NASHVILLE — In one of the wildest games imaginable, the Tennessee Titans (4-8) lost in overtime by a score of 31-28 to the division rival Indianapolis Colts (7-5) on Sunday.

But after a 60-minute (and then some) roller coaster, it was the special teams play that ultimately swung things in the Colts' direction. Tennessee had a missed extra point, allowed a long kick return, and had two punts blocked – one of which went for a touchdown. 

The Titans, a team that prioritizes special teams contributions over everything else when making roster cuts and managing playing time, is losing games because of their ineptitude in that area. How can that be?

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Special Teams Failures

Special teams failures are nothing new in Tennessee. The 2022 Titans were a disaster when it came to fielding punts, kicking field goals, covering kicks, and managing situations.

As a special teams unit, Tennessee had six muffed punts, just one field goal over 50 yards, and allowed the most punt return yards in football last season. Despite all of that, special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman was retained for the 2023 season. Now many of those same issues are recurring. 

Tennessee signed a veteran kicker in Nick Folk who has performed admirably and quieted a lot of the noise, but failed to actually address issues that start with coaching. When special teams fall short, the message is always "we need to clean things up." But all the Titans have done is sweep their problems under the rug.

Look no further than Sunday's loss. Not just two blocked punts, but blocked punts on  back-to-back drives. One was recovered for a Colts touchdown and the other one knocked Ryan Stonehouse out of the game. That proved to be massive when Tennessee missed a go-ahead extra point with Ryan Tannehill holding for Stonehouse and the laces pointed in. 

It was not the first time the Titans have had a punt blocked this season. But what did Craig Aukerman say after the Saints leveraged a blocked punt into a 16-15 victory back in Week 1? "It's nothing that we didn't see beforehand, but we'll continue to work on it. It's just a lack of fundamentals and technique that we gotta clean up and we'll end up doing that a little bit more today," said Aukerman. "We've gotta make sure we protect at all times because it's a big momentum swing if anything happens like that."

How's that 'cleaning up' going when it comes to blocking an overloaded side on punt team? How's that 'prepare like a starter' team mantra going when it comes to Ryan Tannehill holding for field goals? Nick Folk mentioned postgame that Tennessee's operations changed on his PAT with Tannehill holding that caused a disconnect. Folk also said his last practice rep with Tannehill holding was "maybe a couple of weeks ago." Need I say more?

That lack of preparation is reflection of coaching, and with the Titans probably preaching about versatility, preparing like a starter, and contributing on special teams more than any other team in the league, it's shocking they put up with it.

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Coaching Accountability

Titans fans haven't forgotten when Kyle Philips muffed a punt with just seconds remaining before halftime. There shouldn't even be a punt returner on the field in that situation. But that gaffe is now just one of many epic failures when it comes to the Titans' special teams unit being unprepared this season.

At some point, somebody needs to be held accountable for the continued special teams errors. Mike Vrabel had the opportunity to move away from Craig Aukerman last offseason and failed to do so. Now it's costing his football team games.

"It starts with me, making sure that everything that we do is sound, and there's a level of execution," said Vrabel when asked who is culpable for the special teams mistakes. "Then obviously be able to identify whether we've got scheme issues, or we have to move some guys around, or make some minor adjustments. It all is on me."

There is undoubtedly a level of blame that rests on the shoulders of the head coach. If for no other reason because he didn't make a change sooner. But again…this is what you have a special teams coordinator for. Getting your unit prepared for every situation, identifying scheme issues, and making minor adjustments is pretty much that job description. If those things are on Mike Vrabel, am I to absolve Craig Aukerman from all blame? I don't think so.

If making minor special teams scheme adjustments and such are responsibilities of Mike Vrabel, could someone please point out what it is that Craig Aukerman does?

The Titans keep saying they need to clean up special teams play. But that will only happen if they stop sweeping the problems under the rug and wash their hands of Aukerman altogether. 

Titans get relieving news after horrible loss

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