How the Tennessee Titans may have missed a big opportunity to upgrade their coaching staff
If you asked a random Tennessee Titans fan what the biggest issue for the franchise was during the playoffs, you'd likely get one of two answers. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill or offensive coordinator Todd Downing. Tannehill didn't play at a championship level in the playoffs, while Downing didn't put the offense in a position to succeed. […]
If you asked a random Tennessee Titans fan what the biggest issue for the franchise was during the playoffs, you'd likely get one of two answers.
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill or offensive coordinator Todd Downing.
Tannehill didn't play at a championship level in the playoffs, while Downing didn't put the offense in a position to succeed.
Entering the 2022 offseason, one of those options is easier to fix than the other.
Tannehill's contract makes it tough for the Titans to move on from him. They'd had to find a willing trade partner (thanks to the $57 million dead cap hit that Tannehill carries) to take on a massive salary for a quarterback that will turn 34 before next season. It's not impossible to move on from Tannehill, but it would take some creativity from general manager Jon Robinson.
It would be much easier to move on from Downing.
And the Titans should — Downing is exactly who he was with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders.
He's a lackluster play-caller that Raiders fans were thrilled to see leave (Derek Carr's worst season in the NFL — outside of his rookie year — was the 2017 season when Downing was his offensive coordinator).
Instead of moving on from Downing, the Titans brought in Tim Kelly, previously the Houston Texans offensive coordinator, to serve as the team's passing game coordinator. Kelly is presumably insurance for head coach Mike Vrabel in case Downing gets fired next season.
Maybe this works out for the Titans. Maybe Kelly brings a dynamic element to the offense and turns it all around.
Or maybe it's more of the same (we assume Downing will still be the primary play-caller in 2022).
Did the Titans miss a big opportunity?
There was an option on the table the Titans should have explored before committing to Downing and Kelly.
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has a contract that expires this spring.
Bieniemy has proved to be one of the best offensive coordinators in the NFL during his time with the Chiefs.
And I think the Titans should've pursued him.
I'm sure the first question is why would Bieniemy leave the Chiefs for the Titans?
Bieniemy has interviewed countless times for head coaching gigs. He continues to get passed over for jobs. One theorization on why is because he's not viewed as the mastermind of the Chiefs' offense. That's Andy Reid's baby (even though Bieniemy has a significant role in calling plays).
Bieniemy might want to escape Reid's shadow and run an offense for a defensive-minded coach, in an effort to make himself a more attractive head coaching candidate.
The Titans, with offensive weapons like Derrick Henry, AJ Brown, and Julio Jones, would've been a great destination for Bieniemy
If the Titans are going to roll with Tannehill, they need a play-caller who is going to get the most out of him as a quarterback.
That's not Downing.
Bieniemy, however, has done that with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City.
Now, I'm not saying Bieniemy would turn Tannehill into Mahomes. But I think he'd bring enough to the offense that we wouldn't see the Titans lose games like the matchup they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals in the playoffs. Having Bieniemy on the sideline could've easily been the difference in that game.
It feels like the Titans are entering the 2022 season with the same approach expecting different results.
The Titans' Super Bowl window isn't going to stay open forever. And I think they missed a big opportunity to maximize their chances of winning it all in 2022 by not pursuing Eric Bieniemy.
Featured image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
