How Titans QB Will Levis prepared for his historic NFL debut

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis reported to the team’s facility at St. Thomas Ascension Sports Park every Monday on his day off for the first six weeks of the season.

The goal of choice No. 33 in the 2023 draft? To get throws with receivers and prepare for when he will be called into action. He didn’t know when that moment would come, but Colton Dowell, a 2023 seventh-round pick who was one of the receivers working with Levis, called the experience a “QB training program.”

The coaching staff found different ways to gradually bring Levis in while splitting scout team reps with Malik Willis and watching starter Ryan Tannehill run the offense. The program was part of Lévis’ preparation work to know when (or if) his number would be called. That moment happened in Week 8 in a win over the Atlanta Falcons, and the bright lights will be on Levis when the Titans (3-4) hit the road to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (4- 4) Thursday evening (8:15). 1 p.m. ET, Prime Video).

The Titans traded up eight draft spots in April to select Levis with Kentucky’s No. 2 second-round pick. Levis and Willis competed during the first part of training camp for the backup role until Levis suffered a left thigh injury during joint practices, which sidelined him for the last two preseason games and made it difficult to pass Willis on the depth chart.

With Tannehill out due to a sprained right ankle, the coaching staff was forced to accelerate Levis’ development. They had two weeks off in Week 7, after Tannehill was injured in their Week 6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in London. Willis entered the game when Tannehill went down in the fourth quarter and played the final two drives. He completed four of five passes for 74 yards, but struggled to find receivers and was sacked four times – all on the final drive.

Tennessee then turned to Levis, who was ready to take advantage of the opportunity. He completed 19 of 29 pass attempts for 238 yards and four touchdowns, and the 28-23 victory marked the most points the Titans have scored since the final game of the 2021 season – which is also the last time that a Titans quarterback threw four. touchdowns in a single game.

Lévis became the third quarterback to throw four touchdowns in his debut, joining Fran Tarkenton (Minnesota Vikings, 1961) and Marcus Mariota (Titans, 2015).

The bye proved beneficial for Lévis’ preparation as a starter after not seeing any live action since the first preseason game on August 12. Coach Mike Vrabel said if Tannehill couldn’t go, Levis and Willis would split time at quarterback. Both stayed put during the bye and threw passes to receiver Treylon Burks, who was preparing to return to the lineup after missing the previous three games with a left knee injury.

“Our bye week could have been a little different than the other teams,” Lévis said. “We stayed in and did a lot of work. It was important for us to have those reps with guys we hadn’t had a lot of work with. It definitely built confidence.”

On the first drive, Levis got a first down via the quarterback on the third play of the game, but Vrabel’s plan to play both quarterbacks in place of Tannehill changed on the next play when a high snap from the center Aaron Brewer passed into the hands of Willis. and was recovered by the Falcons at the Tennessee 28-yard line.

The Titans turned to Levis for most of the remaining snaps.

VRABEL NAMED TANNEHILL the starter before rookie minicamp and designated Willis as his backup. But Vrabel left the door open for Willis and Levis to compete for the position.

Willis, who the Titans also traded for in the 2022 draft before taking him in the third round, won the backup job last season but struggled when pressed for duty. He went 1-2 in three starts and was replaced by veteran Joshua Dobbs, whom Tennessee signed 12 days before making him the starter.

Willis was named the backup this season, but that didn’t deter Levis, and the coaching staff explored different ways to bring in their young quarterbacks while focusing on each week’s opponent.

“We’re trying to keep these guys alive, with full speed throws,” Vrabel said. “I’m trying to find a way to develop the young quarterbacks. We’re doing live throws to them on Mondays with guys who aren’t playing in the game or practicing with the guys on the team.”

Levis and Willis would stay after practice and do reps with practice squad receivers and other pass catchers who don’t typically play on game day.

Vrabel outlined how the group would go over the game plan for the week, call plays as a group and line up in the different formations as they went around the field.

“It’s just about trying to find different ways to make sure they’re ready and improving and developing because we only have a limited number of guys to play with. run reps at full speed,” Vrabel said.

Those sessions were key in helping Levis, who underwent minor surgery in June to improve his distance vision, learn the offense. He said there was “a certain comfort with the playbook” and the different concepts implemented by the Titans.

“I feel really comfortable with the things we put in place during camp,” Levis said, “and we added some new things as well.”

WHILE SPLITTING REPETITIONS With the scouting team during the week, Vrabel emphasized that quarterbacks don’t just read calls off a card to prepare the defense. Lévis was asked to operate the offensive as his own rather than as the reconnaissance report dictated.

“I don’t care where the defense wants you to throw the ball,” Vrabel said in Levis. “Just throw it to the guy that’s open, take control of the group, make sure you practice all the things you want to practice while you’re running our offense.”

The Titans defense wasn’t surprised by Levis’ success because that’s what he did consistently in practice.

“He’s not afraid to let loose,” Titans cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting said.

The coaching staff looked at the scout team representatives every Saturday morning and evaluated Levis.

Titans quarterbacks coach Charles London said he’s noticed Levis has developed a complete understanding of what the offense is trying to do. He also highlighted how Levis’ calls and processing have become faster despite the lack of representatives.

“He didn’t get all the reps that the starter did,” London said. “But he and Malik took reps from the scout team and gave a great overview of our defense. But they also have to know our games like the back of their hand. I like where his learning curve is going.”

Offensive coordinator Tim Kelly was confident enough not to scale back the game plan against the Falcons, even though it was Lévis’ first start.

“It’s just a testament to his presence and the fact that he came to study and take advantage of his ability to sit down a little bit and really learn to make sure he had the offense down pat,” said Kelly.

A subtle detail that helped receiver DeAndre Hopkins, whose three touchdown receptions this season all came on Sunday, get open for one of the scores was when Levis used a pump fake to make the safety bite Richie Grant on a double move from Hopkins, allowing him to go free in the secondary.

“Will practices the moves you see,” Hopkins said. “He approaches every practice rep like a game rep. He demands the same from us.”

Having played in the SEC, Levis has heard loud stadiums, but being in front of rowdy Steelers fans is something he looks forward to experiencing.

“Playing or not, I have this game circled on the calendar just because of the quality of the environment,” Lévis said Tuesday. “We’re ready to deal with it. I’m just excited to go out there and figure it all out and do my thing.”