The Tennessee Titans invested heavily in the offensive line this offseason, but they're also expecting to receive growth from sophomore guard Peter Skoronski. The one returning starter on the offensive line from last season, it's time for Skoronski to meet his pre-draft expectations.
Considered one of the safest prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Titans went conservative and spent the 11th pick in the draft on a guard.
Skoronski's rookie season was inconsistent. He was granted grace by the fan-base and analysts because his debut year was derailed by an appendectomy. With that recovery now long in its rearview mirror, there are renewed expectations this year. It wasn't fair to write off a prospect with Skoronki's pedigree without giving him a long leash, and there was hope that the addition of Bill Callahan as his offensive line coach would make a big difference.
Not only that, but the Titans spent $50 million to bring in Lloyd Cushenberry to play beside Skoronski at center, and they used the seventh pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on J.C. Latham to play left tackle.
If Skoronski was going to take the step from a guy who could be good, to a guy who is good, the Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears was the time to start showing flashes.
For one half of football, it looked like that might happen. Skoronski started the game well by getting some nice push in the run game and stalling out pass rushers, but that didn't carry over to the second half after the Bears made their adjustments.
Starting quarterback Will Levis was consistently pressured throughout the third and fourth quarters. The bulk of those pressures came from the left side, where the inexperienced tandem of Latham and Skoronski started to look overwhelmed. A lot of that was on Latham, which is to be expected considering it was his first NFL game. Skoronski also struggled, which is a much bigger problem.
Latham is a rookie, which means he is going to get picked on all season and he is going to take his lumps as he tries to learn how to survive in this league. While that is happening, the Titans desperately need Skoronski to step up and make life easier on the play-caller and the skill players.
The Titans can't continue worrying about Latham and Skoronski. The more seasoned player has to hold his own this season. That didn't happen with enough consistency on Sunday.
There is still plenty of time for the line to grow and develop chemistry, but life isn't going to get easier for them. From now on, nearly every defensive line that the Titans play is going to have a more proven and talented defensive line than the Bears did. Bill Callahan has to improve this unit on the fly, or else the season could be over by the time the schedule gets a little easier.
Skoronski was supposed to be part of the solution, but he's still part of the problem, as of now.