My Two Cents: For Titans Rookie QB Will Levis, Every Practice Snap is Learning Experience

The Tennessee Titans have high hopes for quarterback Will Levis down the road, and his first training camp has been all about learning the NFL game as quickly as he can. He's done some nice things so far, and he's looking forward to Saturday's first preseason game with the Chicago Bears.

NASHVILLE — With very few exceptions, NFL teams that win Super Bowls usually have a great quarterback leading the way. That's why the first priority of all 32 teams is making sure they have the best option possible in sport's most important position.

There are 12 franchises that have NEVER won a Super Bowl, and that group includes the Tennessee Titans. It's always the goal, and they've come close — just a yard away — but they've never won it.

The past five years, it's been Ryan Tannehill's job to lead the Titans. He's won plenty of games — even some playoff games — but not enough.

He's the quarterback again this year in 2023, but for the past two years, the Titans have been gazing forward to life after Tannehill. They drafted Malik Willis in the third round a year ago, and were fortunate enough to grab Will Levis after moving up to take him in the second round this year. Once projected as a top-three pick, his long draft-night fall turned into something fortuitous for the Titans.

There are plenty of people who doubt Levis' abilities — including some who know football and many who don't — but make no mistake, if the Titans want to be perennial playoff contenders down the road, they'll need Will Levis to be a star at quarterback.

Like any rookie quarterback, though, there are growing pains. He was pretty shaky in offseason workouts, and he's had plenty of tough moments during training camp.

But he's also had some days where he's looked great. He's in and out of plays quickly, is getting a good grasp of the playbook and he's proven that he can make all the throws with that strong arm of his. He's learning what's best — and that's the whole idea.

Learning. Over and over. Every week, every day, every practice, every rep. He's not just a good college quarterback anymore. He's in the NFL, finding his way.

And making progress.

"It's really just about all the repetitions right now. Regardless of how many times you've done this before, it's still a new language and a new offense and it's all about improving every day,'' Levis said. "We're building chemistry, and even when it's not there, we talk about it and communicate it. This is the time to make that happen. We've got to take advantage of of single rep.''

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (8) signs autographs for fans after training camp. (Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports)

That also includes learning from reps that he's not a part of. He watched intently when starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill is running plays, and he does the same with second-year man Malik Willis. Titans coach Mike Vrabel is on them every day, maximizing what they're trying to get done.

"I think Vrabs makes a point that all of the people in front of us, their reps are our reps too,'' Levis said. "If someone ahead of me makes a mistake, I don't get a pass if I'm running the same thing and make the same mistake. We're expected to learn from every rep every day. That's like with Ryan, I'll watch what he does against certain looks, or with certain formations, and see what he does. Then when I'm out there, if I've seen a certain look, I've sort of already been through it in my mind.

"There's no question it accelerates the learning process. We go through a lot every day, both on the field and in meetings, and it all comes together pretty well. And afterward, we'll talk about all sorts of plays, what we saw, what we did, what we could do better. It's constant, all of it. 

From the day he was drafted, Vrabel and the Titans set the pecking order. Tannehill was the starter, Willis was No. 2 and Levis was No. 3. But he's also taken a lot of second-team reps and has quickly developed a good rapport with all the receivers on the Titans' roster.

Every day is a work day. And the former Kentucky star is happy with that. 

"I'm just trying to make the right throws. I've just got to keep working to be more consistent and know that I have the arm to make all the throws,'' Levis said. "You don't want to leave any stone unturned out here (on the practice field) and I want to ask as many questions as I can of (quarterbacks) Coach (Charlies) London in the meeting room. I just want to be a student of the game and get it right. I working toward the standard that they want us to play at here.''

Titans rookie quarterback Will Levis signs an autograph for a young fan after practice. (AllTitans.com photo by Tom Brew) 

Vrabel coaches everyone hard, and that includes the quarterbacks. He knows full well that the Titans can't go where he wants to go without good quarterback play. Entering his sixth year in Nashville, Vrabel has a strong relationship with Tannehill, but he also know full well that they need a quarterback for the future. 

That's why Willis and Levis gets pushed hard, too. He appreciates who well they all work together.

“I think it’s been great, I think that they all push each other, and again you see them get excited for each other,'' Vrabel said. "And you’re allowed to do that and still compete, and still want to try and win the competition. So, I think they’ve both done some really good things, and there’s some plays that both of them would like to have back. 

"Again, one day isn’t going to make or break anything. I like where both of them are at. I guess it’s nice to have two young guys here who we can develop and work with.”

Levis threw five touchdowns during a red-zone drill one day last week, and he's jumped in and handled situations well. Last week when they went live for the first time with a ''call-it'' day, where coordinators were calling plays and defensives on the fly, like they'd do in an actual game.

"The call-it day, Coach Vrabs that day called it our most important practice because it was something different and it was the first day of doing it,'' Levis said. "It's a good thing to go out there and see both sides do good things. We did a lot of good things, and it definitely felt more live.''

The Titans have their first preseason game on Saturday against the Bears in Chicago, and we're going to see plenty of Levis and Willis then with Tannehill not expected to play. It's the start of the journey for Levis, and there will be plenty of eyeballs watching his every move.

And he's totally fine with that. 

The learning process? It's all part of it. This is the start. Where this journey goes, we have no idea. But we're certainly ready to go along for the ride.