The slide is over for Will Levis.
Weeks of hypothesis constructed to a crescendo within the days earlier than the draft, with the concept the Kentucky quarterback would possibly come off the board early on Thursday night time.
As in “first-overall selection” early.
However, that didn’t materialize. Instead of listening to his title known as in the course of the first spherical, Levis endured a protracted night time within the inexperienced room, sliding out of the primary spherical fully.
Thankfully for the quarterback, that slide is over. At the beginning of the second around the Tennessee Titans moved as much as draft the Kentucky quarterback, bringing his wait to an finish.
Now the questions change into two-fold: Why did he slide, and what are the Titans getting in him?
Levis was one of many extra intriguing quarterbacks to guage this draft cycle. During the 2021 season, he regarded each bit the a part of a future first-round choice, and there’s a robust case to be made that had en entered the 2021 NFL Draft he joins Kenny Pickett within the first spherical. Instead, Levis returned to campus and regressed a bit as he handled accidents, a change in offensive coordinator, and a departure of expertise round him.
But while you watch him, each in 2021 and in 2022, you see flashes of what NFL scouts are searching for on the place, each traditionally, and within the fashionable NFL. You see athleticism, and the power to create outdoors the pocket. You can see the “pro-style” moments, when he’s finishing up a run pretend, turning his again to the protection, after which making a throw after having to reset his eyes and choose up the protection.
Plays like this in opposition to Vanderbilt:
Levis begins beneath middle, turning his again on the protection to hold out a run pretend earlier than whipping his head round to scan the protection. That’s when he fires a strike, connecting with the second of two dig routes working from left to proper.
Now, you may be questioning why there may be an emphasis on turning his again to the protection. Before the play begins, Vanderbilt exhibits Levis a single-high security look. But because the play unfolds they spin into two-high protection, all whereas Levis is finishing up the run pretend.
As a quarterback, you solely get a lot time to decide. That “decision-making window” as I wish to name it begins the second you get the play in from the sideline. You begin serious about the development reads you’ll make primarily based on the protection, any potential safety calls or modifications you may need to make, and what you may need to do within the face of a blitz.
All these choices are knowledgeable by what you see earlier than the snap, to assist information you to a well-informed, and proper, determination with the soccer.
But something that disrupts that decision-making window, comparable to a rotation within the secondary or when you must flip your again on the protection, constricts the time you get to make the precise determination. Both these issues occur right here, so when a quarterback can flip his again on the protection, and get to the precise determination with the soccer, it’s notable.
When the Titans drafted him on Friday, they doubtless took a protracted take a look at what Levis did in 2021. Because as famous, he regarded each bit the long run first-round choose throughout that season, and a few of what he did on movie confirmed high-level quarterback play.
Take this dig route — a route which Levis throws extraordinarily properly — in opposition to LSU from 2021. Notice how he throws this to get his receiver to throttle down, as he is aware of the bottom “robber” security is lurking:
‘Or this timing and rhythm throw in opposition to Tennessee, as he hits the curl route with strain bearing down on him from the left edge:
Another instance is that this throw in opposition to Mississippi State. Levis sees the blitz coming off the precise edge and, understanding he doesn’t have a lot time, he snaps off a fast throw to Wan’Dale Robinson on the out route:
Armed with the data that the blitz is coming, Levis quickens his course of and punishes the protection, and the result’s an explosive play for the offense.
So, these are the foundations that the Titans can construct upon as he adjusts to the following stage. And his capability to work beneath middle, execute a play-action heavy offense, and make these “back to the defense” varieties of reads and throws, is a near-ideal match with the Titans .
As for the questions on why Levis slid out of the primary spherical? Those would possibly start with the work it could take to get Levis the place he must be. During 2022 there have been errors that he made, and mechanical inconsistencies — significantly within the decrease physique — which are going to wish fixing. Before the 2021 NFL Draft, I used to be a part of a movie session with Matt Waldman and Dan Hatman the place we broke down Davis Mills. During that dialogue Hatman, a former NFL scout with the Giants and Eagles talked about how earlier than the draft coaches will meet with place coaches on gamers, to get a way of what would possibly want growth with a prospect, how lengthy it would take to repair, and if it could even be completed:
Perhaps, in Levis’s case, these conversations indicated that the work that must be completed will take extra time than anticipated, which could see his grade drop under the grades of different gamers who’re able to contribute instantly.
Perhaps the board simply fell in a means that noticed QB-needy groups go in a special route. Take, for instance, the Seattle Seahawks. While many thought Seattle would add a quarterback with certainly one of their two first-round picks, they as a substitute added Devon Witherspoon firstly of the primary spherical, after which added the highest WR on many boards, including Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Levis may need been an choice for them with that second choose, however possibly the thought of passing on WR1 was not attractive.
Ultimately, this might be factor for Levis. This is the case made by Ryan Leaf on Friday morning, that falling to the second spherical might be a blessing for him as a result of he can keep away from the dreaded “bust” label:
“Adversity like that, maybe humiliation like that, you grow from it. You learn how to deal with it in a positive and healthy way, just like what it’s going to be like to be a starting quarterback in the NFL,” Leaf continued. “Because you’re going to fail, you are, on the biggest stage possible. And when you don’t have those unrealistic expectations, I think this is a huge thing for Will Levis, and I think you can look at it as an entire positive moving forward.”
Another profit to falling? Patience, each from throughout the group and outdoors. When you come off the board within the first spherical, or extra significantly early within the first spherical, as a quarterback there can be strain on the teaching employees so that you can see the sector. Pressure from possession, and strain from the fan base.
Now, while you come off the board within the second, that strain is lowered, and the group can take its time with you. And by going to Tennessee, with Ryan Tannehill already within the fold, there won’t be fast strain for Levis to see the sector. The group can take their time with him, probably ready deep into the 2023 season for him to see the sector.
Of course, there’s a flip facet to that. The workforce may be extra prepared to stay affected person with a first-round choose, and faster to maneuver on from a later-round choice.
His new teammate Malik Willis can fill him in on that facet of life within the NFL.
Still, there may be no less than a case to be made that by falling, Levis has ended up in a great place for him, in surroundings to develop, and in an offense that matches his skill-set.
And as we all know, generally what issues most will not be the pre-draft analysis, however the post-draft match.