When the
Titans’ offense took the field during most late-season games, the line featured a second-year left tackle (
Taylor Lewan), a rookie left guard (Quinton Spain), a rookie center (Andy Gallik) and a third-year right guard (
Chance Warmack).
One of the reserve offensive linemen was a rookie (guard Jeremiah Poutasi), while a third-year center (Brian Schwenke) had earlier in the season had been placed on injured reserve.
All that youth was no doubt part of the reason the Titans allowed the most sacks (54) in the NFL this season, as well as the sixth-most quarterback hits (105). The Titans finished 25th in rushing.
So count veteran tight end
Delanie Walker among those who’d prefer the Titans look for some more experienced offensive linemen, as opposed to drafting another young lineman with the first overall pick — or with any pick, it sounds like.
“We don’t need another rookie lineman,” Walker said Monday night in the final episode of the J-Mac Show, hosted by The Tennessean and ESPN 102.5-FM. “Our offensive line, they’re too young. We don’t need another young guy on the line. We have eight picks, so use them wisely or trade to get older guys to come in and play the line — savvy vets, eight-year guys or seven-year guys that understand how to win and know the game.
“I think that will help the O-line. But having a rookie come in and play with more rookies just doesn’t sit well with me, and probably not with Marcus (Mariota).”