Todd Downing takes the first step in fixing the Titans play-calling issue
Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing has been taking some heat from the Titans loss to the New York Giants in Week 1. After a promising start, the Titans offense fell flat in the second half. 50 percent of Tennessee's second-half possessions resulted in a three-and-out, and 13-0 halftime quickly turned into a 21-20 loss. […]
Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing has been taking some heat from the Titans loss to the New York Giants in Week 1.
After a promising start, the Titans offense fell flat in the second half. 50 percent of Tennessee's second-half possessions resulted in a three-and-out, and 13-0 halftime quickly turned into a 21-20 loss.
A large part of that failure was due to the Titans play-calling.
The Titans offense was one-dimensional and predictable, running the football on a vast majority of first and long scenarios.
While Downing attributes run-heavy first down play-calling to the Titans' hope to maintain "third and manageable", Titans play-callers have failed to get the ball in the hands of their best weapon in those "third and manageable" situations.
The most egregious of those third and short mistakes came on the Titans' second-to-last possession of the game.
On third down, with one yard to gain to keep the drive alive, and 6:26 left in the game, the Titans' called for an end-around run to rookie TE Chig Okonkwo. Okonkwo was dropped in the backfield for a loss of four yards, with Derrick Henry used as a decoy.
The Titans were forced to punt, and surrendered the game winning score to New York on the ensuing drive.
When asked what could have gone differently for the play to have more success, Downing took accountability for the error, calling it a "bad call."
Taking accountability for failure does not excuse those who failed, but it certainly is a positive development.
So often we see NFL coaches become stuck in their ways or philosophy and fail to make adjustments or admit fault. Downing's level of ownership is not only rare, but also the first step towards fixing things.
You can not solve a problem until you recognize that there is one.
It's only been one game. It's not too late for Downing to right the ship and fix the Titans offense, but it will require an adjustment to a more balanced, less stubborn approach to play-calling.
The Titans need things to run smoothly if they want to beat Buffalo on Monday Night Football.
Now it's on Downing to prove that he can make adjustments and call a balanced game against one of the NFL's best defenses.
