Game overview:
Battle of the backups here...battle of the backup QBs, decent backup QBs...which made me hope there would be more offensive fireworks, but it was a pretty tame, sputtering game performance on both sides.
There was more energy on the Titans side...second week in a row that the mood/vibe on the Titans is upbeat and energetic. Seattle was fine here but more subdued.
It ended up a battle of field goals, the Titans hit a 45-yarder at the buzzer to ‘win it’.
Scouting Notes from the game:
-- Howell v. Willis...
Thinking back to January 2022, for the early mainstream NFL mock drafts...this would have been a battle of the #1-2 picks in that draft for many of them...by March they would be scurrying from that initial scouting/ranking (which just goes to show how unscientific and rife with error football evaluators are at the professional level). Here we are 2.5 years later, and it’s a joke of a matchup...a battle of clear backups fighting to even be relevant backups.
Sam Howell (11-14 for 153 yards, 1 TD/0 INT) was OK against the Titans B-team D. Throws a crisp ball but is not playing quality NFL starting QB football. He’s the spotty backup with a nice arm guy. I don’t see any great future here for Dynasty.
Speaking of spotty backups with nice arms...Malik Willis (12-16 for 116 yards, 0 TD/1 INT, 4-30-0) has a howitzer for an arm. He’s right-handed Michael Vick with a thicker frame, but not as outright fast but can break more tackles. Both had frozen rope arms with little control over their fastballs, or off-speed pitches.
Willis is vastly improved under Brian Callahan’s regime; his passes are much more accurate than the Vrabel years...but he’s still just ‘backup good’. I think he has a Dynasty pulse because at his best, he’s better than Howell as a passer...and for sure better as a runner. But Willis has to get better as a passer or isn’t ever going to matter on purpose. He’ll be the #3 QB here in 2024, still working on his craft going into 2025...and then his 2026 free agency.
-- Titans RB report...
Julius Chestnut (13-45-0, 2-29-0/2) is going to be the Titans #3 back...the power back who may see regular season time as a short yardage back, but more likely Will Levis will take a bunch of QB sneak TDs. The extra hidden upside of Levis is not only his passing talents, but his rushing TD grit/power...especially on a QB sneak.
UDFA rookie Jabari Small (7-13-0, 4-24-0) looks like he’s ahead of career-fade Haason Haskins (5-13-0, 0-0-0/1)...if there is a #4 RB kept, which is doubtful.
-- It’s the annual ‘we’re gonna make Laviska Shenault (1-5-0, 3-27-0/3) a thing’ time of the year...this year it’s the ‘Seattle edition’. Yes, the coaches and media are talking about the creative ways they can use Shenault.
Man, I’ve never heard that before...except for all the times I’ve heard it on the last 10 teams he’s been on, in like the last 5 years. But don’t worry...Seattle’s the one that has got this figured out...
-- Titans receiver report...
Rookie Jha’Quan Jackson (4-57-0/4) is heating up as a WR who will make this roster and be a primary return man. FF 2024 is probably not Jackson’s time, but he will likely be a starter or rotational starter in 2025. He’s the Titans ‘Tyreek’ (they think)...but not near as talented.
Rookie UDFA TE, that we like, David Martin-Robinson (3-38-0/4) booked another solid game. He might make this 53-man roster, but I think the practice squad is the safe bet. https://titansized.com/posts/titans-have-new-front-runner-for-biggest-training-camp-surprise-01j5r5r6krfb
-- IDP notes...
Seattle rookie ILB Tyrice Knight (8 tackles, 1 TFL)...another week where he doesn’t look like the aggressive college version of himself. Losing faith here.
Titans rookie, that we like, ILB Cedric Gray (no stats)...I’m not sure if he even played here. I am just noting him because he seems like he’s falling off with the new staff, according to my conversations.
-- Kicker report...
Titans rookie UDFA kicker Brayden Narveson went 3/3 on FG attempts, including a 45-yard game winner as time expired. He’s in a battle with Nick Folk, and this was definitely a help to try and take down the incumbent.
