Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan is an absolute rock star. From his brutish play to his outlandish humor, whether he’s throwing catfish on the ice at a Nashville Predators game or plowing through defensive ends, the city has grown to love the fourth-year player out of Michigan. But, it wasn’t always that way. And, actually, maybe it still isn’t. Maybe it’s just my social circle that’s starting to wake up.
Some fans in the area were beginning to toss around the word ‘bust’ before his breakout 2016 campaign. And, listen – we all know I’ve had some stupid opinions when it comes to the Titans. Just last year, I wrote an article claiming Dorial Green-Beckham would lead the team in receiving yards. Know how that panned out? Not good. But, what I’m about to share with you folks today is an opinion that I have yet to be convinced out of.
Despite the stubbornness of Nashville sports fans, I will not yield from my stance that Lewan is one of the elite left tackles in the NFL today. Nashville sports fans are a hard-headed bunch. For 20 years now, the national media has been ignoring us and all of the refs are always willing Nashville’s opponent to win. The NFL wanted the Rams to win that Super Bowl. The NHL selected the Penguins as Stanley Cup champions. So on and so forth.
But, with Lewan, the talk always seems to be about the penalties. They say it costs us games, but Lewan is hardly the only Titan drawing penalties. This issue boils down to the fact that offensive linemen don’t typically make the sexy plays. It’s hard for the casual fan to tell when a tackle has really improved year over year. But, in Lewan’s case, he is now one of the NFL’s best.
According to Pro Football Focus:
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In 2016, Lewan allowed just two sacks, a third of his average over the two seasons before, and earned the best grade of his career.
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Lewan had three perfect games of pass protection over the season and six more in which he allowed just a single hurry.
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Lewan finished the year with the second-best run-blocking grade (88.4) in the league among all tackles.
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Discipline remains his weakness, and he has been flagged 24 times now over the past two seasons, including being ejected from the game.
Every time I bring this up, someone is quick to point out, “well, stats don’t tell the whole story, Stoney!” Yeah, I get that – to a point. But, what don’t the stats show? That Lewan is a team leader. The boys in the locker room respond to him. He sets a tone. So, if you ask me, what the stats fail to demonstrate actually furthers my case for Lewan.
You want to talk penalties, that’s fine. But, in Lewan’s case the stellar play outweighs any five yards he may cost the team. Besides, I don’t hear anyone complaining about the penalties the other linemen commit. Or, more so, the calls that go against the defense. Penalties come against positions all over the field. But, because Titans fans have created this narrative that Lewan is a reckless player, his are the worst. Quite frankly, it’s bullshit.
Lewan can pass protect. He can run block. And, the big boy can line up and catch touchdowns.
How many NFL left tackles do you see routinely playing as well as Lewan did in 2017? I’m willing to listen to arguments for Tyron Smith and Trent Williams. That’s why I say “top-three” in reference to Lewan. But, he’s definitely in the conversation.
Let’s recap the hills I’m willing to die on real quick. Lewan is an elite NFL tackle. Star Wars isn’t really all that good. And, the second Wrestlemania match between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker was better.
Titan up!
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. A strong advocate of GSD (get shit done) and #BeBetter, he’s down to talk Tennessee Titans and Alabama Crimson Tide football over a beer any day. Check him out covering the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley, @WrestlingNewsCo
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