After battling hip injuries, the former first-round pick is embracing a violent new mentality to anchor Tennessee's front line and slash the league-high sack numbers of recent seasons.
The Tennessee Titans need to get the offensive line figured out as Cam Ward continues to progress.
The Titans have finished in the top 10 for most sacks allowed in the last two seasons. If the offense is going to improve, now is the time to get things right.
The first step is continuity.
The Titans are returning three starters from last year. Dan Moore Jr., Peter Skoronski and J.C. Latham are all back this year.
That doesn't always mean that things are going to change for the better.
Moore finished 62nd among 89 qualified offensive tackles last year with a 61.9 overall PFF grade. Latham's PFF grade in 2025 was 65.5, putting him at 48th among 89 qualified tackles.
Skoronski was one of the few bright spots, finishing with a 79. This made him the 6th-ranked guard in all of football.
The Titans are also going to have two new starters on the offensive line after Lloyd Cushenberry and Kevin Zeitler were let go in the offseason.
As one of the returning players on the offensive line, Latham knows that it's become increasingly important that he elevates his level of play. So far in the preseason, Latham has impressed with his newfound physicality.
Latham was asked at a recent Titans press conference whether he made a conscious decision to play with more physicality this year or if he even noticed it at first.
He also happened to drop an incredible quote on top of that.
"I think both ends of that is true. I think it's definitely making the conscious decision to play more physically. But I think the other end of it, as I said last time when I was up here, is, you know, being the team that it was in the past, you know, when you're looking to establish yourself as a player or as a unit, as an offensive team and franchise, you know, there's no revolution without bloodshed, you know? So, every single day you're going to step up, and you're going to be as physical as possible and pose your will, day in and day out. So, that's where you're going to see tensions rise, tensions flare. I mean, because it's a very emotional, very tension game. But yeah, I mean, just playing with physicality every single play through the whistle is something that we pride ourselves on and one of the pillars of our unit."
We really started to see a change in the way Latham played after he and Jeffery Simmons got into a fight at training camp. However, Latham revealed at that same press conference that his turnaround stemmed from missing time last year due to injury.
Latham dealt with hip issues all of last year. He missed time in the preseason and then played 13 games in 2025.
Because of that, Latham felt like he wasn't able to put his best foot forward and really contribute to the team.
If the Titans are going to turn things around on the offensive line and do a better job of protecting Ward, it starts with guys like Latham.
A veteran like him can really set the tone for how this team wants to be seen. If you can't have a reliable offensive line, it's hard to move the ball.
Tennessee is going to need more than just Skoronski to carry the burden of the offensive line. Latham is making sure he's doing his part after being limited last season.
Getting the offensive line right is a great start as the Titans try to avoid going 3-14 for the third straight season.
