Under head coach Mike Vrabel, the Tennessee Titans were renowned as one of the most physical offenses in the NFL. Obviously, things are going to change a little bit after the team lost superstar running back Derrick Henry to the Baltimore Ravens but this is a team that desperately needs an extra push. While everyone expects former Cincinnati offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to focus on wide receiver, it is possible that he wants to stick with the current mentality of this roster.
Tennessee Titans Make Push to Aggressive Style of Play
Finally, the Tennessee Titans appear to have made an aggressive move to protect quarterback Will Levis when they selected University of Alabama first-round tackle J.C. Latham with the 6th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Latham has been outstanding during his career at the SEC juggernaut and will look to make a name for himself in the NFL.
Latham is a physical marvel as he sits at 6’6″ and 342 pounds of raw athleticism on the right side of the offensive line. He has outstanding strength as a run blocker and will be able to make an impact immediately at the point of attack. Even though his size points to him being more of a mauler, Latham was renowned in college for being an outstanding pass blocker. He shows solid technique and quickness in his pass sets and his biggest weakness has been that he has a tendency to overset against elite rushers. If offensive line coach Frank Pollack can work with him to solve that, he could be a truly special player.
Latham will likely step in at right tackle and pair with right tackle Dillon Radunz. It is presumed that Latham would take the left tackle position and anchor this offensive line for the foreseeable future. While that may be an abnormal role for a rookie tackle, Latham will be outstanding on the left side for a long time and will be excellent in both the running and passing attack.
Latham will have the opportunity to learn from an outstanding group of offensive linemen that includes offensive tackle Dillon Radunz, guard Peter Skoronski, and center Lloyd Cushenburry. While offensive linemen are never the most appealing pick to the fans, Tennessee fans who have grown tired of watching the running game fall apart will likely be celebrating late tonight that the team finally invested in their aggressive style of play. Highlights of the new member of the Bengals during his time at the collegiate level can be seen below.
Latham will join a division that includes outstanding pass rushers. At left tackle for Tennessee, he will likely face talented players like Josh Allen and Will Anderson. It will be interesting to see over the next few years exactly how well Latham will handle the situation.
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