How Mike Vrabel plans to stabilize Titans locker room amidst 2-4 start
NASHVILLE — When it comes to NFL head coaches, the great ones separate themselves through adversity. When things get rocky and your team gets off to a sluggish start, it can be difficult to not lose the locker room. Professional athletes want to win. Buying in to a team mentality is a lot easier said than done when […]
NASHVILLE — When it comes to NFL head coaches, the great ones separate themselves through adversity. When things get rocky and your team gets off to a sluggish start, it can be difficult to not lose the locker room.
Professional athletes want to win. Buying in to a team mentality is a lot easier said than done when you're sitting at last place in your division.
But with his Tennessee Titans at 2-4 and dwelling in the basement of the AFC South, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is hoping to stabilize the locker room and keep his team together.
Starting 2-4 is not a foreign concept for Vrabel. Back in 2019 (Vrabel's second season with the Titans), Tennessee started 2-4 en route to a 9-7 season and appearance in the AFC Championship Game.
Any head coach would tell you that 17 games over 18 weeks makes for a long season. An underwhelming six games doesn't mean you're out of playoff contention and once you're in the tournament, you've got a shot. But it's important to stay the course.
When Vrabel spoke with Titans media earlier this week, I asked the head coach what he can do to keep his locker room positive and productive throughout the bye week.
"It starts this week. It starts tomorrow. It starts with my message of showing them the things that we've done well enough, showing them the things that we can't do and think that we’ll win and making sure that the standard is coming to work and being consistent," Vrabel told me. "Demanding the accountability is huge. But the ones that can have to do a little bit more and the ones that haven't have to improve."
There's no debating that the Titans need more production from some of their best players. Four of Tennessee's eight highest paid players in 2023 are on the defensive line, but the Titans are in the bottom half of the NFL in sacks. Ryan Tannehill is making $36.6 million against the cap and has two passing touchdowns through six games. Kevin Byard is making over $11 million against the cap and doesn't have a single interception or pass deflection. Tennessee's best players need to be doing more.
Vrabel also mentioned "demanding accountability" moving forward. To me, that means nobody's spot can be safe. Don't be afraid to make a change. You want to hold your players accountable for making the same mistakes over and over again? Take away their opportunity.
The Titans can't have more muffed punts, busted coverages, and missed blocking assignments. Do your job or someone else will. Vrabel and his coaching staff have already demonstrated a willingness to make these moves with the temporary benching of Andre Dillard and Kristian Fulton against the Ravens.
Turning things around in 2023 might be Vrabel's biggest challenge of his coaching tenure in Tennessee. But I think the Titans have the right man for the job. He's bounced back from this spot before.
How last season’s ankle surgery could help Ryan Tannehill return faster from 2023 sprain
Ryan Tannehill could benefit from previous surgery.
