Mike Vrabel's message to the struggling Titans
With his team losing five consecutive games and a playoff spot slipping away, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has delivered a big message to his team through this time of adversity. Vrabel shared that message with the media on Monday, putting an emphasis on the preparation that needs to be done. Vrabel referred back […]
With his team losing five consecutive games and a playoff spot slipping away, Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel has delivered a big message to his team through this time of adversity.
Vrabel shared that message with the media on Monday, putting an emphasis on the preparation that needs to be done. Vrabel referred back to his comments from Saturday about not being "eight to four" athletes, and clarified that he wasn't trying to take a shot at any of his players.
Vrabel's main point was that the Titans need to "say less, and do more." Enough of the "I hate losing" talk that he mentioned, and more of the weekly grind that leads to success at this level. At this point in the season, Vrabel feels strongly that teams do not improve physically, but they can still improve in their preparation.
"I was trying to say that we all need to say less and try to start doing more right now," Vrabel told the media on Monday. "Studying more, communicating more, asking more questions, coaching better, explaining, teaching better, so that players can come back with questions"…"That is all that was. Building off that theme of, how much better can we get physically at this point in the season? Where can we try to find an edge to help us win?"
Perhaps the say less, do more mentality will be a good thing. For weeks now, we've heard the "coach better, play better" speech with no change in sight.
They say they need to get into drives, but then take Derrick Henry off the field on 3rd & 2. They say they need to avoid negative plays, but continue to allow sacks and penalties with Dennis Daley at left tackle. They say they need to prevent big plays, but gave up seven completions of 20 or more yards when they played the Jaguars. They say they need to protect the football, but have the worst turnover margin in the NFL over the last three weeks (-5).
On this losing streak, it has always been saying one thing and doing another. So maybe it is time to say less and do more, because if the Titans manage to lose in Week 18 and miss the playoffs, it may alter the course of the franchise moving forward.
It's time to fish or cut bait. Vrabel has long bought into that idea, but will his players hold up their end of the bargain?
Image via Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
