The Tennessee Titans are enduring an incredibly disappointing season right now. The rookie class has also proven that general manager Ran Carthon enjoyed a quality offseason in the talent acquisition department. Both of those statements can be true.
Calvin Ridley stepped up after the DeAndre Hopkins trade and had a monster game against the Detroit Lions. Despite his struggles, Ridley is on pace for a 1,000-yard season. So is fellow free-agent addition Tony Pollard.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jeffery Simmons and Arden Key had breakout showings versus the Lions despite the lopsided final score.
However, the best thing the Titans have going for them is their young talent. Rookie blocker JC Latham and defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat are beginning to receive national attention for their consistent outputs.
The 33rd Team recently presented their Midseason All-Rookie Team. Latham and Sweat were named the NFL's top rookie left tackle and nose tackle respectively.
The best rookies at every offensive position through Week 8 ⭐️
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) October 31, 2024
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"After a rough performance in Week 1, JC Latham has settled in and given the Titans quality left tackle play for the first time since Taylor Lewan was on the roster," James Foster wrote. "He hasn’t faced any top-tier pass rushers, but the early results have been promising."
Latham has been outstanding since struggling in Week 1. The former Alabama standout looks like an NFL left tackle, and if he can continue stringing together consistent showings, he will develop into a home-run pick for the Titans.
T'Vondre Sweat
"T’Vondre Sweat has been one of the best nose tackles in the NFL as a rookie.," Foster added. "He doesn’t fill up the box score, but he eats blocks and anchors Tennessee’s interior run defense...His Week 4 tape against the Dolphins is one of the most impressive nose tackle performances of the year, as he almost single-handedly neutralized Miami’s off-tackle run game."
Nose tackle is a bell-curve position in the NFL. Sweat has been a dominant nose tackle by taking on double teams, gaining backfield penetration, and consistently making plays for Dennard Wilson's defense around the line of scrimmage.
Sweat is performing like an elite nose tackle. The former Texas Longhorn has recorded 22 tackles and six quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. As he continues getting more comfortable playing next Simmons, he is going to make more plays and become even more visible. Sweat is proving his host of doubters (including myself) wrong this season.