Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans Pick JC Latham | 2024 NFL Draft Coverage

Starting point is 00:00:00 The pick is in. The Tennessee Titans have made a selection in the 2024 NFL Draft alongside Lockdown College football host Spencer McLaughlin. I'm Tanitra Batiste and we're joined by Tyler Rowland of Lockdown Titans to break down the Titans selecting J.C. Latham with the number seven pick. So Tyler, whether it's for helping create lanes for Tony Pollard or protecting Will Levis, obviously the Titans needed the help on the O-line. Is this the direction you saw Tennessee going in? Yeah, it was definitely an option. I mean, they have a desperate need at offensive tackle. If you look at the current depth chart, I would wager it was the worst offensive tackle situation in the NFL coming into the draft. So clear need. It's hard to knock them for that.

Starting point is 00:00:45 It is just tough when you see the top prospect at the position, Joe Alt, go off the board. An explosive wide receiver like Malik Nabors go off the board. I don't feel like it would have been the Tennessee Titans' first choice, but it's a good pivot. It's a fine pivot and a move that they needed to make. And what do you like most about Latham? What do you think makes him special at his position?

Starting point is 00:01:05 Well, I think obviously he has fantastic size, 6'5", 340 pounds. He has 35-and-a-quarter-inch arms. He just absolutely moves people off the ball, and he also has really good athleticism as well. He was a guy who did some track stuff in high school. It's not like he's a poor athlete, and I think he could even slim down a little bit at the NFL level from what they were asking in Alabama, and you get increased agility, athleticism with the raw power that he has as a player. He can

Starting point is 00:01:35 move guys. He can pass protect as well, and he just has fantastic hands. Once he gets his hands on you, you are absolutely done as a pass rusher. So there is a lot to like and a lot of potential to pair with Bill Callahan as the offensive line coach. Now, what's the one area where you think maybe Latham will need to get up to speed quickly for someone who will likely play from day one? Yeah, well, I think obviously we talk about the weight and the speed that goes along with it. So I think he'll need to slim down to deal with the speed at the NFL level.

Starting point is 00:02:06 He had some problems when guys can get on him quick. Sometimes he can overset, and then it opens up a lane to the inside. And if he doesn't get his hands on you quick enough, then guys can give him problems. But he's a good player. He's a young player. I think he can definitely improve once he gets good tutelage from, again, Bill Callahan, one of the best offensive line coaches in the business.

Starting point is 00:02:23 I think he does need to improve there with his agility and dealing with speed. But overall, those are things that can get cleaned up, and I think he can be a fantastic option for the Titans from day one, as you mentioned. For more on the Titans, subscribe to Locked on Titans on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Now, Spencer, what did you see in J.C JC Latham from his days at Alabama that makes you think he's a good fit and ready to produce for the Titans? Well, a couple things. You heard Nick

Starting point is 00:02:51 Saban talk about the way that he was a culture setter, a tone setter along the offensive line. And look, the Titans might have their future quarterback in Will Levis in their building already, but you got to be able to protect him. That's one of the keys of the NFL. You got to get a quarterback. You got to protect him. You got to pressure the other team's quarterback. And J.C. Latham is a guy that can certainly help you do that. But I wouldn't overlook his ability in the run game to Neacher. The power that he plays with in his lower half is just off the charts really really jumps off the screen and you know the Titans need somebody who can step in and be a

Starting point is 00:03:30 culture setter a tone setter along that offensive line and in yeah sure he could use a little bit of refinement but give me an NFL draft prospect they can't use a little bit refinement regardless of what position you're talking about so I think that JC lay them is a really, really solid pick for the Titans to fill a position of need. And the thing that stands out when you watch his film the most is just the way that he mauls guys with that lower half. He's got a really, really strong base and great hands.

Starting point is 00:03:59 And Tony Pollard has to be excited because he's coming from an LSU organization known for having strong offensive lines and kind of creating lanes for him. So yeah, this has to be absolutely exciting that he sees the commitment that the Tennessee Titans have to shoring up that O-line. Yeah, I think so. And when you bring in a guy like Pollard in the offseason, you know, you want to make him feel supported. You want to make him feel welcome and going out, making a high draft selection like this absolutely does that. And I think Paul Pollard will be able to find some running lanes behind JC

Starting point is 00:04:32 Latham. We're continuing coverage of the 2024 NFL draft. Subscribe to Locked on NFL on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day.

Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - Tennessee Titans Pick JC Latham | 2024 NFL Draft Coverage

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