Entering preseason action, one question in Tennessee was how well second-year quarterback Will Levis would transition to Brian Callahan's offense.
So far, so good.
In Sunday's preseason finale in New Orleans, Levis displayed quick decision-making and good accuracy, going 7-of-8 passing for 118 yards and leading the Titans to 10 points on two drives.
"It was good," Levis said of his performance, . "We did what we wanted to out here, to get us amped up and ready for Week 1 [against the Bears]. We were clean with our operation, from top to bottom. I'm proud of how the guys went out there and played. And it was awesome to see guys go out there and make some plays.
"Just really happy with how it went, getting the dub. 3-0 in the preseason. We know it doesn't necessarily mean anything in the preseason, but it means something to us. It feels good."
Facing backups and a vanilla scheme doesn't provide great context for Levis' play, but we can focus more on the QB's operation than results.
Levis showed good timing -- key in the type of offense Callahan runs -- and accuracy. He didn't big-game hunt Sunday but still came away with chunk gains, including a 33-yard pass to Calvin Ridley and a 22-yarder to Tyler Boyd.
Last year, the rookie often sought out explosives, eschewing outlets. In minimal time during the preseason, he's displayed an increased awareness that he must take what's given. If that carries over to the regular season, it will bode well for Tennessee's chances of a quick turnaround.
"Potential doesn't really mean much," Callahan said. "We've got to prove it and we've got to prove it every week. I think we leave training camp in a good spot. We've got a lot to work on still. We've got a lot to work on in a lot of areas. But I think to cap training camp and the preseason in the way we did, it shows we've got a chance to be competitive."
An improved offensive line -- with two first-round picks on the left side -- and weapons in Ridley, Boyd, DeAndre Hopkins, Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears provide Levis and the Titans a chance to be a sneaky fun offense in 2024. The key will be Levis continuing to develop in a timing-style offense without completely losing the big-play ability.
