Why this is the most important offseason in Titans history
In the NFL, the offseason is the game before the game. With trades, free agency, the NFL Draft process, and coaching hires, there are many different factors at play once the league year comes to an end. For the Tennessee Titans, this offseason is, without question, the most important seven months since the franchise moved […]
In the NFL, the offseason is the game before the game. With trades, free agency, the NFL Draft process, and coaching hires, there are many different factors at play once the league year comes to an end. For the Tennessee Titans, this offseason is, without question, the most important seven months since the franchise moved to Tennessee in 1997.
The Titans, like every team in the NFL, will undoubtedly have some roster turnover this spring. There will be players who take more money to play elsewhere along with roster cuts to create more wiggle room with the salary cap. General Manager Jon Robinson will certainly have the attention of the Titans’ fanbase as he navigates this offseason under the most pressure he has experienced since arriving in 2016.
Regardless of Titans fans’ stance on QB Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee is one of the few teams in the NFL who will have enough talent on their roster to play in the Super Bowl next season. However, this is not a perfect roster, especially considering what the team could be losing in free agency.
Outside linebacker Harold Landry and center Ben Jones have been two vitally important pieces to the Titans’ success in the last few seasons. With Landry expected to break somebody’s bank this offseason, Robinson would surely face the wrath of the fanbase if he were to let the Titans’ top pass rusher (12 sacks in 2021) walk out of the door. As for Jones, the 33-year-old is coming off his 10th season in the NFL, where he has started all but one game in his six seasons with the Titans. Age certainly plays a factor with Jones, but the Titans may not want to take the risk of starting over at center.
While it’s easy to forget the bigger picture during a Super Bowl window, Titans fans know just how vital the 2022 NFL Draft is for this team. Credit Robinson and the Titans for being able to unearth draft day gems such as Derrick Henry, Kevin Byard, Jeffery Simmons, and A.J. Brown. However, his recent early round whiffs keep Titans fans up at night. For the Titans, drafting talent is important in prolonging team success, but this time around Robinson must find players who will be able to contribute immediately as the Titans Super Bowl window might only be open for one more season.
Talent is fine and dandy, but if the right coaches aren’t in place, the point is moot. In fact, it is believed if you stand in front of a mirror and say Todd Downing three times fast a bubble screen will appear.
Downing’s first year as Titans offensive coordinator did not go according to plan. While he was without key starters for chunks of the season, he will have all offseason to reflect on what went wrong in the AFC Divisional Round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. While firing Downing sounds like the simple solution, it would not make much sense for the Titans to install a new offense for the third time in as many years.
However, that does not mean that change cannot happen within the offensive staff. In fact, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released a report Friday afternoon that stated Tim Kelly and the Titans are engaged in talks to join the Titans coaching staff. Kelly worked with Titans head coach Mike Vrabel with the Houston Texans from 2014-2017 and had been serving as the Texans’ offensive coordinator from 2019-2021 before the coaching staff was cleaned out following the 2021 season.
By adding Kelly the Titans would be able to infuse more creativity on offense which could make all the difference for Tannehill who will spend his offseason on the hot seat.
Featured image courtesy of Steve Roberts – USA TODAY Sports
