Titans vs. Vikings camp observations: Defense wins the day as Kirk Cousins, Ryan Tannehill battle it out

rewrite this content material with complete period and stay HTML tags EAGAN, Minn. — Throughout the Vikings’ 2023 offseason, a few of the similar subjects have ruled the airwaves and sidelines: Kirk Cousins’ reference to Justin Jefferson, Alexander Mattison’s takeover at operating again, Brian Flores’ competitive protection. Finally, this week, a few of the ones storylines have been put to the take a look at because of joint practices with the visiting Titans.”With our offense, they obviously know what we’re trying to do,” fourth-year protection Josh Metellus advised CBS Sports on Thursday. “They’re trying to work certain things as well. You never really get a true feel for how our defense actually plays. But going against another team and they have no idea what we’re doing, you kinda get a feel for it.”By joint-practice requirements, Thursday’s affair used to be bodily tame, even with Titans lineman Teair Tart leaving early because of a scuffle with Garrett Bradbury. Windy stipulations at the Vikings’ TCO Performance Center stored the big-play passing to a minimal. But as Metellus stated, lining up towards an exterior opponent helped make clear the perfect — and worst — of each and every squad. Here’s a rundown of observations from Thursday’s prepare:Will Levis flashes in asymmetric day that ends earlyAnecdotally, it’s no longer laborious to look why Tennessee invested a second-round pick out in Will Levis. The Kentucky product appears the section, and he steadily seems to have the maximum zip on his passes amongst Titans quarterbacks in person drills. He may also be very snappy along with his motions. But a couple of instances Thursday, Levis additionally rushed throws, together with a sidearm strive in footwork drills. Under drive towards Minnesota, he used to be simply as erratic. He later quietly exited prepare early with an undisclosed factor. Malik Willis entrenched as the Titans’ No. 2For the close to long term, a minimum of. After Levis’ asymmetric preseason debut, Willis remained in entrance on the prepare intensity chart, and his mobility introduced a distinct measurement to Tennessee’s offense in red-zone drills. After prepare, he advised CBS Sports that he is getting into 2023, his moment NFL season, with extra self assurance after spending a lot of his rookie 12 months on the bench.”It’s a day-by-day effort,” he stated of his enlargement. “It’s a lot more than ‘this year, next year.’ It’s a day-by-day effort. If you’re gonna believe, you gotta believe whether (things are) good, bad or indifferent … and take advantage of the opportunities you’re given. Because as long as you wake up, you got another one. … That’s probably what I’ve learned the most, just not comparing (myself) to anybody, just understanding I need to be grateful for waking up each day and getting another opportunity, another swing at it.”Titans leaning on the floor (as same old)Thursday’s windy climate did not assist Ryan Tannehill and Co. identify a lot rhythm towards Flores’ “D,” however it should not come as a wonder that Mike Vrabel’s squad stays dedicated to an old-school offensive method. New No. 1 receiver DeAndre Hopkins used to be a sight to behold sometimes, particularly punting a ball right into a crowd of Vikings lovers after a red-zone rating, however the Titans nonetheless run thru Derrick Henry, and Minnesota knew it: “They’re trying to be physical, trying to get the ball downhill, run the ball, use their strengths,” Vikings protection Josh Metellus stated. “They’ve got good backs, good tight ends, so they wanna go big personnel.”Scouting Vikings vs. Titans QBsMetellus additionally presented his standpoint on each and every crew’s veteran signal-callers, and the way they fluctuate: Ryan Tannehill and Kirk (Cousins), I might say they are beautiful an identical in many ways, when it comes to simply mobility. But (then) Malik Willis and Will Levis, they moved the pocket just a little greater than we have been used to, simply going towards Kirk. But I feel Kirk’s ball placement is one thing that simply stands above on a distinct degree. I feel Ryan does an ideal task commanding the crew and understanding the place to move with the ball, however I feel Kirk, simply placing the ball the place he needs it, simply takes him as much as every other degree.Other notesThe Vikings misplaced rookie cornerback Mekhi Blackmon to an arm harm right through red-zone drills. Blackmon, who is been seeing time in the back of starters Byron Murphy and Akayleb Evans, used to be consoled by means of defensive coordinator Brian Flores ahead of exiting.Murphy noticed a couple of red-zone snaps at slot nook, with Evans and previous Patriots veteran Joejuan Williams manning the out of doors CB roles in Flores’ protection. Metellus featured closely as a 3rd protection along Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum.Titans CB Kristian Fulton had an eye-opening one-handed pick out of Cousins in the nook of the finish zone, eliciting a large party from the Tennessee sideline.Tannehill got here up ever-so gimpy right through crew drills, showing to harm an ankle, however did not omit any snaps and gave the impression totally wholesome when the two facets closed prepare, staying later on to speak with Cousins and Willis. 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