Why the Titans have to journey with QB Will Levis — turnovers and all

When Will Levis threw a pick-six within the Titans‘ Week 3 loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers, persevering with his propensity for turnovers to begin the season, Brian Callahan wasn’t offended. Not like we noticed throughout his outburst on the sideline after Levis’ unbelievable misplaced fumble in scoring place towards the New York Jets, when cameras caught the rookie head coach yelling, “What the f— are you doing?” Or after Levis’ reckless, nail-in-the-coffin pick-six within the season opener towards the Chicago Bears.�

In Week 3, Callahan checked out Jaire Alexander‘s 35-yard interception return as only a good play made by an All-Professional-caliber cornerback. Alexander jumped the route completely after sitting on it, Callahan defined. He noticed nothing mistaken timing-wise between Levis and the supposed receiver, DeAndre Hopkins.�

“That wasn’t a silly mistake in any respect,” Callahan stated postgame.�

“Will did some actually good issues on this recreation, I assumed.”

Callahan’s perspective popping out of Week 3 ought to function a reminder of what needs to be the Titans’ overarching aim for this season: determining if Levis is the man or not. Meaning using with him for the total season, bumps and all, persevering with Monday evening towards the Miami Dolphins. �

The giveaways are inconceivable to disregard, in fact. The disastrous ones are seared into the brains of Titans followers. Levis leads the NFL with eight turnovers, together with 5 interceptions (tied for second-most) and three misplaced fumbles (tied for the NFL-high). He is had a number of giveaways in every of Tennessee’s video games thus far, together with three in each Weeks 1 and three.�

That is why, simply three video games into Levis’ second season, some league observers are already questioning his viability to be the Titans’ long-term quarterback.�

“We gotta get it fastened,” Callahan stated of the turnovers. “No matter that appears like. Nevertheless that appears, it would not actually matter. We won’t lead the league in turnovers on the quarterback place and anticipate to win quite a lot of video games, in order that half has bought to get higher.”

However you may’t take a look at the negatives with out contemplating the positives.�

Levis has flashed promise amid the turnover struggles. Getting into Week 4, he was 14th in completion fee (68.1%), tied for ninth in landing passes (4) and eleventh in landing fee (4.3%) among the many 31 certified quarterbacks, based on Professional Soccer Reference.�

That has come regardless of poor go safety. The suitable deal with job has turn out to be an open competitors after simply three video games. Levis has been sacked 15 occasions, which earlier than Sunday’s video games trailed solely the Cleveland Browns‘ Deshaun Watson, and had misplaced extra yards to sacks than some other quarterback within the league (101) getting into Week 4. Levis has confronted a league-high 13.7% sack fee, per Professional Soccer Reference.�

Remember that Levis has began simply 12 NFL video games. His completion fee, landing fee and passing success fee are all pacing higher than when he was a rookie.�

Hopkins, his favourite goal final season, was slowed to begin the season because of a training-camp knee damage. After having simply two receptions on three targets for 17 yards and no scores within the first two video games mixed, Hopkins in Week 3 had six catches on seven targets for 73 yards and a landing. That needs to be a connection Levis can lean on shifting ahead, as he continues to be taught what it takes to be an NFL beginning quarterback.�

Although he confirmed frustration with the second-year quarterback the primary couple video games, Callahan stays assured in Levis as QB1.�

“We now have to play higher round him,” Callahan stated.�

The Titans would acquire nothing from benching Levis. If the aim is to search out out if he might be your franchise quarterback, you give him the total yr as a showcase. If the turnover problem persists, he can play you right into a prime draft choose that may doubtlessly be used to take a quarterback in 2025. As certainly one of two groups with out a win, the Titans are within the very early race for the No. 1 total choose.�

However that is not the place Tennessee is at proper now. It is nonetheless early within the season, October knocking on the door. With a first-year head coach and new coordinators implementing a brand new scheme on a roster that has undergone a lot turnover, the Titans are nonetheless studying about themselves.�

That technique of discovering an id takes priority over any definitive evaluation of Levis at the moment.�

“I might say there’s an urgency,” Callahan stated. “There’s an urgency to get the issues that should be fastened and make enhancements quick. And once more, I feel that is what makes groups good on this league is how shortly you may repair a difficulty and the way pressing you’re to get it completed. You solely bought 17 weeks to get all of it completed.”

Levis’ teammates stay assured in him.�

“He is underneath quite a lot of stress and issues like that,” broad receiver Tyler Boyd stated final week. “We all know that he is been by way of lots with social media and … he is attempting to dam that out and on the identical time, play good. However on the finish of the day, we simply need to have his again. Similar to he has our again.”

And Levis stays assured in himself.�

“I feel it is simple to form of be within the ‘Woe is me. What am I doing mistaken? Am I not ok?'” Levis stated. “You possibly can by no means let that precisely seep into your mind. You have to come again and simply remind your self of what sort of participant you’re and what bought you thus far.”�

Solely time will inform if that is ok to be the Titans’ franchise quarterback.�

Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was theTitans beat author for a yr and a half. He coated the�Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You possibly can observe Ben on Twitter at�@benyarthur.

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