Tag: mason rudolph

Nick Holz: Titans are ‘ramping up’ Will Levis this week

Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz says they are ramping up Will Levis in the hopes that he feels well enough to play on Sunday.

The Tennessee Titans quarterback situation has been a major struggle in 2024. Will Levis, the starting quarterback, is in just his second year in the league. He took over for Ryan Tannehill last season, but he hasn’t adapted well under the new coaching staff. Whether that’s a coaching thing or a player thing doesn’t really matter, it’s a problem.

On top of that, Levis injured his shoulder in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins. That’s when Mason Rudolph took over and led the Titans to their first victory of the season. Then it was the bye week, then Levis returned only to tank against the Indianapolis Colts. It was revealed after the game that maybe he wasn’t 100%, and Brian Callahan decided to start Rudolph the last two weeks while Levis healed.

Today, Nick Holz addressed the media ahead of practice and discussed Levis’ potential return against the Los Angeles Chargers this week.

 

Asked about ramping up Levis, Holz replied, “Yep, ramped up yesterday, we were kind of in a slowed-down mode yesterday, but he ramped up yesterday and the plan is to ramp him up again today, and then kind of make our decision really tonight after practice of where he’s going to go.”

Holz went on to say that Levis’ reps will probably be 60/40 as they ramp him up, and they’ll see how he feels at full speed today.

Yes, it’s about how he feels, but that leaves the question: How do you reintegrate Levis back into the starting lineup with the progress that has been made?

“You know, I don’t think it’s all on Will, why the passing game has improved, or all on the quarterback position. I think our pass protection has been a lot better, the receivers’ drops are down, all our assignments, I feel like we’ve done all of those things well. So we kind of expect him to jump in with that progress where we’ve made the last couple weeks. You know I think there’s probably a bonus for him, kind of watching and learning, kind of taking a step back too and watching Mason play.”

It’s a definite bonus for Levis to watch Rudolph run the offense, but it’s probably premature to assume that Levis can step in without any backtracking. He is not Rudolph. There will be hiccups. If he gets in, we’ll see how much those hiccups impact the game.

Titans vs. Chargers: 3 causes for concern in Week 10

The Tennessee Titans square off in a Sunday battle against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10. Here are three reasons for concern.

The Tennessee Titans head west on Sunday to face the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Riding the momentum of their overtime win over the New England Patriots last week, the Titans look to continue their winning ways on the road.

But the 5-3 Chargers have their own agenda on Sunday, and they aren’t going down without a fight. The Chargers’ defense is tougher than the Patriots’ defense, and their offense is led by a more experienced quarterback in Justin Herbert than the Titans’ faced in Drake Maye.

This week’s matchup is different in a lot of ways, and while any team can win on any day, there are three causes for concern for the Titans heading into Week 10.

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Continued quarterback controversy

Even though Mason Rudolph was the quarterback in both of the Titans’ victories, head coach Brian Callahan still says that Will Levis will play if he’s healthy. Levis has been sidelined with a shoulder injury he sustained in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins. He returned after the bye week and failed to defeat the Indianapolis Colts, and he’s been on the injury report ever since.

The biggest problem with this scenario this week is that Lloyd Cushenberry, the Titans’ reliable center, is done for the season with an Achilles injury. So on top of not being sure who will be throwing the ball on Sunday, the Titans don’t know who will play center either. If Dillon Radunz is healthy, Daniel Brunskill gets the nod. If not, we see Corey Levin again, which did not go well last week.

The Titans’ offense has some critical questions to answer before kickoff on Sunday, and preparing for a game in these circumstances is less than ideal.

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Injuries continue to pile up

As mentioned above, Lloyd Cushenberry left last week’s game with an Achilles injury and his season is over. But he’s not the only one who’s dealing with an injury. The Titans have a slew of players on both sides of the ball with some kind of injury. Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley have been playing through injury, and so have Amani Hooker and T’Vondre Sweat. Three of the four offensive players on injured reserve are offensive linemen, and there are five additional players with a questionable status.

On defense, there are six players on injured reserve and two more with a questionable designation.

The Titans can barely field a team at this point, and while they managed to eke out a win last week, it’s not likely to be the same story this week

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The Chargers are not the Patriots

The Chargers are a much more established team than the Patriots. The Titans managed to overcome the Patriots in overtime, but the Chargers’ defense is much stronger. The Titans’ offensive line is in shambles, and they don’t know who the quarterback will be. The Chargers will exploit that and do everything they can to get to the quarterback. And, depending on who the quarterback is, they might find success.

L’Jarius Sneed sitting out with injury for a couple of weeks has paved the way for Amani Hooker and Mike Brown to make some plays, but the Titans would really like to get Sneed back on the field. The defensive front, save for T’Vondre Sweat, is relatively healthy, and the Titans will rely heavily on their strongest piece. But they can’t do it all, either.

The Chargers are one of those teams that is hard to gauge this season because of who they’ve played. Still, it won’t be an easy task for the Titans to walk away with a win on the road. We’ll see if they’re up to the task on Sunday.

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5 Titans players to watch in Week 10 vs. Chargers

The Chargers return home to face a Titans team that lacks a lot of top-tier talent, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.

Coming off consecutive victories, the Chargers return to home to face the 2-6 Titans in Week 10. The AFC South has struggled, primarily due to below-average play from the quarterback position.

Tennessee is coming off its second win of the season, albeit against a poor Patriots team. Here are some Titans players that the Chargers will still need to keep their eye on this Sunday to avoid a possible upset.

RB Tony Pollard

Tennessee was expected to have a split backfield this season, but Pollard has completely taken over the job. He’s looked like the 2022 version of himself as he seems to be fully healthy after a gruesome leg injury nearly 24 months ago. Pollard ranks 10th in the NFL in rushing with 622 yards, and he’s added on 135 receiving yards and three total touchdowns as well. The veteran is com

WR Calvin Ridley

Now that DeAndre Hopkins is gone, Ridley is the Titans’ only legitimate threat through the air. In fact, he’s the only Titan with more than 200 receiving yards. In eight games, the 2018 first-rounder has 27 catches for 399 yards and a touchdown. If the Chargers’ cornerback crew is able to slow down Ridley, they should have no problems limiting this Titans offense.

DL Jeffery Simmons

For years now, Simmons has been one of the game’s premier defensive linemen. Despite the team’s lack of success this season, he has still been excellent in every aspect. Simmons is the primary guy that the Chargers offensive line will have to account on every play this weekend. He’s been elite in stopping the run and has added in 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble as well.

S Amani Hooker

Hooker has quietly become one of the league’s most underrated safeties. He’s become a real playmaker for this defense throughout the season. Hooker has three interceptions, seven pass deflections, and two forced fumbles across eight starts. He may be asked to do even more moving forward, as the Titans lost fellow safety Quandre Diggs for the season last weekend.

CB L’Jarius Sneed

Chargers fans are familiar with this name, as Sneed spent four seasons with the Chiefs. He was traded to the Titans this past offseason and eventually signed to a four-year, $76.4 million extension. So far, the deal has looked like a bust. Pro Football Focus has rated him as one of the worst corners in the NFL this season. He’s played just five games due to injuries, but even when he’s been active, the veteran has been ineffective. With how hot the Chargers offense has been lately, look for Justin Herbert to attack Sneed’s side early and often, no matter who he’s guarding.

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 10 opponent: Titans

Here are some important things to know about the Titans ahead of the Week 10 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are at home to face the Titans on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 1:05 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 10 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Titans are 2-6 on the season. Tennessee snapped a three-game losing streak after beating the Patriots last Sunday.

Porous passing game

The Chargers shouldn’t have to worry about the Titans presenting a problem through the air. Tennessee currently ranks 31st in passing offense, averaging 170.8 yards per game. Mason Rudolph has served as the Titans’ starting quarterback in the last three games, while Will Levis has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. Rudolph had his most productive outing last weekend, throwing for over 200 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Tennessee is hopeful that Levis can play this weekend. In five games, Levis has completed 66.4% of his passes for 699 yards and five TDs to seven interceptions.

Ground game is working

While the Titans’ passing attack hasn’t been efficient, their offense has benefited from the running game. Tennessee is 12th in that department, averaging 125.6 YPG. Tony Pollard, who was acquired this past offseason, has been a key playmaker in the team’s offense. Pollard has rushed for 622 yards and three scores, with an average of 4.4 yards per carry.

Stiff defense

You can’t attribute the Titans losing as many games as they have to their defense. Tennessee ranks No. 1 in total defense and passing defense. They’re also third in yards per play allowed and 11th against the run. However, they’re allowing a handful of points, as opponents are averaging 26.6 PPG (26th). This speaks to their struggles in the red zone, as the Titans are 26th in this category.

Look out for…

Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. The Chargers’ interior offensive line has struggled this season, and Simmons can give them fits. Simmons generated a season-high seven pressures and a sack on 37 pass rushes in Week 9 against the Patriots, including three pressures in under 2.5 seconds.

Titans vs. Lions: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 8

The Tennessee Titans take on the Detroit Lions this Sunday afternoon in Week 8 and here are three reasons for optimism.

The Tennessee Titans are coming off a debilitating loss to the Buffalo Bills and are in desperation mode. Their anemic offense will now be without wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was traded away earlier in the week.

Even their top-ranked defense will have a massive hole, as the team traded starting linebacker Ernest Jones as well. None of this sets up well for a game against one of the most complete and explosive teams in the NFL: The Detroit Lions.

It’s hard for fans to remain optimistic right now. The team is losing, appears headed toward a rebuild, and questions about the coaching staff continue to arise.

Still, for Titans fans, there are some slight reasons for optimism in Week 8, and here are three of them.

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Series dominance

The Titans have history on their side as they travel north to face the Lions. The Titans are undefeated against the Lions since the team relocated to Tennessee in 1997. During that span, they are 6-0, last beating the Lions in 2020. The last time the Titans had history on their side was against the Miami Dolphins, where they continued their undefeated Monday Night Football streak for their lone win of the season. It’s not much, but it’s something.

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Trap game emotions

Looking at the schedule, this game may be set up perfectly for the Titans. The Lions are coming off a huge divisional win, knocking off the undefeated Minnesota Vikings, and next week will be facing division rival Green Bay in a critical NFC North battle. Trap games are more prevalent in the NCAA, but they do happen in the NFL and this game sets up as a prime example. Football is an emotional game and the NFL does live up to the “any given Sunday” mantra every week. Titans fans hope that happens this week.

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Time of possession

It’s a subtle thing that in the grand scheme of things is often misleading, but in this case, it may be one facet of the game for the Titans to focus on. Even with all of the offensive struggles, the Titans have done a good job of maintaining a time-of-possession advantage. Even in their Week 7 debacle against the Bills, they held a six-minute advantage.

With likely starter quarterback Mason Rudolph having a full week of first-team reps, the offense could continue that trend this week. When you couple that with a stout Titans defense taking on a Lions offense down a significant playmaker with wide receiver Jameson Williams being suspended, it could come into play.

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Titans OC Nick Holz: ‘We’ve got to be able to adjust’

Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz adressed the media one day after the team traded away star WR DeAndre Hopkins.

Thursday is always an entertaining day around the NFL. It’s the day that coordinators typically speak with the media. It was no different today as Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz spoke to the media. 

With this being the first time Holz met with the media since the team traded away WR DeAndre Hopkins, the focus was destined to be on that and the wide receiver position as a whole. While that did happen, with Holz mentioning that the team is “pressing” to get the ball to Calvin Ridley as well as players such as Mason Kinsey and Bryce Oliver potentially seeing increased reps, it was what he said about the defenses they’ve been facing that are truly interesting. 

This is a comment that might not be backed up by fact. Earlier in the week, Next Gen Stats released the nugget that RB Tony Pollard was the only featured running back in the NFL that did not face a stacked box against the Bills. He followed that with this.

Again, this goes against the data about stacked boxes, although the two comments together could explain the reason. If the Titans are using max-protections and limiting the number of receivers in routes, they could be inadvertently torpedoing their rushing attack. 

It is clear the coaching staff has struggled with making adjustments, especially after halftime, and this exchange with the media points to those deficiencies. Not only does this staff have to make better game plans, but they must also be better in-game, and the Titans will continue to have a dismal outlook until that happens. 

Find out if any adjustments have been made on Sunday when likely starter Mason Rudolph leads the Titans against the Detroit Lions in Week 8 action.

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Titans vs. Lions: 3 causes for concern in Week 8

The Tennessee Titans head to Michigan to face the Detroit Lions on Sunday and here are three causes for concern heading into Week 8.

This Sunday, the Tennessee Titans head to Michigan to face the Detroit Lions. The Titans are 1-5 after six games, while the Lions are 5-1 and lead the NFC North division.

As much as the Buffalo Bills and Titans were polar opposites in Week 7, the Lions and Titans are equally as opposite. Jared Goff has exploded onto the scene as a reliable and consistent leader on the field. David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs are sharing time and making the most of it. Even with the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, the Lions’ defense still presents a problem for the Titans.

The Titans have their work cut out for them on the road and there are three major causes for concern in Week 8.

Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images

Offensive woes are a persistent problem

Titans head coach Brian Callahan admits there’s a problem at right tackle. Leroy Watson played well against Indianapolis and didn’t allow a single sack but was penalized twice which resulted in Nicholas Petit-Frere getting back on the field against Buffalo. And we all know how that went.

On top of the offensive line issues, the Titans just traded away their top receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Kansas City Chiefs. This still leaves them with Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. And with Treylon Burks on injured reserve (IR), rookie Jha’Quan Jackson will likely see some playing time.

The thing is, if the quarterback, which looks to be Mason Rudolph as of right now, can’t get the ball to the receivers, then it doesn’t matter which receivers are on the field. Rudolph struggled against Buffalo in Week 7, and Week 8 against the Lions isn’t going to be any different.

Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images

Defensive changes will impact on-field play

The Titans traded away Ernest Jones IV on Wednesday. It was the second trade of the day, and this one had a bigger impact than the Hopkins trade. Jones was a leader among the defense, he is second in tackles behind Kenneth Murray Jr., and while he hasn’t recorded any sacks this season, his presence on the field will be missed.

On top of that trade, the Titans made it known that Harold Landry III is on the trading block and the team is open to offers. Landry will still go out there and play and he will do his job to the best of his ability, but that has to be in the back of his head and could affect how well he plays on Sunday.

The Titans’ defense is riddled with injuries, and with how this season started, it’s clear that Ran Carthon is looking forward and brushing this season off as a loss. Whether that’s his intention or not, that’s the perception, and you better believe it impacts how every player on the team performs.

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The locker room is frustrated, morale is down

Losing games. Trading key players. The same problems happening week after week. The Titans’ locker room is frustrated, and it’s not just the receivers. No one likes losing, and the people who are most impacted by the losses are the players trying their hardest on the field. There is nothing more frustrating as an athlete than doing your own part and doing everything in your power to win a game, only to lose it because of coaching or front office issues.

That’s where the Titans are this week. Brian Callahan’s inability to make in-game adjustments has cost them at least three of their six games. Ran Carthon’s decision to trade both Hopkins and Jones feels like a gut punch,and is a clear indication that the Titans are going to rebuild, and they’re starting now.

When players are frustrated, they don’t play well. When they don’t play well, their mood comes down and turns to anger. Continuing to lose amplifies those feelings. Carthon just dropped a match on a tinder box filled to the brim, and it’s going to explode. Probably on Sunday if (when) they lose.

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Mason Rudolph to start at quarterback for Titans in Week 7 vs. Bills

Mason Rudolph will replace the injured Will Levis at quarterback for the Titans in Week 7.

Is the Will Levis era already over in Tennessee?

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Titans will start veteran Mason Rudolph at quarterback on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills as Levis continues to deal with a shoulder injury. Levis was ruled out for Sunday’s game, and the Titans signed quarterback Trevor Siemian from the practice squad to back up Rudolph.

Head coach Brian Callahan said before that if Levis were healthy, he’d be the starter. So, unless Rudolph lights it up in Buffalo, Levis will likely be back in the lineup once his shoulder is 100% healthy.

Tennessee signed Siemian to its practice squad on Oct. 9. The 10-year NFL veteran has played in 40 career games, with 33 starts, including three last season with the New York Jets.

Rudolph’s first appearance this season came in Tennessee’s only win, a Week 4 victory over Miami. Rudolph relieved Levis, which is where he suffered the initial shoulder injury. Rudolph completed nine of 17 pass attempts for 85. He didn’t need to do much as the Titans leaned on Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears and the defense.

Former Steelers’ QB set to make first 2024 start for Titans in Week 7

Mason Rudolph, the man who almost saved the Steelers 2023 post-season aspirations, is set to make his first Tenessee Titans start in Week 7.

Russell Wilson isn’t the only quarterback this week making his season debut start, as former Steelers QB Mason Rudolph is taking over signal-calling duties in Week 7. Rudolph will make his first start for the Tennessee Titans, as their former starting QB Will Levis is currently nursing a shoulder injury.

Mason Rudolph almost single-handedly revitalized the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense at the end of the 2023 season and led the team to a playoff berth against the Buffalo Bills in the 2023 AFC Wild Card game. While Rudolph couldn’t finish the job and help the ‘Steel City’ achieve their aspirations of a seventh Lombardi trophy, and would ultimately leave Pittsburgh the following offseason, Rudolph holds a special place in the hearts of Steelers fans.

Pittsburgh and their ‘Steel City’ faithful wish Rudolph all the luck in the world as he leads his Titans to take on the Buffalo Bills on October 20th at 1:00 PM EST.

It’s clear: Will Levis is not the answer at quarterback for the Titans

It’s clear: Will Levis is not the guy for the Titans.

It’s clear, Titans fans: Will Levis is not the answer at the quarterback position in Nashville.

Sure, Levis has technically only had four complete games this season, but what we’ve seen so far will be hard, if not impossible, to return from.

The Titans are sitting at 1-4, and Levis is at or near the bottom of the league in almost every passing category. Last year, it was easy to give Levis the benefit of the doubt. The Titans had a terrible offensive line and an uninspiring group of pass-catchers.

That’s exactly why the Titans spent more money in free agency than any other team this offseason. Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, Tony Pollard, and Lloyd Cushenberry were brought in to alleviate some of these issues. How has Levis responded to the improved talent? The QB has played even worse.

Is Will Levis holding the Titans back?

Much of the discourse around Levis in 2023 was that the poor roster was holding him back. Could it be the exact opposite in 2024?

Looking at the Titans’ offense, this is not a roster that should have one of the league’s most anemic offenses. The Titans are 21st in points per game, 31st in passing yards per game, and 22nd in passing touchdowns per game.

Levis averages just 5.6 yards per attempt, putting him behind QBs like Skylar Thompson, Spencer Rattler, Daniel Jones, Andy Dalton, and Drake Maye. The QB is 30th in passing yards with just 699 through four complete games.

Putting up numbers like this with the weapons at Levis’ disposal is inexcusable. DeAndre Hopkins is a future Hall of Famer, who is barely making an impact. In the past, Calvin Ridley has been a 1,000-yard WR who didn’t record a single catch in Week 6.

Finally, Levis’s major problem has been turnovers. Levis leads the league with seven interceptions, even as the quarterback has played two fewer complete games than some passers.

Every game, there’s a head-scratching turnover by the QB. This hasn’t gotten better as the season goes on. It cannot be blamed on the offensive line either, considering Levis wasn’t sacked a single time on Sunday.

Barring the turnaround of a lifetime, it’s clear that Levis is not the answer at QB. The choice now is does the team keep trotting Levis out and hope to land a top pick in the 2025 NFL draft? Or does the team turn to Mason Rudolph and try to salvage a season with a ton of money invested?