Peter Skoronski gets brutally honest about Titans offensive line struggles

The Tennessee Titans have struggled to protect franchise quarterback Will Levis through two completed weeks of the new season despite all the resources general manager Ran Carthon poured into the offensive line this offseason.

In a Week 1 defeat to the Chicago Bears, rookie left tackle JC Latham and sophomore left guard Peter Skoronski allowed a team-high five pressures apiece. In Sunday's Week 2 loss to the New York Jets, Latham and Skoronski were far better, but the right side of the line, specifically Dillon Radunz and Nicholas Petit-Frere, played poorly. Petit-Frere was credited with allowing nine pressures en route to a Pro Football Focus pass-blocking grade of 39.9, and Radunz scored a 47.2 while giving up four pressures, including a sack.

The Jets' pass rush generated pressure on 60% of Titans dropbacks on Sunday, per Next Gen Stats. That's the highest pressure rate generated by a defense since Week 13 of the 2023 campaign, and the highest rate allowed by the Titans since Week 5, 2022, according to their charting. The Titans now have a pass-block-win-rate (PBWR) of 43%, which ranks 29th in the league through two completed weeks, per ESPN Stats & Info.

Skoronski met with local media on Monday to recap Sunday's defeat. He said the team isn't pulling any fire alarms despite the 0-2 start, and also discussed working with new offensive line coach Bill Callahan. Skoronski presumably believes the Titans' early-season struggles are a result of them learning new techniques.

“I’d say it’s definitely been different,” Skoronski said. “I think we’ve learned a whole lot of new techniques and almost a whole new system, pretty much. Our protection system is a new system. Guys are still adjusting and learning. I  think everyone worked at that throughout training camp. I don’t think it’s 100% clicked yet. We’re still learning. Once you get these live in-game reps, that intensity goes up way more. Everyone’s going to keep working hard to get those techniques down,” Skoronski concluded.

Offensive line coach Bill Callahan installed a new system in the offseason. Players like Skoronski, Petit-Frere, and Radunz were used to more of a zone-based scheme under the previous offensive coordinators and position coaches, and Callahan's offense takes more of a downhill gap/power approach. Given all the change and youth and across the line, early season struggles were expected.

Both Latham and Skoronski showcased legitimate growth from Week 1 to Week 2. If Radunz and Petit-Frere can put Sunday's struggles behind them, the offensive line picture will begin looking more complete. Growth is expected as the new campaign progresses forward.