NASHVILLE, Tenn. –- Asked about adding veterans for depth, Tennessee Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt talked of youth.

"This league has become about rookies playing, they have to play early, that's an important piece of it," he said at his Monday press conference. "So you always want to try to get your rookies ready to play. ... You will at some point have to start young players."

But the Titans will start the season with Michael Roos as their left tackle and Michael Oher as their right tackle. I have no dispute with Taylor Lewan being behind them. And I understand the Titans using the 11th pick in the draft on him.

I wouldn't necessarily tout how rookies need to play early as I prepared not to play him, however.

Whisenhunt reiterated that Lewan is "a good young player." The rookie is the Titans' primary backup at both tackle and guard.

"There will be some roles for us where he can play," Whisenhunt said. "I think both of our (starting) tackles had good camps and played well. And I think Taylor played a number of position because we obviously felt like he was going to have a hard time unseating them, so we wanted to prepare him to play guard or either tackle. I feel like we got that done.

"He played a lot of snaps. He's improving. I feel like he did a lot of good things, did some dumb things, which you expect from young players. If you told me Taylor had to play tomorrow, I'd be comfortable with that."

Second-round running back Bishop Sankey and fourth-round defensive lineman DaQuan Jones will get some work as part of rotations at their positions.

The Titans didn't have a third-round pick.

Fourth-round defensive back Marqueston Huff and fifth-round inside linebacker Avery Williamson figure to be just special teamers this year barring injuries in front of them.

And sixth-round quarterback Zach Mettenberger won't play if things go according to the Titans plan.