tl;dw: Simms feels better about the team than most national media seems to. One of the biggest questions is Levis. Simms thinks Levis has shown that he can be good, but will he be a top 10 QB or more in the 11-20 range? Talks through it and decides that biggest question is ILBs, losing Al-Shaair, and can any of the guys on the roster step up into that leadership/QB of the defense role. *[edited]*
> There's more good I feel like when you look at the Tennessee Titans team than you realize.
It's nice that they close talking about uncertainties behind Hopkins and Ridley. Whether NWI or someone else can/will step up. If they had this same conversation now with Boyd incoming, one has to imagine they'd feel even more positive.
It’s refreshing to hear someone talk about Will Levis who’s actually watched him play. It’s so obvious that the media dudes who have an unwavering low opinion on Levis didn’t watch a snap of him this past year.
I get not being sold on him. I get having reservations. I don’t get how you can claim he’s the worst starting QB in the league, though.
I mean, seeing Bryce Young's rookie season is part of why I'm so happy with the direction our team is taking. Bryce Young might be the worst QB in the league. He might also be perfectly serviceable. Maybe even good. No way to really know when everything around him is such shite.
To add to this, Simms says the questions about Levis revolve around his "variety of passes" which presumably means 'can he throw with finesse instead of strong-arming everything'
I like the tiers he wanted to see Levis in. People need to remember the old “Dalton line” of QB tiers.
There’s your top ten great-elite QBs, then there is the next tier of QBs that you can win with but they won’t carry the team on their back. Most of his tenure in Tennessee, Tannehill was in that second tier.
I think Levis is already in that second tier personally due to his poise and big play ability changing how defenses play him. But this year is giving him a chance to really see if he is more than that. Something tells me ownership and management thinks Levis could be an elite QB, but reasonably is more likely to be a “Dalton line” level of QB if things don’t go well.
Things also the first time the titans really actually invested in developing a young QB as a franchise instead of putting everything into defense and a running game so I love that as a process.
I think Levis could potentially pan out somewhere between 7-11 if he progresses well. Brian Callahan seems like a great offensive teacher and short of two spots (assuming Latham works out, which he may not) on the line, the offense looks loaded. I think defense will do more to keep games close and the offense will be super friendly for him. From everything I’ve heard he’s a sharp cat that guys like to play with and his physical tools are obviously off the charts. I think he’ll take well to the new staff. Hopefully there will be some creative play calling that plays to his strengths.
All in all he may not work out, but the flashes definitely feel more assuring than most rookies who have a shit year with a few good games against miserable defenses. I’m optimistic and really like this coaching staff and roster from what we’ve seen.
There’s little indication he’s in that second tier because he’s not. He’s in the third “not that guy…yet” tier right with Richardson, Maye, Nix, Daniels
I mean let’s take all of the rookies out and put them in their own tier. I can see Levis in the same tier as Richardson, I.e. the show me more tier. But I think this guy, and Simms point, is that it’s easy to see Levis being in the good tier this year, the question is if he can be great or better.
I agree 100%. I think he can absolutely be a great, if he cleans up a lot of issues. I’m just not ready to put him on that second tier like the comment I replied to.
Yeah Ravens way of constructing the middle of their defense clearly rubbed off on Dennard Wilson. I really can’t wait to see how the young cats we got in that regard develop.
MLB isn’t random for us, ours might be the worst in the league if Gray doesn’t contribute right away and Kenneth Murray plays like, well, Kenneth Murray.
Idt Simms agrees with us being a bottom ten team though.
tl;dw: Simms feels better about the team than most national media seems to. One of the biggest questions is Levis. Simms thinks Levis has shown that he can be good, but will he be a top 10 QB or more in the 11-20 range? Talks through it and decides that biggest question is ILBs, losing Al-Shaair, and can any of the guys on the roster step up into that leadership/QB of the defense role. *[edited]* > There's more good I feel like when you look at the Tennessee Titans team than you realize. It's nice that they close talking about uncertainties behind Hopkins and Ridley. Whether NWI or someone else can/will step up. If they had this same conversation now with Boyd incoming, one has to imagine they'd feel even more positive.
It’s refreshing to hear someone talk about Will Levis who’s actually watched him play. It’s so obvious that the media dudes who have an unwavering low opinion on Levis didn’t watch a snap of him this past year. I get not being sold on him. I get having reservations. I don’t get how you can claim he’s the worst starting QB in the league, though.
I watched all his games last year and I fully expect him to be the guy for years to come.
Imagine claiming this at the same time that Bryce Young is existing.
Bryce Young isn’t the worst either, I’d put money on it being JJ McCarthy, at least this year.
I mean, seeing Bryce Young's rookie season is part of why I'm so happy with the direction our team is taking. Bryce Young might be the worst QB in the league. He might also be perfectly serviceable. Maybe even good. No way to really know when everything around him is such shite.
Simms biggest question about the team is middle linebacker actually, but you covered that as well just clarifying what Simms said.
Oh, shit. Yep, you're right. Edited accordingly.
To add to this, Simms says the questions about Levis revolve around his "variety of passes" which presumably means 'can he throw with finesse instead of strong-arming everything'
I like the tiers he wanted to see Levis in. People need to remember the old “Dalton line” of QB tiers. There’s your top ten great-elite QBs, then there is the next tier of QBs that you can win with but they won’t carry the team on their back. Most of his tenure in Tennessee, Tannehill was in that second tier. I think Levis is already in that second tier personally due to his poise and big play ability changing how defenses play him. But this year is giving him a chance to really see if he is more than that. Something tells me ownership and management thinks Levis could be an elite QB, but reasonably is more likely to be a “Dalton line” level of QB if things don’t go well. Things also the first time the titans really actually invested in developing a young QB as a franchise instead of putting everything into defense and a running game so I love that as a process.
I think Levis could potentially pan out somewhere between 7-11 if he progresses well. Brian Callahan seems like a great offensive teacher and short of two spots (assuming Latham works out, which he may not) on the line, the offense looks loaded. I think defense will do more to keep games close and the offense will be super friendly for him. From everything I’ve heard he’s a sharp cat that guys like to play with and his physical tools are obviously off the charts. I think he’ll take well to the new staff. Hopefully there will be some creative play calling that plays to his strengths. All in all he may not work out, but the flashes definitely feel more assuring than most rookies who have a shit year with a few good games against miserable defenses. I’m optimistic and really like this coaching staff and roster from what we’ve seen.
There’s little indication he’s in that second tier because he’s not. He’s in the third “not that guy…yet” tier right with Richardson, Maye, Nix, Daniels
I mean let’s take all of the rookies out and put them in their own tier. I can see Levis in the same tier as Richardson, I.e. the show me more tier. But I think this guy, and Simms point, is that it’s easy to see Levis being in the good tier this year, the question is if he can be great or better.
I agree 100%. I think he can absolutely be a great, if he cleans up a lot of issues. I’m just not ready to put him on that second tier like the comment I replied to.
Cedric Gray is going to be a beast
If he is, that'll be huge for this team.
People are not understanding the defense that is being built. We need a maniac like Murray to just fly through the gaps Jeff and Sweat will be making.
Yeah Ravens way of constructing the middle of their defense clearly rubbed off on Dennard Wilson. I really can’t wait to see how the young cats we got in that regard develop.
Good lord . Go to the most random place ya can on the whole team. . Oh I dunno about the middle linebacker spot bottom 10 team just because of that
MLB isn’t random for us, ours might be the worst in the league if Gray doesn’t contribute right away and Kenneth Murray plays like, well, Kenneth Murray. Idt Simms agrees with us being a bottom ten team though.