Titans HC Brian Callahan draws line in the sand with controversial decision after 1-6 start
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan made a controversial decision and drew a line in the sand after special teams errors were more prominent than ever in a 52-14 blowout loss to the Detroit Lions, It's not the first time this season that the Titans' special teams unit has been notably lackluster. Tennessee lost […]
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan made a controversial decision and drew a line in the sand after special teams errors were more prominent than ever in a 52-14 blowout loss to the Detroit Lions,
It's not the first time this season that the Titans' special teams unit has been notably lackluster. Tennessee lost in Chicago after a blocked punt was returned for a touchdown. Tennessee had another punt blocked by the New York Jets in Week 2 that set up a go-ahead touchdown in the second half.
But on Sunday, after surrendering a 72-yard kick return, 64-yard punt return, and 90-yard punt return touchdown in the same game, it was more obvious than ever that the Titans needed to part ways with special teams coordinator Colt Anderson.
Special Teams Failure
Anderson's unit has not been well coached or prepared all season. Tennessee is bottom five in the NFL in special teams penalties.
They are 31st in average kick return yards allowed, 32nd (dead last) in average punt return yards allowed, 24th in punt return yards gained, and 19th in kick return yards gained.
It's inexcusable. And the special teams deficiencies have been a black eye on a disaster start to the season for Tennessee's new coaching staff. Because of merit. Because of optics. Because when you start 1-6 after an offseason of hype, something needs to change…There are so many reason for why Anderson need to go and Callahan need to cut his old colleague from Cincinnati loose.
But even with the fanbase calling for it, Callahan indicated to Titans media on Monday afternoon that he has no intentions of firing Anderson.
"We watched the tape together to see where it went wrong and see what issues we had, where they came up, and where we can fix them," said Callahan about his conversations with Anderson since the game ended. "We can't have that. That's not at all acceptable in that regard. We've got to find some solutions, and it can come a lot of different ways. We're working hard on it today to see what we can do to help that process out."
But Callahan also made it clear that he has unwavering faith in Anderson as a coach. He is going to remain with the team and remain involved in the process of finding those solutions that have been evading him.
"He played for eight years as a player. He was under one of the best special teams coaches in football in Darrin Simmons in Cincinnati. He's got the experience and the wherewithal to understand where the special teams issues are," Callahan said of Colt Anderson. "Then you've got Anthony Levine in there with him who has also seen a lot and played a lot under John Harbaugh in Baltimore. Those guys have got great special teams experience. They understand what they're looking at and we have to do a better job all the way around. But those guys know specials teams. They know what the solutions are."
It's entirely possible that Anderson, Levine, and the Titans coaching staff know what good special teams looks like. But it's also abundantly clear that they don't know how to coach it or implement the necessary schemes.
If not now, when will be the appropriate time to move on from Anderson? At some point, there needs to be consequences for incompetence. While I can understand this is a difficult decision – Callahan has both a personal connection to Anderson and belief in the bigger picture of what he's building in Tennessee – a good head coach and leader needs to know when enough is enough.
But like all lines in the sand, I'll be curious to see if there comes along a strong enough current to wash this one away.
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NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans wide receiver Mason Kinsey has been grinding for an opportunity since he first entered the league in 2020. Only a few players around the league hail from a Division III football program. Kinsey is the only alumni in Berry College history to play in the NFL. As he likes to say, […]
