NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As the Tennessee Titans continue to shuffle their offensive line and consider all possibilities, third-round rookie Jeremiah Poutasi worked as the first-team right tackle on Thursday.
He said it was the first time he played that role in camp.
The Titans had Byron Bell in the spot up to this week, before he moved to left guard and Andy Levitre moved out of the starting group. Jamon Meredith was the first replacement at right tackle before Poutasi’s move Thursday.
.@_official_73 says he was all full team RT today for first time in camp. #Titans pic.twitter.com/UtxbM7HCHN
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) August 20, 2015Ken Whisenhunt has repeatedly said about Poutasi, and many of the guys involved in the mix on the offensive line, that he’s seen “some good things and some bad things.”
Poutasi, the 66th overall pick out of Utah, said during OTAs and even early in camp that things were hard.
“Some things are getting easier; some things are coming more naturally,” he said. “Still, competition picks up every day during camp. Everybody is worn out but we don’t lose anything. The defensive line gives me a great look every day; they go harder and harder.”
The second-team offensive line played well in the preseason opener at Atlanta. Feedback from coaches for his work as the No. 2 right tackle was “decent,” he said.
“I wasn’t looking for really any compliments. I was just looking for critiques, stuff that I could work on,” he said. “And I still have a lot of stuff to work on.”
The pace was faster with the ones, but Poutasi said he felt pretty good.
I understand why the Titans might be compelled to lean on NFL experience, especially at the start of the season with a rookie quarterback to protect and a shaky running game looking to find its way.
But while the 66th pick in the draft who joins a 2-14 team might be raw and still have a lot of growing ahead, he ought to be able to start on opening day.
Poutasi’s upside could outweigh the experience of Meredith or Bell, if Bell isn’t at guard.
The Titans are going to have to take the plunge at a lot of spots in a lot of ways this season.
If Poutasi holds up in the remainder of the preseason and is on the incline, there would be no objection at all in this space to him playing.
Levitre stayed after practice and did extra work.
Defensive lineman Karl Klug said the line shuffling does make a difference.
“If someone lines up across from me that is different, I’m going to notice,” Klug said. “Each O-lineman, they have different tendencies on how they like to pass set. It is nice to know so you can use that to your advantage.”