Things went about as poorly for the Tennessee Titans passing offense as they could last year, and those struggles led to changes in coaching, personnel, and philosophy.
With the offense now in a pass-first mindset, there are going to be some ripple effects beyond just more passing and less running.
One of those changes is that blocking isn't a primary function of a wide receiver anymore. Sure, blocking is a plus, but it isn't a requirement and that opens the door for a true slot receiver role in this offense.
At first, that might not sound like a big change, but it is going to be an important shift that helps minimize the pass rush against a young offensive line that is going to need some time to get going.
Leaving a tight end to block is good in theory, but in practice, it takes away a pass catcher and makes life easier for defensive backs. On top of that, if the Titans are playing a team that blitzes well, leaving a tight end in to block will encourage the opposing DC to send more defenders.
If you want to keep pressure off of the quarterback, use motion and align your offense to make the presnap reads easy for Will Levis. If the read is obvious before the snap, it comes down to the timing and the effectiveness of the receiver. This will be a big part of the Brian Callahan offense.
That was something that the Titans didn't have last year, and it showed when Levis was peeling himself off the ground because all of the tight ends in the world couldn't help that offensive line when they were blitzed.
A short-to-intermediate target is necessary when you are facing a team that thinks they can beat you by bringing pressure.
Slot receiver Tyler Boyd seems like he has the credentials to be the offense's "get out of jail free" card on passing downs, but he isn't the only player vying for that title.
There was a positive outlook for second-year tight end Josh Whyle heading into training camp, and he's received encouraging reviews from Jim Wyatt after every practice (day 1, day 2, day 3).
While Whyle was on the team last year, there are reasons beyond a coaching shift that explain why fans should expect something completely different from him in his second season.
Whether they are drafted in the first round or on Day 3, tight ends are rarely stars out of the gate. They often need time to grow into their roles, and Whyle was making strides until his rookie season was derailed by injuries.
With that behind him, the big-framed tight end has the size and the athleticism (below) to be a threat in the short and intermediate parts of the field. If Levis continues to develop a connection with Whyle, you can see why he would be an enticing option on a hot route with the blitz coming.
Josh Whyle is a TE prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 8.98 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 114 out of 1104 TE from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/ZK08rOv0Hl pic.twitter.com/ZGtJphWvs2
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 16, 2023
When it comes to passing options, the more the merrier in this new offense. Titans fans would love to see a team with multiple options after being thin and decimated by injuries so often over the last few years.
As training camp continues, the Titans defense will continue to throw blitzes at Levis. If he is going to survive them, it probably won't be because the offensive line got better overnight. It will be because he develops chemistry with guys like Boyd and Whyle and can get the ball out quickly when the bullets are flying.