Tennessee
For Willis, There is No Wrong Angle
![For Willis, There is No Wrong Angle](https://www.si.com/.image/ar_16:9,c_fill,cs_srgb,fl_progressive,g_xy_center,q_auto:good,w_620,x_1253,y_237/MTkwNTk2NzgwOTUyMzk3Njky/willismalik-ballup.jpg)
NASHVILLE – Starting with the 1999 season, 9 completely different quarterbacks have began at the very least 10 video games for the Tennessee Titans.
The expectation is that Malik Willis will be a part of that group someday within the subsequent couple years. The third-round choose on this yr’s NFL Draft, nonetheless, by no means will measure up – not actually, at the very least.
At 6-foot-1, Willis would be the shortest full-time starter of the Titans period (1999-present) – offered he truly will get the job sooner or later – and can match Matt Mauck, who began one recreation in 2005, because the shortest at any level. Against this, latest starters Kerry Collins, Vince Younger, Matt Hasselbeck, Marcus Mariota and Ryan Tannehill, who at present holds the job, are or had been all listed at 6-foot-4 or 6-foot-5.
The truth that Willis can’t essentially see over his offensive linemen or oncoming cross rushers means often he has to drop his arm angle or increase it with a view to get the ball in and out the path of his meant receiver.
His willingness and talent to depend on unconventional deliveries was obvious throughout offseason exercises that had been open to the media. There have been sidearm throws. He lower it free from three-quarters of excessive and any variety of angles on spectrum.
“There was a time after I was developing, there was a correct manner you need to throw and all that,” Titans coach Pat O’Hara stated. “We have to get the ball out with twitch and on time, early if (attainable), and play with no matter bodily instruments we now have. And Malik has lots of cool instruments.
“… I feel it’s an athlete-type factor. I’m not one to discourage that in any respect.”
It must be famous that Willis didn’t face a severe cross rush throughout offseason drills. Generally, he even altered his supply throughout seven-on-seven work, when there have been no our bodies in entrance of him in any respect.
That means a sure creativity and improvisation in his recreation that’s in step with among the league’s extra thrilling starters of this period, together with Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes, the 2018 MVP who depends on a wide selection of deliveries to ship the ball to his receivers.
Arizona’s Kyler Murray, who’s listed as three inches shorter than Willis, is one other who adjusts his arm place as wanted to get the ball out of his hand. He completed second within the league final season with a 69.2 completion proportion.
“You have bought to have the ability to transfer your ft and get your shoulders set,” Tennessee coach Mike Vrabel stated. “And you then train them that. Then sooner or later in time, they’ll exit and play and manufacture some performs on their very own and simply be proficient and be instinctive. There is a fantastic line between each of these.”
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Younger, the third general choose within the 2006 draft, was 6-foot-5 and had no points seeing downfield. But critics targeted on his failure to make the most of his dimension as a result of his throwing movement was not excessive, as was – on the time – thought-about crucial to play the place. Because of this, Titans coaches spent years making an attempt to “repair” his supply.
Nonetheless, Younger is certainly one of 5 Tennessee quarterbacks in the course of the Titans period to finish greater than 62 % of his passes in a season. He linked on 62.3 % in 2007, his first full season as a starter. His completion proportion dropped from yr to yr in three of the following 4 seasons and he by no means accomplished at the very least 60 % once more.
Greater than a decade later, the present teaching workers has a a lot completely different angle towards the topic with Willis, the third quarterback taken on this yr’s draft and the 86th general choice.
“I imply, we do not wish to coach robots,” Vrabel stated. “We definitely wish to ensure that we’re sound in what we’re doing. … We’ll attempt to coach them and train them, however then they go off play, and ensure that the outcomes are there.”
Willis’ number of throws is hardly a shock to anybody who paid consideration to him the final couple seasons at Liberty or scouted him as a part of the pre-draft course of.
“He exhibits the flexibility to throw off-platform and on the run, adjusting arm angle if wanted,” The NFL Draft Bible wrote in its pre-draft evaluation.
From Draft Wire: “He can throw at any angle, and when flushed from the pocket, Willis can ship off-balance throws from awkward positions, and nonetheless discover his goal.”
Added Professional Soccer Community: “He places glorious zip on the ball and might throw from a number of arm angles.”
It’s a completely different strategy for a Titans quarterback, and his coaches wouldn’t have it – or him – another manner.
“I find it irresistible,” O’Hara stated. “I train our guys, ‘If it is advisable use a distinct arm angle, do it. That is professional soccer.’”
At the very least, that is how it’s performed today.
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Tennessee
Titans OT Projected for All-Rookie Team
![Titans OT Projected for All-Rookie Team](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5397,h_3035,x_0,y_184/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/all_titans/01j1g9d9pq8zj17jnpp3.jpg)
The Tennessee Titans have revamped their offense for the upcoming season, and part of their upgrades have come in the form of some new players, some new to the team and others who have yet to play in the NFL.
One of those players is first-round rookie offensive tackle JC Latham, who the Titans took with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter listed his picks for the 2024 All-Rookie Team and tabbed Latham as the player at the tackle spot.
“Latham is another rookie tackle lining up at a new spot in the pros, moving to the left side with the Titans after stoutly holding down the right side at Alabama,” Reuter writes. “At 6-foot-6, 342 pounds, Latham will be a sturdy wall in pass protection for second-year quarterback Will Levis thanks to his wide base and 35 1/8-inch arms. Latham will also move defenders to create running lanes for new feature back Tony Pollard and backups Tyjae Spears and Hassan Haskins.”
Latham joined quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears), running backs Trey Benson (Arizona Cardinals) and Ray Davis (Buffalo Bills), wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals) and Xavier Worthy (Kansas City Chiefs), tight end Brock Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders), offensive linemen Joe Alt (Los Angeles Chargers), Jackson Powers-Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders), Tanor Bartolini (Indianapolis Colts) and Graham Barton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) on the list.
Latham was a right tackle at Alabama, but the Titans have plans for him to move to the left side to protect quarterback Will Levis’ blindside. He will have to adjust to the NFL level, but with offensive line coach Bill Callahan helping guide that transition, Latham is in extremely good and experienced hands.
Latham has been a coach in the NFL since the 1990’s and he was recently with the Cleveland Browns, who had one of the best units in the league last season. Now, Latham helps as an anchor for the Titans in the trenches as they look to improve from having one of the worst offensive lines in the league a year ago.
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Tennessee
Tennessee Lands Two Players in MLB Mock Drat
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The Tennessee Volunteers’ baseball program has landed two players in the latest 2024 MLB mock draft.
The Tennessee Volunteers took home the 2024 national championship after a historic season and the celebrations don’t look like they will be slowing down any time soon. The 2024 MLB draft is just a little over two weeks out from kicking off and the Volunteers have a couple of candidates that could go in the first round.
MLB.com released their latest version of a first-round 2024 MLB mock draft and two Volunteers were included on the list. Christian Moore was pinned as the 12th overall selection to the Boston Red Sox and Billy Amick 33rd overall to the Minnesota Twins in the supplemental first-round selections. Here is what the outlet wrote about Moore:
“Barring a surprise fall — perhaps Griffin or Rainer? — the Red Sox figure to dip into the second tier of college bats that begins with Tibbs and Moore, though Yesavage is also enticing. This is the ceiling for other members of that group, including Florida State third baseman Cam Smith, Wake Forest third baseman/outfielder Seaver King, Oklahoma State outfielder Carson Benge, Louisiana State third baseman Tommy White, North Carolina outfielder Vance Honeycutt and Kentucky outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt.”
Moore was one of the best players in Omaha this year. In the first game against Florida State, he became just the second player in college World Series history to hit for the cycle. He was a crucial piece to Tennessee’s national championship-winning team. Over his three years at Tennessee, Moore finished with a .338 batting average, 61 home runs, 160 RBI and 162 starts, which is ironically the same number of games in a full MLB regular season.
Since the college football season came to an end, it has been an eventful offseason for Tennessee athletics. The men’s basketball team made a deep run in the March Madness tournament, the baseball program won its first-ever national title, Dalton Knecht was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the NBA draft and now it looks like the Volunteers will add to that list when the MLB draft rolls around.
The MLB draft will start on July 14th and will run until July 16th. The draft will last 20 total rounds which will allow plenty of other opportunities for more Volunteers to be selected into the major league. The Volunteers have a history of success when it comes to the professional baseball league and it doesn’t look like the 2024 MLB draft will be any different than the previous years.
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