Titans offense faces tough test in former assistant Jim Schwartz
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans (1-1) are hoping to build on a strong offensive performance in Week 2. Coordinator Tim Kelly will look to win a chess match with a former coworker when Tennessee plays the Browns (1-1) in Cleveland this weekend. Few people know the Titans organization as well as former assistant Jim Schwartz. […]
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans (1-1) are hoping to build on a strong offensive performance in Week 2. Coordinator Tim Kelly will look to win a chess match with a former coworker when Tennessee plays the Browns (1-1) in Cleveland this weekend.
Few people know the Titans organization as well as former assistant Jim Schwartz.
Cleveland hired Schwartz away from his second stint in Tennessee to run their defense this offseason. Schwartz coached with the Titans when they first arrived in Nashville, serving as a defensive assistant (1999), linebackers/third-down package coach (2000) and defensive coordinator (2001-08). From 2009-13, he was head coach of the Detroit Lions and called defenses for the Buffalo Bills (2014) and Philadelphia Eagles (2016-2020) with one year out of football in between.
Schwartz returned to Tennessee in 2021 and spent two seasons on Mike Vrabel's staff as a senior defensive assistant.
"Coaching staff, players, always appreciate what Jim (Schwartz) provided to the coaches, to our staff," Vrabel said on Wednesday. "Whether its help on game day, anything that we asked him to do, or Shane (Bowen) asked him to do, he did. Then he kind of wanted to transition or have an opportunity to coordinate again"
Schwartz's opportunity with the Browns looks like a smart decision through the first two weeks. Cleveland's defense dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) offense on Monday Night Football, forcing two turnovers and holding Pittsburgh to a 29% conversion rate on third down (4/14). The Browns own offensive struggles, including the loss of star running back Nick Chubb for the season, saw them lose the contest 26-22.
Schwartz's defense, however, was not the issue.
A pass rush featuring Myles Garrett should have more than two total sacks in the first two games. The Titans offensive line was poor in pass protection on Sunday's win against the Los Angeles Chargers (0-2), and remains the team's biggest question mark in early returns. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill was sacked five times by LA, all on third or fourth down.
Schwartz will look to exploit that particular weakness this weekend.
"I would say a lot of that is different," said Vrabel of Tennessee's offense and any insights Schwartz might have from being in the building during the last two seasons. "A lot of that has been changed. Jim's (Schwartz) been around a long time. He's a really good football coach, so I'm sure he'll have a great plan and ways to put their players in the best position."
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