Brian Callahan has only one acceptable option to fix the Titans special teams embarrassment
DETROIT – Of the many things plaguing the Tennessee Titans to open the 2024 season, consistently poor play on special teams is one of the more difficult ones to explain. Nevertheless, the Titans special teams unit is inventing new ways to cost the team. Earlier in the year, it was three blocked punts – and one […]
DETROIT – Of the many things plaguing the Tennessee Titans to open the 2024 season, consistently poor play on special teams is one of the more difficult ones to explain.
Nevertheless, the Titans special teams unit is inventing new ways to cost the team. Earlier in the year, it was three blocked punts – and one returned for a touchdown – that were detrimental. In the weeks since, it has been procedural penalties and long returns setting Tennessee back.
In the first half of Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, the Titans gave up a 72-yard kick return to Khalil Dorsey and a 64-yard punt return to Kalif Raymond. Both plays gave the Lions a short field and led to easy Detroit touchdowns.
It's a big reason why the Lions had just nine (9) net passing yards in the first half of the game, but managed to put up five offensive touchdowns and 35 points in that stretch.
And just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, the Titans opened the second half with a procedural penalty and a 90-yard punt return touchdown by Raymond, a former Titan.
Colt Anderson Needs To Go
Last week, I laid out a few options to be the token 'fall guy' for the Titans after the ugly start to the season. When you spend over $240 million on free agents and start the year 1-6…someone needs to be fired.
That someone is special teams coordinator Colt Anderson. Anderson was the only coach Brian Callahan brought over with him from the Cincinnati Bengals' coaching staff, so there's a history between Callahan and Anderson that could make that decision difficult and personal.
Will moving on from Anderson and naming Anthony Levine Sr. the interim coordinator make as difference? It's hard to say. But there needs to be accountability in the Titans' organization for results. The NFL is a results based league. Brian Callahan would be the first one to tell you that, and the results Anderson has turned in are pathetic.
From the way his unit has played on the field to the way he has answered difficult questions from Titans media, I have never felt as if Anderson was cut out for the responsibilities of a special teams coordinator. That reality continues to rear it's ugly head week-after-week.
Brian Callahan needs to cut bait and Amy Adams Strunk needs to ensure it happens. Anything less would be negligent.
Three candidates to be the Tennessee Titans ‘fall guy’ after embarrassing 1-5 start
Someone needs to be fired.
