Don't sleep on the Titans' new-and-improved offensive line
By Will Lomas
Don't discount the obvious upgrades
For the sake of Titans fans, and the sake of anyone with eyes, the biggest issue might have been solved after GM Ran Carthon drafted J.C. Latham in the first round to play left tackle.
If the Titans sat on their hands and only made that change on the offensive line, the line would already have been leaps and bounds better, given how bad Dillard and Daley were. Even if Latham isn't a star out of the gate, an average starting left tackle is hard to find, especially one with a trump card like his elite strength and size.
However, that isn't the only thing the Titans did. They acquired a massive upgrade at center, adding a certified people-mover, and one of the best pass-blocking centers in the NFL, Lloyd Cushenberry via free agency (even if PFF forgot about that when ranking centers earlier this offseason).
Even if you're conservative with your projections on what Latham and Cushenberry will be in Tennessee, Carthon made clear improvements to the personnel on the offensive line. But personnel changes weren't enough, so he and new head coach Brian Callahan also brought in one of the best offensive line coaches in NFL history in Bill Callahan.
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report noted all of this when he recently called the Tennessee Titans' offensive line the most improved offensive line group in the NFL and the third-biggest upgrade of any position group this offseason. In his analysis he said,
"Callahan himself must be added to the equation. The elder coach followed his son to the Volunteer State after the latter earned his first head coaching gig. Callahan is arguably the league's best offensive line coach. His presence alone will drastically improve the Titans' front five.
Along with the additions of running back Tony Pollard and wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, the Titans could be in the playoff conversation after finishing dead last in the AFC South last season."
That is very high praise and it is a contrarian take right now with many people ready to bury the Titans at the bottom of the NFL this season.