Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Three candidates to be the Tennessee Titans 'fall guy' after embarrassing 1-5 start
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Titans are 1-5. The offense is one of the worst in the league. The team is in last place in the division and currently on pace for a Top 5 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
After committing over $238 million on free agents this offseason, the Titans are somehow even worse than the team Mike Vrabel got fried for coaching last season.
Something has to change and fast. Which is why I wouldn't be surprised if Tennessee makes some changes and throws a 'fall guy' under the bus before long. If someone is going to get fired, here are three candidates that could become a casualty of the team's embarrassing start to the 2024 season.
1. OT Nicholas Petit-Frere
The Titans have tried firing right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere multiple times now. NPF was benched in the fourth quarter of Tennessee's game against the Green Bay Packers for second-year tackle Jaelyn Duncan. But after Duncan performed even worse that Petit-Frere in his opportunity, the Titans reverted back to NPF as the starter.
Leroy Watson has been given a chance at right tackle. His play didn't seem to be good enough for Brian Callahan and the Titans' coaching staff, but Tennessee decided to start Duncan against the Buffalo Bills instead of going back to NPF.
That didn't last long...Duncan was injured on the first drive of the game and Petit-Frere ended up playing 69 offensive snaps on Sunday. He would allow eight pressures and one sack in the game.
During a press conference earlier this week, Callahan mentioned that the Titans may end up giving former undrafted rookie John Ojukwu a shot at right tackle. It certainly feels like Tennessee is trying anything necessary to not go back to NPF, and at this point, I wouldn't be surprised to see the organization cut ties entirely.
Releasing Petit-Frere would certainly make a statement. But something has to change on the offensive line. Right tackle has been a black eye for the offense all season.
2. ST Coordinator Colt Anderson
Special teams coordinator Colt Anderson has been under fire for most of the season...and for good reason. Tennessee has had three punts blocked through six games and is regularly penalized on kickoffs and punt returns.
While veteran kicker Nick Folk and punter Ryan Stonehouse have handled their duties with ease, the Titans have not seemed operationally sound on special teams.
I think every Titans fan is quickly souring on the new coaching staff, and if the organization wants to make an example out of someone midseason, I think Anderson would be the cleanest break up. Let Anthony Levine Sr. be the special teams coordinator for the rest of the 2024 campaign and make it clean that the Tennessee Titans have a standard.
3. QB Will Levis
I don't see this happening during the regular season. Especially with the way Brian Callahan has continued to emphasize the patience the organization plans to have with Levis this fall.
But with the way things are trending, I'm expecting Levis to be a fall guy for this coaching staff in the offseason.
If the Titans end up with a top selection in the 2025 NFL Draft and are in position to draft a new quarterback, I think they will do so. Callahan is considered a QB guru, but he wasn't with the team when Levis was drafted. He and Ran Carthon could both extend their job security by convincing Amy Adams Strunk to give them another shot with a new, young quarterback.
Therein lies the biggest question with Titans football right now: Is it the right staff and the wrong QB? Or is every apple in the bunch rotten?
