Titans’ Malik Willis making strides in Year 2 amid QB battle

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It was the ultimate day of OTAs and the Tennessee Titans have been engaged on their crimson zone offense. Coach Mike Vrabel declared the down and distance.

“Third-and-4 from the 5-yard line,” Vrabel yelled.

Second-year quarterback Malik Willis broke the huddle and scanned the protection. As he went by his cadence, he noticed the protection shift.

However that did not influence his skill to decipher the place he was going with the soccer.

Willis noticed a window of alternative and delivered a stupendous drop shot within the again nook of the top zone earlier than receiver Mason Kinsey made his break. Kinsey accelerated away from his defender and hauled within the cross.

Vrabel signaled landing and blew the whistle to finish observe. It was an ideal method for the Titans to wrap up OTAs and minicamp.

For Willis, there was a contemporary aura of consolation and confidence when he checked into St. Thomas Sports activities Park to start out offseason actions.

“It’s positively completely different from final 12 months,” Willis added. “I feel when you will have a complete 12 months of doing one thing, you simply get somewhat extra comfy doing it.”

That hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates.

“He appears much more assured within the huddle,” mentioned tight finish Chigoziem Okonkwowho can also be coming into his second 12 months. “When he is calling the performs and together with his reads, he is much more decisive with the ball.”

Veteran incumbent starter Ryan Tannehill added that Willis has been “in control of the offense, throwing the ball precisely and … taking part in quick.”

This model of Willis is a stark distinction from the participant who struggled to a 1-2 file by three begins final season. That participant was unable to register a 100-yard passing recreation and had extra interceptions (three) than landing passes (zero).

However all of these struggles cannot be positioned solely on Willis’ shoulders.

The Titans traded as much as draft the quarterback out of Liberty within the third spherical final 12 months, and, regardless of being one of many highest-rated at his place within the draft, he was put into the mission class — as Tennessee deliberate to develop him from the bottom up. However that developmental course of was accelerated when Willis beat out Logan Woodside for the backup quarterback spot in coaching camp final 12 months.

Tennessee was assured in Tannehill’s sturdiness as a result of he hadn’t missed a recreation since he grew to become the starter halfway by the 2019 season, however Willis was compelled into motion when Tannehill suffered an ankle harm in Week 7 in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts that will preserve him out of Week 8’s matchup in opposition to the Houston Texans.

Regardless of going by a crash course entrance to the NFL, Willis refused to make any excuses for his struggles.

“It is a results-oriented enterprise,” Willis mentioned.

The outcomes?

The Titans misplaced their ultimate seven video games of season — going 1-4 in video games Tannehill did not begin — and missed the playoffs after a Week 18 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars sealed their destiny.

New basic supervisor Ran Carthon made an effort to assist bolster the quarterback room when Tennessee traded up for the second 12 months in a row to take Kentucky quarterback Will Levis with the No. 33 decide.

Regardless of that, Vrabel did notice that Willis could be Tannehill’s backup coming into OTAs and minicamp, making Levis third on the depth chart, however said that the two of them will have to battle for the backup spot.

In Willis’ thoughts, nevertheless, he is not competing with anybody aside from the model of himself from yesterday. All he desires to do is make enhancements from in the future to the subsequent, one thing new Titans quarterback coach/passing recreation coordinator Charles London has echoed.

Willis likes the best way the coaches do not let him get comfy and push him to be extra pressing. For instance, Willis appears to thrive when issues go off schedule and he can freelance quite than keep throughout the construction of the play.

The coaches challenged Willis to execute every play throughout the scheme, although. When the play requires Willis to eliminate the ball, he’s working to let it rip in rhythm. Throwing with anticipation as an alternative of ready for the receiver to get open is without doubt one of the areas the place the Titans imagine Willis has made an enchancment, as proven by his throw to Kinsey.

After ending OTAs on a excessive notice, Willis will work together with his coach, Quincy Avery, with the expectation of choosing up proper the place he left off when the Titans return for coaching camp in July.

“He cannot come again right here on the finish of July and we now have to start out from scratch once more,” London mentioned. “He should proceed to enhance and grasp the offense so after we come again we will hit the bottom operating.”