How Todd Downing could force the Titans to make a rare decision
Two weeks of sloppy play from the Tennessee Titans’ offense has many in the fanbase calling for offensive coordinator Todd Downing’s job. The noise from the fans has grown so loud that head coach Mike Vrabel answered a question from the media about Downing’s job security after a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills in […]
Two weeks of sloppy play from the Tennessee Titans’ offense has many in the fanbase calling for offensive coordinator Todd Downing’s job.
The noise from the fans has grown so loud that head coach Mike Vrabel answered a question from the media about Downing’s job security after a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2.
“We’re just not gonna do that,” Vrabel told the media. “That’s not something that’s going to happen right now. I’ve had confidence in our staff and confidence in the guys that we put out there.”
Firing a coordinator in the middle of the season is a rare occurrence for the franchise, but it has happened before.
In 2012, former Titans head coach Mike Munchak canned OC Chris Palmer after a Week 12 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, the decision wasn’t entirely up to Munchak.
The franchise’s longtime owner Bud Adams forced Munchak’s hand.
“In my 50 years of owning an NFL franchise, I am at a loss to recall a regular-season home game that was such a disappointment for myself and fans of the Titans,” Adams said after the team’s 24-19 loss to the Jags.
Adams’ daughter, and current Titans owner, Amy Adams Strunk doesn’t operate like her late father. She lets general manager Jon Robinson and head coach Mike Vrabel handle their team as they see fit.
It’s hard to blame her after six consecutive winning seasons, including back-to-back AFC South titles.
But Downing’s predictability along with some mind-boggling situational deficiencies have pushed Titans fans over their limit. If it’s up to Vrabel, Downing won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
Vrabel is the best coach in Titans history, but he can be reluctant to admit his faults at times.
Firing Downing in the middle of the season means Vrabel is acknowledging that the head coach made a mistake in retaining him as the play caller after a rollercoaster 2021 campaign.
If there wasn’t enough pressure on Downing already, Vrabel hired Tim Kelly in the offseason as the team's passing game coordinator. Kelly spent three seasons serving as the Texans’ offensive coordinator from 2019-2021.
Prior to Downing's hire, the Titans had requested to interview Kelly for the vacant offensive coordinator job in 2021, but Houston denied their rival's request. Downing was then promoted from tight ends coach to fill the void that Arthur Smith had left behind.
The Titans’ bye week comes in Week 6, and if this offense doesn’t show major signs of progress it would present the perfect opportunity to cut bait on Downing.
Time is running out on the Titans, who are only one game back in the extraordinarily weak AFC South.
If the offense can’t put together a complete performance against the Las Vegas Raiders (0-2) on Sunday, management will be forced to explore all options if it means saving the Titans’ season.
Featured image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
