'It doesn't bother me at all' - Former NFL head coach explains why Titans shouldn't be concerned by rocky start for key lineman

The Tennessee Titans have spent a ton of money and resources the past couple years on the renovation of their offensive line, which appears to be "finished" just in time to protect Cam Ward this year. The final touch was made this spring, when the front office went after former Lions RG Kevin Zeitler.

Zeitler was fantastic last year. PFF ranked both he and Titans LG Peter Skoronski as top-20 guards heading into the 2025 season. Despite being 35 years old, the grizzled veteran has still got it. Or... does he?

Zeitler's first couple days in pads haven't been the best in the world. After taking OTA's off as a part of his acclimation and offseason physical management at his age, he's been back in action for just these first two weeks of Training Camp so far. And after the first two days in pads, some were already wondering if he is going to be as sure of a thing as we all have expected him to be. But Coach Mac of Titans Radio went on with Blaine and Zach on 104.5 The Zone this week, and he gave a great example of why he's not worried about Zeitler one bit.

“Remember that narrative when we brought in Rodger Saffold, you remember what everybody was talking about back then? ‘What's wrong with him?’ He's on the ground. People get knocked back. I said, Look, Rodger, he's a veteran. He's getting used to this coaching technique. He's getting used to working next to Taylor Lewan, just give it a minute. And I mean, if you've got that much water in your bucket as a player, and especially a veteran player that's trying to fit into someplace new, it doesn't bother me at all.”

I agree completely. You've got to "keep your powder dry" on Kevin Zeitler for a while, as Coach Mac himself would say. This is an old man on that NFL old man regimen. He knows how to get himself to opening day. He knows how best to ramp himself up. And he's behind the eight ball a hair right now, catching up from not working with the team in the spring. But he's a pro's pro who has absolutely earned the right to be trusted to handle himself. He's also in the middle of learning a new system with some new techniques from coach Bill Callahan. Mac continued:

“I've had that happen several times in my career, where I brought veterans in, they're trying to fit in. They find the groove pretty soon… You've got a double-digit year, all star NFL player that you just need to listen to.”

The day I'll begin to worry about Kevin Zeitler is the first time he struggles in a real game. Until then, he's the least of my worries in training camp.