Todd Downing takes the blame for glaring Titans issue
Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing is nothing if not accountable. Each and every time Downing speaks to the media or reflects upon the play of his offense, the second-year offensive coordinator has not been afraid to look in the mirror. An admirable quality for a coach of his rank at the NFL level. Thursday […]
Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing is nothing if not accountable.
Each and every time Downing speaks to the media or reflects upon the play of his offense, the second-year offensive coordinator has not been afraid to look in the mirror. An admirable quality for a coach of his rank at the NFL level.
Thursday was no different, as Downing was questioned by Titans media about the lack of production from Tennessee's group of wide receivers, who had a total of zero catches in the overtime loss on Sunday Night Football in Kansas City.
Despite the dropped passes and a few missed opportunities during the game, Downing put the blame on himself, telling the media that he needs to do a better job of getting the wide receiving corps involved by scheming guys open.
"I don't think any time that there's a lack of success or productivity that it's on one group," Downing said. "I'll always say it starts with me. I gotta find ways to get those guys involved and find better ways to free them up."
According to Downing, the Titans coaching staff has worked on building plays to scheme wide receivers open, but the execution of that game plan has been flawed at times.
"There are certainly things we try do to to help out," Downing said of his efforts. "We've built quite a catalog of trying to get some of those rub releases and things of that nature. There's always a balance in that too. Holding the ball too long or letting something long developing unfold can put a lot of pressure on the protection."
Being without Ryan Tannehill, Treylon Burks, and Kyle Philips has not helped the Titans passing game either. Throw timing and route running are essential to executing a successful passing game plan and the Titans personnel over the last few weeks have not gotten the job done.
Downing is still falling on the sword, though, concluding by saying "it's a culmination of everything, but it certainly starts with me."
Now, that much, he's right about.
The pass-catching weapons in Tennessee have been underwhelming to say the least, but Downing needs to be better at making the most of what he has and playing to the strengths of his personnel.
Give me more read options with Malik Willis. Give me more running back screens to Derrick Henry. Give me more two back sets with both Henry and Dontrell Hilliard on the field, and give me more rub routes with quick passes to Robert Woods.
Hopefully Downing has what it takes to make some changes and the additions of Tannehill and Burks to the offense get the Titans' passing game back to a respectable level.
Image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
