Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator in a no-win situation
NASHVILLE — When the Tennessee Titans (0-1) lost their season opener by one point, fans wanted someone to blame. There are too many working parts in a football game to identify a singular cause. The job of the coach, however, is to accept responsibility and keep moving forward. That is what Tennessee offensive coordinator Todd Downing […]
NASHVILLE — When the Tennessee Titans (0-1) lost their season opener by one point, fans wanted someone to blame. There are too many working parts in a football game to identify a singular cause.
The job of the coach, however, is to accept responsibility and keep moving forward.
That is what Tennessee offensive coordinator Todd Downing tried to do on Friday. Downing has been the flashpoint for the most angst around Tennessee's failure against the New York Giants. One play-call in particular, a 3rd-and-1 end around to rookie tight end Chig Okonkwo that lost four yards with 6:26 remaining in the third quarter, has been the resoundingly panned.
Coordinator's do not speak to Titans media until the second day of on-field work. So, when Downing came to the podium, plenty of time had passed to think about what he might say.
Downing accepts blame for Titans mishap
So, Todd…about that 3rd-and-1.
"A better play-call," said Downing when asked about what went wrong. "I take full responsibility for that call. Played a percentage off of what we had seen from that defense in short yardage. Obviously, had a little miscue earlier in the game on short yardage and got a little too aggressive with that call. Should have gotten something downhill, and that's on me."
Rejoice! A football coach admitting his error for all the world to see? The amount of social media victory laps being taken were as sad as they were misguided. But, Downing said the thing everyone wanted him to say. We can all move on now, right?
Hardly.
As media, we want as much transparency and honesty from Tennessee's coaching staff as possible. The reality is that it benefits them absolutely none to do so. The results of Friday's press conference was to treat Downing not like a football coach who made an errant call, but almost like an addict in need of an intervention.
In a one-point loss where Titans kicker Randy Bullock missed a routine attempt from 47-yards out to win the game as time expired, the reaction has been to treat Downing as if he was freebasing black tar heroin on the sidelines while calling a Derrick Henry wildcat play. Tennessee's offensive coordinator has now opened himself up to social media second-guessing on every decision he makes. Perhaps it would have happened regardless of what Downing said on that podium on Friday. It's the nature of a fan's relationship with their favorite team.
Should the Titans have lost to the Giants? Absolutely not. Was that particular moment the right time for Downing to get creative with the tight end instead of the 260-pound running back? An ill-advised decision, at best.
If Tennessee gets hammered by the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football as the oddsmakers expect, it will take far more than a "my bad" to right the ship.
Just win, baby.
Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.
