs

The Tennessee Titans wrapped up organized team activities (OTAs) on Wednesday, but for Will Levis, the work is only beginning. While the veterans get to take five weeks off before reporting to training camp on July 25, Levis and his fellow rookies are staying in Nashville for two more weeks to work together to learn the ropes, and in Levis’ case, the playbook. For the former Kentucky quarterback, that’s objective number one.

“These past few weeks, it’s been mostly new stuff every day,” Levis told KSR at the conclusion of Wednesday’s practice. “Some days we’re revisiting old things but now I can finally have a good period of just mastering the playbook and getting to a point that when we get back here, I can not just know myself but teach others what’s going on.”

Between OTAs and last week’s mandatory minicamp, Levis has not only been adjusting to the pros, but he and fellow quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis have also been learning a new offense as Tennessee promoted Tim Kelly from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator in February. Quarterbacks coach Charles London is pleased with Levis’ progress both on and off the field thus far.

“I think he’s done a good job. We’ve thrown a lot at him and he’s come in and done a good job with the information and trying to learn the offense and grow each and improve on our mistakes each day. We’re pleased with where he’s at right now.”

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Levis’ performance in Wednesday’s OTA

Levis looked better in drills than at the OTA I attended two weeks ago. There were no viral clips of him missing the net; he hit it on each one, albeit occasionally dinging the top bar. The majority of his throws were sharp and, per usual, his long balls were the most impressive. Watching the three quarterbacks throw to receivers in warmups, there’s no denying that Levis has the prettiest long ball; however, his accuracy on short throws is still a little shaky and scrimmages revealed there is work to do when it comes to game situations, which is expected for a rookie.

Because this was the final OTA, the younger players got extended run in scrimmages, especially Levis and Willis. Levis was clean through his first two periods, with two really nice deep throws. In his third and final period, he struggled a little. After a long ball for a first down, Levis was picked off on back-to-back plays, one pass deflected and intercepted. A few plays later, another ball was batted down at the line of scrimmage and picked off.

Afterward, neither Levis nor Titans head coach Mike Vrabel seemed too concerned by the turnovers, which the rookies will review in a meeting on Thursday.

“I thought we operated well,” Levis said. “I had a couple of balls batted down, which was unfortunate.”

“I thought today was the cleanest day I’ve had so far this spring in terms of operation and decision-making standpoint. Just unfortunately gotta figure out what happened with those couple of batted balls, what I can do to better, but stuff happens. Just gotta learn from it.”

“I just think what it shows you is it’s going to take all 11 to be able to protect and sometimes when you throw those timing routes on 3rd and 7, it’s gotta be in the right spot,” Vrabel said of Levis’ interceptions. “Ball can’t get tipped and the protection’s gotta be there and when you throw the ball down the field, you’ve got to make sure the receiver, it’s us or nobody. Another situation that’s going to get shown [Thursday] morning with those rookies. It’s your responsibility to make sure that ball is not intercepted when we take a shot down the field.”

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Making the most of “the most critical five weeks of the season”

As mentioned, Levis and his fellow rookies are in Nashville for two more weeks before getting a break before training camp starts on July 25. Vrabel said that in his experience as a player and coach, the period between now and training camp is “probably the most critical five weeks of the season.” Levis is ready for the challenge, pledging to master the playbook and further develop his relationships with his fellow rookies before going on a family vacation.

“I’ve got the privilege of being here for two extra weeks with these guys. Even though we can’t be on the field with coaches and stuff, we’ll make sure we have a script for at least a few days so we can get out and throw with them and work with them and while we’re away from everybody, I don’t know if I’ll be able to be in the vicinity of any of the other guys on the team but I’ll make sure to put the work I need to be ready once we get back here for training camp.”

London wasn’t ready to assess the race for who will back up Tannehill, Willis or Levis. That decision will come during training camp; however, he said how they handle the next five weeks will play a big part.

“For both [Malik] and Will, they can’t come back here at the end of July and we can’t start from scratch again. They’ve got to continue to improve, continue to study, and continue to master the offense so when they get back here at the end of July, we can hit the ground running and continue to get better each day instead of going back and rehashing some stuff.”

On Wednesday, Ryan Tannehill praised the Titans rookies for how they’ve adjusted and performed thus far, noting that besides the coaches, they have “the worst schedule by far of anyone in the building.” Levis has assumed a leadership role in the group, drawing praise from the coaches throughout OTAs.

“That’s one thing we’ve tasked him with coming in here, really to lead that rookie group,” London told KSR. “He’s done a great job with the walkthroughs, having separate meetings with those guys, trying to understand what he’s looking for from a route being run or whatever it may be. He’s done a great job there in really helping those guys grow, the skill guys, rookie guys grow. Looking forward to him continuing his leadership there.”

“He’s improved and gotten better,” Vrabel said of Levis’ performance in OTAs. “A lot of good things. Understand that when the journey’s over, making sure that we’re moving out of the pocket, trying to keep plays alive but also making sure that the result isn’t a negative one. It’s one thing when defenses make plays, it’s another when we’re reckless with the football. There is sometimes a difference.

“But I feel like just him in and out of the huddle and things that we made adjustments on in the red zone, I saw that get cleaned up here today. I think it’s just a daily improvement, a daily approach, especially with young quarterbacks.”

Through his first five weeks as a Titan, Levis is making baby steps of progress toward the quarterback London is confident he’ll become.

“I think he shows flashes of that every day,” London told KSR. “He’ll come out there and he’ll make a throw that’s on time and in the right spot and you’re like, ‘Wow. That’s a really big-time throw.’ He’ll do the same thing, maybe he’s throwing something on the run. I think he shows flashes of that every day and we’re really excited about his progress and future here in Tennessee.”

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