Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis has a big job this fall. It’s his sophomore season, and he is looking to build on what he started when he took over the starting quarterback spot last year. With a new head coach and new players to work with, there’s a bit of a learning curve, but it seems the new offense sits well with Levis.
.@Titans QB Will Levis on the new offense in Tennessee
"There are more 'gimmes' I feel like [in this offense] & different concepts…the more we take those, the more it's going to open up the stuff behind it…"
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— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) August 14, 2024
“Just with the philosophy of what we’re trying to do from a play calling standpoint and in the drop-back passing game and all the different things we’re doing in the pass game, there are kind of more gimmies I feel like,” Levis said on Tuesday. “And especially in different concepts maybe that I’ve never really majored in the past, but stuff that’s opened my eyes as to players that we can get the ball “easily” [finger quotes] and understanding that the more we take those, too, the more it’s going to open the stuff up behind it. So it’s just playing that game of not forcing the ball and making sure that you’re taking it when you have it, and also recognizing when they’re able to react off of it and for the compliment.”
Learning a new offense can be difficult, especially for a young quarterback. However, since he learned a new offense last year when he entered the league, he has a better understanding of how to implement and adjust his game to match the offensive scheme. This involves not solely adjusting how he plays his own game but also his rhythm, vision, and general field awareness.
Practice makes perfect, though, and Levis admits that he’s still learning despite being able to recognize “gimmie” plays pre-snap.
“think that’s been the coolest part is that we’ve been able to learn from mistakes in that first week of camp. You know, we’re on the field, and we try to make one decision or throw an option that we thought might have been the favorable decision pre-snap, and then going back and watching the film and understanding that there’s an option out there that could be even more of a gimmie the more we think about it.”
Repetition is key when learning a new offense. Building muscle memory, your brain automatically scanning the field for matchups and formations, and being able to do those things plus make a decision in a matter of a few seconds are what make a quarterback good at his job.
Levis has a big job this season. There are a lot of changes and adjustments, but he’s coming along. If he plays well enough this season and stays healthy, the Titans may have found their next franchise quarterback.
