All eyes on Callahan and Levis as Titans kick off season
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Will Levis reacts after throwing a touchdown during a preseason game last month. Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images
For the newly reconfigured Tennessee Titans, the season basically boils down to two simple questions: Is the new head coach any good, and can the young quarterback play?
Why it matters: Oddsmakers and NFL experts say this probably isn't the season the Titans will make a deep playoff run.
- But it could still be viewed as a successful season if the team gets positive answers to those all-important questions.
State of play: The Titans jettisoned long-time coach Mike Vrabel, replacing him with Brian Callahan, a promising young coach with an offensive background.
- It takes a talented quarterback to win in the NFL, and Titans starter Will Levis showed some potential last season. To know if he's worth the mayonnaise, the Titans need to see progress in his second season.
The intrigue: Titans general manager Ran Carthon took an unusual approach to retooling his roster. Typically, rebuilding teams rely on rookies and young players to fill key starting roles.
- Carthon bolstered his team by adding an array of accomplished, and in some cases expensive, veterans.
- On offense he added wide receiver Calvin Ridley, center Lloyd Cushenberry and running back Tony Pollard.
- Carthon was even more aggressive on defense, adding defensive backs L'Jarius Sneed, Chidobe Awuzie, Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams. The team traded for star linebacker Ernest Jones IV at the end of training camp.
By the numbers: The Titans ranked third in the league in offseason free-agent spending at $239 million, according to Spotrac.
What we're watching: It was hard to grade Levis last season because the Titans' offensive line was miserable. But the team took several steps to upgrade the situation.
- In addition to signing Cushenberry, the Titans selected Alabama tackle JC Latham in the first round of the draft.
- The team also hired Callahan's dad, Bill Callahan, a widely admired assistant, to coach the new-look offensive line.
What's next: The Titans head to Chicago to face the Bears, whose fans are more optimistic than ever due to their new quarterback Caleb Williams, who was the first overall pick in the draft.
- The game starts at noon on Sunday.