2 Titans rookies continue standing out despite Week 7 blowout loss
By Will Lomas
Losing is tough on a fan base, and Tennessee Titans fans are starting to get less angry and more apathetic about the whole experience.
For the fans searching for something positive to take away from the beat-down that the Titans suffered against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, it's that Ran Carthon's 2024 rookie class continues to shine.
This team looked like they could compete on paper this year, but now it is clear that fans looking for hope need to look to the future. A top-five draft pick could do wonders for the Titans, particularly if the team is planning to draft a quarterback and move on from Will Levis.
Carthon's rookies are making a name for themselves with each passing performance.
J.C. Latham and T'Vondre Sweat look especially promising, and both were actually some of the top performers at their positions this week.
The 33rd team noted that Latham was one of the top-10 rookies in pressure rate allowed this week among tackles, guards, and centers.
Even better than that, Sweat was top-five in pressure rate among rookie defenders, and that includes defensive tackles and EDGEs.
Things got out of hand at the end of the game once momentum started swinging toward the Bills, but the Titans led at halftime again this week. That is because guys like Latham and Sweat are doing a good job before other teams have a chance to adapt to what the Titans are doing.
This is a talented team, but they almost seem like they are on a mission to give the ball away as often as they can. It doesn't matter which quarterback is in, this team is allergic to protecting the ball right now.
To make things worse, even though the Titans defense has been outstanding, they are one of the worst teams in the league at taking the ball away.
To summarize, the Titans give the ball away a lot, rarely take the ball away from the other team, and allow teams to out-coach them after halftime. That's a recipe for 1-5.
Callahan deserves a long leash, and the Titans should eventually get better in turnover differential, but it will be too little, too late for this season. The only hope now is that this is a one-year issue that gets corrected, and that young guys like Latham and Sweat can continue to grow during a lost season.