Ken Whisenhunt: Titans' offensive line needs time
Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt says his struggling offensive line needs more time together in order to improve.
The line features two first-round draft picks in left tackle Taylor Lewan and right guard Chance Warmack, two high-priced free agents in left guard Andy Levitre and right tackle Michael Oher, and a fourth-round draft pick in center Brian Schwenke.
Lewan made his first NFL start Sunday, for the injured Michael Roos, and Oher is new to the Titans this year. But the three interior linemen started the majority of games last season.
"It's a tough position. We haven't been together very long," Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "We injected a new face into that group this past week. It's a work in progress is how I'd judge that.
"In my opinion, some of the best lines that have played in the NFL — the one thing that seems consistent with that — is continuity, guys that have been together for a while and played together for a while. That's what we're trying to accomplish here. We've got the right pieces in place. We've got to get time and continue to improve together."
The offensive line was not impressive against Jacksonville, as the
gained just 70 rushing yards on 24 carries, a 2.9-yard average. Quarterback
was sacked three times and pressured on several other occasions.
"Well it's a new system, too," said Whisenhunt, who is in his first season with the Titans. "I don't know how many times these guys that have been together have changed systems because they've changed systems here a couple times, from what I've been told. Each thing has its own intricacies, and that's what we're going through right now."
So just how long should it take for the line to develop continuity?
"I don't know," Whisenhunt said. "All I know is from memory. I've heard them talk about lines that have been together for years before and that was what was important.
"I'm not saying it's going to take years, but I'm just saying it takes time. If you think about how long our guys have been together and how many games we've been together, it's not very long."
Four of the five starting offensive linemen received negative grades against Jacksonville, according to Pro Football Focus. The only one to receive a positive grade was Lewan.
"Taylor did alright," Whisenhunt said. "I was impressed with how he did. For the most part, he played a good game."
