Offensive line legend Bill Callahan on getting experience for Titans rookie JC Latham

Titans rookie tackle JC Latham is only going to learn one way, and it's not on the sidelines

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JUNE 05: JC Latham #55 of the Tennessee Titans looks on during day 2 of Titans Mandatory Minicamp at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on June 05, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. / (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

The Tennessee Titans may have had the worst offensive line in the NFL last season. You can make a strong case for a few other units, but rookie quarterback Will Levis taking 28 sacks in just nine starts says about all you need to know about this group.

To fix that glaring problem, the Titans front office made two major moves this past offseason. First, they hired head coach Brian Callahan's father Bill Callahan to be their offensive line coach. The senior Callahan has been coaching the OL for 46 years, including 25 years at the NFL level, beginning in 1995 with the Philadelphia Eagles. Callahan is regarded as the best offensive line coach in the business and hiring him has been named the team's best offseason move.

Next, Tennessee moved to upgrade the all-important left tackle spot, taking Alabama's JC Latham with the seventh overall pick in the draft. Going into the draft some analysts had Latham ranked as the second-best offensive line prospect in the 2024 class behind Notre Dame's Joe Alt, and he was almost universally considered the best right tackle prospect.

Moving from right tackle to left tackle and vice-versa isn't as easy as it sounds, and the only way Latham will get it down is by getting enough reps. Here's Callahan at training camp earlier this week talking about getting Latham the snaps he needs to develop, per Turron Davenport at ESPN.

Bill Callahan on #Titans LT JC Latham: There's some things that always come up for rookies that they haven't experienced. We're trying to give him as much exposure as we can to accelerate his progress. pic.twitter.com/YduG65EELf

— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) July 29, 2024

Latham will get a quality test in his first NFL action. The Titans will be hosting the San Francisco 49ers and their lethal defensive line in their first preseason game of the year.