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 cross, he realized he was transferring his ft an excessive amount of and wished 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 at all times trying to find a correlation to the outcomes, whether or not they’re constructive or unfavourable.
“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 stated.
As Levis regarded 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 way in which throwing the ball felt at occasions.
“Quarterbacks are weirdos,” Levis stated at first of minicamp. “We’re at all times tweaking one thing, feeling like one thing is perhaps off. The ball wasn’t popping out the way in which that I might’ve favored it to, and I simply began what might doubtlessly 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 stated 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 a part of that blend as effectively this summer time.
After learning Levis’ recreation 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 trying to tweak?
“One of many huge issues we have emphasised with Will is his base, how vital that’s to enjoying quarterback,” Callahan stated at first of obligatory minicamp earlier this month. “Having the ability to play on time, having the ability to get the ball out shortly.”
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Callahan stated Levis has at all times had a pure fast launch. However they’re dialing in on persistently enjoying with a terrific base. Two areas of focus embody 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 powerful record 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 concept of how enjoying with a terrific base may 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 drive behind nailing down the focused changes. Hardigree places the quarterbacks by way of a drill through which he throws small luggage at their ft for them to keep away from whereas throwing to a delegated pass-catcher.
“It is actually for him to only tie in his decrease physique with the timing of the play and type of studying what drops, what actions are required,” Hardigree stated. “Sure routes take a sure idea, so we’re working towards it.”
THE RESULTS HAVE proven once in a while — like the ultimate OTA follow the place Levis linked with huge 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 straightforward completions to Westbrook-Ikhine and Treylon Burks early in minicamp.
One factor Callahan has found is Levis is “extremely coachable.” Holz complimented Levis for a way he takes the ideas to coronary heart, displaying how intentional Levis’ focus is on the precise adjustment the following time he is on the sector.
However not all adjustments come solely from the teaching workers. Callahan and the crew satisfaction themselves on permitting Levis to make ideas as effectively. 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 stated. “If a sure throw is not the place he needs it to be or it did not exit on time, he has quick suggestions.”
The texture for every thing comes from the immense work Levis has put in with Williams, his private quarterback coach. The 2 first obtained 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 approach to generate energy utilizing the massive highly effective muscle tissues in the midst of the physique, your hips and core and legs,” Williams stated. “It’s extra environment friendly, you may be extra correct, you’ll 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. A whole lot of consideration to element. pic.twitter.com/S4OiUiGSvZ
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) Could 12, 2024
WILLIAMS BELIEVES BY emphasizing footwork he may help quarterbacks uncover the best approach to ship the ball in tight areas with restricted time to take action. He refers back to the method as “rotary mechanics.”
A superb 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 way in which, the group of passers spent a big a part of the primary session with out the soccer of their fingers as they targeted solely on establishing a robust base from their ft 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 is going to solely work if everyone seems to be on the identical web page. The Titans workers will talk their targets to Williams by way of Levis.
“Will’s completed this earlier than — the place I have not had direct communication with the coaches,” Williams stated. “However we’ll get on a name, and he’ll say, ‘OK, we’re engaged on this footwork, or they need me to have my base somewhat narrower or they need me to shorten this step.'”
Williams then devises essentially the most environment friendly approach 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 remaining step, his hips are loaded, and he can simply switch weight to get extra on his throw.” The aim is to do issues at a extra speedy and environment friendly tempo.
Williams stated he intends to spend a while in Nashville with Levis, and the 2 have mentioned Levis flying to Vancouver, the place Williams relies, as effectively. Once they aren’t collectively, they’re going to have a number of weekly passing periods with Williams overseeing Levis’ throwing movement by the use 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 12 months 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 best course. If Williams has it his method, the steps will probably be a lot shorter however rather more environment friendly.