How much blame Jon Robinson deserves for the Titans' shortcomings
After Saturday’s 19-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round, the Tennessee Titans have begun their transition into the offseason. And so begins the blame game – a seven-month endeavor where fans point fingers and declare loudly on social media who exactly is at fault for the turmoil that follows a disappointing […]
After Saturday’s 19-16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round, the Tennessee Titans have begun their transition into the offseason. And so begins the blame game – a seven-month endeavor where fans point fingers and declare loudly on social media who exactly is at fault for the turmoil that follows a disappointing end to the season.
Less than a week removed from the Bengals game, the majority of the blame is falling on QB Ryan Tannehill and Offensive Coordinator Todd Downing. That should come as no surprise as Tannehill tossed three interceptions and failed to generate enough points to come away with a victory in a game the Titans were supposed to win – a game that resulted in the Titans’ third consecutive loss in the postseason.
Downing’s first year as Titans OC and full-time play caller was far from a spectacular one. Head-scratching decisions in key situations became a theme throughout the regular season and carried into Saturday’s loss. With a plethora of dynamic playmakers in his arsenal, Downing still found ways to sabotage his own offense.
While it is completely in bounds to be critical of Tannehill and Downing, there is one person who should be exempt from the wrath and fury of the angry mob that is the Titans fanbase at the moment. That man is General Manager Jon Robinson.
To blame Robinson for the way the Titans’ season finished is beyond shortsighted. Robinson was forced to navigate through a regular season in which the Titans set a record by using 91 different players on the active roster throughout the 17-game regular season. He was able to find diamonds in the rough, like running backs D’Onta Foreman and Dontrell Hilliard, who filled in during Derrick Henry’s absence.
Robinson played a major role in turning around what was a dismal Titans defense in 2020 to one of the best units in the NFL just one season later. Offseason acquisitions such as Denico Autry and Bud Dupree provided Titans fans with their first elite pass rush since 2008. Claiming LB Zach Cunningham after he was waived by the Houston Texans not only paid dividends this season, but he will continue to contribute as the Titans move forward with Cunningham as the starting ILB heading into next year.
However, one fair criticism of Robinson lies within his last two draft classes. The jury still out on rookies like cornerback Caleb Farley, tackle Dillon Radunz, and outside linebacker Rashan Weaver. The early returns were less than impressive as Farley and Weaver suffered season-ending injuries while Radunz struggled to find playing time.
CB Kristian Fulton is really all Robinson has to show over the past two years in the NFL Draft. As the Titans trudge forward into what many consider to be the last year of the team’s Super Bowl window, it is imperative that Robinson finds some players in the draft who can help this team win next year.
