[FREE] Titans OTAs: The Right Guard Battle
Tre looks at the dilemma the Tennessee Titans have at right guard.
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As OTAs came to a close for the Titans, we were left with plenty of the same questions we had coming into the glorified walkthrough sessions.
But unfortunately, we also knew that we wouldn’t get the answers to those same questions until training camp at the least, then followed by regular game time.
Will Levis’ progression, the two headed tandem at running back — how will they split the snaps between Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard, will it be a situational thing? Predetermined matchup sorta thing? — who can step up to provide depth at EDGE, who’ll be a beating pulse at inside linebacker, who in the blue hell is gonna start opposite Amani Hooker at safety?
I mean the list goes on and on.
The most important question though — aside from the Levis one — fell into this category as well.
How will this offensive line look after a turbulent last couple of seasons?
Again, we won’t know until camp and when game snaps are played. But that still hasn’t stopped us from thinking about it, including useless thoughts being wasted on the subject late at night.
Okay that’s just me, but let’s move on.
Despite the wasted brain activity and time being wasted, the question is a pretty interesting one.
We know 3 starters already barring any sort of injury. JC Latham will start at left tackle, Peter Skoronski will start at left guard, and Lloyd Cushenberry will slide in at center.
3 known starters, 2 almost guaranteed upgrades from whatever the Titans rolled out at left tackle and center last season.
However, there’s still a few holes left to fill up front.
The only positions that remain up for grabs right now, are right guard and right tackle. Both were collectively pitiful last year, as injuries and a severe lack of skill made the situations at both spots extremely dire.
To prevent that from happening again — at least in the skill department — the Titans thought it would be a good idea to invest in those spots.
Right tackle had a few additions, but the right guard has a singular one that has the potential to make for a very competitive battle for the starting spot.
Usually I’d go over both spots, but today we’ll just focus on right guard.
Quick Rundown
Last year’s projected starter was Daniel Brunskill, but he never played a full year due to injuries.
As a result, there were some different faces at the spot last season. Dillon Radunz was one of those beneficiaries, as well as Andrew Rupcich. None of them impressed all that much though, unsurprisingly so.
Because of that, the Titans struggled mightily down the stretch to protect whoever was starting at quarterback, whether it was Will Levis or Ryan Tannehill.
A Solution?
So, to avoid a situation like that again, the Titans decided to add depth there, but they didn’t add as much as some expected.
Instead, they opted for a singular addition, former Commanders lineman Saahdiq Charles. Charles has built a bit of a reputation as a versatile chess piece, but it seems like his battle will be fought at right guard.
He wasn’t all that great for the Commanders last season, giving up 4 sacks and 37 total pressures in 643 total snaps. But his athleticism is a handy tool that could be molded with more development, hence Bill Callahan.
Will he win though is the question. Because it’s far from a given that he walks into the Titans’ Week One matchup as the starting right guard.
The Competition
Because even though Brunskill dealt with injuries, he still started and can still do so if the Titans wanted him to do so.
He falls in line with Charles as an average starter, but he provides very decent depth along an offensive line that’s still trying to rebuild at this time.
That isn’t what the Titans really need right now, but their current project doesn’t allow them the luxury of plugging in roster holes left and right. So settling for someone like Charles and Brunskill is really the only thing they can ask for right now.
As for their battle? Charles has received plenty of praise throughout OTAs. Including some from Bill Callahan, which means you’re probably doing something right.
Does that mean Charles is the bonafide auto starter? No. But what it does mean, is that Brunskill has some work to do in terms of making up ground.
We’ll see if he can do that during camp, but if he can’t, he’ll be relegated to a depth role early on.
If the RT battle wasn’t so interesting, this spot would probably be the most intriguing position battle on offense. Still, even if it doesn’t have the mysterious nature of the RT battle, this one feels as important.
Overview
To be quite honest, the position battles up front will be fun to watch.
The Titans need answers up front and if they can find one or multiple from the guys they have right now, then they’ll be on the right track towards finally rebuilding this group into a respectable one.
Granted, it’s not guaranteed they’ll be able to do so.
But there’s always a chance, something that reflects upon right guard and the storylines that could emerge there.
Buckle up, it’s gonna be a fun summer.
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