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Malik Willis and Mason Rudolph argue for two different cases as replacements for the Titans

tabnews August 11, 2024
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At the start of training camp, Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan said preseason performance could determine which quarterback – Mason Rudolph or Malik Willis – is named to replace starter Will Levis.

In the Titans' 17-13 win over the San Francisco 49ers at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, Willis and Rudolph had very different chances of getting the job.

After Levis left the game in the second quarter after a 4-of-5 passing performance with a rushing touchdown, Rudolph took over the second-team offense and tried to extend the Titans' 14-7 lead.

In three drives, Rudolph completed 10 of 17 passes for 126 yards, including a couple of third-down conversions. He distributed the ball well and mixed in short and medium-length passes to keep the defense guessing.

His longest play was a 36-yard screen pass to Julius Chestnut, with most of the running work done by the running back. He had a fumble after a high snap led to a bad pitch to running back Hassan Haskins.

Overall, Rudolph was consistent, although he lacked the offensive power and creative touch needed to score points in the passing game. In other words, he was exactly what you would expect from a backup quarterback.

TITANS WIN: Will Levis leads 2 touchdown drives, Tennessee Titans outlast 49ers in NFL season opener

When Willis stepped in for Rudolph with 9:07 minutes left in the third quarter, the score was still 14-7.

Unlike Rudolph, Willis' performance was more of an up-and-down affair. He had a few impressive runs, including a 28-yard run for a first down. But he was also sacked once when he couldn't get out of the pressure in time. His passes were crisp at times, especially at the start of drives. But he missed open receivers too often, which was a problem early in his career.

In the fourth quarter, Willis found wide receiver Bryce Oliver on a beautiful 45-yard pass down the sideline, but it was called back for a foul penalty. Willis managed to get his second offensive drive in range, which led to a 34-yard field goal for Brayden Narveson.

Willis finished the game 5-of-7 with 38 passing yards and 42 rushing yards.

Malik Willis and Mason Rudolph compete for the job as backup quarterback for the Tennessee Titans

Callahan has made it clear that both Rudolph and Willis have a chance to back up Levis. Although Rudolph has mostly played on the second line and Willis on the third line, Callahan said preseason performance could ultimately be the deciding factor.

“It will be based on how they play in the preseason,” Callahan said in July. “Either way, the final result will be decisive based on how they perform when the going gets tough.”

Both quarterbacks have advantages over the other. Rudolph is a reliable passer with experience winning NFL games, having started for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Willis has a rocket arm, is agile in the pocket and is blazing fast when he gets to the edge.

But both have weaknesses. Rudolph is not a top-notch passer and has trouble improvising when plays go wrong. Willis has problems with shooting accuracy and decision-making.

Callahan seems to like both options. After Saturday's win, he said little about the difference between the two, only praising the quarterback room as a whole.

“All three quarterbacks did a good and efficient job tonight,” he said.

If Callahan were honest, Rudolph could probably lose the backup quarterback job. He has more experience and passing ability and has shown he can win games when given the chance.

But given the stylistic differences, further evidence is needed to determine who should win the bid.

If Callahan wants to play it safe, he'll go with Rudolph, but if he's looking for home run potential, Willis is the right choice.

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