NASHVILLE, Tenn. – When I last saw Malik Willis, all the way back on May 13, the ball was zipping out of his hand at the Titans’ rookie minicamp, but his throwing motion clearly needed some revising.
It has some unneeded swoop to it.
Tuesday, at the full team’s second OTA practice and the first open to the media, his motion looked cleaner and tighter already.
Even subtle progress in that area in such a short amount of time would be an accomplishment, and this is just a layman’s observation. Others in the media on the sideline shared a similar assessment. [Unlocked]
Here is rookie camp:
Malik Willis throws a very tight spiral. Has some exchange issues with center. Worked some on progressions. Pretty much what you expect for first day. #Titans pic.twitter.com/kznE6dm9KU
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) May 13, 2022
Here is Tuesday:
I thought, and some media colleagues agreed, that Malik Willis’ throwing motion already looks tighter and more compact. #Titans. pic.twitter.com/cVboxh8684
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) May 24, 2022
Willis and Mike Vrabel, of course, would only talk in generalities.
“I feel like we’re just working on all the fundamentals and trying to improve every day, even if he’s just one percent, “he said. “…I feel like I am getting better each day, I have days better than others, but definitely improving every day.”
"I think every day is going to be a learning process for these rookies, Malike included," Vrabel said. "His ability to process and work through things quickly -- sometimes your mind may know where to go and sometimes your body has to move with it, in sync and I think that;'s what they've been working on as they go through their individual drills and hoping that it carries through to seven-ion-seven."
One area it seems Willis can still get better is with patting the ball before he throws it, though he said that’s not an area that’s been discussed.
The one specific he mentioned was his feet and being consistent with them from every angle.
"First off, just getting more comfortable with the playbook, being able to call plays, leading the huddle, leading the line of scrimmage, I think that’s the first thing that you’ve got to do when you get here and he’s definitely taken those steps,” Nick Westbrook-Ikhine said.
During a period of special teams’ work, Austin Hooper got in good work with Ryan Tannehill. Willis mostly talked with passing game coordinator Ryan Kelly, smiling and laughing a lot, which pretty much seems to be his default disposition.
Austin Hooper feels like he and Malik Willis are in a similar boat. #Titans. pic.twitter.com/dZSXJu3dc5
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) May 24, 2022
Willis also partook in the early-practice one-on-one drill that features a player with the ball standing next to a would-be tackler. The two run in opposite directions to a line before heading at each other, with the offensive player trying to make a move and the defender trying to square him up, come to balance and tag him as if making a tackle.
Willis did good work sliding past undrafted DB Michael Griffin II.
Tannehill was also complimentary about what he's seen from Willis so far.
Tannehill sees Willis getting better all ready. #Titans pic.twitter.com/Jp89i0a2tK
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) May 24, 2022
You are not authorised to post comments.