There was a lot of hype heading into the Tennessee Titans’ preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens — a 23-10 loss — and it had a lot to do with rookies. Wide receivers Treylon Burks and Kyle Phillips have had great training camps, cornerback Roger McCreary and offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere are both in the midst of a positional battle and of course there’s the new quarterback. -back, Malik Willis.
The former Liberty signalman started Thursday night with Ryan Tannehill inactive, so there was a special feeling around that exhibition game. Willis wasn’t considered the most polished quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft, but he’s a dual-threat athlete who’s quick on his feet and also has a cannon for an arm. Willis isn’t fighting to start this upcoming season, but the NFL world was thrilled to see what he was capable of in his first professional action, and Titans fans wanted to get a taste of what the season might look like. ‘coming.
A slow start
Willis missed his first three passes. The Titans went three times on their first practice, running back Julius Chestnut fumbled Tennessee’s second possession, then the offense went three times again on the third practice.
This fourth drive was when things started to click. Willis completed his first pass to Chestnut on a screen, which caught him for 12 yards. Chestnut was clearly determined to make up for his earlier fumble, as he escaped for a 29-yard gain two plays later to bring Tennessee close to the red zone. After Hassan Haskins made an 18-yard pass to get to the Ravens 7-yard line, that’s when we saw Willis register his first scoring play.
The touchdown run
At second base, Willis rolled right on a pass play, but quickly reversed course – spinning to the left – and slipped between two defenders to score the touchdown. For a while, it didn’t look like the rookie was going to find any land to pay for, but Willis made sure he finished the game.
While the rookie wasn’t playing against starters, his speed certainly stood out. The rollout created an open field the other way, his instincts kicked in and he got out of the script. Willis hadn’t done much in the passing game so far, but that was about to change.
The deep ball
The very next offensive play for the Titans, Willis found second-year wide Racey McMath running down the field out of play-action. The defensive back turned early, took a bad read on the ball and it resulted in a 48-yard completion for the Titans.
It was one of the biggest plays of the game, and the way the ball flew from Willis’ arm certainly stood out.
Malik Mahomes?
As a quarterback at the top level, you will need to place the ball in tight windows and adjust your release in certain scenarios when necessary. After playing in the second quarter, Willis encountered a defensive end with his hands up. Find out how he adapted.
It’s not a game that guarantees Willis will be a franchise quarterback in the future, but it is a highlight.
play smart
The rushing touchdown and the through pass were fun to watch, but perhaps the biggest benefit of the Titans’ preseason opener is that Willis played smart. He didn’t throw an interception, he knew when to throw the ball, he knew when to take a sack and he knew when to take control when things weren’t open on the field.
To go along with the smart play, when Willis started to find his groove, things didn’t really change. Young quarterbacks who make a few big plays in a row may get fired up and try to force the problem or extend a play when they shouldn’t. We haven’t seen that from Willis.
Conclusion
Willis looked quick to escape pocket pressure and showed his ability to keep plays alive. Overall, he completed 6 of 11 passes for 107 yards and rushed five times for 38 yards and a touchdown. Willis wasn’t always accurate, but overall he put in a performance that will delight Titans fans — and NFL fans in general — for his next outing.
We all have to remember it’s pre-season and Willis won’t be challenging Tannehill for his job. But the rookie absolutely showed potential in his first professional outing and played error-free football.
