NASHVILLE, Tenn. — One thing simply wasn’t proper for Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis.
So he lastly relayed the thought to his new coach, Brian Callahan, throughout OTAs final month.
When Levis executed a play-action move, he realized he was shifting his toes an excessive amount of and needed to be “extra stationary.” The pair made it a degree to debate it after follow.
Levis, obsessive about being in tune along with his mechanics, is all the time looking for a correlation to the outcomes, whether or not they’re constructive or detrimental.
“I am undecided I’ve ever been round a man who’s so in contact with all of his mechanical issues,” offensive coordinator Nick Holz mentioned.
As Levis seemed again on his rookie journey the place he took over because the starter seven video games into the season, he recalled how he did not like the best way throwing the ball felt at occasions.
“Quarterbacks are weirdos,” Levis mentioned at first of minicamp. “We’re all the time tweaking one thing, feeling like one thing is perhaps off. The ball wasn’t popping out the best way that I’d’ve appreciated it to, and I simply began taking a look at what might probably be the reason for it.”
#Titans Will Levis has labored to tweak mechanics with Brian Callahan. He is additionally labored with Rob Williams and QB Movement for fairly a while. Levis mentioned he plans to get them each involved with one another to mesh what he is engaged on pic.twitter.com/n1OmTn6RT6
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) June 4, 2024
THE DECISION TO make the tweaks turned a joint venture for Levis, Callahan, Holz and quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree. Levis’ private place coach, Rob Williams of QB Movement, will be part of that blend as nicely this summer time.
After finding out Levis’ sport movie, they discovered some particular areas to work on and targeted on the adjustments all through the spring and into the summer time.
What are they seeking to tweak?
“One of many large issues we have emphasised with Will is his base, how vital that’s to enjoying quarterback,” Callahan mentioned at first of obligatory minicamp earlier this month. “With the ability to play on time, having the ability to get the ball out rapidly.”
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Callahan mentioned Levis has all the time had a pure fast launch. However they’re dialing in on constantly enjoying with an ideal base. Two areas of focus embrace extra self-discipline in his footwork main into the bottom of the highest of the drop and having the ability to take a shorter first step earlier than the ball comes out. Tightening the footwork and mixing that with Levis’ already fast launch will assist him be extra on time throughout the system Callahan is implementing.
Callahan’s scheme is comprised of varied offenses he is been concerned with that featured a formidable checklist of quarterbacks. Levis watches cutups of Corridor of Famer Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford and Joe Burrow — all of which have labored with Callahan through the years — to get a visible thought of how enjoying with an ideal base will help him play throughout the timing of the offense.
On the sector, Hardigree spent essentially the most time with Levis throughout OTAs and minicamp. He is been the driving power behind nailing down the focused changes. Hardigree places the quarterbacks by means of a drill during which he throws small baggage at their toes for them to keep away from whereas throwing to a chosen pass-catcher.
“It is actually for him to simply tie in his decrease physique with the timing of the play and type of studying what drops, what actions are required,” Hardigree mentioned. “Sure routes take a sure idea, so we’re training it.”
THE RESULTS HAVE proven occasionally — like the ultimate OTA follow the place Levis linked with vast receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for 2 touchdowns. However there’s additionally room for enchancment — like when Levis was late on deep passes that ought to have been simple completions to Westbrook-Ikhine and Treylon Burks early in minicamp.
One factor Callahan has found is Levis is “extremely coachable.” Holz complimented Levis for the way he takes the solutions to coronary heart, exhibiting how intentional Levis’ focus is on the particular adjustment the following time he is on the sector.
However not all adjustments come solely from the teaching workers. Callahan and the crew pleasure themselves on permitting Levis to make solutions as nicely. This freedom has allowed the coaches to see simply how in contact Levis is along with his mechanics.
“He is a man that may really feel it,” Hardigree mentioned. “If a sure throw is not the place he needs it to be or it did not exit on time, he has speedy suggestions.”
The texture for every thing comes from the immense work Levis has put in with Williams, his private quarterback coach. The 2 first acquired collectively when Levis was at Penn State (earlier than transferring to Kentucky in 2021). Levis credited Williams with serving to him go from an arm thrower to a full-body passer.
“It is a very totally different method to generate energy utilizing the large highly effective muscular tissues in the course of the physique, your hips and core and legs,” Williams mentioned. “It’s extra environment friendly, you may be extra correct, you should have extra energy.”
#Titans QB Will Levis and QB Movement (a place particular teaching service from Canada) labored with a bunch of younger QBs during the last couple of days. Plenty of consideration to element. pic.twitter.com/S4OiUiGSvZ
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) Might 12, 2024
WILLIAMS BELIEVES BY emphasizing footwork he will help quarterbacks uncover the simplest method to ship the ball in tight areas with restricted time to take action. He refers back to the approach as “rotary mechanics.”
A very good instance of the give attention to the decrease physique that Williams preaches was on show throughout a passing camp that Levis collaborated with QB Movement on in Nashville within the spring. The camp included a small quantity of highschool quarterbacks together with Penn State quarterback Beau Pribula and former Georgia Tech signal-caller Aiden Semo.
With Williams main the best way, the group of passers spent a big a part of the primary session with out the soccer of their arms as they targeted solely on establishing a robust base from their toes to their hips. After nearly two hours, they labored their method as much as throwing the ball.
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Callahan understands they cannot coach Levis year-round, so he sees a profit in having a private coach. However it should solely work if everyone seems to be on the identical web page. The Titans workers will talk their targets to Williams by means of Levis.
“Will’s finished this earlier than — the place I have not had direct communication with the coaches,” Williams mentioned. “However we are going to get on a name, and he’ll say, ‘OK, we’re engaged on this footwork, or they need me to have my base a bit of narrower or they need me to shorten this step.'”
Williams then devises essentially the most environment friendly method to perform the mission however from a kinesiology standpoint. For instance, Williams has already labored with Levis to shorten steps and “get extra deceleration on his second step in order that by the point he hits the third and last step, his hips are loaded, and he can simply switch weight to get extra on his throw.” The purpose is to do issues at a extra speedy and environment friendly tempo.
Williams mentioned he intends to spend a while in Nashville with Levis, and the 2 have mentioned Levis flying to Vancouver, the place Williams is predicated, as nicely. Once they aren’t collectively, they will have a number of weekly passing classes with Williams overseeing Levis’ throwing movement by means of video cam.
Levis plans to renew work with Williams after taking some down time along with his household, although, and he already started a retreat along with his receivers in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico earlier this week.
In Yr 1, Levis completed with 1,808 passing yards, eight touchdowns and 4 interceptions in 9 video games, so the Titans — and Levis — know that their success largely hinges upon Levis taking a step in the appropriate course. If Williams has it his method, the steps shall be a lot shorter however far more environment friendly.
