NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- As the Tennessee Titans open their 2024 training camp with rookies and veterans reporting Tuesday at Saint Thomas Sports Park, here's a closer look at a few storylines:
Biggest question: Is Will Levis ready to take on the role of franchise quarterback in Year 2?
Levis threw four touchdown passes in his debut last season against the Atlanta Falcons, giving the Titans a glimpse of what he's capable of doing. Even the defensive players rallied around Levis last season, including outside linebacker Arden Key.
"He's becoming a leader," Key said after a Week 12 win over the Carolina Panthers. "The things he said got us going."
Those leadership traits carried over to the offseason with Levis organizing a weeklong retreat and passing camp in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with five of his pass catchers. He also set up throwing days with various receivers in Nashville.
New coach Brian Callahan's offense will be the fourth scheme Levis has to learn in four years. Levis said his goal was to return to camp having mastered the new offense. The second-year quarterback appears ready to be the guy for the Titans, but there is still plenty to be proven.
Most compelling position battle: Running back -- Tyjae Spears vs. Tony Pollard
There will be a different approach to running the football in Nashville. Gone are the days where feature backs such as Eddie George, Chris Johnson and Derrick Henry saw most of the carries on their respective teams.
Spears, a second-year back, and Pollard, a veteran free agent addition, will be a one-two punch out of the backfield. Neither are bigger backs, but the first defender rarely brings them down. They are also equally capable of helping in the passing game. The competition to see who becomes the starter will be intense.
Running backs coach Randy Jordan said they'll have a week-to-week approach to naming a starter or primary back. Whoever consistently makes the most plays during training camp will have an inside track toward being on the field for the first offensive play in the season opener against the Chicago Bears.
The player with the most to prove: WR Treylon Burks
Injuries and inconsistency have been a problem for Burks throughout his three-year career. Burks has 49 receptions for 665 yards and a touchdown in 22 games as a pro.
The additions of top free agent Calvin Ridley and veteran receiver Tyler Boyd are a clear challenge to the 2021 first-round pick in Burks. The new Titans staff is well aware of Burks' playmaking ability and has raved about his work ethic and overall approach since they started working together. But Burks finds himself behind Ridley, Boyd and DeAndre Hopkins in the pecking order for snaps. Burks may have to play some special teams as a gunner on coverage units as he tries to find his place on the team.
Most impactful offseason addition: L'Jarius Sneed
There are few players on the Titans who match the style of play new defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson wants to bring better than Sneed.
Wilson vows to have an aggressive, attacking defense that will allow cornerbacks to press wide receivers at will. Sneed relishes opportunities to disrupt receivers as soon as they release from the line of scrimmage. That will give the front four extra time to get to the quarterback.
The Titans haven't had a true shutdown cornerback since 2011, when Cortland Finnegan was menacing opposing offenses. In the regular season, Sneed covered the opponents' top receiver on at least 65% of the snaps in seven games (a league high), according to NFL Next Gen Stats, and he didn't allow a touchdown catch as the nearest defender.
Training camp is a success if ... Someone emerges as the clear starter at right tackle.
The left tackle position appears to be solidified after the Titans used the No. 7 pick to select JC Latham -- who's switching from his college position of right tackle at Alabama. Entering camp, the competition for right tackle will primarily center around veterans Nicholas Petit-Frere, Jaelyn Duncan and John Ojukwu.
Injuries kept Petit-Frere from taking the field during OTAs and minicamp. Duncan was mostly unavailable as well. They're the front-runners for the starting position. But don't rule out Ojukwu -- he took most of the starting reps while Duncan and Petit-Frere were out. It's imperative that someone nails down the right tackle job so the best five are able to start getting consistent reps together as soon as possible.